That’s the word of the year for LLM.
No, I’m not talking about whooping it up over at the casino or dancing on tabletops in some smoky honky-tonk–I mean the kind of celebration that follows a deep, heartfelt gratitude.
In previous years, I’ve set a lot of goals, especially professional ones. While this served me pretty well–go figure, I actually met most of them–I’ve undergone some kind of shift, deep down in that place where I am most truly myself. The process is certainly a natural part of maturing as a human being, but it seems rare and magical to me–in my sixth decade, I’ve finally Grown Up.
I have basically arrived where I’ve always wanted to be, which is Right Here (and has been all along.) I’m not saying I’m complacent–I’m still committed to learning and growing as a person and as a writer, but the sense of struggle is gone, praise God and hallelujah. I want to learn because I love the excitement I feel when I make some new discovery, however small. I want to write because I love creating characters and sharing their world with them for a while.
I’m signed up for all sorts of online classes–most of them related to art, though one is called Civil War 101–and I’m trying new things right and left. As stated in an earlier blog, I’ve even hauled out the sewing machine, and that’s been gathering dust since the 1960s! Sister Sal and I plan to explore the world of quilting–she’s at a distinct advantage, since she sews beautifully already–and we’re already mapping out a strategy to scout for fabric on our trip to Barcelona in March.
I’m healthy and so are my loved ones and my friends. I have my work and my pets and my many, many interests.
What’s not to celebrate?
