It is not easy to push yourself emotionally, spiritually,
academically or physically but the rewards can be so satisfying. The phrase
"Open Highways" has followed me through the age of 5. I was a 1st
grade student when a group of seven classmates were placed together in the “lowest”
level reading group. Many jokes were made and feelings hurt because of the labeling
placed on us. At the time the group was established we were embarrassed to be
placed in this academic circle. However: we seven students formed a unique bond
and today we still refer to ourselves as the "Open Highways" reading
group.
I started journaling for the first time after my cancer
surgery seven years ago. It was a secure place to put my feelings and fears for
my emotional sanity. The fear of the classroom followed me throughout my adult
life, as it was a secret I had carried around for years. When out of the blue,
I was told by my employer, I must return to the college classroom and finish my
undergraduate degree to keep my employment. After dealing with thyroid cancer I
decided I had to face my classroom demons head on. So many obstacles were
occurring during those three adult "college" years that I found emotional
peace through writing. It was my safe place. Then one day I learned I needed
six hours of writing to complete my undergraduate degree. My little journal
slowly took on a life of it's own. My simple words with grammatical mistakes
combined with an unpolished writing style slowly developed into a non-fiction
memoir as the book displayed to the reader my twisted sense of humor and
determination.
There I was
self-publishing my story from the heart for all to see. When a few people
surprisingly took me back to the struggling years of my lower school days. Since
the self-publication of my journal "Hurdles" in 2010, I am often
amazed at the comments I received from the many critics. I found it interesting
of a "friend" who immediately pointed out the 31 mistakes throughout
the book. Or another friend who constantly reminded me and shared with others
the many errors they found throughout the manuscript.
It was heartbreaking
to hear them continually focus on the uncaught slip-ups instead of the message
of the book. The harsh remarks immediately brought me back to the circle of
seven chairs, as I felt compelled to reveal to others of the embarrassing
errors.
This blog is titled
Open Highways because of two reasons. It reminds me of my childhood reading
group and what we can overcome with hard work and determination. The second
reason for this title is because the sky is the limit and the road is endless. We
can do it all with God’s grace and self-determination. I challenge you to be a
better person than yesterday with a loving heart for yourself and for others.
I tell people all the time "my book has thirty-one
mistakes in it and if you are an academic snob then don’t read it." My
writing is from the heart. My style is simple which makes the reading
experience easy to follow. I love to write and explore my feelings on paper.
What you read is what you get.
Patte Hart Grant
ReplyDeleteMark, Scotty, Glen, Jim, Holly, Leake and me:) need to read!
Michelle Miteff Purvis, Kelly McLean and Patte Hart Grant like this
ReplyDeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteVery nice. I've forgotten a lot about grade school but open highways is imprinted on me.
Mark
Sherrie Little Stafford, Janet Lewis Shepherd, Fleet Abston, Susanne Cato and Aida Zorrilla like this link
ReplyDeleteMark Twain struggled with grammar, punctuation, and syntax, but he still managed to muddle through a decent life of writing and lecturing. Have fun! Danny
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Written with love and conviction! May we all write with such heart! Congratulations, Nancy! I am one of your greatest fans! debby
ReplyDeleteNancy - I wanted to post this publicly but can't figue out how!! Yes - truth is, I am very lacking in computer skills. However, more than anyone I want YOU to get my msg.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you and amazed at your umpfff, talent, strength and courage. YOU TRULY INSPIRE ME!!!
Keep your powerful words coming....you GO GIRL!
Love and blessings,
Steph
Hey you do write from the heart and that is what makes your writing so special. I can not spell Cat, if you give me the K and the T..... people can be so hurtful and words can cause much damage.... I would have never known your book had 31 mistakes, dumb me!
ReplyDeleteKeep writing! The sky is the limit and the road is endless!
By the way, Happy Birthday!
Ken
I love i journal too"!!!
ReplyDeleteColleen LeBlanc Kintz
Hi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI too have been encouraged to write, "just keep a journal", "write it down", "jot down your thoughts", "write down your stories, sayings, funny things that happen". Apparently, (and I guess you have discovered it to be true) that once you learn to write from your heart, the story unfolds itself.
I remember well my little group of girls sitting in the Yellow Birds reading circle. I think we were average readers, not great, not poor, but just in the middle. A familiar place for me, so no feelings of shame were attached. I was/am a middle child, average student, average athlete, average freind, average in looks with an average body. I never strove for greatness, but was to proud to succumb to the bottom of the food chain. Yellow birds are generally happy little birds with bright smiles and few demands placed on them.
This yellow bird flies straight home to her nest when someone suggests greatness in her. I would fly south without looking back except for I'd miss my family too much. UGH! Write, are you kidding?! What if I write something that is good? What if I tell a funny story? What if????
For me the answer to the what if is, then you will have to do it again...only better.
When I tell others about this defect of character of mine, I use the story of the Pink top I had once as an analogy. It was a sexy little wrap around job that accentuated my "girls" while making my waist look small. Pink was my color when I had a tan, and my hair was freshly bleached. Pretty tacky but still pretty hot. I was divorced at the time, but hadn't had a date yet and was invited to a birthday party for a friend of mine. My friend had a brother who knew was coming,so I thought I might make an impression. You see once my friend was on the phone with him, and I laughed in the background. He claims (still to this day) that the moment he heard my laugh was the moment he fell in love with me.
So I get all dolled up with the pink top and head to the party. I stayed just out of reach but within eyesight of him for most of the night. I could feel his heart race, and dared not to speak least I spoil the energy. Of course he called and we dated. Many times he asked me if I would wear the pink top. Many times I declined. I actually threw it away the 3rd or 4th time he asked me to wear it. Here's my reason. I could NEVER repeat the way I looked to him that night I wore the pink top. He set the bar too, high.
There it is. My writer's block. Not the fear of succeeding but of mainting success.
Thanks for making me think. Happy Blogging. I married the man in the story 13 years ago.
Namaste,
Jennifer
keep writing .. that is the most important thing to do... all the best..Mike
ReplyDeleteNancy, Your "writing from the heart" is what made your story so beautiful. I loved the book, keep writing. You are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteProud of you, Leake!
ReplyDeleteFred
Aww Nancy I loved reading this! You got my day off to a great start:
ReplyDeleteMargaret Collier Steffner
I like it!
ReplyDeleteDerik Lattig
Great Start Nancy.....I look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteChris Uchacz
Fleet Abston & Walter Newman like this!
ReplyDeleteI try to pray everday for the Lord to make me a better person. Thanks for the reminder!!
ReplyDeleteHillary Jennings
Nancy. I just finished hurdles. I couldn't put it down once I started. It was a great read a) because the story was so unbelievable intriguing and b) because I could see you agonizing over each page.I am always your faithful friend.
ReplyDeleteMary
Barbara Dennis Bollinger & Peggy Judd Bowie like this!
ReplyDeleteCaroline Vanston Poe, Chuck Cobb, Aida Zorrilla, Cindy Grissom Hollingsworth,
ReplyDeleteTeri Kramer &
Sydnie Showmaker like this!
Hurdles and Highways...great blog, Nancy - look forward to more!
ReplyDeleteKendra Bowie
Mindy Martin Poitevent like this!
ReplyDeleteThis article shows how the comments can change a person's life and perspective. Thank you for putting my perspective in place.
ReplyDeleteMary Lee Cruz