Mary E. Knippel, best selling author, your writing mentor, and inspirational speaker uses her 30-years experience as a journalist to support you to take pen in hand to unleash your story worth writing. Visit Mary's website at https://yourwritingmentor.com.
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RHG Magazine TM - March 2021 © All rights reserved.
"I began my career as a full-time college student that day. I didn’t let Mr. Snyder stop me. His attitude fueled my determination to succeed. He wasn’t the first one who cast doubt on my dream of being a writer. I know he won’t be the last one who casts doubt on my writing. To tell the truth, there are times that I question my ability to write. Thankfully, those sessions a few and fewer. I keep coming back to the page. As you yourself will attest to because you are reading these words right now!
I showed up for myself and kept the momentum going for my success by volunteering for writing situations wherever I could at my church and in my community until I got my degree from the School of Journalism. By the time I graduated, I had confidence in my skills to land a job as an Editorial Assistant for a monthly shopper where I got to write feature articles and had a column.
Now, let’s turn our attention to you. What’s your dream? Are you living your dream? What obstacle do you need to overcome to live your dream? How can you keep your momentum going while you cope with life in the moment?
I invite you to choose a coping strategy that keeps you on the path to achieve your dreams. Such as writing in a journal. Spend fßive to fifteen minutes every day sitting in a comfortable spot with a notebook and a fast-writing pen having a conversation on paper with yourself. Give yourself the gift of showing up on the page for 21 to 30 days. That’s how long psychologists tell us it takes to learn a new a new
"Yes?” he looked up puzzled as to why this 30-something housewife was appearing at his door when he had so many deserving college students who were more appropriate recipients of his wisdom.
“I’m in your Continuing Ed Comp 101 on Thursdays,” I stated hesitantly, “and I wanted to talk about what I need to do to pass this class.” I took a step into the cluttered cubicle.
“Nothing,” he said without missing a beat. “You clearly don’t belong in this class and if you drop out now, no one will have to know about your failure.”
“What?” I head myself shout as I felt my face turning red. “I’m qualified to be in this class. It’s a Freshman class and a pre-requisite for the School of Journalism.”
When I said Journalism, he practically flew out of his chair and blue books tumbled to the floor as he approached me sitting in the wooden chair next to the desk.
“I teach students who are destined to make a difference with their writing,” he hissed as if I was offending him by being in class.
“I intend to make a difference with my writing,” I declared passionately and with as much confidence as I could gather.
“I don’t see that happening,” he said glaring at me. “I don’t intend to pass you for this class. I view you as a bored housewife who is taking up space in my night class where a real college freshman should be sitting.”
“I see,” I said with all the composure I could muster while feeling the tears coming. I willed myself not to cry.
“Then sign my Drop Slip,” I demanded and shoved the form I’d been clutching in my hand. I waited for him to dash his scrawl on the Teacher Approval line.
behavior before it becomes a habit. I’ve kept a journal since I was an 11-year-old. Sometimes silly, sometimes solemn, and always enlightening for the spirit when I’d finished with my writing practice
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