Volume IX, Issue 53
December 30, 2020
. . . which word would you choose? For words have power, ours for the using as we write and as we speak.
Happy New Year, dear ! What a year it has been. Have we ever been more ready to turn the page to a new
one?
And yet, wouldn't it be good to spend a bit of time considering how we can bring the best of ourselves to the opportunity that it provides? A word of the year can help with that.
And yet, wouldn't it be good to also claim the good we can from 2020 before we bid it goodbye?
Here we are, still standing, still sustained. Still giving and receiving love in the ways available to us. Still able to hope, to create, to grow, to share. (Hmm. Any possible words of the year presenting themselves to you in that paragraph?)
I can't, for example, stop smiling when I look at this Christmas morning screenshot of Richard and me with our kids.
Brynn, with her daughter Yvonne's Zoom background for her college classes; Dan with wife Allison, all
the way from the West Rim of the Grand Canyon; Matt, with his new Chihuahua puppy, Cochise, giving
him kisses; and Amanda with husband Ross in his new-on-Christmas-morning blue light blocking glasses.
True, we weren't together in person, but we were together, hopeful and sharing, with love and laughter abounding.
Abounding. Now, there's a word I love. Also, the word kind, which I chose twelve months ago as my word of the year. It turned out to be a good word to sustain me throughout all that 2020 brought.
Month after month, I contemplated kindness, looked for it in prose and poetry, listened for it in conversations and on podcasts. Where was kindness present? Missing? When was I unkind, and why? How could I better share it with those around me? Be more kind to myself? All year, kindness softened the edges of difficult days.
To choose your word of the year for 2021, visit this week's prompt below. On your way, don't miss this week's writing of the week, my favorite ever rendition of words by poet Robert Burns, whose home in Alloway, Scotland, I had the great fortune to visit some years ago. It's really special and I'm so happy to be able to share it with you.
Speaking of 2021, f you're looking for a writing practice to add more gratitude, and more purpose, and to record your most shining moments in the year to come, I recommend the year-long TAG, I’M IT! journal or this slimmer three-month version. (More below on these, too, as well as a special Zoom retreat in January called The Power of Intention.
Thank you for your company on this "Word-zine Journey" the past year. I'm so grateful to have you as a reader, and as a fellow writer.
May your New Year shine with love and light,
Maureen
WordPlay
Opportunities
THE POWER OF INTENTION
As 2021 begins, what do you long for—for yourself, for others, for the world around you? Who would you love to be? What would you love to create?
The words we choose, and use, not only have the power to heal, uplift, and transform, but also to bring new, life-giving habits, perspectives, and creations into being. At the onset of the new year ahead, give yourself the gift of exploring a smorgasbord of playful, profound writing tools and practices that
will support, sustain, and empower your—mind, heart, body, and spirit—whatever dreams and goals you’d love to bring into being.
We’ll meet in community via Zoom for three (3) two-hour sessions of learning, writing, and sharing. We'll also take a peek at what hidden beliefs may be getting in our way.
The Zoom sessions will be from 2:00pm-4:00pm each of the three days:
- Sunday, January 10 from 2:00p-4:00pm,
- Wednesday, January 13 from 2:00pm-4:00pm
- Saturday, January 16 from 2:00pm-4:00pm
In between sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the tools and practices to discover which work best and provide the most value for you.
Tap into the power of intention as you learn to deliberately (and imaginatively) shape your best life, whatever the circumstances.
Please register early as this virtual retreat series is limited to 12 participants.
Register online via the Well of Mercy website here. (All proceeds contribute to the ministry of Well of Mercy, a place near and dear to my
heart.)
-----------------------------------------------------
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: YOUR WRITING
(Fulfilling Writing Dreams & Goals; Creating New Writing; Revising & Polishing Your Writing)
This class is designed to fulfill your writing dreams and projects. You’ll set goals and support structures and watch your writing flow! You’ll also get feedback on your work (any genre) and learn revision
tools and methods. Each week, writing prompts will generate material for new writing or further a piece in process, whatever your preferred genre. Through examples of accomplished writers, you’ll learn techniques to aid you right where you are in the process.
WHEN: Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning, or Thursday evening classes, dependent on openings available, starting in January 2021. Specific dates for the 12 sessions to be announced.
WHERE: Via Zoom, unless otherwise noted.
COST: $435 for 12 classes.
TO REGISTER: Please email here to start the registration process by filling out a short “Clarity Tool” to share your writing goals and where you are in the process. (Anywhere you are is a perfect place to begin.) Then we'll have a conversation to answer any questions and to ensure that this class is a great fit for you.
--------------------------------------------------------
How Do I Say
Goodbye? and Praying You Goodbye
I created the process shared in these two books in June of 2002, shortly after my mother died, as a way to mindfully mourn this loss—and celebrate her life. I shared it with a beloved friend, the Reverend Rebecca Taylor, when she lost her father, and she encouraged me to make it available to others. Here it is, in two versions, both of which offer quotes, reflections, prompts, and space to write about your loved one, as well as beautiful photographs by Wendy H. Gill that enhance each part of the process. Either
version makes a thoughtful condolence gift for a friend or family member.
How Do I Say Goodbye? is for those of any faith, with quotes from many different sources to accompany the process. It can be purchased on Amazon here.
Praying You Goodbye is specifically for Christians, with accompanying quotes from Scripture chosen by Reverend Rebecca Taylor. It can be purchased on Amazon here.
-----------------------------------------------------
POETRY ROCKS!
Would you like your writing—prose and/or poetry—to be more
graceful, powerful, beautiful? Do you sometimes find poetry confusing or intimidating and wish you could “crack the code”? Or do you enjoy writing and reading poems, but want a more thorough understanding of what makes a poem good? Then this poetry extravaganza is for you.
Expect a good time exploring what makes a poem a poem, gaining the knowledge you need to confidently create and revise poetry, and strengthening your writing skills in all genres.
It would be a joy and an honor to share what rocks about poetry with you. Learn more here.
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET:
- 23 poetry creation tools, delivered one per day (Monday through Friday) to your inbox. Each tool zeroes in on one aspect of poetry and provides an innovative method to approach writing a poem. Many of them are great for creating prose, too. The tools include:
* a purpose, so you’re clear what you will learn
* background information when helpful
* “how-to” directions to create a poem
* an example that illustrates the poetry tool in action
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
* “Hone Your Craft” suggestions for further exploration
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
- A PDF document of each tool that you can print or save on your computer
- An audio recording of each tool, so you can learn by listening and/or reading
- Instruction on the role of audience, reading like a writer, and the process of revision, including a handy Revision Checkpoint Chart—this information can be applied to strengthen your prose as well as poetry
- An e-book that contains the information and resources covered, as well as your 23 poetry creation tools for ongoing use
WHERE: From the comfort of your own home, via the web.
WHEN: Any time you want! And once you receive all 23 tools, they’re yours to keep, which means that you can keep using them for years to come.
COST: $45
TO REGISTER: To pay with a check via mail, email here for instructions. To register for Poetry Rocks! online, click here.
-------------------------------------------------------
TAG, I'M IT!
Both the year-long TAG, I'M IT! AND three-month TAG, I'M IT! journals offer—in no more than five to fifteen minutes—a simple way to recap and celebrate
the very best of each day of your life. The practice of writing out your “T’s” (things you’re thankful for), “A’s” (actions you can acknowledge yourself for), and “G’s” (gifts you’re grateful for) is a transformative one, especially combined with the final step, I’M IT!, in which you intentionally choose three do-able, most-important-to-you actions you’ll take the next day.
The TAG, I'M IT! journal grounds you in two important habits: keeping your focus on appreciating and celebrating the good in your life and intentionally accomplishing what matters most to you. You’ll also create a record of
your most meaningful, happiest events and experiences.
Start your journal—or restart, if needed—whenever you like. (Though a new year is a perfect time!)
An introduction with tips and ideas will help you make this practice your own. Soon, you’ll notice that you’re living your days with more joy, presence, purpose, and intention.
Thank you to Maureen Ryan Griffin for creating TAG I’M IT.
TAG, I’M IT is my new best friend. It’s a guided writing journal that helps me sort through the mental travels of my day. And it helps me zero in on the special moments by reflecting, acknowledging, and saying thank you for the invisible gifts collected in my daily journey.
“TAG” gives me joy. And it gives me a sense of peace. It helps me discover the small and large wonders around me.
“TAG” sits on my nightstand—it’s my last conversation of the day. And I feel satisfied when I turn off the light. When I write in my TAG, I’M IT journal, I’m giving myself a gift.
What a treasure!
~ T. D. Taegel
More WordPlay opportunities coming soon.
Stay posted!
Featured Writing
Auld Lang Syne
by
Robert Burns
performed by
Valerie Meiss
I doubt you've heard about this talented, spunky young woman who just moved to Budapest, Hungary, in the middle of a global pandemic with her cat, Nemo, following her heart.
Valerie loves the art of puppetry, and she's been given a full scholarship, along with living expenses, to attend a graduate program in what is a very popular art form in this part of the world. The photo above was taken on Christmas Eve, after her ten-day quarantine and a long, complication-laden journey. She's still smiling!
I've known Valerie her whole life, and she may well be the spunkiest person I've ever met. She's the daughter of two of our dearest friends, Christine and Ted Meiss, and she and her sister, Kimberly, spent countless hours with our kids when they were growing up. Oh, the sleepovers! The hikes and museum visits. The annual week-long family beach trips. The "Three Kings"
celebrations each Epiphany. Here's Valerie (on right) with our Amanda back in 1990, with a glint in her eye as she plans their next adventure.
Valerie also has a gorgeous singing voice, and when I heard her clear, heartfelt rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" last New Year's Day, I decided then and there I'd share it with you when this time of year rolled around again. (Bonus! The lyrics by Robert Burns, include my 2020 word of the year.)
Valerie was in the Czech Republic at the time, back for another visit with dear friends there. Here's what she wrote:
I brought this ukulele to Czech Republic last year for New Year
and forgot it when I left. Sošna just handed it to me,
and I came in here and made this for you.
Happy New Year.
I think it's going to be a good one.
This simple version, performed with so much love, restores my faith in the human spirit and reminds me that, despite it all, 2020 did have much good in it.
WordPlay Now! Writing Prompt
This is WordPlay—so why not revel in the power and potential of one good word after another? This week, it's “word.”
Choose a word of the year for 2021, one that will bring out the best in you as well as the best in the New Year, in any way that you like. Here are two resources for you:
A twist for you to try, if you love the process of inquiry, is to create a "Question of the Year." I got this idea from my friend Dede of Our Blue Boat. She was inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke's "Live the questions now" approach to life, and its similarity to a Buddhist practice of choosing a
powerful question to ponder, in the spirit of a Zen koan.
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of
Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and three collections of poetry, Ten Thousand Cicadas Can't Be Wrong, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water.
She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, “We are meant to midwife dreams for one another.” Maureen also believes that serious “word
work” requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best
learn—and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours!
|
|
|
|
