Volume XI, Issue 8
February 23, 2022
Word of the Week: courage
Dear ,
I don't know about you, but the word courage often brings these words to mind, along with an image of a yellow brick road:
". . . What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder? Courage.
What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?! Courage. . .
."
(If you'd like to watch and/or hear The Cowardly Lion, AKA Bert Lahr, deliver his courage speech from The Wizard of Oz, here's the link from
AmericanRhetoric.com.)
I never thought of myself as a courageous person in any way until I learned that the word courage comes from the French word for heart, coeur. So, whenever any of us muster courage for our own, or anyone else's sake, we are "taking heart."
I'm so often moved by the courage of my WordPlayers, as writers and in their lives. This week, I'm featuring one of them, Catherine Goodman Farley. One way Catherine "took heart" was to use the severe anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD she experienced in her 40's as a catalyst to write
a collection of encouraging daily reflections called Desert to Dawn.
Here we are in my writing studio holding open her beautiful book to the "courage" reflection. (Without any conversation whatsoever beforehand, she dressed in "desert" colors, and I in "dawn" colors, which really made us smile.")
While Desert to Dawn can be used at any time of year, if you are someone who celebrates the courageous season of Lent, this book with forty reflections is a perfect companion. (Lent begins in one week, on March 2nd.) Another option is The TAG, I’M IT! Lenten Practice, described below.)
Catherine's book is a treasure, including, along with impactful reflections, guidance on creating a sacred space, preparing your mind, body, and spirit, practicing gratitude, and writing and reflecting, as well as inspiring quotes, Scripture passages, and
prayers. Its lovely artwork by Julie Barnett makes the experience visually beautiful as well.
Whether or not reflections are the right form for you at this time, I do hope you'll avail yourself of the great courage-builder that writing can be. Recently, I came across this quote by Anne Frank: "I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn."
It gives me great comfort to think of Anne in the secret annex, drawing courage from each word she wrote in her diary. And look what a gift her courageous words continue to be in the world.
Take heart,
Maureen
WordPlay
Offerings
The "TAG-I'M IT" Lenten Practice
10% off from now until March 2nd!
(on sale for $8.99)
Thanks to an invitation from author Kim Love Stump, I created a Lenten journal, available on Amazon now: The TAG, I’M IT! Lenten Practice: An Invitation to Draw Closer to God through Thanksgiving, Acknowledgement, and
Gratitude, that offers, in no more than ten to fifteen minutes, a simple way to grow closer to God throughout Lent by noting the grace at work in your life and honoring the blessings and gifts that you receive each day, as well as acknowledging the actions you’ve taken that bless others and bring more goodness into the world.
This is an adaptation of the regular Tag, I’m It!: A Daily Journal of Thanks-Giving, Act-Knowledge-ment, and Gratitude (also available on
Amazon),with 366 pages formatted especially for this process, each hold a quote to inspire you.
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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!
You'll receive 23 poetry creation tools, delivered one per day (Monday through Friday) to your inbox — in honor of National Poetry month. Use them as you get them, use them when you can, use them over and over to create poems. Each tool zeroes in on one aspect of poetry and provides an innovative method to approach writing a poem.
Learn more about these tools, and the course, here.
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 via Zelle, Venmo, or a check via mail, email info@wordplaynow.com for instructions.
To register for Poetry Rocks online, click here.
WordPlay Success
Story
I’ve had so many “AHA moments” under Maureen’s guidance.
Meet Catherine
Farley
Catherine Goodman Farley believes every individual was created in the image and likeness of God and that He intends for
each of us to thrive. As a practicing physical therapist with over twenty-four years of experience, she loves learning about the intricate connection of the mind, body, soul, and spirit. Her personal challenge in her early forties with severe anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD was the catalyst for her latest publication, Desert to Dawn, an inspiring collection of reflections.
Through the merging of faith and science, Catherine discovered divine peace and healing and desires to share this hope with others. Catherine continues to grow in her spiritual life and shares her journey through her coaching, speaking, and workshops. She works clients one-on-one as well as through her coaching with Women, Faith, & Story.
She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and three teenage children. Catherine is also the author of the Explore with Mimi children’s book series.
Connect with Catherine here:
www.catherinegoodmanfarley.com
www.explorewithmimi.com
www.womenfaithstory.com
Instagram: @catherinegfarley
Facebook: Catherine Goodman Farley
What Catherine says about
WordPlay
Almost a decade ago, I walked into Maureen’s creative space with a huge mix of emotions. I had never dreamed of being a writer, but had been nudged to give it a try. Maureen welcomed me with open arms and encouraged me to get curious, explore, and go with it. I’ve had so many “AHA moments” under Maureen’s guidance.
She truly has a gift for meeting you where you are and walking alongside you not just in writing, but in the journey of life. I’ve participated in her Under Construction class as well as her Writing to Heal workshop and am always hoping to be able to carve out time for more “Maureen moments.”
COURAGE
Change takes courage. As you open your mind, body, soul, and spirit to the hands of your Creator, transformation will occur. By making an intentional choice to connect with God and pay attention to where He is working in your life, you will begin to see fear replaced with courage. Stepping into each day leaving space in your schedule to talk with Him, taking
time to be still and sit with Him, and noticing the ways He is whispering to you will bring you reassurance of His loving presence.
Sometimes our greatest growth is realized in the quietest moments when it seems like nothing is happening. This stillness can feel uncomfortable, but this is the place where your Creator creates unbelievable beauty. When the discomfort bubbles up in your heart and soul, take a moment to breathe.
Breathe in courage and breathe out the fear that holds you back from becoming who God intended you to be. Maybe this time in the desert was actually intended to grow you in ways you would never imagine.
from Desert to Dawn by Catherine Goodman Farley
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 "courage."
PROMPT: Write about a time that you, or someone else, real or fictional, witnessed courage, in yourself,
or in anyone else. (Perhaps, as author Catherine Farley alludes to above, this courage was in response to a challenging change.)
Describe the experience as fully as you can, whatever genre you choose, using dialogue, setting details such as sounds, smells, physical objects, etc., actions and reactions, thoughts and emotions as the situation unfolded.
It's fun to play with prompts in community with fellow writers, and to be able to share the results when you're done. You can find out about WordPlay classes, workshops, and retreats here.
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!
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