A month(ish) ago, I joined the prose.

By itself, this isn’t so special, but considering that, other than this, I have virtually no online presence, it’s kind of a big deal. Not only that, but what I was happiest to find out was that people here care. They care about my work. They care about my struggles. They care. And it’s not often that you find a social media hub where that happens. So the happiest thing that’s happened to me this year, has to be joining the prose and receiving all this marvelous support, reading all these fantastic posts, and today I even won my first contest! Sometimes life can be hard, and it’s hard to find the good, but on the prose it’s very easy to find the good.

Because it’s everywhere.

I found my voice through writing again. I can share so much of what I need and want to here. I can share things I might now share anywhere else. Prose is a daily draw for me. I want to see what's new, and what amazing writing I can experience on a short break from teaching. Never in my life have I sat down and simply poured myself onto a page without self criticism and constant editing like I do that on Prose. My confidence is resurfacing. This is where the ideas flow and I create work that I am proud of. Don't believe for a minute I don't go back and tweek them all, but at least I feel safe to share them. I didn't join this year, but this year I became comfortable with my ability to create things others like to read and comment on. Thank you all for the support and encouragement.

"Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each others eyes for an instant?" Thoreau

The happiest thing that’s happened to me so far this year was in July. I go to a church camp in July. The church camp is amazing and happy and just uplifting. I love this camp. This year I made a lot knew friends. I’ve been going to this church camp since I was 8, but have never had that many friends there. this year I made new friends and got really close to those new friends. Now, I can call those new friends my best friends. Actually we call each other sisters. We don’t get to see each other that often anymore, but we do talk almost everyday. I love my friends with everything. No matter what happens, or what i or my friends might do, I will still love them. I hope they will always love me too. So the happiest thing that’s happened to me this year, was when I went to church camp for a week and made new friends to last a life time.