Fresh eyes and open ears

Sometimes I just want to be alone to get on with my work, but sometimes I want -- and need -- company. That's when I wish for someone to join me as I wander my way down the writing road of more or less clarity and coherence. 

And these last few weeks, I've had a lot of company. 

A comment I posted to the Jungle Red Writers blog, which I've been reading for years, resulted in the invitation to submit a guest post; of course, I jumped at the chance and my piece was published on February 15th. It was a big thrill to see my writing included on that site of published authors, but it was an even bigger thrill to receive comments from the blog's readers. I've always said that my ambition to be a writer lies in wanting my words to be read; well, that day, my words were read and responded to. 

That experience has pushed me further down the path of building my identity as a capital W writer, and it's given me the confidence to keep putting myself out t/here with my writing and my ideas. 

And I'm learning that getting myself out t/here can happen in unusual ways. Several weeks back, I sent an email to our local CBC weekend morning show for the chance to win a book they had been discussing. I won the book, but more interestingly I was invited by the host to be an "early bird" on the show. I accepted ('always say yes' is pretty good advice that someone somewhere once said) and I enjoyed a live conversation that ended up being about the collaging I do. 

In turn, that connection emboldened me to propose to the host that I be interviewed on the show about the Writing as a Tool for Transformation workshops that Deborah and I will run again in March. The host accepted, and I was interviewed on The Weekend Morning show on February 22nd. Before I left the house at 7am, our workshop registration showed 8 spots remaining; by 11pm, there were only 2 left. 

What's the point? That asking for company along the journey -- whatever your journey is and whoever the company is -- can be not only comforting but also productive. It's amazing what open ears can do for us in our quest to do more tomorrow than we were able to do today. Or what a set of fresh eyes can bring to our own understanding of our work in progress, regardless of what that work is. With the right person in the passenger seat providing fresh eyes, you will see differently the road you travel every day. That bare tree on the left in the photo? You're seeing it today as if for the first time, because your fresh-eyed companion is sharing with you what they are seeing. 

So: May today, and every day, include some open ears and fresh eyes -- for me and for you, and for everyone wanting more or different or better for themselves and for their work. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash