I Admit It. I'm a Writer!

I started writing last month in order to complete Connie Green's 30 day challenge, to find my voice, and to share a few things that I've seen or learned while here in Afghanistan.


It's hard to believe that I've established a new habit that I don't want to break, at least not yet...  As I walked around today, I noticed that I noticed things that I might have ignored before.  


As I walked, I thought, "I need to write something about how the Afghan vendors eat lunch together each day."  

"I hope that helicopter takes off so that I can get a good picture."


"How can I communicate this thought to others? "


"How do I describe this feeling?"


Then suddenly, the thought occurred to me: "Gasp!  I must be a writer!"


In my life, I've written quite a bit.  A lot of technical documentation.  News stories and even a few magazine articles.  Lots of evaluations and award recommendations.  Writing was something that I had to do for work.


But recently, I've been able to write whatever I wanted.   A challenge and an opportunity.  


Recently, I thought of Maria in the "Sound of Music" as she's on her way to meet the Captain and the children for the first time.


She starts off tentatively, quietly...


What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared?


Much like starting to write.  What to write about?  How to capture the essence of an experience and to communicate it to friends and family?  How much should I open up my thoughts to the world?


Luckily, I have some friends who have taught me and inspired me.  


Geoff of http://www.tipsonwriting.net/blog/ has been particularly uplifting, inspiring and educational.  I purchased his and Steve's "On Writing a Short Story" course a few months ago, and it really helped to get me started.

Helen Raptopulous of http://www.helenraptoplous.com/ has also been very encouraging and inspiring.  Her energy and enthusiasm keeps me motivated.


This Challenge was Connie Green's brainchild, so of course, I'm grateful to her as well. http://conniegreen.com/ is her website.  She's a great coach.


Of course there are many more people that I'd like to thank, but I can't even list them all.  
(And it's already 3 a.m.)


Like Maria, I started.  Bravely, she continued and her enthusiasm overcame her fears.  I continued, and though I'm not willing to commit to blogging every day, I will continue to share my thoughts with you.


All I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!