Renewal

 Spring has sprung, the grass has riz

Does anybody know where the birdies is.

This is a little ditty My Beloved always says. Yes, the corner has been turned and the seasons change. Spring is not just upon us but it is officially here.

I have been away from this blog for a time and as life has settled down, I hope to be writing more on here, not that I get many readers, but that was never the point of this page.

Life has indeed changed for many of us over the last year. It has for me as well but likely not as many would believe. My work has changed which has been the biggest veer in my life. It is still retail but it is like a coming home. Running a hardware store is probably the job I was meant to do in life in this profession. It is something that lets me help others on a daily basis. Often it is the little things that create a barrier to moving forward. It's the sink that doesn't work, the door that won't close. These may seem trivial but they are stumbling blocks for many.

I took last year away from writing. I did not work on a book for the first time in over twenty years. It was time to step away. It wasn't so much that I didn't have a story to write, it was that it was becoming a chore and not a desire. No matter what one loves, it can become more of a burden at times. That is not why I write. I didn't start out to sell a ton of books, not that there's anything wrong with that, but along the way the aspect of becoming a thriving writer becomes a chore. (I've used that word before here). There is more to the process than writing. It is a business, and if you want to do it full time, you have to treat it as such. Stepping away has let me put many of those burdens behind and pick up the pen with a sense of renewal. (See what I did there?)

This past year has also let me take a closer look at the world around me both from a personal and national perspective. To be honest, I don't like a lot of what I see. The country has become so partisan and judgemental. People are hyper-critical and seem to have no qualms about tearing others down whether it is in person or on social media. This year has let me learn to listen more to other's view and take it into consideration, however that doesn't mean I will always agree. What it does mean is I will let you have your opinion. Just don't force it on me. I have no problem standing up for myself.

I hope this first full Sunday of spring brings you warmth and sunshine, and gives you  time to look forward to a brighter year and put all the pandemic strife behind.