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Intentional Living and Wholehearted Writing ~ Fall @ FIMBY
October 11, 2011
Remember that little piece I wrote this summer on not waiting for the stars to align to pursue this craft of mine called writing? If you are new here you may have no idea what I'm talking about, and it's probably better that way. I promised something I have not delivered on - yet, and I'm sorry to say this is not the (long overdue) follow-up to that post.
But today's post is kind of like Stop Waiting for The Stars to Align in that I anticipate what I share here will open a flood gate that will be hard to stop. In fact, I sincerely hope it opens up the flood gate. Because holding back all that I've wanted to write for months and months has not been easy.
I'm going to turn on the valve. And this time, I think I'm ready for it.
Stop Waiting for The Stars to Align unleashed a torrent of words. Words that I spent hours and hours writing but that I am simply not ready to edit and publish. It's not the time.
It's the season for something else - to fully write and publish the words of last winter. And to share what's happening in this very moment of family life because of that. The decisions and choices blossoming from the ideas germinated in the dark of winter.
At the time I bought books on self publishing, thinking, "this might be it, the progression of blogger to author, the book I am meant to write". I say that mostly in jest because I've never had the dream, like many bloggers do, of writing a book.
I just want to write, earn something for my efforts, and make connections with people reading my work. Putting together the pieces of this puzzle with integrity - where my actions align with my inner values - is the big challenge.
Jumping on the self published book bandwagon seemed the thing to do. But I realized after that initial flush of excitement that book writing at this stage of life is not for me - for reasons I can discuss in comments (I don't want to take up precious paragraph space with the ins and outs of my personality, our family dynamic, and why publishing a book is not in the cards for me right now).
We were in the chaos of moving during the winter and I couldn't write and publish even at FIMBY (never mind a book!) nearly everything I wanted to share.
But the ideas didn't care and they kept coming so I scribbled pages and pages of notes on looseleaf, the back of kid's drawings, in notebooks - whatever was handy. I did a lot of this while burning cooking supper.
Those notes have been backburnered in my writing binder too long now. Like a mountain stream bubbling through the bedrock those ideas are wanting to be published.
After we moved I was busy living, savoring summer, and feeling vibrant and "in between". Also there was a whole lot of homeschool change going on that never hit the press, so to speak, until this fall.
In the midst of all this summer activity was when I got serious about my regular blogging commitment of two hours a day. Which is what I wrote about in Stop Waiting for The Stars to Align. Our trip out west (fabulous for our outdoor interests, meeting people, and furthering our location independent working connections) interrupted that a bit, as was obviously necessary for the traveling we were doing.
And when I was asked to contribute to Heather's 30 Day Vegan course I jumped at the chance to grow my connections and credability as an on-line writer and get paid to write.
That was a wonderful experience that took lots of personal writing time, much more than I expected.
September was the official start of the school year and I spent time writing about food (in the groove from 30 Day Vegan), wrote about homeschooling and getting organized and finally published reviews and a giveaway I committed to at OR in August.
And now here we are - October. Words wanting to see the light of day since the deep, dark of winter are growing restless and I just can't hold those back any longer.
So what is it I'm burning with such desire to write about?
Mostly navel gazing self reflection and intentional living stuff. Topics I really hope you will find inspiring or at the very least interesting. Because half the fun of writing a blog is having people read and respond.
This calendar year of 2011 is drawing nearly to a close, unbelievable I know. It's time to finish what was started back there in winter. To publish those words about the self work I've done - defining my mission, facing my insecurities (and how I'm moving forward in spite of them).
I want to talk more about our family dreams, hopes and goals. And to explore the point of intentional living.
Will you notice any difference here at FIMBY?
Not so much in the content but perhaps in the frequency of posts. My writing intentions, as I've explained, have been divided amongst FIMBY and other places for a better part of this year. I'm ready now to focus all, or nearly all (I have my regular Simple Homeschool commitment to uphold and two small assignments for other people) my writing attentions here. This will probably translate to more posts per week.
What am I hoping to achieve with this focus?
Mostly peace of mind - to not have all those unpublished (and yet very important to me) thoughts hanging around in my head into the new year. I'd love to start January with a clean writing slate. Because I know next year is going to bring some amazing writing opportunities of its own, I want to be ready for those.
And I'm hoping something else really big will happen. That I will find the sweet spot of success writing from my wholeheart. Success and wholehearted writing - those are two ideas not easily defined that I will be attempt to unpackage this fall.
Are you with me?
Oh, I sure hope you are. I love writing here more than words can express. It has become a very key part of my daily routine and dare I say, happiness.
I hope you won't all abandon me in the face of prolific posts (just skip over those you don't want to read - you have my permission - which you don't need) or sensitive topics. Don't worry I don't plan to be writing about controversial parenting topics like picky eaters. But topics that relate to the core of who I am - my faith, passions, and calling. My fears, challenges, and vulnerablities.
And because I don't want either my life or FIMBY to be all about introspection (the blog is called Fun in My Back Yard for a reason) I have a whole week devoted to both making and blogging about soap! Just in time to help you get your act in gear for Christmas gift giving.
I'm so excited about these coming months - both in my daily living and here at FIMBY. In less than a month we move to Quebec, the final destination (for now) in our Life 3.0 move. I'll be telling you all about this next stage of our move (750 sq. ft living space) very soon.
We are living the life we want as a family and I intend to write my heart out as I tell this story. To be honest, I'm freakin' excited about it all (and also wondering when the ball will drop on my dreams, somedays it seems too good to be true) and I hope I don't scare you with my enthusiasm.
Just a heads up that tomorrow will be a guest post, something I've wanted to publish now for months. My friend Jill Foley shares how their family lives with a mission mindset and how they incorporate that into their homeschool. Jill's others-mindedness has inspired me now for a couple years and I'm so happy to have her share tomorrow.
I think her post is the perfect segue between the homeschool vibe of September and the direction FIMBY will be taking in the coming months.
And that's the state of the union friends. I'm hanging on tight because I think it might be an interesting journey. And I might (but don't hold your breath) even finish that follow up to Stop Waiting for the Stars to Align. Now that would be too good to be true!
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kelsey on Oct. 11, 2011, 8:49 p.m.
hi
i thought i would come out of hiding... ive been reading for sometime (a year or more!!) I wanted to say thankyou for the many inspirational posts you write. i am a stay at home housewife/mamma to two (6 months and 26 months!) i hope to homeschool and have been loving those posts a lot!! life is complete and utter chaos with two littles (its naptime now!!_ im inspiored to read how your family has grown from this stage!! i love the photos since you move-- i have always wanted to see the east coast and have to say im tempted by all the gorgeous landscape and reasonable real estate!! (it is really hard to live on one income here (we are just out of vancouver, BC) looking fwd to your new posts
i will try not to be so shy with comments in the future!!
kelsey
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renee on Oct. 11, 2011, 10:22 p.m.
I hear you Kelsey. Damien and I talked about moving back west over the years but the cost of living was always a big deterrent for our single income family. We love the west coast and the western mountains but we're staying east for now and instead will live some of our dreams to travel etc. because our housing costs can be so reasonable. Thanking you for coming out to say hi and comment. I really appreciate it. I have a special post in mind for mamas in your very stage of life Kelsey and I can't wait to share it.
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Kika on Oct. 11, 2011, 9 p.m.
Well, you certainly have me excited about all that is to come :)
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Jill Foley on Oct. 11, 2011, 11 p.m.
I am looking forward to your upcoming posts. Thank you for letting me be part of the transition.
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Tiffany on Oct. 12, 2011, 1:57 a.m.
I, too, am looking forward to your upcoming posts. I enjoy reading your blog very much and am glad to hear that there is more in the near future!wou
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Catherine Forest on Oct. 12, 2011, 2:35 a.m.
How exciting! I can't wait to read this! Have you found a place in Gaspésie already?
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renee on Oct. 12, 2011, 9:52 a.m.
Yep! Can't wait to give you the tour of our "chalet" in the coming weeks.
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Wendy on Oct. 12, 2011, 3:41 a.m.
Can't wait to read about your new living space, Renee. We are strongly considering downsizing to around 900 square feet with our three kids, and finding articles on other families that live in small spaces is really difficult. I'll look forward to your philosophy as well as how you put it into practice in such an intimate space.
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Katie @ Making This Home on Oct. 12, 2011, 3:49 a.m.
OH Renee, I am always so refreshed deep in my heart when I read the posts like this from you. It sounds like you are finding so much direction and comfort. Looking forward to the growth and dreams it brings you! Katie
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renee on Oct. 12, 2011, 9:56 a.m.
Thank you Katie. Our conversations from at your house come often to my mind. You and Martin are very inspirational to us. I want to dream big like you but I'm so scared and insecure and I want to really move past that. And I think one way to do that is to just live life large in spite of those insecurities and write my heart out in the process.
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Katie @ Making This Home on Nov. 12, 2011, 2:27 a.m.
Hi Renee. It's an entire month later, and I am sitting here reading all of your posts that you have written in the past month. Yes, I have already read them one at a time. But tonight? I'm swallowing them like a mug of tea sitting in front of me, sip after sip because I can't get enough.
I'm trying to figure out how to tell you how AMAZED I am by the work that you have put into your blog this last month. The posts? Amazing! I want to slip into your shoes.
My little sister is reading all of your blog posts, too.
You're our handmade mama role model, Renee. I really hope all the dreams you described in this post and during our visit together come true. I'm here to help any way I can, too. No question!
Katie
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Mel on Oct. 12, 2011, 4:29 a.m.
Looking forward to upcoming posts!
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Natalia on Oct. 12, 2011, 7:25 a.m.
Thank-you so much for your post Renee. I am so looking forward to your future posts. Firstly because I admire your writing and always find it insightful and a great read. Secondly for a purely selfish reason - after this year also having a huge change to our family dynamic re. a change in my husband's work (in our case him actually now living in the same country!), moving house, and me trying to figure out how to work with wanting to write, and change, and be, but not sure how, I am following what you do in the hope of perhaps figuring out what I can do! As I said, selfish, but be aware that in this corner of cyberspace at least, your actions are incredibly helpful to someone.
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renee on Oct. 12, 2011, 9:57 a.m.
I am just trying to figure it out also!
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Julie on Oct. 12, 2011, 12:35 p.m.
I'm looking forward to reading what has been going on in your head. Your thoughts are so helpful. It's encouraging to see how you live intentionally and authentically even if it looks different then most. I appreciate the length and depth you give in these posts. It helps me process all you are saying.
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renee on Oct. 12, 2011, 1:35 p.m.
Thank you Julie. I truly struggle with the depth and breadth since it's not terribly fashionable in my blogging circles to "go deep and wordy". But the story behind the story - the intention and challenges behind the actions - are as important to me as the story itself and I can't help tell my story without all the background. I realize it might limit my readership because my posts are not sound bites but I'm learning to be ok with this. Depth of content and authentic story are more important to me than a gloss over and that is just one area I am learning to be secure and ok with in my writing. So all that to say your comment means a lot. Thank you.
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Amanda on Oct. 14, 2011, 1:03 p.m.
I'm so glad to hear you say this, Renee. I'm sick of wasting time looking at "sound bites", so to speak. Reading blogs that just have an outline of some topic seems pointless, to me. I just don't bother with those anymore. If I am going to spend time reading someone's blog, it is because I am interested in their actual story and background and reasoning, not just the highlighted points that I can already see for myself. So, THANK YOU! Perhaps I don't read many blogs, but yours is staying on the list for this very reason.
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Becky @ Sowing Little Seeds on Oct. 12, 2011, 2:20 p.m.
I have been so blessed to have found your blog over the past year or so and to discover that I have many of the same ideas about living and raising and educating my children as you do (although you have your methods much more figured out than I do at this point). I would love to hear you "talk more about our family dreams, hopes, and goals". I have found so much encouragement here that, although my ideas about homeschooling and my children's education are not mainstream and are often criticized by those around me, I am not alone and there are others out there (few that we may be) living this model and seeing success, and more importantly, raising happy, healthy, secure, and confident children. I have even been pushed toward me more intentional, healthy, "greener" living through your blog and I can't wait to see what's to come!
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Sage on Oct. 12, 2011, 6:32 p.m.
I recently changed the tone and focus of my blog, so I'm excited to read about your new direction. You can't go wrong if you just write what's in your heart.
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Emily on Oct. 12, 2011, 8:57 p.m.
Oh, how I'm looking forward to more from you. The deeper, introspective Renee, as well as all the other goodies I glean from you. (As always)
You are a gifted writer and I've been so inspired by all that you've shared here. xo
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tara on Oct. 12, 2011, 9:53 p.m.
Renee, I am looking forward to whatever it is you have planned. And a whole week about soap?! Bring it on, I say. Your video tutorial about soap making inspired me to finally do what I had been wanting to do for years and I wish I could fully tell you what it has meant and what I have discovered. ANd, by the way, I think your stars may have already aligned.
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renee on Oct. 12, 2011, 10:54 p.m.
Tara, I'm so happy to hear that. So, so happy. I think you'll love what's coming next week.
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Naomi on Oct. 13, 2011, 1:45 a.m.
I'm happy for you Renee! I can really hear your anticipation and happiness, and yes, I do expect to read all your posts! Even though I know you were planning to write a book, expressing yourself fully through FIMBY sounds like it's a better fit for you. I can't wait to hear about the new place too!
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Renee on Oct. 13, 2011, 3:29 p.m.
Your enthusiasm shines in this post! I admire how much energy and excitement you have for your new direction. I wish I felt that about something. I enjoy reading your blog so much and will surely be here to continue! Good for you!
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renee on Oct. 13, 2011, 3:38 p.m.
Renee, the stuff I want to write is also meant to help readers find that direction and enthusiasm for their own lives. I really want to encourage people and I'm trying to figure out how to do this in a mutually fulfilling way. Writing post after post in the how-to tutorial style does not inspire me, telling my story does. But I want there to be real "take-aways" in the telling and I don't know how to tidily connect those dots. I'm hoping in the coming months, through my writing here at FIMBY, I can figure out how to connect writing, encouraging, teaching and living passionately in a way that we all benefit. You gain from the reading and I gain from the writing (smile). It seems a tall order but that's really what I'm trying to achieve here. And I have no idea how to do this but I'm willing to give it my whole heart.
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steadymom on Oct. 13, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Yeah - bring it!
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Elizabeth on Oct. 13, 2011, 9:37 p.m.
Renee' your blog has been so inspiring to me over the last year. I have enjoyed everything you have shared. My two little ones have kept me busy but I look forward to hiking with them in the woods. I am a bit selfishly excited to see the soap week coming up! You have inspired me to begin making my own soaps, and I can't wait to make some for family and friends this holiday season. Thank you for putting aside your insecurities and "writing your heart out!" It has been an exciting ride to follow for your family this year :)
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Kyce on Oct. 14, 2011, 2:22 a.m.
Yes, yes, all sounds great--especially the soap posts. Bring them on ASAP! Maybe right after your post on mothering small children :) I guess I've always thought of FIMBY as introspective in the way you describe, but the topics you hint at are as juicy as ever. I'm on board.
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Beverly on Oct. 15, 2011, 4:35 a.m.
I am really looking forward to reading more about what makes you tick. I admire your sensibilities and have wanted to know more about your inner life for some time. Thank you for this post and the subsequent one. Travel on in faith! My husband and I are tickled that your daughter is learning Python. Joel--husband--hasn't picked that up yet, but will.
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Michelle on Oct. 11, 2011, 8:31 p.m.
I am with you. I'll read whatever you have to say. I find you very insightful and interesting and I look forward to the changes that lie ahead. Good for you!
renee on Oct. 11, 2011, 11:07 p.m.
Thank you Michelle.