Do not wait to open your heart.
Let yourself go into the Mystery.
Sometimes the threads have no weave.
The price of not loving yourself is high.

-- Jim Cohn

My writing is different because of the stroke. Not better or worse, but different. But, I didn't realize how much I counted on my writing being what it was, rather than looking forward to now.

I have been writing a LOT...poems and (thanks to a challenge by Jennifer) essays, some of them are over 500 words!

I have a lot of stories from the past year -- as you can imagine. Writing them is half the battle and sharing them, well...time to let my inner editor go. Because, some day is now. Why not?

My new life as a writer -- with the issues of aphasia, apraxia, anomia -- all features of language that make me forget words (especially the little ones). Or get the words out of order. And when I write when I'm tired, I can barely get the words out.

Writing is hard (duh), but I had no idea it could be this HARD. Some would say impossible. I have fought for the right to write. And still do -- everyday.

I have always maintained that writing is not about finishing. It's not about perfection. It's about always trying. It's about writing, for writing's sake....for God's sake. Despite the challenges, whatever they are.

And this:

I believe in the power of words. Words represent possibility and potential, and carry within them a spark than can reignite hope, fuel inspiration, clarify desire, and reveal truth. Words can open a window into some aspect of a reader’s life that was previously closed, allowing for a new perspective and the ability to connect with others in a new way.

Nobody needs to feel alone in their story.

Words matter, more than ever.

So what if there are errors in a blog post? So what.

Luckily, I have fabulous editors in Michele, Brenda, Jennifer, Melissa, Ricky...and you?

If something slips through, you'll let me know, won't you?

One thing's for sure -- I can never go back to my old life, and that includes writing.

And, tomorrow is not for sure.