Happy Solstice!
This day is one of my favourites of the whole year. And I love to celebrate the return of the light by connecting with you—the people who read these monthly letters of mine.
Today, I want to share a few places I’ve found solace and inspiration in the past year, but first, I have some exciting news!
On Wednesday, December 28, I will be a guest on CBC’s Maritime Noon in a special phone-in show on a topic that is right up my alley: What story have you always wanted to write? And what has been holding you back?
I will be sharing the microphone with acclaimed fiction writer, Lesley Crewe – exciting! It will be a LIVE show from 12-1pm AST and you can tune in from wherever you are via the CBC Listen App!
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Where do you turn for inspiration?
We live in a world where there are endless choices in terms of what we ingest into our minds and beings. Podcasts galore, 24/7 streaming music and movies, YouTube rabbit holes…you name it, it’s available.
There is also a lot of overwhelming news during this time we are living through. News that can make us feel powerless about the state of the world and then ultimately exhausted. I notice, for myself, that I need to be very careful about what I am consuming and mindful about creating a balance between the dark, heavy-feeling news of the world and more soulful, heart-centred content.
So, today, I want to share just a few of the places I regularly turn to for spots of light and shots of inspiration:
The Marginalian (used to be called Brain Pickings)
The original, beautiful, and thoughtful articles of this website are created by Maria Popova who often writes about literature, art, psychology, and philosophy. I feel like Popova elevates our world view by taking a deep dive into all kinds of fascinating topics. Do yourself a favour and scroll down the left side of her home page for a tour through some of her most-read pieces.
Hosted by Pádraig Ó Tuama, and part of The On Being Project (also worth checking out!), this podcast, in short 15-minute episodes, takes one gorgeous poem at a time and explores it fully, line by line. This is for you if you’re longing to press the pause button on the superficial details of daily life, immerse yourself in words, and feed yourself from a deeper well. I always come away feeling calmer and sated, like having a nourishing bowl of soup on a cold day.
This podcast, hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway, takes us into the minds of writers of both songs and books, letting us hear, firsthand, the “birth moment” for their piece of art. If you’re someone who gets inspired by hearing about other people’s creative process, check this show out!
I would love to hear about your “shots of light” too. What do you listen to, read, or watch that soothes your heart, feeds your soul, and brings balance to your being?
Wishing you moments of quiet and peace over the holidays that will energize you for a fulfilling new year ahead!
Book News!
Writing Your Way is available at Halifax Public Libraries (five copies!), which absolutely thrills me! As someone who got her first library card at age two, has carted home thousands and thousands of library books over the years, and is an enthusiastic supporter of what libraries offer communities, this is a dream come true.
And a favour!
As your holiday present to me, please consider buying my book for someone you love AND/OR rating my book with five stars and leaving a review on any or all of these sites: Amazon, Goodreads, Chapters- Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. It helps so much! Thank you!
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