Farewell Musings

Photo Credit: Jan Tinneberg

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” ~ Walt Disney

I started Musings of an Emotional Creature in September 2016. These past ten years have taken me on quite a journey. I’m grateful for every step and turn the path has taken me, but my curiosity is telling me it’s time to say farewell, to open new doors and do new things. To all the readers who have followed me along the way, thank you for giving witness and purpose to my words. In this final parting blog I’m sharing a few highlights and some of the things I’ve learned. May your curiosity also lead you, dear reader, to new paths of adventure.

A few highlights…

When the idea sparked to start my own blog, I had no idea what the technical implications of that entailed. I asked my daughter who also has a love of writing, but who is more savvy in the ways of technology, to assist me. I had a blast during the photo shoot on Vancouver Island, the ocean as my backdrop, my talented daughter the photographer. She set me up using the Word Press platform and I started posting random blogs at random times and intervals as my musings dictated. At the time I was living on a compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with expats from all over the world, and one of women who read my blog encouraged me to apply to an advertisement for contributors to Diplomatic Quarter magazine. I did, and my application was accepted! Four of my articles were published, and the research for each one led me on paths I never would have explored on my own.

When I finished writing The Healing in 2019, my query to OC Publishing in Halifax, Nova Scotia was accepted. As part of the process of preparing to launch my novel into the world, my publisher gave me a checklist that included creating my own website. I asked the graphic designer we’d hired to do the interior layout for the book to create a website and moved my blog platform from Word Press to my website, which gave me the ability to receive emails directly from readers. Receiving feedback has been one of the highlights of writing a blog for me, and I have appreciated every single email from every single reader along the way.

Later on in the journey I decided to be more consistent and post once a month. Around two years ago I committed to posting every week. I have missed a few, when life threw me too many curveballs to keep up, but when I give my word I take that seriously and I’ve done my best to follow through. Over these past ten years I’ve had monthly themes and I’ve written off the cuff. Sometimes I’ve written to inform, but mostly I write from my heart. It’s impossible to choose a favourite from the thousands of blogs I’ve written over the last ten years, but I’ll share a few.

Two of my favourite blogs that I’ve written recently are Lost in Translation (July 10/26) and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (June 12/26). I’ve really enjoyed writing Grandma Stories inspired by my desire to impart wisdom to my grandchildren, especially Squirrel Smarts. I had fun writing fiction pieces about the book club enthusiasts. December 2024s miracle series felt like important, inspirational messages to share, and they were well-received by many readers. Blogs that inspire a response from readers are always my favourite.

Some things I’ve learned…

Don’t be so serious all the time. Be serious. Write from the heart. Don’t write from the heart when it might hurt others. Be authentic. Don’t tell other people’s stories even though we’re all connected. I’ve learned I’m not responsible for other people’s feelings about what I write and that I will never please everyone all the time. Writing my blog affirms for me how much I care what people think (even if it’s none of my business). It’s tough to hear criticism when you’re thin-skinned and sensitive like me, but I’ve also learned I get over it and move on and all is well.

My next steps are on the new path of service I started walking a few years ago when Mister and I moved back to Canada. We wanted to make strengthening family relationships a priority, and with each passing month new opportunities to do so have been given to us. It began with family here in Winnipeg. The scope widened with the arrival of two new grandchildren in 2025. At the end of last year, reconciling with my daughter created yet another opportunity to strengthen family. Our journey with Steve as he transitioned from this world inspired me to embrace being of service more than I ever have before. When my mom had a stroke and fall this spring, supporting her became my focus. I believe anything is possible, but the more we put into something the more we get back, so I’m pouring my energy into my family. I’m hoping the spirit of service will ripple out into our community here in Winnipeg. I don’t know what that will look like yet, but I trust the process of life and embrace whatever lies ahead. Farewell musings, farewell dear reader. It was a great adventure.