
Belong, Belonging, Beloved. A little love letter to us, my Wordsmith Studio friends, on our first anniversary.
Yesterday I finally fell into work in the studio. I set all projects aside and simply created from my heart, created for you and for this post.
I love improvisational work, nothing feels better or truer.
It can be hard to let go, to be free, to be true. This kind of work is dangerous. What if people don’t like it? What if you…who are so important to me and so in my heart… what if you don’t like it? But it’s the purest offering I can give you.
Let’s talk about this insane thing we did. A year ago this April, we came together, complete strangers, over a challenge to grow our on-line presence at Robert Brewer’s My name is not Bob blog.
We took a chance. We built our platforms, we circled each other, we followed each other, we read each other and we liked each other…but then we found out that we really did like each other and we started to support each other, to share more than just our work.
We come from different corners of the world and every walk of life, but when we are asked what are we doing this for, our answers are:
Because it makes us happy.
Because it makes others happy.
Because, as our skills develop, we can feel ourselves developing as writers, as poets, as artists, as photographers.
Because the language of our art is ancient and we want to speak it proficiently.
Because we always knew we would do creative work.
Because at one point in our lives we decided to finally do what we wanted to do all along.
Because we never want to give up.
Because what we do takes courage.
Because we believe there is value in being vulnerable.
Because sharing is good.
Because it makes us laugh and cry.
Because it’s good for our soul.
Because we believe in each other.
Because we love to and because we want to, and each time we are asked we think of seventeen more reasons.
And sometimes the work is not a joy, sometimes it is forced and no one, including our own brave little heart, believes we can do it, but we carry on.
Here we all are together, birds of a feather.
And tomorrow we will be braver and work on, and tomorrow we will be less tired and tomorrow we will share some more of our hearts with each other.
And we will create.
In the end it’s the best way we know how to give.
A careless unveiling and then, and then we will stand in the light and shine.
And to my heart we belong together in our group.
In my heart you are worthy of belonging and you are beloved.
Jeannine Bergers Everett
I felt the love in every letter, every curve, every color. I’m so grateful for the thread that led me to you <3
Veronica
Aw Jeannine, I’m the lucky one to have you in my life. <3
Sophie
je suis de l’autre côté du monde et je trouve cela merveilleux de s’écrire et de partager de jolies choses!
merci pour ces beaux moments passés en votre compagnie
bises
Sophie
Veronica
Merci Sophie pour tes mots gentils. I always look forward to them and love that I know you. Bises. 🙂
Carol Early Cooney
Veronica, It is lovely, wonderful, terrific. Your attitude is so great. I am so glad that it is our anniversary! Clink clink!
Veronica
Clink, clink Carol! 🙂
Linda G Hatton
I smiled through the whole post, your warmth radiating out in every word and art-piece. I am so grateful to say we are friends. Lovely!
Veronica
Thank you Linda, me too. 🙂 So happy I know you.
ebeth2000
I love your images and creativity, Veronica. As Sophie said, you’re sharing pretty things with a writing community that spans the world!
Veronica
Thank you Elizabeth. I love our community. 🙂
Sopphey
Very beautiful Veronical I love it. It should be permanently posted on the site as reasons why we exist with each other.
Veronica
Aw Sopphey, thank you. I’m happy to upload the images to the site. 🙂 Maybe we can all contribute to the reasons. (Oh no, not another thing to do…lol) 😉
jlynn sheridan
X QUIZ ETTE! That’s my best french impressionist art/lingo expression for your delicious post.. OOh, LA LA!
Veronica
Lol JLynn, love it! 🙂
Jennifer Chow
Thank you for the lovely photos and the beautiful explanation of our group! I also really like the collage at the top 🙂
Veronica
Thank you Jennifer, you know that you can find tons of “X” in Cosmo mags but very few in other mags? Just saying. 🙂
Kasie Whitener
So, so wonderful, Veronica! Thank you, friend!
Veronica
Thank you Kasie. 🙂 It’s for us all.
michellepond
Usually when I hear the word tapestry, I think of Carole King. Now, I’ll think of the group. Beautiful words and pictures. Happy Anniversary.
Veronica
Oh no Michelle, now I’m thinking of Carole King…lol Happy anniversary. 🙂
Saturn Bull (@thesaturnbull)
“And we will create.” Love it!!
Veronica
Yes Sarah, just think of where we’ll be next year. 🙂
Melanie Marttila
Lovely post 🙂 I do feel the virtual hug! Back at you creative bad-ass (((HUG)))
Veronica
Lol, virtual hugs Melanie. 🙂
AlvaradoFrazier (@AlvaradoFrazier)
Oh my goodness, I laughed out loud when I saw your first graphic, “Sit down and write…” Thanks for the message-great delivery. Now can I share that graphic-I’ll send a link over to you when I do!
Veronica
Great Monica, you can share anything you like. 🙂
Sabra Bowers
I’m honored to be a part of the invisible threads connecting us. I love your beautiful, heartfelt words and art. Thank you! Big hug across the miles and miles.
Veronica
Big hug back Sabra. One day…big hug in person. 🙂
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Gerry Wilson
Well, I think we could all just stop now (and that doesn’t take away in the least from the terrific posts that have gone before yours). You’ve said–and shown–so beautifully what we’re about! I agree with Sopphey that this should become part of the site somehow. Thank you, thank you for the lovely words and images.
Veronica
Aw Gerry, thank you for being my friend. I’m happy to have this on the site in any way. I can upload the images into the media files for a start. 🙂
Barbara Morrison
Beautiful! I never expected a community like this to grow out of a whim to follow Robert’s challenge. Astonishing and humbling . . . Thank you for drawing it.
kiril kundurazieff
A wonderful essay! Such power and emotion in so few words, and I love the images!
Veronica
Thank you Kiril.
danadampier
I agree… we definitely need to keep this close as a reminder of where we started and how far we’ve come together!! Thank you Veronica for doing this!!
Veronica
Hi Dana, good let’s keep it close. 🙂
Anne Kimball
So, so beautiful, Veronica. I am honored and humbled to belong to this community. I was in a bad place last night, and reading this lifted my spirits. Brought tears to my eyes, but the good kind. You are an amazing person, an incedible artist. Thank you!
Veronica
Oh Anne, I’m so glad my post helped you yesterday. You do so much and have so much on your plate that you amaze me. I’m so glad we’re friends. 🙂
Becca
You are amazing. 😉
Veronica
So are you Becca. 🙂
Katt
What a brilliant, creative posting, thanks so much! I would love nominate you for all the awards! Inspirational!
Veronica
Aw Kathryn, you are so sweet, thank you. I’ll take the “everyone likes her” award! 🙂
Carole
Wonderful post Veronica, I love it! I wanted to share some fabulous news I received on Friday but I can’t find your email. When you get a free moment drop me a line. xox
Veronica
So so exciting Carole, great big congratulations and I’m so going to vote for you…if I can. 🙂
Catherine Llewellyn
i am in tears … X
Veronica
Aw Catherine, I’m sorry. 🙂 X
cjaboro
Wonderful! I got goosebumps while reading! I was excited to do the challenge, but I never imagined the friendships that would evolve. It has been my very great pleasure to know you Veronica and to witness your wonderful works of art. 🙂
Veronica
Hi Claudine, we’re so lucky, aren’t we? Thank you so much for being a part of this group. 🙂
Sara v
I’m with Catherine–verklemp–talk amongst yourselves while I sniffle. 😉 I ADORE those feathers on book pages and that composition with black ink pen and white flowers/written pages, run free Veronica, run free!! 🙂 Thank you for the verbal hug and inspiration–back atcha!! Love ya! <3
Veronica
Verbal hug back at you Sara, and hopefully one day in real life. 🙂 Running free…
sue@betwixthomeandschool
Beautiful post, Veronica! Thanks for sharing your creativity it is inspiring. Congratulations on your anniversary and to many more! Sue@betwixthomeandschool.blogspot.com
Veronica
Hi Sue, it’s pretty exciting for me, and for us and I’m so happy to know lovely people like you and be able to share with everyone. How lucky are we?
Jeffrey Brunner
Once, I fell in love… and I thought that words could win her heart. The most difficult thing I ever attempted was to collect those words, to assemble them in the necessary order, and, when she read them she would be captured by their reality, as if reality could be surrounded by words… I did not succeed, of course…and learned that words are not really meant to pull, but to push; not to entangle, but to liberate. Thanks Veronica.
Veronica
Oh Jeffrey, I can’t help but think that was a silly woman. 🙂
Julia Tomiak
Veronica- absolutely beautiful, and I’m so glad you uploaded the photos to our site. Has anyone pinned them yet? They most certainly need pinning! I’m always so inspired by you- thanks for sharing your talents with us.
Veronica
Hi Julia, thank you. 🙂 I’m so glad I can inspire. 🙂
Amy
This is such a lovely post, Veronica. Very touching.
Thank you.
Veronica
Hi Amy, thank you so much. 🙂
emilyemcgee
This is so upbeat and inspiring, thank you! Also, my favorite line is “we circled each other, we followed each other, we read each other and we liked each other…but then we found out that we really did like each other”. So true! Someone once asked me how many of my blog commenters I know in real life, and I had to count twice because I feel like I know all the WSS friends in real life, even though I’ve never met any of you.
Veronica
Hi Emily, I feel the same way. So lovely getting to know you and all our wonderful friends. 🙂
Amanda Socci, Freelance Writer
Beautiful images accompanying beautiful sentiments. Just lovely, Veronica!
Veronica
Oh, thank you Amanda, and thanks for stopping by. Happy anniversary to us!
mliddle
Your post embodies what it means to belong and belonging. I feel touched by your words and pictures, as I am sure others were also. Thank you for starting off thesecelebratory anniversary posts with a sense of togetherness. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you, Veronica, and everyone in the group.
Monique
Veronica
Hi Monique, sweetie. 🙂 How are you doing? So happy you’re back. Much love to you. 🙂
mliddle
.I am doing a bit better than I was last summer and over the winter. The good days are few, but I am so happy for them and take advantage of the many things I can do on those days. Thank you for the warm welcome, Veronica. I admit that being back has me excited about blogging again and ultimately participating in the group more. We are a fantastic group, diverse, but amazingly supportive. I will have to wait to write until the fall because of moving and other things this summer. But when I do, I know I will have the support of WSS.
With warm wishes to you –
Monique
Veronica
Absolutely Monique. You are so cared about here. Take care. 🙂