Great post! Yes, reframing is essential sometimes, in life and in art.
I also suffer from a long-term and progressive illness, and if hadn't been for it, I probably wouldn't have devoted myself so fully to developing my writing. Like you, Matt, I can no longer do many of the things I once loved to do, and every year I lose something else. Playing golf, cycling, hill walking, they were all stripped away one by one. Can I sit around feeling sorry for myself? Yep, I sure can, and some days I do. Mostly, though, I focus on gratitude. There are a lot of people in this world who have a harder life than me. I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, food on the table. In my writing, my career is progressing in ways I could only have dreamed of 12 months ago.
Have I lost a lot? Yeah to that, too, but there are still things I can do. The difference now is that I don't take them for granted!
So sorry to hear you're in the same boat, Jennifer. But what a wonderful attitude you have. Like you, I'm so grateful to have a roof over my head and food on the table, because so many don't have that; and so many don't have the luxury to say "I'm too ill to work, therefore I'm not working". There is so much to be said for finding the positives where we can, focusing on the possibilities ahead rather than the dreams and joys abandoned on the path already travelled.
I'm so sorry to hear of your health struggles. I too have a long term illness and it's in a phase of acting up right now. I love this idea of reframing and after looking at a piece of writing I've been struggling it's helped give it a much needed refresh. I hope your sabbatical treats you well.
Thanks, Kendall. That's really kind of you. Sorry to here you're also in a bad phase right now. It is such a frustrating thing! Glad you're still managing to stay creative, though. Good luck with your story. Fascinated to hear how it turns out.
Matt, I am sorry to hear of this shift in your health. I will add you to my daily compassion meditation practice: May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you live with ease. We have not met, but I am looking forward to working with you and others in the Colorful Characters workshop, which I hope will be restorative rather than adding additional stress. I loved reading your thoughts about reframing...lots I can play with here! Thanks!
Thanks, Katie. That's very kind. I am really looking forward to working with you in May. It will be my last course for a while, so hopefully I'll be going out on a high - the list of writers taking part looks wonderful. I'm sure you'll write lots of amazing stories.
Sorry to hear about your ongoing health struggles, Matt. "Reframing" in our stories and in our lives is positive way to look at things. I appreciate your insights, compassion, and candor. Take the time and rest you need, and thanks for sharing your brilliance with all of us.
You are such a gem, Kathy. I appreciate everything you do in return. Thank you for being so supportive not just of me but of everyone in the writing community.
Matt thank you for this thought provoking newsletter. I’m signing up for the May workshop. I have a short story that’s itching to be a novel. I’m hoping that your summer sabbatical will be the reset you need and that come fall you’ll be peacefully doing or not doing. Reading without editing is a real pleasure. I so appreciate your contributions to other writers and your words themselves.
Oh, how exciting. One of the things I'm getting workshoppers to think about is whether they have a piece of short fiction that might be novellated (that should be a verb), so you're one step ahead already. Hopefully there are some other ideas in the workshop that will help you move forwards with your idea. Thank you for your kind words. Teaching / editing has given me so much, so hopefully I'll be able to return to it after my break.
Great post! Yes, reframing is essential sometimes, in life and in art.
I also suffer from a long-term and progressive illness, and if hadn't been for it, I probably wouldn't have devoted myself so fully to developing my writing. Like you, Matt, I can no longer do many of the things I once loved to do, and every year I lose something else. Playing golf, cycling, hill walking, they were all stripped away one by one. Can I sit around feeling sorry for myself? Yep, I sure can, and some days I do. Mostly, though, I focus on gratitude. There are a lot of people in this world who have a harder life than me. I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, food on the table. In my writing, my career is progressing in ways I could only have dreamed of 12 months ago.
Have I lost a lot? Yeah to that, too, but there are still things I can do. The difference now is that I don't take them for granted!
So sorry to hear you're in the same boat, Jennifer. But what a wonderful attitude you have. Like you, I'm so grateful to have a roof over my head and food on the table, because so many don't have that; and so many don't have the luxury to say "I'm too ill to work, therefore I'm not working". There is so much to be said for finding the positives where we can, focusing on the possibilities ahead rather than the dreams and joys abandoned on the path already travelled.
I'm so sorry to hear of your health struggles. I too have a long term illness and it's in a phase of acting up right now. I love this idea of reframing and after looking at a piece of writing I've been struggling it's helped give it a much needed refresh. I hope your sabbatical treats you well.
Thanks, Kendall. That's really kind of you. Sorry to here you're also in a bad phase right now. It is such a frustrating thing! Glad you're still managing to stay creative, though. Good luck with your story. Fascinated to hear how it turns out.
Matt, I am sorry to hear of this shift in your health. I will add you to my daily compassion meditation practice: May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you live with ease. We have not met, but I am looking forward to working with you and others in the Colorful Characters workshop, which I hope will be restorative rather than adding additional stress. I loved reading your thoughts about reframing...lots I can play with here! Thanks!
Thanks, Katie. That's very kind. I am really looking forward to working with you in May. It will be my last course for a while, so hopefully I'll be going out on a high - the list of writers taking part looks wonderful. I'm sure you'll write lots of amazing stories.
Sorry to hear about your ongoing health struggles, Matt. "Reframing" in our stories and in our lives is positive way to look at things. I appreciate your insights, compassion, and candor. Take the time and rest you need, and thanks for sharing your brilliance with all of us.
You are such a gem, Kathy. I appreciate everything you do in return. Thank you for being so supportive not just of me but of everyone in the writing community.
Matt thank you for this thought provoking newsletter. I’m signing up for the May workshop. I have a short story that’s itching to be a novel. I’m hoping that your summer sabbatical will be the reset you need and that come fall you’ll be peacefully doing or not doing. Reading without editing is a real pleasure. I so appreciate your contributions to other writers and your words themselves.
Oh, how exciting. One of the things I'm getting workshoppers to think about is whether they have a piece of short fiction that might be novellated (that should be a verb), so you're one step ahead already. Hopefully there are some other ideas in the workshop that will help you move forwards with your idea. Thank you for your kind words. Teaching / editing has given me so much, so hopefully I'll be able to return to it after my break.