I had conversations with three talented authors recently and they all said the same thing in their own unique, evocative way. Writers need to resist the urge to write. Yup. You heard me. That’s me paraphrasing, but the message was the same, three times over: Exercise patience and don’t start writing until you’ve wrapped your […]| Victoria Ponders
I’m not a poet but I love to dabble, especially when stream-of-consciousness poetry arrives. Almost in an auto-write format. I’ll explain… It doesn’t happen often, but words and phrases…sometimes whole stanzas of poetry command my attention if my dad populated my subconscious overnight. I wish I could summon these bon-mot-moments on demand. Alas, I must […]| Victoria Ponders
If you’re in the Chicago area…I’d love to see you at Harper College, courtesy of The Cultural Arts Committee, when I read from “Surviving Sue” on Thursday, November 6 …| Victoria Ponders
My dear friend, poet Maggie Watson is a treasure. One of the most unexpected joys in blogging comes from meeting dear ones all around the world. Talented Maggie delights me with good wishes and waves “across the pond” from Scotland and taught me about a treat I’d never heard of – jelly tots. But the […]| Victoria Ponders
I’m a reader and a writer and a lover of great stories – especially those that delve into the complexity of relationships. I don’t enjoy glossy characters and descriptions of families that are too tidy. I suspect it’s because I cannot relate. Not even a smidge. Enter “When Things Go Missing“. The book I longed […]| Victoria Ponders
Wow. Wow. Wow. Do you know about John Busbee’s “The Culture Buzz”? If you don’t, you need to catch up! It’s my new favorite program on the award-winning, independent r…| Victoria Ponders
“We meet ourselves time and again in a thousand disguises on the path of life.” – Carl Jung Learning from others helps me see past the inadvertent disguises I wear. Most often, a comforting m…| Victoria Ponders
I adore the anonymous quote I snipped in (above). When readers have asked about my capacity for forgiveness, the secret sauce that helped me survive Sue, I often think of this wisdom. I…| Victoria Ponders
Whenever a reader offers praise for “Surviving Sue”, it’s a swoon-worthy moment. Pushing the boundaries of joy. Wynne Leon and I had the pleasure of visiting with Pia Mailhot Leichter on the “How to Share” podcast recently and meeting Pia was electric. Her energy and enthusiasm for life and her candor for the cause – […]| Victoria Ponders
“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living — if you do it well I’m sure there was someone …| Victoria Ponders
Lauren Scott’s beautiful new book, “King Copper – Our Dog’s Life in Poetry” stole my heart. Sadly, one of the common denominators in life is loss. When those I care about – friends, family, clients, former students – reach out and share their grief about losing a pet, there’s often a sense of shame about […]| Victoria Ponders
Maggie Watson is a joy. Her depth of understanding about the human condition is evident in her beautiful prose and poignant poetry. She exudes purpose in her writing, revealing the potency of healing through creativity and the power of sharing our stories. I love that Maggie understood the threads of empathy and compassion in “Surviving […]| Victoria Ponders
“It all comes to this: the simplest way to be happy is to do good.” – Helen Keller Inspired by Helen Keller’s beautiful quote, this is a good news post with gratitude galore – times fou…| Victoria Ponders
When someone you admire offers praise, it’s a delicious gift! The talented author, Deborah Brasket’s new book will be available soon AND she found time to review “Surviving Sue…| Victoria Ponders
I’m proud of my sister, Lisa. She lives every day to help others, despite her own challenges. Life with our mom, Sue, was often difficult but remembering her legacy of service matters and I c…| Victoria Ponders
Almost a year ago, I wrote the post below and revisiting it today was a joy. I love how memories and magical moments from the past can come in duos and trios if I’m aware. Today’s gift?…| Victoria Ponders