When I started my road to recovery, I felt incredibly alone.  My circle of friends at that time were not interested in things like feeling pain, speaking truth, or self-reflection. Who could blame us, really?

I had myself tightly knit with people who lived in denial, thus allowing me the freedom to do the same.  I didn’t even realize the cocoon I lived in until I took several steps away. It felt natural, and safe.  Little did I know just how wrong I was…

Joining the blogging community has been such a completely different experience.  I’ve found so many people who are interested in growth and healing of all sorts.  Some from physical issues, others from emotional, mental, or spiritual ones.  My own journey of healing and recovery was catapulted with the discovery of such a rich world of genuinely caring and tremendous people.

There are several such bloggers I’d love to highlight on this ‘blog hop’ I’m on, but today I’ve narrowed it down to two, plus a thank-you for the invitation to join in The Hop.

As part of The Hop, I’ll also answer 4 burning questions at the end!  😉

Joe Pote, over at Redeemed!, writes poignantly about divorce and all that surrounds the issue.  He shares openly about leaving an abusive marriage, the church’s condemnation of the divorced, and the challenges he went through to move beyond both.  I always leave his posts with a new awareness, and a fresh reminder to respect journeys others have gone on that I know nothing about.  We’ve all gone through something.  Thank you, Joe, for inviting me on this Blog Hop!

Misifusa started blogging in 2010 to share her story of surviving breast cancer.  She also shares stories of life in general, always with a tender and gracious heart.  We’ve emailed ‘offline’ about some deeper thoughts, and have talked about writing a piece together.  In her own words ‘As Alice Morse Earle wrote, “”The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present,” which is how my blog’s name has evolved to The Presents of Presence.’  Head over for some positive energy, you won’t be disappointed!

Lori Lara is a recovery blogger whose background is very different than mine, but our recovery journeys parallel.  The first time we spoke on the phone, we realized we ‘spoke’ each others language.  In her own words “I share my raw journey through depression, PTSD, and addiction in the hope of sharing the healing power of Jesus with those suffering similarly.”  She is a contributing author of Hope in the Mourning devotional Bible, Chicken Soup for the Soul, MOPS International, and numerous other recovery sites.   Head over for truth from the heart.

 

Now, for those burning questions I’m supposed to answer…

“What am I writing or working on?”

Most of my writing energy is currently focused on my novel -tentatively titled “Letters of a Lifetime”.  It is set in current day, but the real story begins in WW2.  I’ve found myself very distracted reading numerous books in the WW2 era, making sure I’ve got my facts straight.  Who knew research could be so entertaining!

My memoir also screams for attention now and again, but I’m not ready to focus on that yet.

“How does my work differ from others in its genre?”

Honestly, it probably doesn’t -except I think the actual storyline is pretty unique.

“Why do I write what I write?”

I do the blogging because I feel compelled to share my story of recovery to give others hope and to let them know they aren’t alone.

My memoir will serve the same purpose, if it comes to fruition.

The novel is a way for me to partially write my story, incognito.

“How does my writing process work?”

What can I say?  I wish I had a process!!  I tend to run hot and cold in my writing.  Setting a writing schedule is something I’ve thought of, but haven’t implemented yet.  It is, as am I, a work in progress.

 

How about you?  What are you writing or working on?