Seeds of Encouragement

I’m the youngest of four children. Shortly after I was born, my family moved and no longer lived quite as near to our extended family. As I grew up, I didn’t see my grandparents or my aunts and uncles often, and I don’t have many childhood memories with them. In the random memory that comes up, though, I recall my aunts and uncles being very kind and even quite silly when they interacted with me. Their humor made me giggle, and I loved the brief encounters. 

After I graduated from college with a degree in English Writing, I remember my aunt talking with me about the importance of writing. She told me how much she enjoyed writing about her treasured gardens around their home. During our conversation, she said, “You need to write every day. It doesn’t matter what it is; just sit in the chair and write something every day.”

I think of my aunt often and remember several interactions with her, but that is a conversation I’ve replayed over the years. I’ll be honest . . . I didn’t follow her advice at the time. Many years later, though, I’m finally listening.