Autumnal Affirmations

It’s spectacular autumn weather up here on the Gunflint Trail! This 5 month stretch on the trail has been one of moving and learning, thinking and reflecting. The museum’s last day is October 20th, and I’m sure by that time the leaves will be on the ground and the dark will be settling in when I get everything closed up for the evening.

I’ve had some time to weigh my thoughts on leaving the teaching profession and embarking upon this new career of writing children’s books and wandering the woods of northeastern Minnesota. I am still of the very firm belief that educating our young people is the greatest profession we have. So it’s with a heavy heart that I left my teaching job 2 years ago and I’ve been struggling to get some sort of settledness in my heart surrounding that decision.

I love the book that Sofia and I created, and I’m excited about the next books we’re working on, but there was still a little pulling in my heart as to if I made the right decision. I struggle to sit down and write because it feels like it’s not “real work.” I struggle with imposter syndrome and my own feelings of inadequacy and the whole, ‘who do you think you are?’ sort of thinking. Not to mention the very lack of income this creative work generates. Then the universe offered up a few wonderful things that I really needed to hear.

First, Kohei called and told me that he was visiting some friends of his who have young children and they’d gotten a copy of The Northland Beckons for their 4 year old son. Kohei’s friends told him that their little boy gets to pick out his bedtime book at night and frequently it ends up being The Northland Beckons. The little boy then piped up and started reciting some of the haiku from the book. Kohei said, “Mom, he’s growing up with your book!” That melted my heart. How lovely to know that the book that Sofia and I made is helping a little one to love and celebrate this beautiful planet we inhabit while drifting off to sleep. Wow, how humbling is that? Not teaching, but still impactful.

Second, I watched this video of A Brief But Spectacular take on living your best life while aging . Instead of bemoaning the loss of my youth, I suddenly got a jolt of hey, the best is yet to come. My let’s get started mojo came back!

Thirdly, like extra hot fudge on my ice cream sundae, just yesterday, I received the email stating that The Northland Beckons won the silver award for children’s poetry in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards ! Wowza!! I entered our book because I’ve been a fan of other Moonbeam award books for my students, so to receive this honor is truly a huge affirmation of being on the right path.

So, to all of you creatives out there, keep on creating, the world needs you!! We need your beauty, your intellect, your caring and compassion. We need to see the fragile beauty of our humanity and all that binds us together.

And just for fun, here’s a picture of Chacha in her usual spot on the couch next to me while I work, if that helps to inspire you as well!