I am not sure when or how or where I fell in love with Literary Grannies.
It was probably somewhere between taking a Women's History course (just for fun) at my local community college and visiting Emily Dickinson's home in Amherst, Massachusetts during my daughter's senior year of high school. We were visiting Smith College and it was on a rainy April Fool's Day I first walked onto the lawn where Emily Dickinson once walked, too.
That's how your passionate journeying may begin or continue.
The trick for me was this: I knew National Poetry Month and the trip to Western Massachusetts were happening at the same time. Whenever or However I discovered Emily Dickinson was from a city close to Smith - where Katherine is now a senior in college who is now looking at graduate schools - is not something I can recollect.
I simply knew once I visited there I was on to something.
I was inspired to create art.
I kept thinking about my visit, closing my eyes and revisiting in my imagination.
I started to think about the lesser known women writers. I started seeking their work out intentionally and looking to see where they lived and worked and published.
My travel bug was in full swing at this point and I had learned through being a different brand of traveler I was onto something.
I don't necessarily go to the amusement parks or the places other people go, I seek out the quirky. I seek out the historical. I seek out the gems other people miss as they race by to go to the glittering expensive place usually manufactured traveling spots rather than what I like to call true traveling spots.
Yes, all places may be tons of fun. I am spending Christmas at Disneyland, for example. I am also sure to visit National Parls and Museums in the same year. Disneyland is filled with escapism and child like joy where the National Parks and Museums tend to be filled with curiosity, questions, deep conversation and moments of pure bliss and passion simply from BEING there and experiencing them differently.
Have you felt a tickle in your belly as you have read these words?
Chances are you are onto something: maybe you are fascinated by Tinkerbelle and want to find out about the character and why she has become such a light-filled heroine for many.
Perhaps you recall your love for Madame Curie and all things science and wonder if Bill Nye the Science Guy has ever had a romance with a Science Gal and if not, why not discover (or create) her?
The passionate possibilities are endless and luckily - we have a couple weeks left to continue exploring together. I am so grateful for both you and for that!
Day 2/31 - A Passionate Attitude
Day 3/31 - Choice + Intentional Action
Day 4/31 - Passionate Detachment
Day 5/31 - Curiosity & Passion
Day 6 - Creating a Monthly Theme
Day 9: The Artful Skill of Making Requests
Day 10: One Big "D" - Devotion
Day 13: Live and Love the Questions
So far it has been a wonderful experience of creativity and community. I hope you will continue to follow along on my adventure AND the adventures of others.
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