Pondering the World

It feels weird to not know how to do something. Yes, I get it. Not knowing how to do something is a normal thing. But, dude, it’s been a while for me. I know how to do academic publishing. I am on the inside. But traditional publishing with literary agents? I am literally on the outside trying to break in. Me (a mid-career academic who wrote a self-help/positive psychology book entitled HILLBILLY RISING about her hillbilly culture) with my face pressed against the glass of th

Left a good job down in the city Workin' for the man every night and day But I never lost one minute of sleepin' Worryin' 'bout the way that things might've been Yes, I quit a good job as a psychology professor to follow my aspiration to be a full-time writer and consultant. It was brave. I am known for bravery. But I am not insane. I could do this because my husband has a well-paying job that can maintain us during this time. Neither of us grew up with wealth, and we can liv

I always meant to be a writer. It was my childhood aspiration. Well, first I aspired to be an astronaut. Then Challenger blew. I discovered that there was a minimum height requirement for space suits. The barriers seemed insurmountable. But after that, I threw myself into the world of publishing. I had a newsletter that I put out when I was in elementary school. I immersed myself in all the great books I could find. I recited Tolkien poems in Elvish. I competed in quiz bowl a

You loved her compassion when it meant you could sit her beside the boy who stimmed. You know, the one with the 60-year-old physician...

You are responsible for doing your best. Even at our best, we are not perfect, and we don’t need to be. We just need to be good enough.

I knew I was a bit different. But I never felt alone.