WHEN A WRITER IS ENCOURAGED TO SHARE, HER WRITING SPREADS HOPE AND BEAUTY.
Chris Gal has been writing for years, but she often shied away from inviting others to read her work. Recently, she began sharing a few poems and short pieces on Facebook and with social groups she belongs to – and the encouragement she received from those who read her work inspired her to start sharing more.
After she completed one of our courses, Chris reached out to let me know that she was going on a trip to the ocean… and that when she returned, she would share a poem with me. “I will no doubt be in a place of inspiration on my vacation as there are miles of beaches and wide sunset skies,” she said.
Indeed, Chris was inspired… and when she returned from vacation, she shared a poem that touched me deeply. Not only did I love the poem itself, but I was also struck by the fact that had others not encouraged Chris, I might never have had the chance to read her words. She might not have had the courage to write her poem, and she most likely would not have shared it with me.
As I read her poem, I was filled with gratitude for everyone who had encouraged Chris and led her to the place where she was willing to share her work. And so, too, was I filled with appreciation for the ways Chris had encouraged and empowered herself to share. As writers, we each take a risk every time we share our work. Being encouraged does not insulate us from criticism or negativity. What it does, however, is open a space for us to share despite the risk. It gives us room to lean into what we hold within and express our truth, sharing when it feels right to do so.
The insights Chris has gleaned from her experience of being encouraged to share are powerful and moving. They speak to the importance of lifting one another up and the many ways doing so benefits each of us:
“I believe it's very important for writers to lift one another and themselves up. If we, as writers, are only focused on ourselves or another person's view, our world becomes very small, our sight becomes limited. We would be cut off from the richness of our uniqueness and differences, that when blended together, spark the imagination of what can be accomplished when our eyes are wide open. With ongoing, positive feedback, we lift one another up. Every person has a story to tell and by letting everyone's voice be heard, the possibilities are endless.”
And so, lifted up, Chris encourages us to choose vastness over limitations, to embrace potential and possibilities, and to allow our imaginations to expand and explore where the possibilities may lead us. And it is from this beautiful place that Chris shares her poem with us all.
Turquoise Hues
In my time of being younger,
I'd rush into the arms
of oceans cool and crashing waves
and their mesmerizing charms.
I'd watch the sun's reflection
bounce off water to and fro,
and try to catch a handful
of its bright and glancing glow.
So pleasing are your colors
so rich with turquoise hues,
as water churns and dances
mirrored in my eyes of blue.
I sometimes get a mouthful
of your distinctive, salty taste
when water rushes back at me
and I close my mouth in haste.
As my body is growing older,
my pace crawls to a slow
and finds peace at your waters edge,
where hopes and dreams unfold.
I am in awe of your vast beauty,
in your presence I find rest,
for one day within your midst,
my soul is truly blessed.
~Chris Gal is a writer and retired healthcare worker from upstate New York who enjoys music and travel. She is a lover of nature and likes to spend time strolling on the beach and walking among the trees on a forest trail. She was always told to "write from your heart and you'll never go wrong."