This winter has been long, cold and unsettled.  Thank God for my watercolor painting class on Wednesday nights.  I get to swirl my paintbrush in crisp ocean blues and fiery oranges.  It warms me while I wait for spring to arrive.

My coaching clients have been keeping me busy over this past winter which has left little time for planning workshops and the next writing retreat.  But, don't fret.  I can feel the mental thaw coming with the longer days and brighter sun.  I have lots of ideas (that's never a problem) and just need to buckle down to execute them.  Stay tuned!

Over the past couple of months, I have been rewarded with great news from former clients and past workshop participants.  A few of them have published their books!  Leslie Cabral, a gifted psychic and medium, recently published Soul Messages: Listening to Your Soul to Remember Who You Are.  I worked with Leslie at workshops and one on one --and she is a true inspiration.  Her book can be found on her site soulmessages.net and on amazon and other book sellers.

Ken Easton published Surviving Your Business Debt.  He generously mailed me a copy of this hard cover book he wrote with his 38 years of experience in business finance.  His book can be found on his site at survivingyourbusinessdebt.com and on amazon.

Sherrill Crow, a former workshop participant, called to tell me she self-published her book, My Many Voices.  Sherrill compiled her poetry with her husband's photography and created a wonderful anthology of her life stories.

Karen Plumley published an article in Parenting magazine, the Telegraph's insert publication.  I was delighted that she sent me a copy to thank me for nudging her along on her freelance career.

A long time writing friend, Marcia Roth Tucci, published an essay on moondance.org and other online publishing sites.  She is staying true to her voice and has been diligent about finding places for her work. 

Congratulations to all these writers!  I am honored to have been part of their creative journeys.

I walk regularly at a cemetery in my town (I know that might sound a little creepy, but really it's the most tranquil place).  Today I did my gratitude reflections.  I think of 5 things I am grateful for this week... here's what I came up with.

1.) For my writer's group.  We met yesterday as we do every month.  These remarkable women bring me such peace.  As we read our work, share stories, get deep and personal, I am comforted to know they understand me.

2.) For Mark.  For helping me figure out how to set up the columns in my 'sample chapter' early this morning --before he even had a cup of coffee.  That's true love!

3.) For the rays of sunshine I saw on my morning ride.  Of course, I thought of my mother.  It's the anniversary of her passing tomorrow and I miss her very much.  She would have loved to see Kaitlin drive, Markie play guitar, and Rose play soccer.  I am thankful though for this sunny day she sent.

4.) For the brave souls who wrote with me this week at the Pelham Library.  Your presence lifted my spirits!

5.) For the orange and gold mums that decorated some of the gravestones.  They were like smiles for me to enjoy.

What are you grateful for?

Some of us hang onto summer with all our might.  Clinging to our flip flops, wearing shorts until Columbus Day, we resist giving up the warmth of the summer.  It is, after all, as much a state of mind as it is a season. Summer allows us to fill our creative wells with salty trips to the beach, smoky ribs on the grill, and wind swept boat rides.  Now it’s time to brace ourselves – or rather, embrace ourselves for a new season.  As that back-to-school attitude descends, don’t be like the kindergarten kid, kicking and screaming.Instead, open yourself up to change ( isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?) and try these  tips. 

• Go back-to-school shopping (even if you’re not going back):  What do you need for your art?  How about a new set of paintbrushes or a colorful journal?  Refresh your supplies and at the very least, treat yourself to a new pad of stick-it notes, just for fun.

• Reunite with your favorite classmates (OK, they don’t have to be classmates):  Get in touch with friends who support –or inspire—your creative life.  Better yet, make a new creative friend.  Go visit that fabric store, talk to the lady in the bead shop, or sign up for that dance class.

• What did you do over summer vacation?  Remember that writing prompt?  Try it for real.  Write about your experiences. 

• Translate your summer into your art.  Is there a seascape watercolor in you?  Or a summer romance novel waiting to be written?  Capture your summer experiences into your art.

• Don’t forget recess:   A quick fifteen minute escape outdoors might be just the trick to rejuvenate your senses.

 So, feel free to keep your seashells on your desk, but be willing to invite the fall season into your life.  With it comes the beautiful colors of change.  Let yourself be a part of it.

“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.”

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

What do you expect from the summer?  Are you making plans to rejuvenate your soul?

I welcome your stories. 

Here's a quick list of what I hope for this summer ...

~ exfoliate my feet in beach sand

~ sniff cocoa butter suntan oil

~ find an intact sand dollar

~ sleep late

~ see some soaring waves (maybe ride one)

~ catch up with family and friends

~ finish my book proposal

~ mail queries to agents

There's more, of course, but that's good for now.

What does your list have on it?