Dear Diana,


"And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been."

~ Rainer Maria Rilke



Here we are arriving at 2025. How quickly did last year go for you? I know for me it went very quickly, and in many ways I am happy to say good by to 2024 as it was a year full of personal chaos and various health challenges.


I love new beginnings and am welcoming 2025 with open arms. It's a chance to start a new chapter, whatever that might mean for you in your own life. It's certainly something to ponder and/or write about.


I am not a big believer in New Year's resolutions, because most often they get broken. However, I love the idea of having New Year's intentions. For me, this means maintaining healthy ways of being—physically, mentally and spiritually. Personally, I would like to commit to spending more time in nature. Taking nature walks and hikes with my red poodle, RUMI, is my happy place and I'd like to commit to doing more of that. This will also inspire me to write more haikus which I've been doing a lot of lately. I also love music and hope to attend more live concerts this year.


Let me know what you have cooking this year!


In the meantime, wishing all of you a happy, healthy, and productive 2025!




JANUARY Writing Prompts


  • Write about a memorable New Year's Eve celebration.
  • Write about what you hope to manifest in 2025.
  • Write about what changes you want to make in 2025.
  • Write about a fantasy.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED WORKS

“The Journey Home.” (poem) Bare Hill Review. November 2024.


“More Than Gratitude.” (article) The Good Men Project. December 5, 2024.


“A Love Affair with Orchids.” (essay) Sixty and Me. December 9, 2024.


“Our Temporary Universe,” “Tantric Acquaintance,” and “Nestled.” (poems) Sensual Diaries. December 13, 2024. 


“6 Tips To Maintain the Calm During the Chaos of the Holidays.” (article) The Good Men Project. December 19, 2024.


“I went down to hear.” (poem) Brown Bag Online. December 21, 2024. 


“What I Believe In.” (poem) Beach Chair Press. December 21, 2024.


“Amongst the Trees.” (poem) The Pan Haiku Review. December 2024.


“Kindred Spirits.” (poem) Hot Pot Magazine. December 2024.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 13, 2025


3:00 p.m – 4:30 p.m.

“Love Letters from the Garden”

Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens

Santa Barbara, CA

To register: Click here


*****


February 14, 2025


5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Valentine’s Day Special:

"Love is in the Air: Reading & Writing Love Poems"

Clementine Carter Wines

Los Alamos, CA 93440


*****


February 16, 2025


3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

"Writing From the Heart"

Godmother's

Summerland, CA

To register: Click here

RECOMMENDED BOOK

Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (novel)


I have to be perfectly honest, it was the title of this book which captured my attention! It simply made me curious. This book is a cozy book to be read with a warm cup of coffee, and is the fifth book in the series of Before the Coffee Gets Cold series translated from Japanese.


In this unique café, customers arrive hoping to travel back in time. However, there are certain rules that must be followed in order to time travel. You cannot meet anyone who you have not met before and when you travel to the past, you cannot leave your seat. If you do, you're pulled back into the present. You must also return to the present before your coffee gets cold.


Time travel, the participants are reminded, is one way to achieve closure and comfort so that they can embark on their beautiful future. Truly a book that offers a light escape from our normal everyday life.

MY DAILY OM WRITING COURSES
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