Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Because Of You!

Today marks the first anniversary of 


~ This Being Alive. 


At this very moment, I'm channeling Stephen, my second grader who wrote in his journal... Today I feel happy. I don't know why.


Best journal entry ever.


But I do know why. 


Thanks to an angel from Arkansas, I began This Being Alive one year ago today. He said, For goodness sakes, any idiot can do it, Bets! No, that's wrong; angels from Arkansas would never say such a thing. Nope. They'd send simple directions for a techno-challenged writer on how to start your own blog. A gentle nudge.


Other angels nudged too, but mostly it was my own inner nudging, or thrashing around in a paper bag that pushed me...


off the riverbank and into the river!


If a group of behavioral scientists (or readers) made a line graph of the past 365 posts, they would likely observe dangerous dips of serotonin levels, manic moments of magical thinking, sentimental sinkholes, sadness holding hands with supreme joy and love...


Mix in babies and wild turkeys, Elizabeth and Bean, Mr. Rogers, bumper stickers, balls hanging from bumpers, Jesse, Jesus, Plato, play dough, marriage, Michael, miracles, Claire, prayer, Dad, something called busy mind, mother love, army boots, Owen the orange cat, wrinkles, family, friends, fear, a dog named Chewy, road trips, and a river...and you've got a few things to write about.


Michael insists I'm being a tad dramatic, but I live by this:


Writing can save your life.


It's because of you that This Being Alive is my happy place, even when I'm weeping uncontrollably. 


trust unflinching, I wrote in the very first post.


I'm sticking around. I hope you will too. 


My arms are wide open with gratitude and love!


xo b



8 comments:

  1. Yeahhh! We're enjoying your account as it relates to ours. A lovely support system we all are for each other.

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  2. Amazing post, thank you so much for sharing everything you have to say. <3

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  3. I just joined your followers today after a visit to the eastern monroe public library and an invitation there to be part of your writing workshop. Thanks for the inspiration! I'm also an Eburg resident (for now) and I write, have a blog and three young children. Happy Anniversary! See you at the workshop.
    -Lauren
    Raisingrabbitts.blogspot.com

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  4. To the Betsy I know and love. One of my favorite songs "With Arms wide open" By Creed. Here is the Chorus : With Arms wide open, Under the sunlight, Welcome to this place, I'll show you everything, With arms wide open, now everything has changed, I'll Show you love, I'll show you everything, With arms wide open, Wide open.

    Thank you Betsy for who you are, who you have become, and who you will be.

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  5. It's a pleasure to be part of the Tribe. Thankful for my daily coffee and along with it This Being Alive! Love and admiration from VT.

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  6. Good Morning and Happy Anniversary. I'm enjoying a quiet moment and a cup of coffee before work. Part of the ritual includes writing a little on my blog myblackpoodles.blogspot.com (it keeps you a little sane, indeed) and reading This Being Alive. Thank you for the connections.

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  7. Thanks to all of you for tossing your good wishes in the ring. It meant the world to hear from you!

    Yesterday was a very happy day for me. There is something about showing up for something, yourself, a yoga mat, your notebook, blog, kids,...the practice of living...it's quite a ride. A beautiful one.

    with love and gratitude,
    xo b

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