Leaving A Trail

October– the month I celebrate and ponder on my journey to the pages of magazines and a newsmag .  It’s the death of one respected and well-loved editor (the late Ms Linda Layosa) that coincides with my birth on the literary world.  I could have been one of the last souls she encouraged and inspired… before she took her last breath.  It’s a pity I never got the chance to meet her,  a blessing she sent me an inspiring message, a few days prior to her death, which to this day I keep in my “inspirational folder” in my inbox — the folder I keep going back to on my down-moment-dark-winter days which serves as affirmations with its inspiring personal messages from my literary soul-mates.  “You definitely have a knack for writing!” is a well-treasured comment.  So is the flame-thrower comment from my mentor. It’s the kind of message that keeps writers like me to keep going and writing away; a beacon that lights our days of non-writing,  propelling us to scribble on and keep the literary juices flowing.  From one grateful soul to another, one thankful heart to the other… it never missed the core, never fail to deliver, never go wrong… in sending the message of hope, love, warmth, encouragement, inspiration, and joy!  Ms. Layosa’s review of my writings which I first sent out for The Filipino Now came at the perfect moment… I was at my lowest depths, she lifted me right out of those depths with her simple words.  Aaah, the power of words!

On the long list of lovely souls to thank for, my current editor, Mr Tony B, tops the list.  I say again and again how this man held the literary door open for me and still keeps shoving me to doors unexplored.  His faith in me never wavers and his unending critique’s a constant reminder of passing on the torch, driving me to delve deeper into other writers’ work and walk on their shoes, forcing me to dig deeper into my heart to pass on a soulful word…  and what a joy to do so!

I told my mentor-editor a couple of years ago that I’d take up a Writing course while I work in Canada… as soon as I have the means and get the dough ;)  What I have now is more than what I hoped for, am taking writing and editing lessons with no worries for tuition fee!  :D  Who says nothing’s free these days?!  And here I am on this web corner, joining in with the voices in blogosphere, on my own playfield — Leaving A Trail; am learning oodles and having so much fun… all for free!  I got my web host, The Friendster Team, to be grateful for.  True Friends Newsmag publisher, Ms Catherine Kaldy, is one generous soul who welcomed me as a contributor, and later on, an Editorial Assistant in her paper.  Her faith in the editor, Mr B, extended to me… and The Guild.  What a wonderful blessing!

The lovable, amazing Reids are my cyberspace guides.  From creating links, sitemap, stats, copyright, and yahoo signature, to dictionaries online and a number of useful links… Ms Lydia Reid’s been there to provide those for me.  Her notes, along with Mr Roberto Reid’s, comprise the bulk of my ‘inspirational folder’.  :D  No matter how busy they are with their writings, they take the time to drop me a few lines every time I yell for “help!”  How I love and am thankful for these generous, kind literary soul-mates… beyond words!

My joy is doubled when the things I love doing is giving much joy to others. This is a gift — from my heart to yours.  Living, loving, and learning… the subjects I speak strongly about.  It’s my life — to the fullest — you see on the pages of the newsmag and on the web pages.  I don’t hold back.  What keeps me holding on is the joy I find in it — yours and mine.  YOU, my dear ones, are the double-joy I get from the joy of creating…

I’ve traveled across the seas and crossed a number of bridges since “Building Bridges Across The Seas“, my very first published work.  While that article didn’t sit well on an aunt, it had generated a lot of positive, sad comments from those who can relate well to it.  The story a friend told me about her Chinese partner had the greatest impact…  There was the 50-plus year old man with the TF Now magazine in hand, teary-eyed after reading my piece.  He then told my friend of his own childhood — losing his mom due to the parents’ separation and painfully longing still for her presence in his adult life.  My article triggered a painful memory.  It probably helped him get in touch with his core issues.  A teacher cousin sent me a message saying she felt the hurt in my words and cried.  Countless others who said they felt the lump in their throats.  It’s not my intention to create a heavy heart but I was speaking my emotional truth… the hurt, not an anger that someone misunderstood in my writing voice.  Yes, I used to have a very negative voice.  But my writing evolved along with my evolution :)  I’m no longer the caveman I used to be two years ago. :D  :D  :D  I’ve learned to loosen up and play…  Playing with words is a source of joy.  When I write for print I have to keep in mind of a certain responsibility, and not tend to be too sentimental.  But anything goes on my online journal… I can beat myself up in here  :D  :D 

The constant commentators on my web pages, the message senders, and the avid readers who chose to remain silent but keep coming back and simply take in what I lay out on here… YOU are the lifeblood, my joy, joy, joy!  Now, that’s triple!  ;)   I love you so, guys and gals.  From the deepest chamber of my joy — full, thank — full, wonder — full human (yup! am no super-non-human:D) heart…  I love you,  THANK YOU!

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm Filed under Journey, Writing and. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.