Something I wrote reflecting on the writer’s workshop I went to this weekend. This workshop took place in Virginia, in the place where my mother goes a few times a year to meet with a support group. Honestly, this experience changed my life. I have never felt so close to strangers before. Before I read this out loud to the group, I told them that words could probably never describe this weekend. I told them how much I appreciated their wisdom and respected them. It was bittersweet, as all goodbyes are.

I don’t really know what happened over the weekend. I just know the feeling, the feeling of growth, of calm, of inspiration… sorrow, joy, laughter, kindness, judgment, and, of course, acceptance. I didn’t write a whole lot that I’m proud of but I don’t think that really matters. What happened was that in one moment I was sleeping in the car and the next I was in Madison, Virginia, the calm of the farms and open land embracing me with open arms and the familiar forest backdrop and cabins reminding me of hot June summers. I found myself surrounded by people with wisdom beyond my years. They seemed so passionate about things that I never thought about or topics that I had forgotten about, left in the back of my brain as I selfishly thought of my own pending problems. Each of them had their own sorrows and joys, stories I wanted to spend hours learning about but all I had were 2 minute snapshots of their lives. I wish I had a year with them. I wish I could be their friends. I wish I wasn’t so young and afraid. I wish I could wake to see their faces in the morning, eating breakfast and talking about things I did not yet understand but sincerely wished I did. I had long considered myself informed, but boy was I wrong. I have a long way to go.

P.S. I’ll probably get a writing blog.