The scene of the crime ... er ... I mean conference: Guelph Bible Conference Centre. A gem hidden away smack dab in the middle of Guelph, Ontario. Bordered on one side by Waterloo Street and on the other three sides by houses.
A small oasis of peace in the busyness of the city of Guelph.
When you're there, you feel like you're sheltered. Like the world doesn't exist. Like the big, bad world is way, far away and cannot come in.
Or at least it felt like that to me.
A pilgrim on the road to recovery.
Funny, I should word it that way. On the road to recovery. Instead of "on the road to a writing career". After all, that is what the conference is all about: writing.
Not recovery.
But for me, overcoming my fears, getting out in public, facing the big, bad, wide world alone. That is the intention - at least for now. That is the victory.
The writing will come, I believe. Once the recovery comes.
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| The first thing I saw when I wandered around the book store set up in the gym of the facility, was this bowl. Welcome Friends. I felt a warm fuzzy seeing it. I felt welcomed. I felt like I was among friends. Old friends. |
In my last blog, I wrote about my first writers conference in 2013 where I went with my niece.
This year, I felt well enough to try it alone. To go out into the big, bad world by myself.
Yes, I did have a plan A, B and C.
Plan A: to go to all the workshops, continuing classes, meals, etc. and live life as a "normal" person.
Plan B: to hide in my room and take a nap or naps if necessary. (I even brought a small knitting project along just in case it became necessary to hide behind my right brain therapy.)
Plan C: to call hubby and get the hell out of dodge if it just became too overwhelming and the affects such as stuttering, extreme fatigue, inability to speak, lack of balance, shortness of breath, etc. started to rear their ugly heads.
I am pleased to announce that I kept with Plan A.
Yes!
I made it to each and every workshop and continuing class. I even spoke up a few times in class. And I didn't have to resort to right brain therapy. Not even once.
I felt safe.
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| This cornerstone on the building which houses the chapel at the GBCG, says it all. |
I know this posting is short, but here is where I will end for today.
Why?
For one, my mind is still busy processing all the stimuli from three busy, packed days.
For two, I'm tired. Victories are great, but even super women get tired ... sometimes ... and need to rest and refresh.
For three, I'm peopled and socialized out. Time to regroup for a few short hours.
So tomorrow, I will (probably) continue with this amazing victory on the road to recovery.
Until then ....
Yay! I'm so glad you came away feeling victorious! Cheers to your continued recovery and many many more successes!!!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I stepped onto the conference grounds, I felt like I was home -- like I belonged. Good for you, taking a harder step than many of us took in attending! And since the road to recovery and to life in general includes the road to writing, this makes perfect sense to me. Go gently this week, rest often and let what you learned steep in your spirit.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad too, that you came and were inspired and received a measure of healing. I was glad to connect with you briefly. We were interrupted and I hoped to see you again, but didn't. ---Perhaps another year.
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