2020 was not a great blogging year for me. Though I continued to write each day, my writing was more for me than another audience. I created a Coronavirus Diary that documented each day of the pandemic starting on March 13th when we closed schools. I continued to journal, to notebook, and to create ‘daily doodles’ to also document my thoughts and events. I shared some with the #100DaysofNotebookingandBeyond group, but most were private and personal.

Well, with a new year comes new energy. I would like to blog more in 2021, but I want the entries to be concise and simple. I don’t have any idea where my thoughts or experiences will take me, but I want to use this blog as a way to work through them.

I am also going to join Michelle Haseltine again this year with her 2021 #100DaysofNotebooking group to get ideas for notebooking and to inspire my writing. You can join, too! Sign up here: 100 Days of Notebooking Sign up

We never know what the future is going to bring (a tough lesson for all of us in 2020) but writing is a way to process, explore, and document our experiences like nothing else can. I hope that if you are reading this you will find 2021 to be what my friend Jennifer Laffin calls: THE YEAR OF THE WRITER

READS THAT FEED ME

FLIGHT OF THE PUFFIN by Ann Braden
WOW! JUST WOW!
This book is for anyone who has ever thought, “I can’t possibly make a difference in this crazy world.” Ann Braden (The Benefits of Being an Octopus) introduces us to four kids who desperately need some hope and support. They are separated by a continent, social norms, trauma, and stigma, but are brought together by one simple gesture of kindness that has a profound ripple effect. The way Wonder (by R.J. Palacio) inspired a generation to “Choose Kind”, Flight of the Puffin will show readers a powerful and creative way to “Be Kind”. Ann Braden does not shy away from tough issues in the lives of children and families, but with compassion and insight reveals how we can all stand up for ourselves and use the strengths we do have to face challenges with courage and grace. I love the way she weaves parallel strengths of nature (octopuses and puffins) into her stories and characters to remind us that we are all connected-every creature. (and I totally love puffins!!!) Getting to read this ARC was the best early Christmas present and a wonderful way to finish up this incredibly challenging year (2020). Look for this book May 4th – you do NOT want to miss this MUST READ, MUST OWN, MUST SHARE book in 2021.