I don't typically "run out" of things to write/blog about. My mind is always thinking; I am always jotting down life-lessons and experiences to share; and the Lord is always using His creation/nature to speak to my heart.
[Funny short story: In high school I always felt the closest to the Lord when I was in creation/nature. As I got older it wasn't something I intentionally sought out after having moved to a huge city for my undergrad studies, and then on to the Twin Cities for my career. I vividly remember telling a friend that I didn't really see a ton of nature in Scripture and then wouldn't you know it...it was jumping out at me every time I opened my Bible. Since then, I've been more attuned to nature and His care for me comes across in how He cares and provides for His creation.]
With generally always having something to say, I actually stumbled into the New Year (is it really 2022??!!) with not one clue as to the direction of my blog or what I wanted to write about next. I didn't plan to write something specifically for today, but here we are.
Creativity. It's an interesting thing.
This isn't going to be a defining of goals for 2022, or me sharing what I chose to "leave behind" in 2021 (I don't think that's how it works anyway).
This is simply about my journey as a writer. Thrilling, right?! Hang with me.
Before the start of every New Year, I set goals for myself.
Realistic. Practical. Achievable.
I write out 2-3 goals for each of these areas: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, relational, writing, professional, financial, and now for my home. Seems overwhelming right? It's actually not. The goals I set are typically just the next right thing. One movement forward. It's not setting an unrealistic goal of being debt-free when I just bought a house, but a next right step like incrementally paying off a loan $ by $; starting small.
Realistic. Practical. Achievable.
I started setting writing goals for myself at the start of the pandemic in March of 2020 (how is that almost two years ago?) and that has helped me to clearly define my trajectory, and to take all of the next right small steps to get to where I'd love to be; a paid writer.
The first journal I had ever received was in December of 2007. I only know this because I wrote it in said journal. I started using it in the New Year (2008), and haven't stopped writing since. I have 14 years worth of journals sitting in a whicker basket in my bedroom and from time to time I'll randomly open up to a page or two and read the thoughts of teenage or young adult Kaila.
Writing was a way to for me to process all of the feelings, emotions, and thoughts I had in my head that I didn't know how to communicate or express out loud. It was a space for me to pray and bring all of my first thoughts to the Lord before seeking others.
I never referred to myself as a writer. I just loved doing it.
I remember where I was sitting, who I was with, and theoretically what journal I was using when I met a friend in high school for coffee and she looked me square in the face and said, "You're going to write a book someday." I wrote her name down as being the first person to affirm this gift of writing and since then have had many others added to that list.
People could say I was a great writer or ask when I was going to write a book, but internally that never truly gave me the confidence to refer to myself as a writer. I wrote, yes, but I had never published anything, wasn't known in the writing world, or hadn't written in other spaces other than my journals.
In March of 2020...I started referring to myself as a writer. About time.
Not because anything with my writing actually changed. Nothing did. I just finally started to realize that what I had been doing all of those years was in fact writing, whether it was read by people or not. I was a writer because I genuinely loved to write, not because I one day got published. I would later learn through online writing courses that being a writer and getting published are two very different things.
If I never got anything published, I would still confidently tell you that I'm a writer.
Being a writer isn't something I set out to do. It isn't something I woke up one day saying "I'm going to pursue writing and publication." It honestly wasn't ever something I thought the Lord could use in public spaces to minister and serve others and to ultimately bring glory to Himself. This journey has been one of small obedient yes's, and listening to the wise counsel and affirmation of those close to me.
I have had the humbling privilege of being published twice, once in America and once in Germany, and the Lord continues to open crazy opportunities for me to keep pursuing this. I had the most humbling experience of getting to sign a few copies of my own work as gifts for people and my thoughts were: "Is this real life?!", and "Lord be glorified."
Insider scoop (not public knowledge yet): an LA-based magazine reached out to me asking if I'd be interested in being featured in their upcoming edition. They have small offshoots from their main LA editions, and this one is called VoyageMinnesota. It will come out in the next couple of weeks.
I knew I was a writer before any of these opportunities came my way.
And if none of these had come my way I'd still be a writer.
So. 2022 is officially upon us and my writing goal for this year: write.
To serve others and glorify the Lord.
Are you thinking on things that you're passionate about and might want to pursue?
Have you been doing something for awhile out of love that could be a new opportunity?
What's your next right thing? Next right step? I'd love to hear from you!
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