Writing with Ink and Intuition

By: Life with Alegria
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There are three types of writers says Author, Elif Shafak. Plot-driven writers plan the story, focus on the structural architecture and map out the mechanics. Character-driven writers place greater emphasis on human psychology and character development allowing the story to flow from the flaws and motivations of the individuals. Language-driven writers write prose that reads…

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Autumn leaves for Writing Autumn's Scent

Writing Autumn’s Scent

By: Life with Alegria
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What are some of the scents of autumn? Or the textures, or tastes? What do they remind you of? What does autumn feel like to you? This sensory writing invitation is for you. So, tell me below in comments, and join me in Writing Autumn’s Scent, as we follow this season and all her sensory…

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Writing Together

By: Life with Alegria
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Writing, as you know, is a solitary endeavour. In the dim light of early morning or the darkness of night we allow the ink to flow uninhibited, reveling in the quiet magic, giving our thoughts the gift of solitude. There is a quiet joy in writing alone, and then there is also the joy of…

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An Ordinary Morning in Bloom

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, poetry, , , , , , , , , , , , 13 Comments on An Ordinary Morning in Bloom

By the shorelineMother goose has hatched her eggsFuzzy little peridot-coloured goslings hover around herA few feet from thatAnother scene plays outThree squirrels romp around theWide weathered trunk of the willowSwirling, chasing, leapingThe tree smilesMorning light fades and glows on her faceIn rhythm with the clouds wishesA few feet from thatAnother scene plays outRed-winged blackbird swoops…

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Airport scene

The Joy and Anxiety of Travel In Times of War

By: Life with Alegria
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I’ve been on a wonderful trip half way around the globe from my home country of Canada. I have so much to share about all that I experienced, much of it quite joyful, some of it burdened with anxiety. Beyond the everyday madness, there are wars being waged and corrupt governments making choices that have…

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A seasonal writing invitation. Writing Winter's Breath. For writer's everywhere.

A Seasonal Writing Invitation For You

By: Life with Alegria
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January, in the northern hemisphere, brings with it the kind of quiet that only winter can deliver. It is a beautiful time for writing and reading and expanding our soulfulness as we move inward and then make a subtle turn towards the light. I have an invitation for you, to write with me this season,…

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Wholesome Holidays Postcards to December series on Substack

A Slow Soulful December

By: Life with Alegria
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The arrival of December always used to stress me out. It came with a long To Do list related to all the necessary seasonal preparations and plans for a “perfect” holiday. As we toss out the perfection playbook, and settle into a different mindset, the holidays actually become a time of joy and magic. All…

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A Burning World. Mountain Ash with orange berries.

The World is Burning

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, , , , , , 10 Comments on The World is Burning

I’ve heard those words frequently in the last several months, “The world is burning.” It’s easy to feel that way. There’s a lot happening in our world. Problems are many, solutions are few. And many feel helpless. As a former new junkie it’s easy to fall back into the news cycle that regurgitates the same…

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Dominica in the rainforest

River Tubing on the Layou Dominica Like the Flow of Life

By: Life with Alegria
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The gentle nudge into open waters reminds me of the birthing process.  I’m not sure if children choose to be born, but they are pushed out into this wild world without a paddle or a rubber tube. At least I had each of those on my river tubing adventure down the Layou River in Dominica.…

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It is the End and the Beginning

By: Life with Alegria
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The Tuesday after Labour Day always feels like an ending and a beginning for me. Do you feel the same? There’s something special about this day. The return to school means the end of summer and there is a great feeling of circularity. Every ending promises a new beginning, right? The new year offers a…

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Lemonade Days Creativity

Still Stirring and Sweetening for Creativity

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, , , , , 8 Comments on Still Stirring and Sweetening for Creativity

You’ve probably forgotten about Lemonade Days by now. My hopeful summer series where something sour is turned sweet. We are still stirring and sweetening the lemonade. Can you believe this is week 7. The time has passed so quickly, just like summer, which always seems like a blur. I hope you’re having a great one!…

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Summer Freedom and two ducks swimming

The Eisenhower Matrix for Summer Freedom

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, , , , , , , , , , , , , , 12 Comments on The Eisenhower Matrix for Summer Freedom

What is one thing that is calling to you this summer? One thing you really want to do, that will fulfill your soul and satiate your desire for creativity? This past week on Lemonade Days the theme was freedom. We talked about the variety of meanings that freedom carries. And I wrote a little poem…

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Lemonade Days: Love and War in Week 1

By: Life with Alegria
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What a full roller coaster week it has been this first week of Lemonade Days, my summer series that allows me to shine a light on the beauty in spite of the headlines that rage around us, full of strife and anxiety. My initial post here was met with mostly love and acceptance for what…

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Summer Series: Lemonade Days

Lemonade Days for a Chaotic World

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 18 Comments on Lemonade Days for a Chaotic World

Summer has arrived in the northern hemisphere with her beachy hair and flip flops, while bombs fall in faraway places that are closer than we think. Our chaotic world is propelled further into devastation by the madmen who hold the scepter of power. This compels me to begin a new summer series called Lemonade Days.…

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Vintage writing tools. A writer's life.

To Press or to Stack That is the Question

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, , , , , , , , , , , , , 35 Comments on To Press or to Stack That is the Question

Hi Everyone, Just a quick post to ask for your thoughts on a dilemma many writers face. And no, I’m not talking about pancakes. As you may know I’ve been here on WordPress for about 6 years now. My blog has evolved, as we all do. What started off as a local travel blog, grew…

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Dewy green grass for a divine conversation

A Divine Conversation

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, poetry, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 14 Comments on A Divine Conversation

It has been a difficult few weeks. Time has slipped by due to responsibilities that beckoned and I’ve missed reading your words and writing mine. I have however, been writing short poetry and verses, sometimes rushed, as the words come to me. It is a wonderful way to release thoughts and emotions. Do you find…

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The Land of My People

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, , , , , , , , , , 18 Comments on The Land of My People

My daughter jokes and says, “I need to go to Dubai. It is the land of my people.” It isn’t.  But maybe something stirs inside her. Maybe she feels it.  And I wonder, which is the land of my people. I am an immigrant with a cacophonous mix of ancestors. All of them different from…

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A God Moment

By: Life with Alegria
Joyful Moments, poetry, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 28 Comments on A God Moment

What’s happening in your life? Are you finding the magic? Any synchronicities? This morning Vicki wrote a post about her God moment, entitled Jackson and Grace. And just a few days before, Wynne wrote about her God moment, Connecting the Dots. Both posts, linked below, point to the magic that exists in our lives. This…

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