Change is on the wind.
Ten years ago I went west to the outback, to experiment with new ways of putting near-defunct journalism skills to work. Thanks to a request from a rural resilience officer for a journaling workshop, instead of sharing media skills (well I did that too) the focus became a whole new body of work: wellbeing-through-writing.
Now: New Zealand. Instead of driving 20 hours along straight roads beneath big skies to get to work, I’m taking root in glorious Golden Bay, where the road out has 365 bends in 25kms and the skyline runs jagged with mountains.
In temporary farewell to the big red island I did something I haven’t done for years. I drove the coastline, Mullumbimby to Melbourne. A road trip celebrating the ones along the coast who have showed up for their longing – and kept going. For that is all our longing asks from us: show up and keep going. Ultreia!
The wisdom of these writers – all but two of whom are new writers – is the point of this newsletter. Raising voices and visibility! Read on friends!
MULLUMBIMBY
Patt Gregory, who has discovered the power of journaling with the rising light, declared January her month of writing: a teaching book, sharing her knowledge and experience of teaching woodwork the Woodwork for Women way. Write on Patt!
BELLANGRY
Susan Livermore, who writes from a paddock in the wild forest: “I’ve learned that through writing I can find sanctuary in turning the stories that dominate me into characters, and then I can have a lot of fun with them. It’s inspiring to write from an empowered place.”
PORT MACQUARIE
Alice Yunchan, who writes/rides the ocean breeze filling journal after journal: “I write to understand what I really believe. I write to understand my wisdom. I feel like there are so many shut doors in life. I used to get so frustrated because I feel like I couldn’t get in. Then I find a door that is open and my heart goes through the open door for me, and that’s beautiful.”
NEWCASTLE
Rebecca Saalfeld: “Writing is always there for me. It helps me identify and refine my thoughts and feelings as I find words that express what I’m trying to communicate. It’s a way of liberating myself from my thoughts and feelings, connecting me to something bigger than me. It gives my thoughts a visible footprint.”
SAN REMO
Samiro Douglas, who kicks off the new year by submitting her Masters thesis and rooftop journals through challenging times to clear her mind: “Writing is a way of processing life’s challenges. It helps me through hard times. It’s incredible how it helps me see patterns and cycles in relationships. It gives me insight into what I can do to head things off.” Good luck with finalising your thesis Samiro!
MELBOURNE
Caroline Hook … who invited me to join her housesit a big house with a big dog and a very big TV and the Australian Open was on … what to do but glue myself to the lounge while Caroline resorted to knitting a complicated jumper. No writing in this house!
CASTLEMAINE
BINGO! Two in one. YEvie Jennings, whom I had the great pleasure of introducing to Jenny Blake: Says YEvie:”Writing helps me find me. Refind me. Let go of shit. If I’m going to get my health back I need to let go of shit!”
For Jenny writing is “a record, a legacy, a way of still being here for my kids after I’m gone. I feel challenged when I write, challenged by time, to sit and be in one place for a while, but when I get in the zone I just love it.”
CANBERRA
Jane Phúóng Pham, who wore the dress she and her sister had made as tribute to their mother. Says Jane: “writing makes me feel like I can open up to understand certain situations or conditions, what people are thinking about their life. And that makes me reflect more, even if I learn not to think about it so much, or not to go there if it’s too painful, but even so writing makes me feel it’s important to go there so I get to understand
BURNT BRIDGE
Maura Luxford: A couple of years ago Maura wandered into her garden, lay on the Earth beneath the big fig tree and gazed into the shimmering light of the leaf canopy. She was in love with life, and she realised she could die now and be happy. A small voice shattered her reverie: “You haven’t written your book.”
Maura sat bolt upright. FAARRRRKKKKK. At a hairdressers appointment later that week, she said to her hairdresser ‘if I haven’t written my book by August you’re shaving my head’. The hairdresser replied, ‘I’m not shaving your head. Write the fuckin’ book’. So she did.
Ride4acure Origin Story will be published soon!
BYRON BAY
Tyde, who has the final word and introduces us to the concept of splatting. Tyde’s favourite subject at school is “maths, stratospherically maths”. His second favourite subject is English, “because you get to splat your mind on the page”.
Raising our glasses to splatting!
Thank you all for a summer road trip to remember.
Stephanie Dale is an award-winning journalist, author, researcher and founder of the International Wellbeing-through-writing Institute. In 2014 she launched The Write Road, a wellbeing-through-writing initiative for rural and remote Australians. She is passionate about pilgrimage, and in 2017 initiated Walk&Write holiday writing adventures.
