Comments for Pen with a Purpose http://www.penwithapurpose.com Writing for nonprofits, businesses and individuals. Transform your story. Mon, 30 May 2011 18:31:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Happy Mother’s Day Mom, wherever you are by Rachel http://www.penwithapurpose.com/happy-mothers-day-mom-wherever-you-are/#comment-48 Rachel Mon, 30 May 2011 18:31:47 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=221#comment-48 Thanks for your kind words and for sharing your own story Laurie. It must be tough to have what I'm assuming is your only close family member pull away from you. But I agree -- it's a reflection of the person who leaves/pulls away and not about me or you. And yes, we definitely have some great fodder for stories. It's funny, up until very recently I thought my life was boring and I had no good stories to tell. And now I know there are infinite depths of stories in my life just waiting to be told. Thanks again and big cyber hugs to you. :)Rachel Thanks for your kind words and for sharing your own story Laurie. It must be tough to have what I’m assuming is your only close family member pull away from you. But I agree — it’s a reflection of the person who leaves/pulls away and not about me or you. And yes, we definitely have some great fodder for stories. It’s funny, up until very recently I thought my life was boring and I had no good stories to tell. And now I know there are infinite depths of stories in my life just waiting to be told. Thanks again and big cyber hugs to you. :) Rachel

]]> Comment on Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part TWO by Rachel http://www.penwithapurpose.com/top-ten-takeaways-from-women-words-2011-part-two/#comment-46 Rachel Sat, 28 May 2011 03:44:55 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=231#comment-46 Absolutely not! I take it as a compliment Laurie. Thanks! Absolutely not! I take it as a compliment Laurie. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part TWO by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen http://www.penwithapurpose.com/top-ten-takeaways-from-women-words-2011-part-two/#comment-45 Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen Fri, 27 May 2011 23:09:40 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=231#comment-45 Hello Rachel, I stole a few things you said for an article: http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/how-to-turn-your-dream-into-a-specific-achievable-goal/ I hope you don't mind! I gave you full credit, of course.... As ever, Laurie Hello Rachel,

I stole a few things you said for an article:

http://theadventurouswriter.com/blog/how-to-turn-your-dream-into-a-specific-achievable-goal/

I hope you don’t mind! I gave you full credit, of course….

As ever,
Laurie

]]> Comment on Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part TWO by How to Turn Your Dream Into a Specific, Achievable Goal http://www.penwithapurpose.com/top-ten-takeaways-from-women-words-2011-part-two/#comment-44 How to Turn Your Dream Into a Specific, Achievable Goal Fri, 27 May 2011 23:03:03 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=231#comment-44 [...] Here’s how fellow writer and conference attendee Rachel Zant described Hammond’s speech in Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011: [...] [...] Here’s how fellow writer and conference attendee Rachel Zant described Hammond’s speech in Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011: [...]

]]> Comment on Happy Mother’s Day Mom, wherever you are by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen http://www.penwithapurpose.com/happy-mothers-day-mom-wherever-you-are/#comment-43 Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen Fri, 27 May 2011 21:52:38 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=221#comment-43 P.S. Our crazy moms and sisters make us much cooler, more interesting, and more enchanting than writers who have normal families :-) P.S. Our crazy moms and sisters make us much cooler, more interesting, and more enchanting than writers who have normal families :-)

]]> Comment on Happy Mother’s Day Mom, wherever you are by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen http://www.penwithapurpose.com/happy-mothers-day-mom-wherever-you-are/#comment-42 Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen Fri, 27 May 2011 21:48:00 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=221#comment-42 Jeez, Rachel!!! Last week was the first time I ever heard of a mom just disappearing from her adult child's life....and now I read your post. You're not alone, my friend. Maybe your mom fell off her bike and got amnesia? I'm only half joking...maybe something happened to her and she can't contact you for some reason. Of COURSE you're hurt -- it's a terrible, mean thing to do to a family member. Five years ago, my sister told me she never wanted to talk to me again -- and I didn't do anything even remotely wrong or bad! We were raised in foster homes, and I went to Africa for 3 years to teach...and that's when my sister started to pull away, when I was gone. She even gave me a going away card with a plane crashing and the words "Why are you doing this?"! I forgot about that until now. Obviously, the combination of our childhood and my leaving was hard on her. I think it's so selfish, destructive, unhealthy, and just plain wrong to walk out of someone's life -- whether they just disappear or they say they want no more contact, and don't say why. It's manipulative and rude. But most of all, it's a sign of an emotionally unhealthy person. I try not to blame myself because I know I didn't do anything to deserve it.....and I really, really hope you do the same thing, Rachel. Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. The worst part is that we're left hanging, isn't it? No closure, no "I'm sorry I can't have you in my life anymore, but it's just something I have to do." Anyway, thank you for writing this....I'm glad I'm not alone, and I'm really grateful for your honesty in sharing this. And remember that many stories have happy endings. I hope to be reunited with my sister one day...and I hope you don't give up your hope and faith that your mother-daughter story will have an ending that brings closure and healing to you. Blessings, Laurie Jeez, Rachel!!! Last week was the first time I ever heard of a mom just disappearing from her adult child’s life….and now I read your post. You’re not alone, my friend.

Maybe your mom fell off her bike and got amnesia? I’m only half joking…maybe something happened to her and she can’t contact you for some reason.

Of COURSE you’re hurt — it’s a terrible, mean thing to do to a family member. Five years ago, my sister told me she never wanted to talk to me again — and I didn’t do anything even remotely wrong or bad! We were raised in foster homes, and I went to Africa for 3 years to teach…and that’s when my sister started to pull away, when I was gone. She even gave me a going away card with a plane crashing and the words “Why are you doing this?”! I forgot about that until now. Obviously, the combination of our childhood and my leaving was hard on her.

I think it’s so selfish, destructive, unhealthy, and just plain wrong to walk out of someone’s life — whether they just disappear or they say they want no more contact, and don’t say why. It’s manipulative and rude.

But most of all, it’s a sign of an emotionally unhealthy person. I try not to blame myself because I know I didn’t do anything to deserve it…..and I really, really hope you do the same thing, Rachel. Don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault.

The worst part is that we’re left hanging, isn’t it? No closure, no “I’m sorry I can’t have you in my life anymore, but it’s just something I have to do.”

Anyway, thank you for writing this….I’m glad I’m not alone, and I’m really grateful for your honesty in sharing this.

And remember that many stories have happy endings. I hope to be reunited with my sister one day…and I hope you don’t give up your hope and faith that your mother-daughter story will have an ending that brings closure and healing to you.

Blessings,
Laurie

]]> Comment on Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part ONE by Rachel http://www.penwithapurpose.com/top-ten-takeaways-from-women-words-2011-part-one/#comment-32 Rachel Tue, 17 May 2011 22:52:27 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=173#comment-32 You're so welcome Loretta. Glad you found it useful. And yes, I'm struck by our similarities as well. It would be wonderful to connect. :)Rachel You’re so welcome Loretta. Glad you found it useful. And yes, I’m struck by our similarities as well. It would be wonderful to connect. :) Rachel

]]> Comment on Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part ONE by Loretta Ann Voth http://www.penwithapurpose.com/top-ten-takeaways-from-women-words-2011-part-one/#comment-31 Loretta Ann Voth Tue, 17 May 2011 17:45:02 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=173#comment-31 Thank you for sharing "take aways" from the Women & Words conference Rachel, great information as we begin planning next year's conference. I am struck by how similar our business ideas are, centred around story. I would love to connect and share our stories, Loretta. Thank you for sharing “take aways” from the Women & Words conference Rachel, great information as we begin planning next year’s conference. I am struck by how similar our business ideas are, centred around story. I would love to connect and share our stories, Loretta.

]]> Comment on Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part TWO by Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part ONE | Pen with a Purpose http://www.penwithapurpose.com/top-ten-takeaways-from-women-words-2011-part-two/#comment-19 Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part ONE | Pen with a Purpose Wed, 11 May 2011 03:40:19 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=231#comment-19 [...] That’s a lot of information to assimilate! If you’re ready for more, click here for Part TWO. This entry was posted in Businesses, Communication, Individuals, Inspiration, Storytelling, [...] [...] That’s a lot of information to assimilate! If you’re ready for more, click here for Part TWO. This entry was posted in Businesses, Communication, Individuals, Inspiration, Storytelling, [...]

]]> Comment on Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part ONE by Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part TWO | Pen with a Purpose http://www.penwithapurpose.com/top-ten-takeaways-from-women-words-2011-part-one/#comment-18 Top Ten Takeaways from Women & Words 2011 – Part TWO | Pen with a Purpose Wed, 11 May 2011 03:33:13 +0000 http://www.penwithapurpose.com/?p=173#comment-18 [...] my final five takeaways from the Women & Words Conference. If you haven’t already, check out Part ONE for the first [...] [...] my final five takeaways from the Women & Words Conference. If you haven’t already, check out Part ONE for the first [...]

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