Encouraging passions

“You can’t find your passion thinking about it in your head.”

-Marie Forleo

I think I was 8 years old when my mother came home with an envelope with my name on it. It was from a publishing company that had created a program to help kids develop a written work (poetry or short stories) to later be printed in an anthology.  I remember being so excited to be chosen to participate, and I would hurry to complete each assignment as soon as they were received. I wrote short stories, poems, etc… and each time I’d receive some feedback and another assignment. I don’t think we ever actually purchased the anthology (pretty sure my parents knew what they were up to 😉), but this memory stays with me for an even bigger reason than the “opportunity” itself.

My parents had figured out that writing was my thing, and found a way to encourage me to do a lot more of it. I was so proud of my work from those lessons, and I still think about what it meant to me that my parents saw such great potential in me at that age. They invested in what would be my passion, even before it was one. My confidence that I could be published came from actually being published!

It reminded me of the families I see from day to day. Parents striving to help their kids find what they love. For some it’s arts and technology; for others it’s sports. I’d admonish you to continue helping your kiddos on this path.

If you need help finding resources for reading and writing camps this spring and summer, click here to contact me. I’d be happy to send some recommendations your way!