Join the Challenge!

In January 2007, Barbara Sher invited her readers to participate in a Jolly New Year Challenge. I extend that invitation to you…SpotlightRichmond.com readers and Metro Richmond (and beyond) residents and friends. Isolation is the dream killer – so let’s not let that happen. Let’s commit to coming together (online and in person) to support each other as we take steps to realize at least one of our dreams in 2008.

Here’s Your Challenge:

• Pick a project (not something difficult or dreary, but something that you never seem to have time for)
• Work on it at least once each week
• Write about what you did that week on your new blog (blogger.com).
• Tell people what you’re doing and include a link to your site. Ask for feedback, resources or encouragement.

Scanners – your Challenge might be to make enthused blog entries about whatever fascinates you that day! Or you can set the Challenge to be trying to stick to one subject for a few monthes. Pick something and make entries on that same subject each week and close your entry with a comment on how it felt.

Should you write your (or someone else’s life story?)

If you’ve always wanted to save your family stories, write up whatever you remember about your parents and grandparents, or let your great-aunt dictate her stories to you on the telephone while you record or type them up. Then set up an easy blog and make your Challenge to finally tell someone’s story. Challenge yourself to make at least two entries a month each month. Write up a vignette of anything that happened to you (or them), at any age, in no order at all. Write when any memory is triggered. You can also email everyone in the family to read your entry and ask them to email (or call in) any comments, stories or photos they want to contribute. 

I have taken the Challenge. A very old dream of mine has been to write a book about my mother and her two sisters; the Schmitt Sisters. They are women of great courage, faith and wisdom – our Family Treasures.

I first envisioned this book as a series – similar to Chicken Soup of the Soul – sharing encouraging stories of the Family Treasures in each of our lives. I invite your to join me. We can make the first book in this series our book. 

If you have a story to include, please contact me. Karen, 874-4591 (khannon776@aol.com)