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― George Bernard Shaw

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Inspiration for Those Melancholy Times

12/3/2016

19 Comments

 
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It has been over six months since I have picked up my pen. Many days I have sat at my computer within the silence of my home and have tried to write, but sadly...nothing would come.

I did however come up with a name for this sad state of affairs, even though to someone else it might sound totally ridiculous!

I called my lack of "want to" "care to" or "need to" (from a writers perspective) a temporary "melancholy block." 


For me the symptoms came without warning. I was able to carry on with my daily tasks, but to this writer...it caused a paralysis of my pen.

One day I was going full speed ahead and suddenly my writing came to an abrupt stop.
The causes could have been a number of factors, but one stood out among the daily grinds of life. It was the removal of three, very profound inspirations, my precious grandbabies. My daughter, son in-law, and three of my grandchildren moved to another state this summer, due to the military. Suddenly, my world came crashing down. I had to be brave, and I had to put on a good front, but inside...I was falling apart. My life changed drastically. My little inspirations were no longer around to draw from.

The "melancholy block" began.

If not for Skyping and our daily phone calls, I truly think my heart would still be in a million pieces.  I had to begin to find my new life, redefine who I was without them near me. This was not so easy. I missed them more than words could ever say.

​The last couple days I actually began to find inspiration. It was if inspiration was gently calling my name.

I asked Inspiration."Where have you been ole friend?"

Inspiration sweetly answered. "I have been near you all along!"

​ I could not help but argue that fact. "Well I have not felt you nor seen you for months!"

​"I beg to differ," Inspiration countered with a smile. "You see Kimmie, I have surrounded you with many lovely thoughts! You were just too busy being melancholy!"


​It was then I knew I had made the right diagnosis and I began to open my eyes for the first time in months.  


I received an email from my publisher and she shared that God's Playbook had made it to the Walmart Bookstore on line as well as the Christian Broadcast Network online bookstore, (CBN). This came as quite the surprise, as my brother and I had published this a couple years ago.

I then happened to see a shared Google post of a review of God's Playbook that was written by my dear friend Angelia from flashPress.weebly.com written a couple years ago.  I remember thinking how Angelia had put so much heart into it.

I began to see flashes of shared posts on Facebook from Mike Friedman, who has shared  my work endlessly through the years and helped publish many of my books. I could not forget dearest Maria Jordan, a fellow writer, who was and is forever sending me cards of encouragement in the mail. Sannel Larson, a wonderful illustrator and writer herself, who illustrated An Angel and a Pair of Shoes. I fondly remember my Bristish friend Ian, who co wrote The Magical Victrola in my early days of writing. He was the teacher in every way and taught me so much.  I cannot forget the many other writer friends and family who have stuck by me through the years. They truly have been my inspirations!

​While I thought God's Playbook laid dormant and forgotten, somehow...it resurfaced and was brought to life once more thanks to Laurus Publishing, who continued to promote it.


​All these wonderful people were constant, never changing, and had been right there before my eyes. My heart began to feel lighter and I soon felt this "melancholy block" lift from my heart. ​For the first time in six months, I had the urge to pick up my pen and thus this blog post was born.

I realized that INSPIRATION comes from many sources. Some are right in front of us, if we only look a bit closer.  It was a beautiful gift that inspriation came to visit me once more and just when I needed it. I truly believe inspiration will always find its way back to us in its own time.

While I still miss my grandbabies every day, I know that I have to keep searching for other inspirational avenues so that my pen can take flight once more.


​I hope you will inspire someone today!
​You never know...YOU may be their inspiration!


Blessings
​Kimmie
​

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19 Comments
femmeflashpoint link
1/17/2017 12:08:16 pm

Kimi,

Oh my, what a BEAUTIFUL and inspiring post! Your family is in my prayers, sistah, and I feel very special and quite blessed for the privilege of seeing Pen to Page waking up again.

It's not only encouraging to me, but I plan to share it far and wide 'cause I know it'll be encouraging to many others as well, especially those who are far from their loved ones.

♥♥♥

Reply
Kimmie
1/17/2017 12:15:51 pm

Hello dear friend. Thank you so much for taking the time to read, comment, and share. I pray inspiration will continue to knock at my door and I will greet inspiration as the gift it truly is.
Lots of love
Kimmie

Reply
Maria link
1/23/2017 07:03:16 pm

Welcome back, sweet Kimmie.

I have always believed 'family first'... in all we do and juggle through our lives. You are similarly and beautifully family - centered and I'm sure you'll never regret a precious moment that you share with them. And, hard as it is, miles cannot diminish the love we feel...whether on this earth or in heaven.

On top of that, you were born to write. Inspiration lives within you, dear friend. You have many more stories within you. How lovely that this is not a race and your loyal readers will be here when you are.

Love this post and love you more, Maria

Reply
Kimmie Thompson
1/23/2017 08:27:52 pm

Dearest Maria thank you for such sweet words. It seems some days are so hard to pull the words out but one thing I know is I am so blessed with forever friends who are always there.
Love you my friend.
Kimmie

Reply
Kimmie
1/23/2017 09:40:17 pm

Dearest Maria
Thank you for being such a wonderful friend. There are just no words that can tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you. You truly are my inspiration. I commented earlier but for some reasons it didn't post so it may look as if I replied twice. Lol
Sending much love
Kimmie

Reply
Vicki link
1/23/2017 07:12:10 pm

Dear Kimmie,
What a delight to see you writing here again, and I hope you know you're surrounded by loving virtual friends, as well as those close to you. What a lovely post, and how nice that it will inspire so many others who are feeling depression from loss.
Hope you will continue to write these uplifting posts here, and many thanks.
Love and hugs,
Vicki

Reply
Kim Thompson
1/23/2017 08:29:54 pm

Hello sweet Vicki
Depression is such a strange animal and truly can suck the life out of us. I am doing much better and I am so thankful for you and all my friends who are so precious to me.
Love and hugs
Kimmie

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Mike
1/23/2017 08:44:49 pm

Hello Kimmie - It has rained for days in SoCal. That is very unusual. Through the gray and the cold, I was directed to this ray of sunshine. You are loved by your friends and family all over the globe. You are a constant source of inspiration to others. So good to see you post a piece of your work.

Hugs to you my friend,
Mike

Reply
Kim Thompson
1/23/2017 09:27:31 pm

Hello my sweet friend Mike I have seen all the rain in Cali. I hope the sun comes out soon for you. Thank you for always being such a wonderful friend. You are a blessing to me in so many ways.
Love and hugs
Kimmie

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paula link
1/23/2017 09:06:37 pm

Kimmie, Our sweet friend Maria was kind enough to send this to me. As you know, she often does special things for people just to show she cares & is thinking of them. I am sure she knew how very touched I would be by your story of missing your precious grandchildren & dealing with the unplanned hiatus of your muse. I love how beautifully you have shared this with your readers, Kimmie.
Knowing how inspiration must feed our soul to move our creativity, I will surely agree that grandchildren can be our greatest source. And as you discovered, melancholy can often blind us to the plethora of inspiration all around us, but only for a while.
I thank you for this special "inspiration" this evening as I thank Maria for directing it my way. Wishing you productive days and peaceful nights, enjoy the skyping of blown kisses and giggles, Grandma....embrace all your blessings. Peace, Paula

Reply
Kim Thompson
1/23/2017 09:31:24 pm

Hi Paula how sweet of you to stop by and take the time to leave such a kind comment. Yes Maria is a rare and beautiful friend who is forever thinking of others. It took me awhile to regroup without my babies near but thanks to skyping daily and air kisses it has helped so much. We are going to see them in April and our other four granddaughtets are coming in June so I wait with great joy for those days to come. Thank you again Paula.
God bless
Kimmie

Reply
Sannel link
1/24/2017 06:16:55 am

Dear Kimmie,

I'm so happy to see that you and your muse are back together, because you do write the most beautiful and inspirational stories together, just like this wonderful post. I know how much you love your family and those amazing grandkids of yours, and how hard it must be not having them close by. Thank goodness for today's technology like LINE and Skype, right? It does bring faraway friends and family together in a much easier and fulfilling way. :)
I appreciate our darling friend, Maria sending me this way, otherwise I may have missed it. Just like I appreciate you and your precious friendship, my beautiful friend.
Love you lots and lots!
Hugs from faraway Sweden,
Sannel xoxoxo

Reply
Kim Thompson
1/24/2017 08:31:45 am

Dearest Sannel thank you for stopping by. Maria is such a sweetheart never missing a beat concerning her friends. I adore you and am so blessed to call you friend. Please stay warm and safe and know you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Sending much love.
Kimmie

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Martie link
1/24/2017 06:56:57 am

Dear Kim, I'm so glad you are back again. It is so hard to get use to the kind of radical changes you were compelled to accept. God's Playbook's success is such a welcome reward, just when you needed it the most. Congratulations!

Now take it slow, one day at a time.

Hugs,
Martie.

Reply
Kim Thompson
1/24/2017 08:35:14 am

Hello dear Martie so good to see you!! Life is rearranging itself and I am taking one day at a time. Thank goodness for the many ways we can keep in touch these days. My Neveah told her momma...Can't we just go home to Memes? ❤ She thinks many times that I am following them in my car. Lol miss them so very much. We go up in April so I am very excited. Take care my friend and thank you again for taking time to stop by. Sending much love.
Kimmie

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Peg Cole link
1/24/2017 08:21:03 am

It is good to see you've found your muse once again. Sometimes the loneliness and distance does take away our inspiration. Thank goodness for the technology that allows you to see them on Skype and talk to them often although it's never as good as having the children and grandchildren close by.
Congratulations on the success of your books. That is inspirational.
Smiles and hugs to you.

Reply
Kimmie Thompson
1/24/2017 08:38:16 am

Good morning dear Peg! Thank you for stopping by. Yes it has been hard but summers are coming and I hope to enjoy them maybe not every day but long visits where mom and dad say hey can the kids come for a couple weeks? This grandma's arms are always open. Sending much love..Central Texas has sunshine and nice temps today thankfully
Love and hugs
Kimmie

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Shauna
2/13/2017 02:31:16 pm

Kimmie, this is absolutely beautiful. I love the conversation you had with your muse. She really told it like it is!

Thank goodness we have Skype and other electronic ways of communicating to keep in touch with those who must travel. Military family didn't have that luxury once upon a time ago.

Reply
Kimmie Thompson
2/13/2017 06:06:52 pm

Hello Sharon
I am so happy that we do have e a way staying connected every day. We get to see them soon so I am very excited. I pray all is well with you as well.
Happy Valentine's Day
Love
Kimmie

Reply



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