I have a client whoās a gifted poet and someday, perhaps heāll also be a lyricist. I love meeting with him as I assist him…clearing one high hurdle after another. I suspect my client/friend was a philosopher, a deep thinker, a teacher in some other life. I admire him because heās not yet ready to forego his deepest dreams and he has the stamina and drive ā for now ā to work a āday jobā while also exploring powerful needs to express himself.
One day, Iāll ask him if I can write about his journey more specifically, but for today, I cloak details in order to provide privacy. When we spoke recently, he asked where my admiration for prose comes from, wondered what Iāve written or done to develop the capacity to encourage and motivate. Itās easy, I told him. I love words, I love writers. I love dreamersā¦especially those who have the capacity to create, evoke emotions, tease memories forward.
He knows Iāve written a bit ā mostly academic writing ā but he was driving toward something else. Where does your creative spark come from? Who nurtured it for you?
Ohā¦such a question. Iām cautious when a client does the āturn the tablesā routine, but occasionally, a little sharing of self helps to deepen a connection, foster greater growth. So, I disclosed a bit. I shared that my fifth-grade teacher, Miss Lenz once told me something transformative and life affirming ā in a breezy, offhand way. Well, I should clarify ā it was offhand for herā¦but Iām still carrying the good feeling with me, decades laterā¦side note ā go teachers! š
Walking through the classroom, placing our graded papers on our desks, Miss Lenz paused when she got to me, smiled and said, āYou see and feel things others donāt.ā At first I thought it was a bad thing and she made me nervous. Weād done an assignment about our heroes and rather than write about one person, I wrote about three and how they were intertwined. The heroine? My sister Lisa but I also wrote about her best friends ā disabled wonders James and Marta ā and how they stuck together, helping each other, despite their physical and mental disabilities ā and how their friendships encouraged me to be a better sister to Lisa.
I skipped past the grade (a B+ because of grammatical errors!) and went straight to the comments, where Miss Lenz offered encouragement. Up until then, Iād often heard āyouāre differentā in a zero-sum way ā nothing good there ā but Miss Lenzās feedback? Youāre different and itās special. Over the years, Iāve reflected on her input, her generous observation that itās okay to seeā¦and feelā¦and be me.
I shared the story of Miss Lenz and her creative encouragement ā to use my āvoiceā- as I responded to my client and he smiled, nodded. I think he felt a connection as I talked about the oddball fifth grader that I was.
Later that day when I wrapped up my notes about our meaningful meeting, I felt a compulsion to resurrect a poem that I wrote ā on a dare ā in college. I took a poetry class ā which I mostly despised. Not because of the professor but the snooty students. I was there for the credit onlyā¦meeting my gen ed requirements but the pompous and arrogant classmates made me ill.
Just like Miss Lenz, though, the professor saw ***something*** in me, my writing, which resulted in him challenging me to write a fun piece about a card game…ultimately published in a college anthology. My poem was the only one that made the cut. The arrogant ones? Nope. I was grateful thenā¦and surprisedā¦but over the years, I realized that his encouragement coupled with the early āitās okay to be differentā messages from Miss Lenz helped to solidify my love of creative typesā¦especially those who tinker with wordsā¦create worldsā¦tell storiesā¦share from their heart.
The poem? I still smile when I read it, captured for eternity in a dusty volume on my bookshelf:
Precision reigned as all were sweetly stacked
Queen with commoner, King with Jack.
With sinister simplicity the digits sliced the pile
Spewing forth the fragments of a Kingdom gone awry.
Relocation is rarely welcome.
Bemused visages sight unseen; personalities not yet sought
Spun together shiftily –
Scrutinized from above.
Salty palms of moisture; calisthenics are part of the plan.
Flexed and fondled, picked-plucked and tugged
In preparation for alignment
Solider-style.
Victors reap the virtues of her Ladyās fickle favors
As inferiors fade into obscurity, escaping to somber solitude.
From an unvanquished corner, a spoiling voice inquired:
āNouns, verbs or adjectives, old boy, which do you prefer?ā
My client? His adventure is unfolding, and Iām privileged to be at his sideā¦with admiration and the opportunity to reflect on my own journey. Life is good!
Vicki ā¤
Join us for more fun…inspiration and stories from the heart…at The Heart of the Matter! š¤
Photo by jalil shams on Pexels.com
Victoria Ponders... 
Oh, I love this, Vicki! That poem is just fantastic! šš I had similar teachers kindle my creative flame. My senior English teacher, Dr. Rockwell, made a comment in front of the class and on my paper about Crime and Punishment, and then Frankenstein. I was shy and embarrassed, and didn’t realize it was a good thing until I was chosen for my graduating class’ English award. A year later, Professor Baliani, my college English professor made similar comments about my ability to make connections others hadn’t. The paper my 18-year-old self wrote for him intertwining Joseph Campbell, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, and Carl Jung is still one of my proudest accomplishments… he was a true champion for my creative spirit. Thanks for such a feel-good piece this morning, Vicki! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
LikeLiked by 4 people
Erin! Iād love to read that Campbell-Plato-Jung paper! I bet itās fantastic! I love that you received such powerful encouragementā and look at you now! Inspiring others with your wisdom and supportive insightā¦in so many ways. Xo to you! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll see if I can dig it up! I think I have the hard copy somewhere, and hopefully the digital copy backed up. The powerful encouragement is really something else! I try to navigate life looking for opportunities to serve that roles for others with the hope to inspire someone else the way I was… it was truly like the flipping of a switch from “I like to write” to “I am a writer.” Love it! Hugs to you, Vicki!! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this connection-makingā¦and youāre right (write? LOL?!) about the subtle but oh-so meaningful shift involved in claiming the identity of āwriterā. You are, my friend, you are! ā¤ļøš„°ā¤ļø
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kudos to teachers who have such a wondrous and lasting impression. It does make teaching one of the most noble professions, no?
I love that āYou see and feel things others donāt.ā That is so powerful! It compliments George Scialabbaās āPerhaps imagination is only intelligence having funā, and I believe is a high DOUBLE compliment. Well deserved!
LikeLiked by 2 people
EW! You did it again! A perfectly wonderful commentā¦.thank you so muchā¦along with a terrific quote! Iāll need to look up George S. You are a marvelā¦.happy Monday, my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Itās easy to compliment those who so richly deserve it š„° Idk much about Scialabba, the reason I came across him was because I heard āCreativity is intelligence having funā and was so taken by it that I wanted to know what its origin was, it was Scialabba!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it! You are my never-ending resource of āgood stuffā! Hugs to you! š„°
LikeLike
Thank you, Victoria, for honouring us by sharing about your client (so glad that’s he’s being brave and following his dream!), Miss Lenz, and also for sharing your wonderful poem.
I fully agree with Miss Lenz: “Youāre different and itās special.” There’s a power that comes through what you share. šš»š§”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, dear Art! I appreciate you for reading and your lovely comment! Yesā¦Miss Lenz was something special. A teacher who made all the difference! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, dear Victoria. It’s always a pleasure to read what you write. I’m drawn to your content very naturally, and I’m happy that’s the case.
Just so you know: You’re making a positive difference, too! Please keep us informated (as much as possible) about that client.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do! And thank you for all of your positivity and encouragement, Art! šā¤ļøš
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Victoria! And thank you for yours! šš»š¤
LikeLiked by 1 person
ššš
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely, Vicki! So thankful Miss Lenz recognized that you are special, as indeed you are. And that youāre passing that on to so many of us. And your poem was just delightful!
LikeLiked by 3 people
xo – thank you, Kendra! š
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it great that your teacher then prof saw your potential and nurtured it within you? Those are the mentors that can make a person feel confident. You were fortunate. The poem is a delight.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Aw…thank you, Ally. It’s fun to have our very own time capsules of writing…sometimes scary and less fun, TBT! š¤£And yes — I was fortunate to have terrific teachers, mentors. One wonders what life would be like if I hadn’t had folks in my corner at the “just right” times. Grateful! xo! ā¤ā¤ā¤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, what a wonderful post that’s left me with shivers – about being encouraged and being encouragers. And your client’s question about the creative spark has me digging in to ponder it too.
How lucky we are when someone sees something in us. And how often that precedes us seeing it in ourselves. Such a treasure (and a responsibility and an honor) to be walking along this path with wonderful humans that help us move forward – like you are doing with your client.
Love the poem – it’s fun and sparkling, just like you!! ā¤ ā¤ ā¤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Fun and sparkling? šIāll take it! Thank you, Wynneā¦you beautifully summarized my āwhyā. Hugs to you for reading and for your fab āfill-me-upā comment! ā¤ļøš„°ā¤ļø
LikeLike
Oh so many of us could have used Ms Lenz back then! How much ādifferentā would things be if we were acknowledged as different but good?
We also are beneficiaries of her and of your daring, not so snooty professor as they brought us you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh goodness — thank you, Michael! Yes — different = good! That’s a powerful message that many youngsters…and adults…would do well to hear on repeat, I think. Thanks for that and for your kind comment…and cheers to not-so-snooty professors! š¤£šš¤£
LikeLiked by 1 person
āYou see and feel things others donāt.ā I love that line. When I read your post, it jumped off the page. I have a couple of stories like that too. I can even relate to the fear or apprehension that it meant a bad thing. But, oh no, it’s a wonderful thing. Thank goodness for the Miss Lenz’s and Professors who stoke those flames. Like you, I think I love creative, writerly types because they tend to not be arrogant. They tend to encourage and cheer on each other, because they know how challenging it can be to get to the end goal. I know for me, I’ve blogged this long because I thrive off that encouragement. It sustains me. And yes, I need send some praise your way Vicki. Love the choice of imagery in poem . . . Queen with commoner, King with Jack . . . Flexed and fondled, picked-plucked and tugged . . . Victors reap the virtues of her Ladyās fickle favors . . . A fun little poem. I see why it was chosen! ššš
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! And thank you, Brian! I agreeā¦the cheering one another on is a big motivatorā¦compelled to encourage because weāve received it and we know itās magicalā¦but only if we share, pass it forward. An endless loop! š
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun poem Vicki! I might just add that encouragement from a trusted and sincere adult in any arena of life can often make or break a person in ways no one can imagine. That little nudge, whether it be in words or actions is so powerful and affirming. You were so fortunate to have a few such people cross into your world and help you to know that you could shine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great point, Debā¦not just teachersā¦kind, thoughtful, giving folks, PERIOD. Yes, yes.š Thank you for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! What a great compliment from Miss Lentz! I had to laugh when I read about your experience in the poetry class. Iāve had similar encounters with wanna-be poets who need to get over themselves š
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes…glad you connected with that ‘vibe’. Oy! And yes – cheers to good-hearted people – teachers most of all – who may not know how much their words matter. xo! ššš
LikeLiked by 1 person
š
LikeLike
What a great story Vicki. Will you share it with the gentleman in question? Miss Lenz was absolutely correct. Your difference is definitely special! š
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely will share your kindness, Julia — thank you for that! xoxoxox! ššš
LikeLike
You can deal words and cards with the same hands. Brava! The only writers with reading are those with the capacity Miss Lenz saw in you, just as painters like Van Gogh show us a world we only recognize when they remove the veil. Thanks, Vicki.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness — thank you, dear Dr. Stein. Miss Lenz was a giving soul. Someone I’ve tried to emulate for years. ā¤
LikeLike