Victoria Ponders

I grew up, in part, in Barrington, Illinois and attended high school there, during a tumultuous time in my family. We bounced around the Midwest during my early teen years and although teachers along the way often commented about my “unmet potential”, it wasn’t until I landed in Barrington that I began to believe in myself.

Decades later, I wrote about returning to the sweet little town in a post about my writers group and the awe I felt the day I visited (which, in the looking back, was more of an audition than a social call). It was surreal and otherworldly.

Since then, I’ve settled. They invited me to join the Barrington Writers Workshop and I’ve found my way back to the charming town which still holds echoes of “Vicki then“.

I chose a beautiful old mansion (Barrington’s White House) on Main Street for both of my book launch parties–three years ago for “Surviving Sue” and last month for “Slivers“. A place I lovingly remember from my high school years.

Last month, when the Barrington Cultural Commission put out a call for submissions for the annual “Poetry in the Park” event, I demurred. I’ve written poetry but I don’t identify as a poet. Heck. Most days I don’t identify as a author, either — even though I’ve written three books so far (a textbook, a memoir and my debut novel, “Slivers”).

I’m still coming to terms with the labels. I write because I enjoy it. It helps me figure out my insides. Sharing it? Often scary…but I do it because I believe in the notion of writing for wellness and anchored my consulting and private practice to the concept. It’s what motivated me to write “Surviving Sue”. It’s what pushed me to tackle a novel…wondering if I could spin a story inspired by Sue’s kooky, spooky hyper intuitive family. Et voila! “Slivers”!

This week I’ll experience more convergence when I present at the annual “Poetry in the Park” event. Yep – my poem, Read it and Weep was accepted! And the next day? I’ll be on the road presenting “Navigating Elder Care with Grace and Humor“, one of my favorite workshops.

Looking at my calendar I sometimes sigh. Being busy can be daunting but inevitably, it’s the gratitude rush which fuels me. Grateful to be in a position to help others, sharing my story. Trying to lead by example.

I am altogether imperfect (trust me, I have people lined up to testify) but I’m not budging. I’m staying on the path to personal enlightenment; sharing what I know is truly an honor and a blessing. Whether it’s a cheeky poem intended to make a client smile or encouragement for caregiving warriors, I’m gonna do what I can.

Thank you…for taking care of business in your corner of the world. Looking after yourself, those around you. Leading with grace, often in the face of incredible obstacles. I see you. Keep going and know that I’m cheering for you!

Vicki 💝

Unexpected Surprise? My consulting and private practice site, Atkinson Group Solutions, received an accolade this week. I do put some effort into keeping the content vibrant (with updates about what I’m doing, links, news and photos) but I was shocked when I received this notice:

Huh. Whaddya know. A bit of encouragement from an unexpected source. Being in the top 10% of consulting sites, based on visitor traffic put a smile on my face. A reminder: the work is worthy.

Thank you to those who’ve been reading “Slivers“, by the way. I love the thoughtful comments and insights. Thank you, too, for sharing your reviews here and on Goodreads. Helpful in ways I cannot begin to articulate. My next post? Two more terrific reviews!

Hi – I’m Victoria, Vicki, Dr. Vicki. I hold a doctorate in Adult Education and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and author of Surviving Sue and Slivers.

Check out this link to learn more about my book “Surviving Sue” – all about resilience and love. Check out this link to order “Slivers”…a ghost story with surprising twists.