The First Piece I Ever Wrote

My first work published on Vocal. It has been revised but ultimately became the pathway for my recovery.

I am still a work in progress and write almost daily. (I'm sure some of you have noticed that, lol)

I doubt honestly, that Vocal has any idea just how many ways their platform is changing the lives of the people who are publishing. But you are. I am one of them, and I am grateful for the friends I have made in the process.

Well, to get into when I started writing anything anyone else would want to read, and why I began writing, I will have to expose a few wounds, for insight.

I have done this before, a little bit at a time, but never in a full-blown exposé. I will do my best to keep the Jerry Springer out of this tale.

I began to write about my feelings after my mom died and my marriage fell apart, in 2018. My youngest graduated high school, and both girls left home for college; I left with nothing, bought a house by myself, and moved myself (by myself) into a cute little house.

For the first time in 53 years, I was absolutely alone. Broken, and scared to death.

I had my self-esteem handed to me through a shredder when my husband had an affair, and the one I person I had always depended on, to walk me through the next door, was gone.

I survived only because of my girls. I did not want to go on. I had completely lost my purpose.

My entire life was encircled around my family and kids, and now, they were gone.

I was tagged by Paul Stewart to write an interview, in a side challenge one of the Vocal groups hosted. I tend to only write poetry, but I gave it a go.

My first thought was...ok Kelli, be funny, but before I knew it, I had unloaded the past five years on the page. (it didn't get many reads) I think sometimes I am too open, and it may get a little dark for some.

My intentions are to be as open as I can, to help someone else who may be in the same position I was in.

So, I tried a couple writing challenges to get my feet wet, and my mind onto something else. This was a whole new challenge for me.

Writing feelings and rhyming seems to come easier than building characters and back stories, but the journey has been fun.

I was introduced into a Vocal group by Rick Henry Christopher and with some encouragement, I really began to like it. These groups have filled a large void for me. The quality of people on here is top notch!

I have never placed in a contest, and that gets me down sometimes, wondering if I should pack it up and quit. But I have had a few Top Stories, which is unbelievable, and then, a new challenge comes out, and the competitor in me says, why not?

I did not intend for this to become a self-promoting opportunity, and I apologize if that is how it has come across. It's just that each story offers a bit of insight into what has gotten me here. And the incredible thing is, every writer that you stumble across and follow on this fantastic platform, also has a story to tell.

We are drawn together, we encourage one another, hold one another accountable and celebrate together as those we have befriended (AROUND THE WORLD) succeed in a journey that started with simply, maybe even reluctantly, picking up a pen.

How amazing the journeys, we are privy to, how lucky we are to get to learn and grow in that influence.

So, thank you to everyone who has read my work. Thank you for interacting and supporting me for who and where I am.

I am honored to be a part of this platform.