An appreciation post and Happy Christmas to all who celebrate.
Thank you to all the writers who dived into their stories with Howth Writing Workshops this year and those who travelled and joined our Howth Writing Retreat.
A big round of applause to those who started writing with a prompt and ended on stage in front of hundreds of our community members. Your literary performances suit you, darlings.
To those who attended our events and who listened to and loved the music and songs of our local musicians, and to all the people who supported Hooks & Reels' efforts as we gathered in story and song. Thank you. What a great year it has been.
We adventure onwards into 2025.
*The Friday morning and Wednesday afternoon workshops times will continue. www.laraobrien.com
*A Zoom group begins at the end of January, so please join us from outside the area. DM to save a seat.
*Spanish Yoga/Writing Retreat in www.suryalila.com March 8th
* Howth Writing Retreat October 26-30th 2025
Hooks & Reels February with Ireland Professors of Poetry, Paula Meehan. DTBC
That's what's going on.
On a personal note, it has been the most extraordinary year, to see so many arrive at the kitchen table, join the other writers, write to prompts, and break out their life stories. We have shared so much tea together.
To witness the change in a person's life as they hear their story is profound. People become writers, that with each story heal a little and become whole and ready for any story that comes their way. They become listeners and creatives with a purpose. Those little gems of life stories are mirrors that reveal who we are, and how we live our life. And finding the gold in the mudroom of our mind changes everything. We find clarity and wisdom and we work on and with empathy for ourselves and others.
In 2006 I attended my first workshop and discovered the most amazing teacher Nancy Aronie at her Chilmark Writing Workshop. It was such a heart-opening experience, that I swore onto the creative life, forever and ever, AMEN. I had no idea it would become the lifesaver and the life enhancer that writing has become. It is a gift I want to share with you too.
Onwards in words, and wisdom, and writing.
Lara and family, Happy 2025.
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