About eighteen years ago, somebody told me that I should learn to write.

I never bothered to say that her comment had floored me… but it had stemmed from my childhood: when I’d write or tell stories to my younger siblings. It’d served as a good distractor from the violence downstairs. It had also been my solace, spending many solitary hours writing my thoughts down and penning poems…

Funnily enough, the critique turned out to be wrong; because the result she’d desired: came true, in the letter I’d drafted for her, although I only found out retrospectively!

She’d knocked my thin layer of confidence, but luckily spiked my ire. I’d thought:

So, what if I can’t write, I like writing, it relaxes me, so I’m going to keep practicing doing it.

I then repurposed the energy of feeling cross, and turned it into a seed of courage.

And then I remembered, what would make my seedling grow: to recall and borrow the courage from my late father. My courageous cockney foundling daddy, who fled the abusive childrens’ home, and went on to set up the largest professional photo lab in Europe. Despite his deafness, as I would once more copy him: – despite the cerebral palsy, and the dreadful things mother said about my intellect – in those informative years.

He raised me on tough love, when I was allowed to see him, and truth, hard work, and buckets of giggles.

There’s no better concentration of energy than found in laughter, and you need lots of it when you’re courageously working hard to do, or improve something.

I’d soon reshaped my business, and it wasn’t long before copywriting became the main source of income. I seemed to have a knack of getting free column inches for my old clients.’

Perhaps it was because I love writing, and still like to work on improving my techniques…

I gave the old letter dressing- down time: further thought, and then spent more time recalling that what I’d written, had had a positive outcome, for the person in question.

“Oh” I’d thought, I’d used friendly language and addressed them by their first names.

This person probably thought that we were being too familiar with them. But we’d met them so I’d considered a friendly tone would work. I guess I’d had the courage to change the style of the marketing literature. If I hadn’t then I’d have never subsequently have got into copywriting.

And from there, later a draft about my harrowing childhood.

Especially if you love doing something, and it soothes your atoms, never be discouraged by people, proffering their opinions.

Do be willing to learn more about your craft, and readily accept critique.

Never get put off by your lack of talent. I cannot draw for toffee, yet I make all my loved -one’s homemade cards. Because enjoyment over talent, will eventually improve your ability in the pursuits you enjoy. If you have the courage to keep trying.

And, the more you grow courage within the things you fancy having a go at, then the more confident you’ll feel about applying it to the more serious aspects of your life, where you need more units of courage. Liken growing courage as though you were strengthening a muscle!

I hope you find this helpful.

SUNNY wishes, Emma x