The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.
– James M. Barrie (author, Peter Pan)
Thank you for stopping by; please take a look around. I write traditional blog posts, poetry, short fiction and sometimes post photos as well. It’s all accessible from the menu at the top of the page and through the searches over to the right.
I started this blog for two reasons. I had written (journals, poems, stories) for years starting when I was a child but at some point I stopped. I’m not sure what happened but I missed it and finally recognized the not writing as a rather large hole in my life. So, I started this blog in 2013 in part to fill that hole.![23636-1440x900-[DesktopNexus.com]](https://silverleafjournal.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/23636-1440x900-desktopnexus-com1.jpg)
My second reason is that, finding myself at almost-mid-life (what is the official maker for that anyway?), I was exhausted – exhausted from going non-stop, ignoring the negative self-talk I have lived with my whole life, and from doing a job that just wasn’t my passion. The famous crossroads. I asked myself: Who am I, who do I want to be and how do I manage my stress? That was a few years ago but from time to time I still work some of that out here, on these pages.
So that is me and why the blog.
Now, why Silverleaf? I remember reading a number of years ago that right before a storm, as the wind is rising, before the rain, thunder and lightening come, the leaves on the trees dance and turn in such a way that you can see their silvery undersides. This was an idea that resonated with me then, and years later, I have come back to it because the idea of a slight stirring before a storm resonates with me still.
As I consider myself, where I am in my life and in the world, I recognize the importance I place on taking time for contemplation and I often feel like the leaves that are blown about and showing their silver, before a storm.
…I also like the word association between “leaf” and the pages of a journal.
Your readership is reward enough!
The Silver Leaf Journal 
Hi there! Thanks for visiting and following my blog “Musings of a Horse Mom.” Your story about the leaf reminds me of something I read just yesterday about the moment before a horse spooks. There’s an instant shift in energy calling the rider to action and to which he or she must be attuned if they are to avoid being caught in the turmoil of the horse’s storm. It’s why riding and being with horses is so amazing. They teach us to be in the moment and be ready for anything. I am happy for your son (and you) that he has a chance to learn this valuable life lesson. Horses are amazing teachers of self-awareness. … Be well, Dorothy 🙂
That is a wonderful comparison! It’s been so long since I rode a horse I think I probably forgot – or never really felt – that tensing before its storm.
Thanks for dropping by!
Your ideas, your writing, all really strike a chord with me. Looking forward to following.
Thank you so much! The feeling is very mutual 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂
And the leaves always whether the storm – they may be a little battered, but they are still there!
Thanks for stopping by mine! And thank you, too, for the lovely message 🙂
Hi! I nominated you for a Liebster Award 🙂 Check it out at http://dutchwitch.wordpress.com/
Thank you!! I am, slowly, putting together my reply 🙂
You’re welcome 😉 It’s an award that does require an extensive reply, so I noticed this afternoon, but it’s fun 😀
I wanted to say a very sincere thank you for the nomination you placed on Poems from Dark Corners. I have been held back from adequately responding by a hectic week, but I am honored and I will respond. Thank you so very much!
– Trysten
My pleasure! I understand how difficult it can be to try to get to everything. But the process is rewarding. I look forward to reading your answers.
I wanted to say again that I have not forgotten about the honor you have bestowed, the Liebster Award. I couldn’t believe the amount of time that has elapsed since you sent it; and for that matter since I have posted here. That span was not intentional, and you have my apologies. The link you posted does not seem to be working for me any longer. I don’t wish to impose more work on you, but if you would like to relink (if that is even possible), I would gladly attempt to respond in a timely manner. Thank you! – Trysten
Yes I’d noticed you hadn’t been around in a while. Nice to see you/hear from you again. Life does get int he way sometimes, doesn’t it? Here’s the link again: https://silverleafjournal.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/liebster-award/. If you need it again, you can find it through my site by clicking on the Awards section under Categories on the right hand side. I look forward to reading your answers, whenever you get to them – there’s no rush!
I’ve started my blog for the same reason, time to get back to writing! Enough with thinking about it everyday and doing nothing with it 🙂
Yes it’s great to have some kind of structure and impetus to write on a consistent basis. Thanks for dropping by!
Thank you for liking my blog. You are gifted. Your prose is sublime and intoxicating to the soul. I also started blogging because I could no longer stomach being defined by others. I am a child of the 80’s. However, your post on Nirvana took me back to the good old days of the 90’s. I just had to listen to “smells like teen spirit” again, full blast. On a serious note, how long have you been writing?
Thank you so much for your very kind words. I’m touched that you like my writing – and happy that I inspired you to go back and listen to Nirvana! Writing really is something that I enjoy to do and I feel like something is missing in my day if I don’t do it.
As for how long I’ve been writing, that’s difficult to say. I’m now 38 but I began writing poems and short stories when I was about 15. Before that, I had kept a journal for many years. When I began university and had to write academically, the creative thinking/writing fell off. I only really came back to it in the last 6 months, though I feel now like I never stopped.
I was very impressed by your blog. It is courageous and moving. I am on a break from work now but did have a job at the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Department, at one point in the refugee section, so I am familiar with the issues you write about and am particularly moved and impressed by the life you have led.
Thank you for following and for taking the time to write to me.
Don’t stop writing, ever. You have been bestowed with a gift and if that’s what you love doing, then may God grant you your dreams.
I am not a writer and English is not my mother tongue. However, I feel inspired to keep at it and would love to get your thoughts on my writing and tips for improvement.
I look forward to reading your posts. God bless.
You have been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award and the Dragon’s Loyalty Award. For more on this, please visit my blog.
Have a great Christmas and healthy and happy 2014!
Love,
Billie
http://ireland-ms.com
Thank you, Billie, that is so kind of you. I have been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award in the past, though this is the first I’ve heard of the Dragon’s Loyalty Award. I like the sound of it! Unfortunately, I’m hopeless at getting myself together to respond to awards so please do not be offended if I do not manage more than a heartfelt thank you.
A Happy Christmas to you and all the best in 2014.
I’m so glad our paths have crossed today, for many reasons. I look forward to reading more of your writing in the near future. Thanks!
Thank you for stopping by. I’m glad that something I wrote spoke to you in a positive way.
Hi, please read this http://zainabjavid.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/blurb-for-my-novel/
Aw, I am so touched that you would mention me in such a lovely way. I am happy to have had anything to do with your return to your story. I will look forward to hearing about how it’s going, your challenges and triumphs in telling it, and to reading it one day. It sounds compelling.
I loved the concept of the silver leaf. You write well and I find you interesting.
Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say. I’m glad you dropped by.
I love your imagery of the leaves. Very nice.
I’m participating in the “Blogging 201” course and hoping to get connected with other bloggers. Enjoying it so far, but so far they’ve not talked about anything I haven’t already done. Hoping it will pick up a bit in the coming days!
In anyway, following you now…looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Thank you! And yes, I’m finding the same with Blogging U. I’d like to see a task that really grabs me but so far, nothing. At least it connects people, though!
Your post really resonates with me as I’m in much the same place. I just recently gave up a stable job of 14 years to “follow my bliss.” Long story short, things haven’t gone as planned and it’s been an extremely difficult six months. My whole world turned upside down and now I’m in the very intense process of a sort of forced self discovery. And it’s about time!! As painful as it is, it is also liberating. I LOVE your leaf analogy. It’s so perfect. What a great post – and I love the leaves on your page. Very serene. 😀
Thank you so much for stopping by, sharing your story – and leaving such complimentary words! I’d love to know more about your self discovery and where it is taking you. After 10 months, I’m considering going back to my old place of work, though with a different job. But in my stronger moments I rebel and think, “Wait! I was supposed to be following my dream!” I’m just not fully sure what that is yet…
What about you?
I don’t fully know what my dream is, either, to be honest. Well, at least I won’t fully acknowledge it for fear of failure. That’s probably a more accurate way to put it. I’m actually becoming certified as a life coach in a modality called Faster EFT which is based off of regular EFT (eomtional freedom technique) and NLP (neuro linguistic programming). I’m still a bit on the fence because I’m scared, but it’s “Go Time!’ so I’m going… 🙂 My goal is to be up and running by the end of the year. And I really do love it. I should write my story one of these days. I’ve tried, but there’s so much that I get overwhelmed. (and sorry for the super delayed response – I missed this somehow)
That is a GREAT plan. A longtime family friend is an ex-life coach (maybe retired is a better word; I don’t think you ever fully walk away from it) and she has helped me so much this past year. Really fabulous of you to go that way – and I wish you success and happiness! I’m sure it will be very fulfilling. And I look forward to hearing about how you got to there from where you started 🙂
Just begun this whole blogging affair…thats what I choose to call it really! Quite simply because once you read them, you are hooked. I completely felt in sync with the imagery of the leaf upturned showing silver side…every one of us have it within us but to be able to see it, it probably takes a thunderstorm as you eloquently put it. Writing is a beautiful experience, helping us cogently put down thoughts that otherwise run amuck.And reading what others write brings an immediacy of feeling of one-ness…So glad to have chanced upon your blog….
Thank you for sharing such beautiful and poetic thoughts! I know what you mean about that feeling of one-ness and connectedness; it’s really the most rewarding part of blogging. I’m glad you stopped by, too, and good luck on your whole blogging affair 🙂
Looking forward to exploring your blog. I absolutely love the concept of the silver leaf…perfect 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a nice message 🙂 Welcome, and enjoy.
A blog dedicated to a perpetual calm before a never coming storm. I like the idea.
I came here after you commented this week’s Speakeasy post over on our blog. What you said got me thinking, so I got curious and here I am. Know that you have one more reader, waiting for the next leafs to fall from the abstract tre that is your creativity.
Thank you, I’m honoured! I like that idea, the abstract tree that is my creativity…It’s very poetic. Thanks again.
over on our blog, I answered that last comment of yours… In depth
Ok, I’ll check it out. With all the football it’s hard to get a moment to focus!
Ah and Silver?
In the books there are clear references to mature themes like sex, drugs, organized crime etc.. I don’t know how old your son is, but, in my opinion, the books are written for kids aged 14ish or at least to kids to that have a good understanding of the world, even it’s… grimmer portions. Even if most teenage boys (and probably alot of teen girls) wanted to be as cool as James Bond at one point or another, training little orphans to do the nation’s dirty work isn’t very glorious.
I know you take parenting very seriously, and thus that you will make an apropriate desicion, but be aware that Muchamore’s world isn’t all fame and glory. If you want other good series for your son (and you if you want) here are some good reads I’ve had during the past few years: Alison Croggan’s Books of Pelinor (age 13ish and older for the complexity); Isaac Asimov’s Foundation (Same goes, it’s rather complex); Trudy Canvan’s Dark Magician triology (more for your son but if you like fantasy… a 12y old coul probs handle it); Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game series (The author has questionable political views but the book is great. Probs more for a 14yold) and for you I’d recomend Game of Thrones, if you havn’t already started it. I don’t know about HBO’s series, as the novel’s explicit theme make for an awkward watch, but the novel is simply amazing! Definitely not suited for a little boy though…
Now I don’t remember the plots of those books exactly, and it is a little hard to project myself in the mind of a boy several years younger, and even more so in a mother’s mind, so you may find what I say here to be inaccurate, so give Google a run for it’s money…
Hope this helps…
Please be delightfully advised – I nominate you for the One Lovely Blog Award – please seehttp://blainecindy.com/awards/one-lovely-blog-award/ Congratulations!
Thank you so much for thinking of me; that is very flattering! For a number of reasons, I have decided not to participate in the various blog award programs but I am always touched to know someone thinks I am deserving.
Hey there. I finally got around to learning more about you and your writing. I am always drawn to your pieces you share at Yeah Write. From reading this particular post, I can see why. We are quite kindred souls in that words carried us through most of our lives. I lost touch with them for a long time too and finally dove back in to writing when I started my blog last October.
So, I was asked to take part in a blog tour. It’s not something I would usually do; however, it’s based on the idea of exploring your own creative style and taking the opportunity to learn more about others. I got the feeling that this could be a good writing exercise for me, as I’ve never really explored the idea myself.
It’s requested that I tag three bloggers, that I wish to learn more about their creative process. I’ll be tagging you, whenever I finish the damn thing. I’m sticking with writer’s I am drawn to through Yeah Write and honestly you were the first one I thought of 🙂
One more little thing…What is your name? lol…I looked and looked and found no reference to a name. How would you like me to address you ??
Sincerely,
~Dawn
Hello and thank you for your kind message. I’m touched that you took the time to read through this. I actually participated in a blog tour earlier this year, in April. I’m not sure if it’s the same one but you can read my entry here if you like : https://silverleafjournal.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/the-my-writing-process-blog-tour/
Sorry that you’ll have to find another candidate!
As for my name, I go by Silverleaf here in blogland. Because I write sometimes about work-related stress, I have to be careful and remain anonymous and untraceable. But I’m quite used to the name Silverleaf at this point.
Lovely to meet you, Dawn!
Thanks for letting me know…can’t wait to read your entry 🙂
Hey Silver Leaf…This isn’t an award thing, I promise. But I wondered if you were interested in participating in a “writing process” blog tour. It’s an opportunity to share what you’re working on, how you work, etc. I was tagged by Michelle Terry of MamaMick site. This is her contribution: http://mamamickterry.com/2014/07/29/unpolished-and-earthy-blog-tour/
I need to tag three other bloggers who are willing to answer four questions about their writing process and tag three bloggers in return. I hope to get mine up this week. If you don’t have time or inclination, I completely understand. I enjoy your writing and would love to hear about your process. Thanks for considering!
Oh, rats. I just saw that you participated in one earlier this year!
Haha, yes, but thank you for thinking of me.
I am looking forward to reading both of yours, though!
Nice reads.
You cover a vast area of topics, styles, and pictures. It’s quite easy to get lost in the dephts pf your blog. 🙂
Keep up the good work, and many thanks for sharing all those gems and beauty.
Looking forward to your further postings,
Salva
Thank you! What a very kind thing for you to say. I’m glad you enjoy the various bits and pieces of my thoughts that I share here. So happy you stopped by 🙂
The honours are all yours! 🙂
Hi Silverleaf! I’ve nominated your blog for the Quote and a Bonus Poem Challenge! 🙂 More information at https://thechaserofdreams.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/cleansed-the-quote-and-a-bonus-poem-challenge-day-3/
That’s very kind of you. Thank you for thinking of me, however, I am on holidays with my family and only writing sporadically. I may come back to this though!
You’re welcome and no problem! 🙂
Hello Silverleaf,
Thank you for letting me into your world of words. I sincerely look forward to reading and growing.
Hello my friend, thank YOU for reading xo
Hello Silverleaf, I am so happy to met you. For me, writing brings relief. When the thoughts rush into my head, it feels like I am swimming underwater. Although I love the challenge of holding my breath for a long time, coming back to the surface and catching my breath is like being born again, to a new cycle of endless possibilities. For me, writing is an experience of breathing consciously.
Hello to you! It was lovely to have met you as well – thank you for keeping in touch. I love this description of what writing is for you, especially the images of breaking the surface and of breathing consciously. That’s a lovely description – it could inspire poetry!