Artistry With Words

The State of Montana is known as Big Sky Country.  I never really understood why until I went camping one time along the Yellowstone River.  Our campsite was located a good twenty miles from any real town or city, so ambient light was non-existent where we were.

That first night, laying on the ground in my sleeping bag, looking up at the stars, I finally understood why Montana had that nickname.  I had never seen so many stars in the sky as I saw that night. It was one of those sights which leave you gasping, and it was one of those sights which also leave you humbled.

I felt that way again three days ago when I received notice that my articles and stories have been viewed one-million times.

Unbelievable!

This isn’t a pat-on-the-back sort of post.  This is a “HOLY SHIT” sort of post.

There’s nothing special about me; at least I don’t think there is.  I’m just a guy, one of over seven billion on this planet.  I grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and really lived a very “under the radar” sort of existence.  I never made the news.  I really never did anything that I consider noteworthy.  I’ve stumbled and bumbled my way through life, just like everyone else.  I eat, I sleep, I work, and I love.

So the realization that my words have been read over one-million times is amazing to me.  Thank God for the internet, right?  It has allowed a nobody like me to have friends in over fifty countries and in fifty states without ever leaving my writing studio.  It has allowed me to work on my craft and receive unbelievable support along the journey.

For an introvert like me, we are talking a huge bonanza I never expected.

My message to my writer friends: what we do has an impact.

When I first started out writing, I wrote a lot of articles about alcoholism.  It was only natural that I do so since I’m a recovering alcoholic, closing in on eleven years of sobriety.  Now I mention that because those articles were written seven years ago, and I’m still receiving emails from complete strangers, thanking me for those articles and telling me how much they have been helped by my words.

Complete strangers, helped by my words!

We make an impact with our words!

So treat this gift of writing with the respect it is due.

One million times!

Who would have thunk it?

Thank you, all!

Bill

“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”