IWSG How did January 2017 start for you?

Wow, I hope the first few days of January are not a type of things to come. I spent all day on the 1st and 2nd in the car driving across country to move my daughter into her college dorms. This is what it looked like. 

There was snow, ice, sand from the snow plows caked on my car and windshield, 1 degree temperatures (mostly and average temp of 28 degrees though), disappointing food stops, 314 songs saved on my van's hard drive, 22 hours of singing along to those songs, 1 bag of york peppermint patty minis, 1 box of wheat thins, 1 box of CheeseIts, 1 bag of the soft SweetTart candies, several bottles of water, one nice hotel, one iffy hotel (current without wifi that works!), and one 5-hour shot.

And that's just what it took to get to Idaho! I'll be here through today and head home tomorrow all by myself. I'm afraid it might take several more of those 5-hour shots to get home. 

When I get home, my oldest daughter will also be gone. I had to say goodbye on Sunday, but she left to serve a mission for our church yesterday. My entire home life is changing and my emotions are raw. 

It's wonderful to see them growing up and making wonderful choices, but what will I do without them around? They've grown into such wonderful personalities. I simply like hanging out with them.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!  Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

January 4th Question: What writing rule do you wish you'd never heard?

I don't think there is a rule that I wish I hadn't heard. It would be easier to share my favorite rule, the one I've adopted as complete LAW. The one that often negates or diminishes those I might have wish I'd never heard.

Follow your heart.

If you do that, everything else will work out. It's as simple as that. Not, write what you know, but follow your heart and write about whatever it is inside that pushes you to write.