I took a break from working on projects this morning. I was really motivated, but I forced myself to take a break for health reasons. Then the doubt seeped in. I caught myself questioning myself, and I knew the self-criticism was without merit. But I lost a little steam.

I dawdled on Facebook, when a post sparked a need to look through some old belongings I hadn’t touched in years. In the process, I found my copy of On the Road by Kerouac, which I had thought was lost. Inside the book, there was this postcard from my writing mentor, Ray Kelleher. He wrote it in 1996 explaining he would be gone and when he would be back, and ended the card, “Write Anyway! Be-bop lives.”

Postcard from my writing mentor, Ray Kelleher, to our high school writing workshop. 1996. It was hidden in my copy of Kerouac’s “On the Road.”

Postcard from my writing mentor, Ray Kelleher, to our high school writing workshop. 1996

He died several years back. I didn’t learn until well after the fact. Sometimes signs from him pop up. Like this.

I’m back at the computer. I’m sharing because there’s probably others who need a kick from the other side to get back to working on what you love, too.

Be-bop lives,

Suzanne