Turning seeds of Doubt into a Fruitful Harvest. Michelle.

Hello everyone!

First, thank you Cecilia for the opportunity to write a guest post for The Kitchen’s Garden. As a sustainability blogger, I always enjoy the daily updates from the farm!

My name is Michelle Oram (Boomer Eco Crusader), and I am a writer. It has taken me many years to be able to type those words or say them out loud. When I was a teenager, someone planted a seed of doubt in my mind. That seed of doubt grew within me for many years. Let’s start with a look back…

My History as a Writer

When I was in high school, one of my teachers told me I was a terrible writer and “I should probably just stick to typing”. Now, those might not have been the exact words he used, but that’s certainly the message I took away from the conversation.
I suppose making a statement like that was acceptable back in the 1980s. Wait! No, it wasn’t! Reflecting on that conversation is a powerful reminder of how the words we use can build someone up or tear them down.

Fast forward to 2019, when I was starting to look ahead to what’s next after my career in financial services. After another personal project ended, I was at a bit of a loose end. I had been working hard to reduce my impact on our planet and wanted to share my message of sustainability with the world. A good friend, who is also a blogger, suggested I start a blog. Boomer Eco Crusader was born! I nervously published my first blog post on my 55th birthday. I had no idea if anyone would read it, and I definitely had no idea of the wonderful blogging community that existed.

Guess What! I’m Not a Terrible Writer! As I started to write more, I discovered I loved it! And contrary to what I had been told in high school, I was actually pretty good at it. As I thought more about it, I realized that every job I’ve ever had has involved writing in some form.

Over 5 years of blogging, my writing has improved, and the scope of my blog has expanded. I’ve stayed true to my original roots of sustainability, but expanded it to decluttering, simplifying, and intentional living. Because, through my writing, I
discovered that it’s all connected! I’ve even tried my hand at poetry and fiction writing, although I’m definitely more of a non-fiction gal.

Balancing Creativity and Structure

In the early days, I worried I’d run out of things to write about. Five years in, it hasn’t happened yet. I’ve learned to be open to the inspiration that is all around me. I’ve also found that my best posts are pieces that come from the heart.
Being a morning person, I do my best work early in the day when the house is quiet.

Most mornings, you’ll find me in my rocking chair, iPad on my lap, and cup of tea at my side. Writing does tend to put me in a state of flow. Some days it’s hard to tear myself away from my words to get on with my day.

Although writing is mostly a creative process, my organized nature has helped me keep it going. After the first few months, I saw that I needed to put some sort of structure in place, so I started to plan my calendar content in advance and use spreadsheets to keep myself organized. That helped but I found it didn’t leave room to write about things that are currently on my mind.

Five years in, I think I’ve found the right balance. I still plan and schedule my Tuesday posts in advance, but The Sunday Spark is my spot to make sense of the multitude of things that are swirling round in my head. It’s a synopsis of my week—things I did, things I learned, and things I’ve been pondering.

One of my biggest learnings, though, is how important it is to be genuine. Over my five years blogging, I’ve observed that authenticity leads to staying power. Many bloggers have come and gone—but the ones that remain are those who write sincere content that comes from the heart.

So Many Words Left to Write

I retired from my full-time job at the end of June, so I have more time to write and pursue other passion projects. In one of my first retirement projects, I’m collaborating with a couple of colleagues on a book! It’s a non-fiction book about the impact of longevity on society, our lives, our careers, and our finances. I’m also launching a retirement coaching practice so I’m envisioning a retirement lifestyle blog in my future.

Thanks again to Cecilia for the opportunity to introduce myself to you. I hope we can stay connected. You can find me on my personal blog at Boomer Eco Crusader. I also post on Wise & Shine most Mondays.

Michelle