"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it wi

-Amy Poehler

Been missing my "tribe" lately. Have you found yours? Have you found people who challenge and inspire you? Are you able to spend time with them?

My life lately has been so busy, my introverted self has had a tough time adjusting to the new levels of stress and constant drain on my time, energy, mental focus, and patience.

But somewhere out there, still humming along, is my tribe. My New Writers Anonymous group that I started just over a year ago. Who came when I called when I'd been writing, seriously writing, for just under two months. And through them, I met another amazing writer--myself. And that isn't ego, that's saying that meeting so many other writers who are so passionate about writing, about their work, about the word and the page, that it lit up the writer in me. I became someone who finished a novel, who started a series, who pushed and inspired others to keep writing, and always be true to their innermost drive, pull, desire, need to write. And I love each and every one of them for that.

So as I sit here today, loving the cool breeze with the tendrils of spring running through it, the sound of the new baby leaves rustling, the scents of the flowers just blooming in my South Carolinian haven, I send out a heartfelt THANK YOU!!! to my tribe. Who pushed me, as I pushed them, who were there when I needed someone who understood this dark, twisty, beautiful pull to just... write.

If you haven't found your own tribe, I encourage you to. I found mine by starting up a Meetup group in my area. I called, and they came. And we started up regular meetings, little classes, little critiques, and then we were a family. Find your tribe. It will change your life.