With the new year, for some, it brings distress thinking about being another year older. For me, it brings promise of hope, new beginnings, chances, and a blessing of yet another year.

For those who are new followers, before I began writing children’s books, I was writer, and senior editor for ten years for an online health and recipe website named “Lowfat Weekly,” that I founded. I loved, loved, loved, writing about health issues and the challenge of adapting recipes to healthier versions. But while I always warned, for folks to go to their primary care physicians with health issues– I still received questions about health issues. People sharing their ills, trials, and hopelessness. I answered every email, but was very cautious to never give any medical advice. However, I started receiving emails that made me feel that I was being tested, seeing if I would break that boundary. With much thought and decision after ten years of writing health articles and designing good food in the test kitchen to make healthier alternative recipes…I closed the door on Lowfat Weekly.

But from the time I was a little girl, I loved writing. I wrote my mom poems, and whenever I wanted to say “anything,” I put it in a note.

There is more to this story, but for now…I shall end saying please look to the New Year for a new beginning, and never give up your hopes, or dreams.

-Virginia