Sometimes I wonder whether my writing benefits anyone. My audience is loyal and fun, but small. Should I be doing something different, something to be seen by lots more people?

Well, while out bicycling several weeks back, I learned a useful little lesson on the subject… from some bluebonnets. Yeah, I know you think I never write about anything besides bluebonnets, but work with me here.

These ‘bonnets were growing among grass and other wildflowers by a road that led, past a church and some neighborhoods, toward a lake.

“Nice! What a lovely setting,” I thought.

On the same ride, I passed these bluebonnets in a patch of weeds and gravel outside a rusty, disused chain-link gate by a pipe yard.

“Eww, what a dismal setting,” I thought.

But then I realized: The pipe-yard bluebonnets were every bit as beautiful, every bit as exuberantly blue, as the ones in the prettier setting. Surely the people who have to drive by the pipe yard need their day brightened, too.

. . . and the lesson?

Don’t worry about statistics, about reaching lots of people. As near as I can figure, if you bloom where you’re planted and do what you do… the people who see and appreciate you are your people.

I close with a quote from Chris Pratt (click here to visit his Facebook page) that appeared some days later (May 3, 2017) in the Dallas Morning News. He was talking about acting, but his words encourage the writer as well. He said, “Whatever is authentic to you, do that, because that will work. Make it authentically your voice, and that’s how you’re going to find your people.”

Thanks for reading!
Tailwinds,
Jan