Hi I am Denyse Whelan. I am relatively new to Blogging. I am currently revamping my blog so have no name YET. I am in Sydney Australia. I write on my blog in areas of personal, community, education and family. I would welcome a chance to 'meet up' or 'tweet up. I am @denwise1 on twitter.

Thank you! I was just looking in my back yard noticing how the grass is coming in looking very colorful this year, and the phrase "the grass is greener" popped into my mind. I sat down at the laptop and had just received your message linking to your blog, where I read the words "the grass is greener". I had to stop and think, "Was I thinking about green grass before I read this?" It all seemed to converge at the same moment. Then I read "Life Was Meant to Be Easy" and it seemed as if I stumbled across a moment of clarity. :) The grass is pretty damned green, indeed.

That sounds wonderful! I have written poetry ever since I can remember. Poetry is an active healing process for me. However, I was always terrified to share it with others until about two years ago when I hit bottom. My boyfriend had committed suicide, and I developed a heroin and cocaine addiction as a way to cope with the pain. After a few years of attempting to balance my addiction, I eventually lost the battle and ended up homeless. Around the corner from the homeless shelter I was living in was a coffee shop called Cup of Joe's. At that point, Cup of Joe's had been the longest running open mic in SLC and was the home venue of the SLC Slam poetry team. I would go to the coffee shop everyday and write, write, and write. Eventually I worked up the nerve to share my work at the mic, and developed a community with an amazing group of writers and musicians. This process of writing and speaking about my internal process was my rehab, and now two and a half years later, it is my career. I was a professional improvisational pianist before Peter's death, so the realm of creative expression within performance is very familiar for me. I write and speak about topics such as addiction, death, rebirth, spirituality and indigo children. My intention is to speak and sing about the trials I endured as a way to inspire others to speak about and overcome similar trials they might be facing. I have hosted open mics here in SLC in the past, but now I am beginning an open mic at the Utah Pride Center for LGBTQ youth in order to mentor the writing and performances they wish to share. I'm very excited to be at a place in my life where I can help facilitate new voices to express, inspire and heal.

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. Land of the glass temple. (hehehe) I am focusing on poetry at the moment, but I have dabbled in children's fiction as well. In the current incarnation of my creative cycle, I am a spoken word/hip hop artist. Off the page and into the mic! rawxtract.bandcamp.com

I just passed your blog site along to several girlfriends who also dabble in the blogging art. I think they will appreciate it. :) At one point I thought I was going to travel the blogging road, and I think after I have finished the bouts of poetry manuscript submission I will return to it. My idea was to publish a weekly chapter of my children's book on a blog. Charles Dicken's style. I need to look into the ways of blogging a bit more to do it justice. Finding a site such as yours gives me inspiration. This is what I did thus far, although I haven't promoted it in the least.
redvelvetnotes.blogspot.com

I subscribed to your blog and look forward to reading more!

MMMMhhhhmmmm. I just checked out your blog from the message you sent from the Mother Writers group. I love the look and the content is divine!

Happy day, Sharni! Your website is wonderful...your story will touch so many hearts. It's good that Spirit is guiding you so clearly. You go, girl! enjoy the ride!

Thanks for the update... I am so busy right now. I just got that Master's degree and when I came home... whew! I hope everything is going well for you, Sharni. Warmly, Jen

Hi Sharni,
Just wanted to check back in with you to see if you're still interested to write a blog post for my drinking diaries blog. let me know if you'd still like to write something.
caren

Wow, thanks for the offer! I'd love to share my book with you. I've had a few reviewers there, but it's very possible that the only way you can order it is on Amazon. Email me your address, and I'll get you a copy after the holiday: JenKnox395@gmail.com
(More philosophical than spiritual. Probably a different take.)