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PLUGGED IN

The Magical Formula of Voices!

Jennifer Schmidt - Senior Editor

Saying goodbye is never easy. That’s why it took me a very long time to write this last Plugged
In column for the District 7 Toastmasters magazine. It has been a privilege to contribute to Voic-
es! which will be concluding its quarterly publication with this issue.

Thank you Phyllis Harmon for creating Voices! Thank you for the opportunity to submit many
articles and for the space to write this column. I’m also grateful for the partnership with Publish-
er Leela Seeber, and serving as her Senior Editor which has been a great honor.

Since childhood, I have always loved writing. A former boss once asked me to describe the
exact steps of my writing process. She thought if she knew the magical formula, she could du-
plicate my work in case I ever got sick. This request was both flattering and disturbing, but she
wanted a solid Plan B. However, I found it was also impossible to answer her question.

Of course, I could explain structure and style, but I couldn’t teach her how to think exactly like
me, because she didn’t have the same life experiences I had. The missing pieces were those
thousands of moments that influenced my writing. If I were to try and define the true magical
formula, it would be the love woven into my words that shine in someone’s heart as they read
them.

The best part of writing is that it can surpass this moment in time and have the potential to
help someone I’ll never meet in the future. My hope is future readers will discover earlier issues
of Voices! and be inspired to explore their dreams.

That’s what I would wish for all of you, to try something new this season, take a chance, give a
speech, create some artwork, or plant a garden. There are so many ways you can showcase your
talents, it doesn’t have to be perfect, but even taking a small step is better than just daydream-
ing about it.

I often think what if I hadn’t written that first article? What if I didn’t take the chance to write
speeches and share my experiences in this magazine? How sad that would have been. Because
I discovered every time I did write, I felt the magic too. Possibilities became realities, and the
writing adventure was educational, inspiring, and fulfilling.

Maybe you want to write articles for your local newspaper, take on a leadership role, or help
with a fundraiser. Giving yourself the chance to try something new is the best feeling. Doubts
may be persistent but so are regrets. Ask yourself, “What could I discover about myself if I start

8 Voices!