{*Did you know you can write on Elephant? Here’s how—big changes: How to Write & Make Money or at least Be of Benefit on Elephant. ~ Waylon}

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It took me over a decade to finally write my first article on Elephant Journal.

My love story with Elephant Journal began around 2010. I had, for the first time, stepped into a yoga studio and thus began my mindfulness journey. A google search of the word yoga led me to an article, which brought me my first glimpse of Elephant. Two areas of my current passions were on full display: yoga and bikes.

I was living in New Orleans and the life I wanted to live felt so in unison with Elephant. I’d take long bike rides around the city, go to yoga studios, and park myself in coffee shops. I’d happily read today’s published articles and reread others. It seemed I had found a community worth investing in. A community of artists, writers, yogis, and Buddhists. So many of you were in tune with the value in sharing your story and willing to do the work of writing.

My contribution to the collective was a membership to Elephant, reading published articles, and watching live videos from Waylon. There was also a December that I used the mindfulness guide to purchase a vegan handbag as my spouse’s gift.

One day, while out biking the roads of New Orleans, an article that I wanted to write came to me. I had no concept of how to accomplish this, but the seed of wanting to contribute more to this beautiful community had been planted. In my head, I wrote and rewrote my article a thousand times. I asked my wife what she thought and she said to go for it. I also laid out the article concept to a group of likeminded friends who all agreed and encouraged me to write.

For some reason, I never put pen to paper and started writing. Fear that I wasn’t a writer, that I wouldn’t be as eloquent a writer as the Elephant contributors, or possibly that no one would appreciate my writing had caused me to freeze up. The idea to write landed on the middle drawer somewhere in the recesses of my mind. A creative endeavor foolishly shelved for another time.

Then life happened. Two children, three moves, five jobs, and a global pandemic later, the world had spun and over a decade went by. Trying to stay afloat, I was overdoing it. This time in my life left me tired, unhealthy, uncertain, and with this nagging feeling that something was dreadfully wrong. A lot of good and growth came out of this period, but the truth is, I was spent.

I had what I felt was only one good option: start making big changes in my life. The first thing was to make another job change. It wasn’t an easy thing to do, but this, along with our children getting a little older and more independent, had created just enough space for my next step. I would start making myself a priority. Back to yoga, meditation, bike rides, and mindfulness. Back to coffee shops and back to Elephant Journal.

Then came the old pull to contribute more to my reacquainted Elephant community. This time would be different. This time, I would actually write.

How did I do this?

I set up what I called my primer for creativity. I cleared my schedule, turned off my phone, went to yoga, took a cold plunge, and went to my favorite coffee shop for a cappuccino. I sat in a comfortable chair and took some deep, cleansing breaths. I then opened up my notebook, placed my pen on the first line, and the article quickly started to take shape.

When this writing started to resemble something that I would be willing to submit, I made a quick trip over to Elephant Journal’s website, looked at the Style Guide, and About Writing for Elephant links. Then I went back and made the changes I felt necessary to meet the suggestions embedded in these guides. I typed it up, did some amateur editing, and I was done. The article was not earth-shattering nor was it a piece that I thought would be considered great work. The important thing is that it was done.

Then came the time for me to overcome all remaining limiting beliefs and fears to click publish on Elephant Journal. A creative block had been undone. A world of opportunity to contribute more and learn something new had been opened up to me.

With the posting of 5 Things I Did this Morning to Take Care of Myself (That you can do Too), I had become a published author, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

I will continue to write, continue to learn, and I will find my voice.

May my writing be of benefit.

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