Elephant Journal has become my community, then they became my family.

I do not remember when I first read an article on Elephant Journal nor which email account I had at the time; I enjoyed the freedom of speech and the variety of topics.

I read for free, then got a subscription; it ran out.

I was busy and Elephant was off my radar. Some piece caught my attention on a friend’s Facebook page, and once again, I read for free. And again I got a subscription—there was a pattern emerging.

I saw a post to attend a free one-hour session about joining the Academy and signed up. I was hooked, but not interested in the entire 12 weeks, and unable to afford the tuition. News flash—it’s worth it!

I knew my time would come and after joining in two more free live sessions, I could feel my left hand getting itchy to study and to write (and some life things had opened a bit of free time).

Then the news I was waiting for arrived in a flash (or an email or post on social media).

The Elephant Academy was splitting into two six-week courses—I lost no time and clicked to register. My course began in the Winter 2019 session and that, folks, was only the beginning.

I received my acceptance email with a course syllabus, and a list of 14—yes, 14 readings and videos. As the email said, I did have three weeks, so I might as well start.

After I picked myself up from my faint to the floor, I checked the list. I saw the link to one article, Cheap Words, and opened it to read.

With no local bookstore, I bought several of the books, two movies, and one documentary and got to work. I said a big “no” to Amazon and to my Kindle—that can wait until another blog.

Fast forward to now: I have been through the Academy three times as an apprentice on the live sessions and three times as a mentor. I have also done all of the self-paced courses open to-date. Addicted? Obsessed? No, in awesome love.

Elephant Journal has folks writing from probably every time zone, and this has opened a new world for me.

Although the independent online publication is housed in Boulder Colorado, the staff works remotely in places throughout the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Lebanon, South Africa, Germany, India, and Australia (I think I even missed a few).

I have made friends—yes, virtual ones—and my bonds are constantly strengthened by their support.

So, happy 19th birthday, Elephant Journal, and thank you from the bottom of my Ele-heart.

From our 19th Anniversary Celebration:

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