Vocalizing My Aspirations

I realize it sounds absurd

That I should struggle for my word.

By some standards, I'm prolific

Though the product isn't always terrific.

Looking at 2024 (this year),

My Vocal aspirations are pretty clear.

To look forward, first I must see,

What happened here in 2023.

~

The big thing was equal parts stress and fun

When I rewrote Creator 101.

When I started there were 8, and then

I dug deep down and made it 10.

I wrote it from the view of me and you

(Let me know what I should add to the FAQ!)

~

I took the opportunity when I had the choice

To elevate others through Raise Your Voice.

I encourage everyone, if you don't fancy that

Join me and others in the Creator Chat.

It's unique to Vocal and far from the norm

to give users this much input into a platform.

~

The AI invasion- I almost lost my shit-

Then came up with some ways to (personally) handle it.

I made comments and wrote this and that post,

But there's one thing that I'm proud of the most.

Pardon me for spilling my pride:

I wrote the You Can Find It! Identifying AI Assisted and Generated Content Guide.

~

I tackled Discord (man- listen to me gab!)

And used it for a mystery Group Collab!

I wrote stories about Becky, Dharsheena, and Tom.

And picked up the nickname from Jazzy of 'Vocal Mom'.

I wrote articles, stories, and poetry

(Many about my muse, my husband Kenny).

Together we embraced what for me was brand new,

When you-all responded to the call for Book Haiku!

~

And then something that pushed me out of my box:

I invested in Vocal, deciding to match my walks with my talks.

Went through doubts, some hand wringing, a few fears,

Will it pay off? We'll see in 5 years...

I ended my Vocal year the way I'd begun

My heart wide open, focused, writing: what fun!

In 2024 I'm ready for NEW

And I'll take something with me, and that's all of you.

~

NOW: In 2024 my Vocal aspirations

Include to take some in-home vacations

To write-write-write, then write some more.

Take time to read- then write again? For sure!

My AI Guide to publish myself,

As e-book, (I'll print one to put on my bookshelf)

More Challenges to enter, (last minute like this)

Not entering is worse than if I swing and I miss.

A sure fail? The mistake you make

Is not entering. That's a choice I won't take.

Participate in Raise Your Voice, Creator Chat,

Discord, collabs, critiques, a little of this - some of that.

Communication is what I want to hone,

(At work it's forms and through the phone),

I want to learn to paint through word

Instead of screaming syllables just to be heard.

My biggest goal is to continue support

for my fellow writers, not to curry favor or court

approval, and not to exploit reciprocity

but to show my appreciation for you through sheer ferocity

of enthusiasm, consistency, and care

because the Vocal creator writing community is rare;

writing, I know, to have our voices heard

yet your compassion for all have my emotions stirred.

So that's it from this Vocal-Mom:

I'll finish with flourish, (much haste), and aplomb.

~~~~~~~~~~~

This is for the Vocal #200 Challenge. I was hoping I could add a screen shot of a milestone I'm approaching, that of 20,000 total reads since starting on the Vocal.media platform.

I'm close, but not there yet!

I didn't see that a poem was not allowed, so this happened. Comments welcome, rhymes are optional.