Hi Illumination! I’m Anastasia.

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Abstract

hat kid in fifth grade with my nose in a book, hanging out by myself reading at recess. Words have called to me since the time I realized what they were and how to create them. I honestly remember the moment I read my first word and how incredibly exciting it was. Per my creative spirit, I’ve always been drawn to writing as well. It’s not unlike the way I’ve always appreciated music on a deep level and am drawn to create and perform my own.</p><p id="23f7">As a young teenager, my penchant for writing poetry turned into songwriting when I picked up a guitar one day. This led to the pursuit of a music career. I opened for some famous acts in my teen years including John Mayer, Styx, Foreigner, Huey Lewis & The News, and David Crosby. I wrote many songs but didn’t have the discipline or means to promote the songs or myself properly and my passion for a career in music fizzled out. I was compelled to put many of my old recordings out recently, during the Covid-19 lockdown. You can find my older music as well as some more recent stuff, <a href="https://creativerealestateagents.com/my-music">here</a>.</p><p id="951a">I changed direction in my college years, studying Philosophy & Religion in undergraduate school, followed by Music Therapy in graduate school. I was trying to integrate my interests back then, too.</p><h2 id="11de">Bringing it Here</h2><p id="52ca">I’m here because a friend of mine, <a href="undefined">Nicole Amesbury</a>, told me she had published stories on this platform and actually earns some money from people reading her writing. Honestly, I thought the idea of being able to earn even a small amount of money for doing something I am already doing (and enjoy so much) sounded amazing. I was curious to see what this platform was all about.</p><p id="d783">Now that I’m here, I’m drawn in for so many more reasons. Yes, the way this platform is set up to reward us for participating and growing is intriguing, but I’m also excited about the opportunity to connect with this amazing community. I have already learned so much from reading other writers’ pieces here and I just love the feeling of synergy I am getting. On top of that, I feel incredibly inspired here as I explore my style as a writer.</p><h2 id="0e6d">What I Will Bring</h2><p id="b5eb">As I am new to writing in this particular manner, I am exploring different styles. So far, I’ve written several candid pieces having to do with my journey through cancer.</p><div id="4535" class="link-block"> <a href="https://anastasiaforrest.medium.com/five-ways-having-cancer-in-my-20s-changed-my-life-for-the-better-ae79d0cd4196"> <div> <div> <h2>Five Ways Having Cancer in my 20’s Changed My Life for the Better</h2> <div><h3>The unexpected gifts of a very challenging year.</h3></div> <div><p>anastasiaforrest.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*f_vQFHcoWuydfiY33U9GRw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div i

Options

d="2820" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-mother-my-hero-545ac33aa161"> <div> <div> <h2>My Mother, My Hero</h2> <div><h3>That Time My Mom Saved My Life</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*rZSq3xBfM0TbjhrL)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="a924">I’ve also written on a couple of more random-type topics like my love-hate relationship with technology and a surprisingly uncomfortable encounter with a caterpillar.</p><div id="0f62" class="link-block"> <a href="https://anastasiaforrest.medium.com/its-a-semi-charmed-tech-kinda-life-baby-1b64bbc5ece4"> <div> <div> <h2>It’s a Semi-Charmed Tech Kinda Life, Baby</h2> <div><h3>At least once a day, a mysterious feeling comes over me — a sudden or not so sudden desire to lose my phone by hiding…</h3></div> <div><p>anastasiaforrest.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*LJ4JHX2dQdqPjhZrJFOPhw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="96b4" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-ugly-truth-about-caterpillars-6484ce6ce995"> <div> <div> <h2>The Ugly Truth About Caterpillars</h2> <div><h3>Beyond the children’s story about a snacky, colorful, pre-butterfly creature. Day 3 of the 10 Stories in 10 Days…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*iLqrbrw8GWc0v0OhZv7NrQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="ba0e">I’ve also posted a couple of <a href="https://anastasiaforrest.medium.com/what-its-really-like-buying-a-home-in-2021-4692bd794d19">real estate-related piece</a>s.</p><p id="d11d">However, I’ve got a lot more ideas brewing, as well as some drafts taking shape involving different themes and writing styles. So don’t think you’ve seen it all just yet.</p><p id="7963">I enjoy satire and humor, so you’ll be seeing that in my writing. I am quite interested in philosophy, mythology, and symbolism, so you’ll probably see me weaving those topics in as well. Finally, but not least significantly by any means, I am a wife and mother of two young children, so you will definitely see me mention my husband and daughters in my future stories.</p><h2 id="2052">See You Soon!</h2><p id="87ad">Thank you for taking the time to read my introduction to me. I’ve enjoyed figuring out new skills like tagging other members and referencing other stories. I really look forward to connecting with more awesome writers like you here on Illumination. See you soon!</p></article></body>

An Introduction to Me

Anastasia Forrest by Anastasia Forrest

I appreciate the invitation to introduce myself. I’ve read Dr Mehmet Yildiz’s story “Discover Illumination Writers” not once, but twice. I’ve also read a good deal of other writer’s bios, including the bios of Dipti Pande and Joe Luca (both of which I enjoyed very much for their unique backgrounds and writing styles), before taking the plunge into writing my very own.

I’ve either been procrastinating or soaking up as much as I can about what it means to be a part of this community before daring to speak up. The truth is probably a combination of both.

Me, In a Nutshell

Professionally, I am a Real Estate Broker Associate in Northeast Florida. I help people buy and sell residential properties. I’ve been doing that for about four years now and it has been the most financially rewarding way I have ever spent my time and energy.

Personally, I am a Creative. I get joy, meaning, and energy from creating. I enjoy putting together familiar things in new ways. I find delight in making interesting connections between the thoughts in my head.

Connecting with other humans by sharing my creations and meeting others on that level feels like a sacred task. I cherish being able to do that. Sometimes it happens by singing a song that makes another person feel something. At other times it’s by stringing together a combination of words that resonates and lands someplace inside of another person’s imagination.

Creating in this way has never been a significant source of income for me, but it’s the very essence of who I am. It is the action I feel most at home in.

Bringing it Together

Integration is currently a huge theme in my life. That is, I’ve realized I can’t leave behind my creative side. I’m on a journey of discovering a way of life that integrates the juicy spirit of creativity into everything I do, while still growing my business and reaping the rewards of a diligent, respected professional in the real estate space.

That is one of the reasons I started a podcast called The Creative Real Estate Agent. I’ve been putting out episodes weekly for eighteen weeks now. It’s a true labor of love and exploration. I’m having inspiring conversations with a diverse series of other people in a way that circles around the theme from many angles. At the same time, I’m developing my own thoughts and philosophy on what it means to be a creative real estate agent.

Bringing it Back

Reading and writing have always been passions of mine. I was that kid in fifth grade with my nose in a book, hanging out by myself reading at recess. Words have called to me since the time I realized what they were and how to create them. I honestly remember the moment I read my first word and how incredibly exciting it was. Per my creative spirit, I’ve always been drawn to writing as well. It’s not unlike the way I’ve always appreciated music on a deep level and am drawn to create and perform my own.

As a young teenager, my penchant for writing poetry turned into songwriting when I picked up a guitar one day. This led to the pursuit of a music career. I opened for some famous acts in my teen years including John Mayer, Styx, Foreigner, Huey Lewis & The News, and David Crosby. I wrote many songs but didn’t have the discipline or means to promote the songs or myself properly and my passion for a career in music fizzled out. I was compelled to put many of my old recordings out recently, during the Covid-19 lockdown. You can find my older music as well as some more recent stuff, here.

I changed direction in my college years, studying Philosophy & Religion in undergraduate school, followed by Music Therapy in graduate school. I was trying to integrate my interests back then, too.

Bringing it Here

I’m here because a friend of mine, Nicole Amesbury, told me she had published stories on this platform and actually earns some money from people reading her writing. Honestly, I thought the idea of being able to earn even a small amount of money for doing something I am already doing (and enjoy so much) sounded amazing. I was curious to see what this platform was all about.

Now that I’m here, I’m drawn in for so many more reasons. Yes, the way this platform is set up to reward us for participating and growing is intriguing, but I’m also excited about the opportunity to connect with this amazing community. I have already learned so much from reading other writers’ pieces here and I just love the feeling of synergy I am getting. On top of that, I feel incredibly inspired here as I explore my style as a writer.