Connie Morgan: 
I have lived my whole life in the beautiful, Evergreen State of Washington. As mainly a small-town girl, growing up in the ’50s & 60s, I strived to make my life matter. Though my father was successful in his own right, he believed investing in a “girl’s” education was a waste of money. So, maybe my initial underlying motivation to learn and grow was to prove myself worthy of that type of investment. Over time, my endeavors to do so became a lifestyle choice – the outcome of curiosity and a means of providing worthwhile structure to my days. I am also a creative person, but one who has always had a practical purpose in mind.
In my teens, I read the book, A Woman of Substance. The story was about a woman who built a career for herself during a time when women were less likely to do so. This book inspired me to seek a path where I could find both independence and worth. However, that wasn’t the route I initially took.
When I was in the 8th grade, my father left his executive career with Standard Oil and bought a run-down 9-hole golf course. There I learned my work ethic by working after school and on weekends. As my high school graduation neared, I struggled to see a career path I could forge on my own. So, I did what was customary during that era, focus on helping my boyfriend (soon to become my fiancé) secure his future. I didn’t see many career options for women, especially ones that could land with my meager financial means. My older sister had become a dental assistant, so I applied and received a national dental assistant scholarship that paid my tuition in full. My wise mother had insisted her daughters have a skill or career to fall back on… just in case. That was wise advice; my marriage to my high school sweetheart didn’t last long.
Fortunately, my second husband has always been my champion, supporting my desire for self-growth. When I was a dental assistant, I used my bonuses to pay for evening and weekend college classes at The Evergreen State College. I wrote a thesis-sized Life Experience paper for which Evergreen awarded me a full year’s college credit. I titled it A Process of Change. I wrote about the knowledge I had gained from the self-help movement and the education I received through a program at the Unity School of Religious Studies at the World Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri to become a licensed Unity teacher. After graduating from Evergreen, I received a Master’s in Psychology/Counseling from Antioch University in Seattle, Washington. I worked for 20 years as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in child and family services and for an Employee Assistance Consortium. The work was rewarding and challenging, but also taxing on me emotionally and spiritually.
At some point, a counselor will have to deal with a loss of innocence and secondary trauma. The work exposes you to horrendous abuse often inflicted upon the most vulnerable. The life circumstances people have had to endure can be unimaginable and gut-wrenching. Working with children and families taught me how attachment styles form and their impact on adult relationships. I also witnessed how family system patterns continue to find their way into workplace dynamics. We are such fascinating, complex human beings, and few of us come away unscathed.
Writing stories has become a source of fulfillment for me. There is enjoyment in giving my characters a chance to grow in resilience, to heal, to love, and to find endeavors that are meaningful to them. What a pleasure it is for me to provide them with their happy-ever-after, or at least have them grow during their journey with me.
Along with being a wife, I am a mother to a handsome, competent son who is an engaged father of two wonderful teenage girls – whom I love dearly. I’m a hands-on person. Throughout my adult life, I have grown an organic garden, gotten grubby during home remodeling projects, and enjoyed creative endeavors using a wide variety of mediums. HGTV is one of my favorite programs.
I call myself a high-functioning introvert (I’m an INFJ with my F &T almost equal. (For those who know of Myers Briggs Personality Typing.) I value my time alone, but I can hold my own in a group discussion or present a passionate speech in front of a large crowd (though I have not done that in years). With empathic attributes, I am an emotional person—which means I cry easily. (So embarrassing.) Since childhood, I’ve shown an innate desire to support the growth of others. Therefore, I hope readers receive something of value from my newsletters and stories. Thank you for your interest.