Could there be a better way to kick off my Mental Gatorade challenge  than spending the day at the Vancouver Writer’s festival?

What I love about this festival is the opportunity to hear authors and publisher talk about writing like it matters, like it means something–like when I am sitting alone at my computer I am actually participating in something bigger called culture or literature or even just Our Collective Imagination. And today’s event, called Beyond Survival, did all that for me. Plus I got to see Margaret Atwood in person (if at a bit of a distance)! That is one sassy lady.

So thank you Vancouver Writer’s Festival, you inspire me.