Rene' Groom
I first met Rene’ Groom over 10-years ago, when she walked across the gravel road and up the steps of the design studio at MaryJane’s Farm. She soon became a staff writer and dear friend. Her writing style is much like Rene’ herself; grounded, creative, honest, hopeful, curious, family oriented, with a subtle grit. I love being able to introduce you to her here.
Note: The original interview for this article took place four years ago. I spoke with Rene’ then, that conversation was full of passion, purpose, and creativity in action. But that interview was never made public, because within days of speaking with her, we were blindsided by the emergence of Covid. My personal creativity and ability to share content came to a screeching halt. Since that initial interview, a lot has changed for Rene’, including being hospitalized for Covid and two resulting heart attacks. Never daunted, she has and continued to recover and refocus. Rene’ has graciously re-interviewed to give us an up-to-date picture of her creative spirit today. Which I find remarkable, not only for her honesty, but for her creative adaptability and grace in finding life balance.
I caught up with Rene’ over video chat recently, and asked her these questions:
What do you do for work?
“I am self-employed. Photography and writing. I used to work at a lifestyle magazine... When I got Covid I quit, it became too much. But I’ve been doing freelance in both photography and writing… And I’ve been teaching classes (on) herbs.”*
“It’s hit and miss (on doing my blog currently). Through Covid … I just didn’t feel like I had anything to say. I was so much in the learning stage, and taking things in. Tons of reading, and there wasn’t a lot of outpouring at that point. I am working (on a writing project now) … and I’m so close; I’m hoping by the end of the year I’ll have at least a coffee table book out.”
What do you do for hobbies?
“My hobbies are my grandkids… my garden, and collecting medicinals from the mountains. I’ve been doing a lot of that.”
“… I collect a lot of St. John’s Wort from up in the mountains. A lot of Mullein I collect from up there… Elderberry.”
Elderberry Rene’ has collected from the mountains and then dried
Wild mountain rose hips collected and dried by Rene’ and her husband
What is your creative outlet?
“That’s been a point that I’m really depleted in (since Covid). I haven’t really had a creative outlet. I’m just now getting back to where I … want to do stuff like that. But I have been still doing my photography and converting that to digital art pieces. That’s been fun. Only problem with that, is when I do it, people want me to do it more. Then it becomes more of a job than a I’m ready for… I’ve had to learn to put boundaries around.”
“For example, I was lucky enough to do four or five garden designs for people this year, and I loved that. But then everybody wanted me to come plant their garden.” Good naturedly she shared that her response has become a gentle but firm “I’m not going to plant anyone’s garden. If you can’t plant (it)… you’re not going to take care of your garden.” Adding with supportive enthusiasm, “If you are passionate about it, I’m happy to talk about plant placement, design, etc… (I’m just) not going to be your gardener.”
This is a basic concept that really could work for almost any situation when a creative and giving person finds themselves over stretched and facing burnout, myself included. I’m personally taking this to heart. Remembering this, Rene’s words of wisdom, could help placing a boundary, and maintaining a balanced creative life, considerably easier.
What fuels your desire to create?
“The thing that drives me (these days), is that we are surrounded by some much beauty. And I think the average person misses that (today) because they are so busy. I’m always surprised when I post a picture of flowers… (people think it’s staged or something has been added). So I’ve been doing a series on flowers. Because people just don’t stop long enough, (they miss) it…. (I’m motivated to) get people to stop even for a minute.”
“That’s why I’ve stopped writing (for right now, and focused more on photography and teaching)… people aren’t listening anymore. You have to find another way for them to see it or capture it, (the moment) …. There are so many voices, with opinions out there… people aren’t listening… For me it’s been more through photography (recently), … getting my hands dirty in the garden, and walking it out in my own life. If that makes sense… I’m learning that the more I find a (peaceful kind of creativity and slow down) for myself, the more it sneaks up on other people; they want it for (themselves).
What is your favorite medium?
“I’m still pen and paper girl, and for my photography I’m doing a lot more in black and white. There is something tactile about wanting to go back to film. I’m defiantly finding myself letter writing to my kids and grandkids, (writing down) old recipes, etc. … And photography, I love the simplicity of digital, but love the complexity of developing (actual film) … It’s all about finding a balance, slowing it down…”
How did you get started?
I would say for my writing, I got started because it was a way for me to process a really hard life. The first 10 years of my life were very, very, hard. My mother was a prostitute, and there were drugs and all that… and then she was murdered... (At ten) I went from that life to (living in) a very strict Christian Baptist home. Two extreme ends of the pendulum, right?! They both seemed insane to me… Writing became the way for me to process. I’ve always said that writing was God’s gift to me to help me get through all that, and then my writing became my gift back… Writing was just me… I was born into an environment that caused me to write… I didn’t enjoy books when I was younger because I didn’t identify with the characters in those stories. For me to be able to write my own story made more sense, so that’s how I became a writer, so to speak.”
“… In my adult life I didn’t think I could write, didn’t see myself as a writer (initially)… because I didn’t have a degree in it… I was an insurance agent (professionally) … (I) was so successful with it, but I was miserable… and just hated (it). The lesson for me became, ‘just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.’”
With a switch, that everyone else thought was a crazy career move, Rene’ became a creative author, embraced her true calling, and found success as a writer.
What is your process/what do you do with your finished product?
“To be honest, I need to really improve on this. This is what I don’t get right in order to make things into a business. I have a character flaw that when I am done with (creating) something I am quite happy to just put it out in the universe… For me it really is about the process. I need to be more business minded when it comes to finished product… Its worked fine for me, because people that want to work with me come back (with other opportunities)…and it always seems to find some monetary value for it… I’m a conduit for what I create… but what I create is not who I am. I know they are gifts. The writing came to me when I needed it, the herbs came to me when I needed it, the photography came to me when I needed it. They are expressions of what I have been given, and hopefully they do something to speak into someone else’s life… Authentic living… I (don’t need to) monetize that… I feel very blessed.”
After years in the writing industry now, and having worked with many creative people and publishers, Rene’ has her own creative work philosophy, and I want to end with her words of wisdom and a few of her photos:
“Just because you’re getting bigger doesn’t mean you forget that you did it on the backs and talents of other people… (It’s about) taking as many people with you as you can, that’s really the way it should be… If you can’t further other people in the process, why do it?! (For that reason) I am very clear that I have surrounded myself with really, brilliant women. I am not part of the philosophy that there is only limited amount of success in the world, I don’t believe that… I think success breeds success. I’m not competing with (anyone)… I just want to do the best I can do. Somewhere we’ve bought into the lie that it (has to be) a dog-eat-dog world. I don’t believe that… There are people that I was part of their story in the beginning who have flown past me in what they do. And I am thrilled for them. I know the things that keep me from doing what they’re doing, is I’m not called to it; it’s not mine to do, or I don’t want to work that hard. I find it interesting that the instinct of others (often) is that because we are women that there is competition… I don’t have a need for that. Just be clear what road you’re on, what your goal is. I try to reassess that for myself every year. I never feel like I am in competition with anybody.”