You don’t always find your impact in your first career.  Different seasons of life have different callings.  You’ll find success in many areas and some of it will come when you least expect it.

Pat Schoeler had a long corporate career in the communications industry.  She found herself writing down her thoughts in a poetic format.  It was cathartic and helpful to get her thoughts out but she never thought she’d be a published author.  Shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, she replied about how powerful were some of her writings.  She now has three books of poetry that act as reference materials for people dealing with grief and loss.  Her impact is just beginning to expand.  Here’s her inspirational story and perspective.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• How Pat came to be a poet

• How journaling has helped Pat

• About Pat’s corporate career

• About Pat’s 9/11 experience

• About Eagle Rock Reservation

• The lessons learned about unity from 9/11

• About Pat’s nephew, a firefighter’s, 9/11 story

• What Pat hopes to share with her book

• The challenging subjects Pat’s book cover

• The special skill that poetry requires

• The grief that lead to Pat’s third book

• How grief is universal

• The hardest part of writing for Pat

• About Pat’s poem that is on a plaque at Eagle Rock

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“Truthfully, I never thought about it.  It’s just something that evolved.” - Pat Schoeler speaking about being a poet

“It’s kind of like a Hallmark card.  All my thoughts came out and they started to rhyme.” - Pat Schoeler

“This is how I processed what was happening.” - Pat Schoeler speaking about her book on 9/11

“I think it’s important to get your thoughts out.” - Pat Schoeler

“If it didn’t happen to me, it happened to them and I end up writing about it.” - Pat Schoeler

“I was just having a cup of coffee when it came on.” - Pat Schoeler speaking about seeing the terrors attacks of 9/11 on television

“That location is now a full-fledged memorial.” - Pat Schoeler talking about Eagle Rock Reservation and its 9/11 memorial in New Jersey

“I didn’t process that this is like eight miles away from me.” - Pat Schoeler 

“We didn’t have any strangers anymore.” - Pat Schoeler

“We were united in a way I had never experienced before.” - Pat Schoeler

“Some people were late for work and were spared - others were there and weren’t normally.” - Pat Schoeler 

“I didn’t get it published until the ten-year anniversary.” - Pat Schoeler

“That was a human interest story that we don’t remember but we remember all the bad stuff.” - Pat Schoeler

“There’s no end to this book because the stories keep unfolding.” - Pat Schoeler

“I like to think it captured the horror the day…but how people came together.” - Pat Schoeler

“I hope my book put the human feelings that came with it.” - Pat Schoeler

“You pick what happens to speak to you at the time.” - Pat Schoeler

“I’m pretty sure they put a poem a page.” Pat Schoeler

“Once I start, I kinda have to finish it because If I don’t write it down, it’s gone.” - Pat Schoeler 

“It’s a deep raw - not an easy read.” - Pat Schoeler

“What you’re saying is what you’re feeling.  We just don’t know how to say it.” - Pat Schoeler quoting people in her grief group

“Grief is universal.” - Pat Schoeler

“I just want my books to be inspirational and if they help someone else, that’s all I care about.” - Pat Schoeler

“I just want to help others.” - Pat Schoeler

“I’m just recently becoming aware of how much it’s helped people.” - Pat Schoeler

“The very first poem that I wrote regarding the memorial is now on a plaque there.” - Pat Schoeler

“I have to behave myself.” - Pat Schoeler

“If you can’t get your thoughts out they tend to get wound up inside of you and it can get stressful.” - Bob DePasquale

“Life is a long journey.  It has many seasons.” - Bob DePasquale

“I knew that it was dangerous but I didn’t feel in danger.” - Bob DePasquale

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Pat Schoeler - Website

• Pat’s Poem Books - The Day America Cried! - Reflections on Life - Grief Hurts

• Bob’s Book - Personal Finance in a Public World

• This week’s E-Impact Blog Entry

  Episodes Referenced:

• EP #111: Generation Impact with Sharna Goldseker and Michael Moody

• EP #114: Touched by the Music with Dave Combs

• EP #117: Being a Change Maker with Ryan Lindner

• EP #123: You Can Make an Impact at Any Age with Natalie Silverstein