20 years of words

“I dare you.”

Jay had read that the Noblesville Ledger was seeking guest columnists. He thought I should write and submit one. He said I had a gift for storytelling.

With those three words, I embarked on a 20-year writing adventure … and I’ve taken you all along with me. You may not have been there from the beginning, but it was probably easy for you to catch up.

It was July 2006, and I had just lost my dad a few weeks earlier. My heart was heavy, and my words were buried beneath so much grief. Writing became therapy. Although I had written in journals for several years, I never imagined anyone would read my words.

When Jay Snider said those three words in 2006, he had no idea what path he was daring me to take. I would have loved to thank him before he passed.

The writing journey has not been without its share of rejection emails, criticism, and disagreement. Ouch, those things hurt, and yet here I am, all these years later … writing. I guess I’m a glutton for challenges to my opinions.

My first column told of my trip down the yellow brick road to the car dealership, where I discovered I had a heart, a brain, but most of all, courage.

I’ve shared the heartache of my divorce but also the forgiveness I eventually found possible.

You read how I heard the loud quiet after I took my daughter to college and returned home to an empty house.

I shared the joy of finding Chuck Leonard in the waiting room at Don Hinds Ford, where I sold cars. You saw the pictures of our reception in the showroom, with over 300 of our family and friends, on a snowy day in February 2014.

Writing about how I was raised has always been fun. Jim and Audrey Hart married at 16 in the hills of Kentucky, moved to Indiana before they were 20, and adopted me when they were 30. I was loved and maybe a bit spoiled.

When COVID hit in March 2020, it felt as if we all entered The Twilight Zone. Life would never look or feel the same. Community will forever be something I treasure. I need my people.

My mother was one of the COVID casualties. I made so many visits to her window just to spend time with her. I’ll never forget my last visit with her, the night she passed. It was sacred. I was allowed to be with her for only three hours. A month later, I received an apology for being forced to leave. Let’s just say this church lady had never been so angry and hurt. I voiced my feelings loudly that night as I was escorted out the door by those just following protocol. I’m not a fan of protocol. It was a strange time.

Sharing life with Chuck Leonard has shown me that God sure writes the best chapters, even as we enter the winter of our lives. Always let God hold your pen as He writes your story.

I do not take for granted that I have been given a voice. I love my community and my country. I believe that words reflect the condition of the heart and that actions reflect the condition of the soul. That’s what I was taught. Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). I will do my best to love my neighbor until I take my last breath.

I had no idea that 20 years after Jay dared me, I would have written more than 1,000 columns for four newspapers and published two books, When the Hart Speaks (2022) and From the Hart (2026). I’ve received awards from the International Christian Book Awards for both books. In 2025, the Hamilton County Reporter honored me with the Ink-Stained Wretch Award for my writing. I do not write about these awards with anything but awe, wonder, and gratitude. Dreams really do come true. Never give up on a dream.

I’ve written columns while wiping away tears. I’ve prayed as I’ve tapped the keys on my keyboard, hoping I would say the right things. I never want to judge or be critical. I want to make people think, to relate to what I write and perhaps hug their hearts.

I won’t argue about religion or politics. I’ll speak in a soft voice when I’m trying to get my point across. Anger never convinces anyone to change their mind.

Of course, after reading about my travel adventures, none of you want to travel with me.

Chuck says 20 years of columns is a lot of words. Maybe I’ve got another 20 years’ worth of words left … time will tell.

Thank you, readers, for reading my words. Thank you to the men who publish the Hamilton County Reporter. You allow me to share my life, especially my faith. Stu, Ray, Isaac, and Paul … you are brave. Newspapers are so needed, especially in today’s world.

Thank you, Jay Snider, for the dare. I’m glad I followed through with accepting it.

Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). She is the recipient of the Reporter’s Spring 2025 Ink-Stained Wretch award. Visit janethartleonard.com.