Everyone Has Something to Say

This morning I opened my email and found a letter from a dear friend and sister blogger. She said something towards the end that inspired me to sign in here and say hello. Essentially she paraphrased a quote that says that we always have something to say, even if it’s just a sentence.

So often I come here inspired to write and then quit before I begin because my brain decides I don’t have a big enough block of time to devote to a “proper” blog offering. (What is that anyway? ) Reading her letter reminded me that it doesn’t have to be a chore to write. Heavens, years ago I used to get out of bed and write a thousand words before I’d had my first cup of tea. It wasn’t a burden; it was a natural extension of my heart. It was a joy.

So what is on my heart this morning?

I don’t have tons of regrets about my life but the ones I do weigh a lot. Of those that live at the forefront of my heart, writing tends to scream the loudest, especially when I read something inspiring written by someone else. My self-talk is always the same, “sigh….I used to be able to write like that.” When I think about dreams, being a published writer stands in the front of line waving a great big alphabet flag.

Two years ago in May I was given the opportunity to write a piece for a local print magazine. The subject was my Boss and his tremendously cool family. (Seriously, they are and I’m not just saying so.) I had great fun doing the article and I will admit that when it finally came out, I sat with it in my hands and cried the happy tears of fulfillment. Even though it’s not a huge magazine, seeing my name in print meant everything to me.

When the dust settled, I was elated to be asked to do another article, which turned into another and so on. Happily, as of today, I am still a regular contributor. When I first started doing this I made a demand of myself to be willing to do whatever it takes to keep writing. The thing is, I abhor the telephone and what I hate even more is interviewing people. I’d much rather be able to sit down and write about whatever I feel like writing over having an editor tell me what I have to write and who I have to speak with.

Last I checked, I don’t have my own magazine. (Looks around. Yep, it’s true. Still no magazine.)

Several days ago I was delighted to be invited to the magazine office in order to meet in person my Editors and others who work on my pieces. I got to pitch ideas that have been on my heart for a long time and it appears they were well received. It started out a little scary, but before I was finished the joy inside me was bubbling up through every pore of my being. I floated on a cloud all the way home. It’s been almost a week and I still feel that exact joy when I think of that day.

So what I want to say today is keep going. If you have a dream that appears at the front of your heart repeatedly, consider this your sign that it’s time to take action. Make a commitment to yourself to go after it and don’t stop until you’re there. No excuses. You aren’t too old. You aren’t too young. You aren’t too busy. You do have time. It doesn’t matter what anyone in your life may think. It doesn’t matter what the naysayers and discouragers say. This is your life. You aren’t tasked with living it according to someone else’s will.

As for me, chasing the dream meant focusing on what I wanted and then mustering the courage to seek out and speak to people who were already published. I kept asking how they did it. Finally one day everything clicked and a friend opened the door for me by way of an introduction to her editor. Even then it took almost a full year before there was something I was able to contribute, but I never stopped pursuing. This isn’t the end of the road for me either. Nope. It’s only the beginning. I have books to write!

I probably should have mentioned this first: The most important “other thing” I actively did and do on a constant basis is talk to God about my dreams; always asking for help on the best way to utilize the gifts He has given me. (Not using the gifts I came to this earth with really scares me. I don’t believe for one moment that we have talents just IN CASE we want to use them some day.) I am Blessed to work in two beautiful churches, so very often I sneak away and march around the Sanctuary talking to Jesus about what my next steps are. Sometimes the answers are clear. Other times, I just have to wait.

So again what I want to say today is keep going and if you aren’t going yet, then get going. Identify what you want, talk to your higher power about it, muster your courage and go for it. This is your sign to take action. I believe in you!