No matter what I do or where I go, it comes back to writing for me.

The heart wants what it wants – or else it does not care. “

Emily Dickinson

As I experience life, the good or the bad, I’m internally leaning in, writing, so that I might share the experience with others – with YOU.

Let’s Share!

Why share?

I was brought up in a house that valued secrecy, privacy, keeping your emotions in check-icy (creative license with alliteration, yo).

To offer thought on what was difficult or what made me giddy with joy, was not of value. I was encouraged to experience life, the good, the hard, the ridiculous, the glory, and just keep quietly steppin’, bub.

It was counter to my deepest desire; it was counter to my loud personality. I wanted to talk about it. I wanted to see what others thought. I wanted to know I wasn’t so strange after all.

Yet, the hesitancy voiced its concern: why spread all the goo onto folks who happen by?

I think about that sometimes, I do. I contemplate not saying or writing a word.

But then I think about how many times I have felt alone until I shared what life spilled all over me, what I thought was so unique to me, and inevitably a voice, maybe just one, acknowledged the same.

Suddenly, we understand this life likes to spread the same muck between us. We ain’t the special special chestnuts we thought we were when it comes to emotional feelers (as we call them in my house).

We are much the same, in our unique ways. The same, yet different.

My need, my compulsion, my mission, is to share – share it all.

That’s my passion.

Your need, your compulsion, your mission, to share (goods, painting, food) – that’s your passion.

Trusting Yourself

I see you nodding.

Trusting yourself is where most of the work is done.

If you trust where your heart is leading you, then you trust you can do whatever it is your heart wants; you can follow the calling of who it is you are or are journeying to become.

A deep shift happens when you trust your heart.

Your passion – what you were born to do – what you do because you simply can’t not do – is ever with you.

So many of us hesitate to move forward in exploring what our heart wants when faced with push-back from society – our friends – our family.

Maybe your folks had plans for your future and their expectations cloud your emotions for your own expectations. You may want to please them, yet it will come at your expense.

Maybe your friends don’t understand why you would ever want to be a peanut farmer (go with me here), but your heart is immersed in all things legumes.

Maybe society is shrieking there are enough politicians already, but your heart is already designing the yard placards and building posters for your first run at office.

I am telling you, I understand how difficult it is to go against those you love, to follow what you feel deep in your being, but to be the person like no other, you must trust your heart.

Trust and faith are intertwined.

My grandmother was my biggest champion. She taught me to never ever lose faith. When my life looked bleak, she’s offer her three words of wisdom, many times to my deep frustration.

Keep the faith.”

Grams

Yet, with years behind me, I see the the beauty of her offering at the alter of my life.

I have tried like hell to keep the faith and her focus has served me many times throughout many a wicked storm.

You can too.

Find that touchstone that helps you find and keep the faith. The faith in yourself. The faith you can. The faith you will.

What does your heart want?

I know that there are times when you are feeling alone and unheard. Times of great pain. Times of overwhelming fear or anxiety.

Maybe life is popping you in the kisser, right now.

I am here…right here…to tell you that you are not alone. You have me and the collective us on these pages.

Keep the faith, darlin’.

Keep it and build upon it.

Keep it and gain strength.

Keep it and know you can go after what your heart wants.

Now is the time for bravery and steps toward the life you can see – the glorious life where you are up to your eyeballs in your passion.

If a gal from a household that discouraged sharing (hey! that’s me!), and jibber-jabbering all the live long day about every danged thing, can embrace her extra – baby, so can you.

You get today (I rolled my eyes at the cliche, but it’s true). Just today.

Do something.

Dare to take a step forward today and plan for the tomorrow you want. You know, just in case you’re granted more time.

Make your passion, your purpose.

Trust your heart and get to it.

Then come back here and share it with us.

Keep the faith, my apple dumplings.

Keep the faith.