COLOR MY SOUL

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
— Jimmy Dean

In the last six months, I've had to adjust my sails quite a few times. This past weekend, while readying for my book launch

Cake for my launch party!

party and setting out kites for kids to fly in our fields at Starry Meadows, this song kept playing in my head...

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman

Twenty or so years ago, in the midst of taking writing workshops and attending writers' conferences, I listened to authors share personal horror stories of all that went wrong when they wrote, published, marketed their books. I remember feeling overwhelmed, not sure I was enough to weather such headwinds. But, here I am now with two published books and horror stories of my own.

If I'm ever asked to speak to other aspiring writers, I will try not to share my horror stories. I hope to smile and say, "You are enough. Keep writing. If you have stories to tell, you will find a way to share those stories. You can always adjust your sails and learn to soar."

Kite flying during "Who Will Come for Pup?" book launch party at Starry Meadows

Today I ponder this quote from a link my sister sent me -

"Your job is what they pay you to do, but your Work is what you were born to do. Your job is your skill but your work is your gift" - Dr Myles Munroe.

Long ago I was told that publishing does not make you a writer. If you write regardless of success or fame or publishing, then you are a writer. I am a writer. I was born to write because I can't not write. I will write even if no one reads or buys or cares.

What is it that you 'can't not' do?