Tuesday, January 27, 2009

To Encourage You


Of late I have had serious conversa- tions with close friends.

Over the Internet, the telephone and across the table from one another, we have reminisced over days gone by, our personal goals, the economy, family, retirement and of course our new president.
Two within my inner circle are the happiest homemakers you could ever meet. One, for the first time since her children left home, has entered the workforce. Another has moved from being a hands-on professional into the realm of academia. Me, I’m juggling a day job, family, ministry and my passion for the arts.

The commonality of the varied conversations rested in the fact that each of us have dared to step out to make at least one of our dreams, reality.

In my quiet time I began to reflect on what took me so long to reach for the stars. Why was I such a late bloomer? Was it a lack of education, time, finances or opportunity? To be completely honest it was a bit of all of the aforementioned.

I love writing, but without the foundation of an English or journalism degree I believed I could never be a writer. Busyness, rather than effective use of time was a convenient excuse for not admitting to my lack of discipline. Finances was something I had, but did not consider to be enough for meeting my business need. Opportunity must be recognized and coupled with preparedness in order to be seized for success.

Until I understood that the only thing holding me back was me, I stumbled around with a severe case of the ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’s’. We all have dreams. Some of us even have visions of grandeur. The point is that dreams remain dreams unless acted upon. If I wanted to become a writer I had to do more than think about it, I had to learn how to write. Beyond this I had to learn to manage my time in order to study. With the goal of someday publishing, I began to realistically look at my budget in order to determine how this endeavor would be financed. When the opportunity came to present my manuscript to an editor, I was as prepared as I could be. That preparedness combined with the chance meeting led to the success of publishing my first novel.

Beyond the publishing, my teacher gene kicked into overdrive. My passion for helping others is as strong as my love for the written word. As strong as my passions were and are, there have been serious challenges to the dream. There will always be challenges to achieving your dreams and it will cost you something. What you will have to determine is if you are willing to pay the cost for achieving your dream and in the process, lend a hand to help another?

8 comments:

Alvin C. Romer said...

Linda, there's a time and season for everything, and God knows exactly what is in store for you and when He feels necessary to make it yours. With that said it would behoove all of us to endeavor to balance our temporary time in this life doing the things that would ensure us any level of success, especially if you want to make your election and calling surest.

The fact that after all of these years you have persevered, done the things that you had to do to get to this point is a testament to a good testimony for doing the right thing. The main thing I feel that must be done by everyone is to live a good (Christian) life and be good stewards of friendship, love and the pursuit of happiness.

I too, can identify with your missive here and it harkens back to the time when I first picked up a pencil and called myself a writer back in the day. As a intuitive 4th grader writing my first essay I knew then that the power of words would serve me well...and it has! As I teach creative and expository writing, I want my students to be able to understand that the humanities in general and literature in particular are only harbingers of the truths that justify freedom of expression, to ideate and to allow opinionated matter to manifest good readers.

I applaud you and the model you've given your family. They have seen over the years why it was important for them to follow your dictum and to be the best that they could be. You are needed and wanted in this world so go with God and DO keep your head to the sky!

Alvin C. Romer
Editor/Founder
The Romer Review

Anonymous said...

Linda,

Like a delictable meal, your words were not only appealing to my mind's eye, but also satisfying for the nourishment of my soul and the hunger that lies within it. Your words have fed me well.

God bless you Sis Linda!

Anonymous said...

Excellent post@@

Alesia the Blogging Diva said...

Linda that was so inspiration, I too am a late bloomer b/c I felt my job was to raise my family. Now, that everyone is grown I am focusing on me and making my dreams come true.

Linda Beed said...

Thank you for your words of encouragement Alvin.

Linda!

Linda Beed said...

Val I am blessed by the fact that you are being adequately fed.

Linda!

Linda Beed said...

Aleshia I encourage you to go forth in fulfilling purpose and dreams.

Linda1

Linda Beed said...

Thanks for stopping by Anonymous.

Linda!