Passion…

Thank you Mr. Mandela!

We have a choice in how we choose to live.   Choose today to live BIG!  Today let’s think bigger, push harder and be the greatness that God says we are!  Day by day and step by step!!!!!

Make it a lovely day,

Ms.Dee

something GREAT is about to happen…

Those are words my co-worker spoke today.  She said she’s been feeling “anxious” about where she is in her life today and where she’d like to be.  Her soul is stirring a big ole pot of great change!  Travel, excitement, challenge, passion, purpose  fun and fulfillment.  I sat starry eyed listening to her because I understand the powerful pull of such desire.  You see, I got a big spoon stirring a pot too!!

So she asked me, “Dee, don’t you feel like something great is about to happen?” 

I smiled a really big smile and excitedly nodded yes and went back to my desk to await my time because it’s coming…I can smell it.

Stand Up and Win

I entered a short story contest this month.  It’s the first time I’ve ever entered a contest that judges my writing. The first prize is a nice cash award and of course, bragging rights.  I surprised myself when I did it; even more so when I heard my voice say “I want to win”. 

I’ve never really been competitive.  For some crazy reason, I always thought it to be rude; wanting someone else to lose, that is.  Is there a difference between wanting to win and wishing someone else would lose?  Probably but whatever the answer, courtesy isn’t at my forefront this time because I want to win this contest. And I will.

The name of my 1,500 word story is “Nina’s Story”.  It’s a smaller piece based on the best selling novel I’m committed to writing in 2010.  Again, a first for me.  That too I want to win. By win, I mean I want to see it through this time.  Ironically,  in a way, that also means  I want to “lose” – to lose the fear  and self doubt that has kept me from doing it this long; To lose the idea that there’s no time to write, or that it stinks or any other sabotaging, idiotic thought living inside my sometimes fuzzy head or falling from my fragile lips.  In 2010, I resolve to win. 

In this resolution, I’m reminded of the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25 14-30).   I want to represent the one who made God proud and multiplied the talents that God gave him.  God gives each of us gifts/talents ; but what He doesn’t cast upon us is a cowardly spirit. He wouldn’t have gone through all of THIS (life, love, sacrificing his Son, etc) to see us fail, not even at our own fumbling hands.  So stand up, talents.  Stand up straight, stand in faith.  Stand up and win.

I am a good writer.  I am talented, positive and prolific.  I am a winner. Thank you God.  Thank you as I write “Nina’s Story”

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”

 

I Dare You

This morning on Steve Harvey’s radio talkshow, Queen Latifah said she doesn’t do anything unless she feels passionate about it…otherwise it feels too much like work and she doesn’t just want to work.  She wants to live.

Can you imagine a life like that?  What would it look like?  What would it feel like…for you?  Passion is so personal, it’s different for each of us, but when shared with the world we all share in its commonality. 

 I dare you, today, to envision your passion.  Apply the  five senses to it.   Give it a name and be specific and uninhibited, all at the same time.   Make it bigger than ordinary.  I dare you!

Pity Party

Last night I completed Speech #4 (of 10) at my Toastmasters meeting. I hadn’t done a speech for over three or four months so I felt a little nervous. The speech entitled, Remembering the Renaissance, was in honor of the Harlem Renaissance, a time in history I love and admire; that acts as my “muse”. My inspiration.

So, in the name of  Toastmaster protocol, the audience members are asked to write comments/critiques on little pieces of paper to be given to each speaker at the end of the meeting. One of my notes read “It’s always nice to hear people speak with such passion.”

“Passion?” I thought. It’s crazy because I wasn’t feeling very passionate; I actually was feeling empty about my place, my purpose…where, and if, I’m headed as a writer. I didn’t even do a blog entry this week because I was too busy having that “pity party”.. And I had invited all of my “best” friends. “Negative Self Talk”, “Self Doubt” and her first cousin, “You Ain’t Got No Talent” arrived early to help set up.  I don’t remember “Girl Please” being on the guest list but she was there in a bad, hot pink fedora and matching stilettos. “Fear”, with his fat ass, was late as usual making his infamous grand entrance; he got drunk and then loud. He and “Excuses” sat on the patio and you could hear him all through the house.  It’s like he covered us.  Smothered us.

Passion? Where was Passion? She must have been somewhere because one of my fellow Toastmaster members recognized her. “It’s always nice to hear people speak with such passion.”   Was it a quiet light shining in my eyes.. or the way I spoke about Langston Hughes and Zora N. Hurston?  Was it my personal, internal celebration of a time that inspires me so?  Was it the spirit of the heroes of the Harlem Renaissance?

After the meeting I went home and my “friends” were still there. Drunk and out of place.

After kicking the freeloaders out of my house, I drifted off to sleep in the arms of  my beloved “Baby It’ll Be OK”.  The always voice of my mother.  The sometimes corner of my mind. Good night.

This morning I woke up to find a few of those fools couldn’t make it home and had slept on my couch.  Or anywhere they could find a spot to rest up before their next party… down the street. Across town. In Montana.  Anywhere. Somewhere over someone’s rainbow.  

I tiptoed out, got into my car and reminded God of His promises to me. “Will never leave or forsake… I can do All things …. If God is for me….Love never fails”.  Pulling out of my driveway, I knew they would all be gone when I got home. Useless losers.

Have a Passionate Day and trust Him.  Despite it all.