You have a “story” to tell. Just saying.

(Wrote this last week after a particularly tough day)

Today is the most drain-a-docious day in awhile.  Everytime I wanted to do something, my mind went into a different direction.  Instead of fighting it, I relaxed.

Went to my DVD player & put in a favorite movie of mine: “Lady In The Water” directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

This movie rocks my world in so many ways. Not because it is some visual masterpiece (even though the DP is as good as the come) or that it is fanstastic writing.  For me, it is about the STORY.

It is a tale about a ‘Narf’ who comes to bring magic back to a “tribe” of people who have lost their way.  There is a group of ragtag people who live in this apartment complex, these peeps are not living to their potential.  She guides them into their true selves.

After I switched off the movie, I thought:

How many of us are not living to our true selves.  Most of us live in a way that is safe & according to what people might tell us we are good at.  We get told that we do something well and suddenly that is what people expect of us.

Of course, at first it will go well because you are you (& give it your best try).  Over time though you see that ‘the path’ is not the right one.  In the movie, it comes when the main character Cleveland makes some assumptions based on outward appearances, and some pretty devastating events take place because people are not acting in their right path.

I’m not saying it is malicious either.  It isn’t.  Some people like boxes.  It is safe.

People need hope.  Without it you are just sort of drifting.  Notice when a person has lost their hope, it is like the flame of a candle that gets snuffed out.  When they find that hope again you see the spirit rise up & say, “Hey look at me, I’m here!” *When I say lost that is figurative, the spirit doesn’t go anywhere but your ability to listen is hampered.

Magic exists.  Not in the pull a rabbit out of a hat kind of way.  In the real & tangible miracle way.  Look around miracles are everywhere.  The ‘news’ would have you believe the world is heading to hell in a hand basket but I beg to differ. Look at this: a beautiful sunset, breathing in & out every moment, a friend who calls out of the blue to say,  ”i love you”, kindness to a stranger, love happening between two people.  That is ALL magic.  Open your eyes and let yourself enjoy the beauty around you.

I don’t just want to write a post trying to tell you how to feel or be.  That is totally in your hands. YOU alone have the ability to make changes in your life.  I do want to encourage you: “getting true” takes work.  You can’t just sit there and think “i’m free” thoughts and expect to get anywhere.  Each step you take though, will be the most complex & beautiful one.  You WILL NOT regret it in any way!

A few things to encourage you:

It doesn’t matter what “the crowd” is into, live YOU.  I know how tempting it is to try to fit in but that is so stinkin’ overrated.  If everyone is headed in one direction really weigh in with yourself & find out if that is really where you want to be.  If not, do YOUR thing. Remain true. If someone mocks or criticizes you for it.  That’s cool because *remember* neither one of you is right.  We all have different paths in life.

It takes time.  Don’t beat yourself up when you haven’t made changes in a week, a month, or in some cases a year.  Speed isn’t the point.  Being free, IS.  Relax about making it happen.  Change hardly ever sticks when we are bludgening our hearts with “shoulds”.

Lastly, it may be hard but that doesn’t mean “NO”.  So you make a decision and strike off on that path.  Only to find a few “closed doors”.  There will be some hard moments, don’t be shocked when they come.  Talk to some of the “greats” in your creative life path & I am sure they will say they too dealt with rejection, fear, doubt, stress, etc.  You are not alone in this.  It would serve you well to find a few peeps you can walk along with.  Not to mimic but to collaborate.  There is real strength in peeps teaming up together.

Short story= You need truth, hope & magic. Stay true. Listen. Always live YOU. Find peeps to walk with.