Weekly Recap: Okay, Did It

Ever have that epiphany moment when things come together and you know it's time to do something? When you are buzzing along in life, smelling the flowers in happy bliss, and suddenly your eyes pop open and you know it's now or never?

I've had moments like that. I still remember a job I wanted so badly I could taste it. It was within the company I worked for at the time (General Telephone), but the laws of advancement were in place and not in my favor. I was in a position that did not normally advance that high. My boss had already told me she would not support my efforts, since the timing was off and it was during our busiest season.

But I knew the other job was perfect. It was in the town where I lived and would be easier on my family. I said a prayer and decided to go over my supervisor's head. It was a scary can-do moment, but I was bursting with energy and determination. I introduced myself to the supervisor in the office where I wanted to work and explained my situation. I was practically hired on the spot, and was later told that my energy-level had convinced her I was perfect for the job, and......more positions followed.

So did I learn something from this? Yes, indeed....

 FEAR OF STEPPING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE CAN KEEP US FROM SUCCESS, YET IT IS FEAR ITSELF THAT CAN BE THE GREATEST MOTIVATOR OF ALL!!

Others have written about this, too.

Winston Churchill wrote:
"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others."

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote:
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others."

(And my favorite....)

Victor Hugo: "Wings"
"Be like the bird that, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings."

I wish I could say that I still had the same thirty-something energy. The laws of nature, i.e. getting older, have put a damper on some at least, but I did have a moment of courage this week. I entered my novel in a contest for the first time, Pitch Madness. I have no idea how I'll place, but there was a moment of
"I can't do this. People will judge my novel. Some may think I can't even write." Ee-eh, I hate those feelings, don't you? Or am I the only one who ever feels this way?

But it was time, and my 'self-assigned' publicist husband was already kicking my butt. "You gotta do this. Either put the book to rest, write another, or quit." 

Me: Hmm.....typical male logic. "Okay, okay, quit getting so emotional," I told myself. I was also remembering something my son had said.

Son: "Think of this as a product, Mom. Take yourself out of the ratio." Okay .....so I'm selling a car then? Hmm......maybe not, but it does give a whole different feeling. 

So, today I wrote the email, pasted in my 35-word pitch and first 250 words, and hit the 'send' button!! No explosions, no hurrahs from the email Olympians of the Internet, nothing extraordinary to report at all. But boy, did that ever feel good.