When you do and seek things that are in alignment with your deepest truths, the light greets you there.
I can’t remember where I first read or heard the above phrase, but I do remember that I rolled my eyes so far back into my head that I may have sprained an optic nerve.
Up until very recently, I firmly believed that people have bills to pay and responsibilities to fulfill. Not everyone is born with the privileged option of chasing their wildest dreams. You need wealthy parents or a financially stable spouse to do that kind of thing. And, let’s remember: retirement doesn’t plan itself. That’s just realism.
So for years, I kept my head down and worked a variety of semifulfilling salaried jobs, teaching yoga on the side and writing only for my journal. I watched others follow their hearts and I seethed jealousy, assuming everyone had some sort of secret generous benefactor.
Then one day in early December, I had one of those days where everything goes from bad to worse. This day came on the tail end of months of anger, resentment, loneliness, depression and anxiety that I had repeatedly attempted to numb with alcohol.
Something in me broke and it hurt so good.
From that dark day sprung the realization that, for me, true alignment lies within the power of storytelling. So, abandoning all of my previously justifiable reason, I decided to plan a three-
month tour around the U.S. teaching people how to be creative through writing and meditation. It starts March 1. When I’m not teaching, I’ll be meeting with yogis of various ethnic backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and size to record their stories of triumph, grief, joy and hurt. Because stories inspire and heal, both for the storyteller and the listener.
I don’t have enough money to do this. I’m asking for help (something I do NOT like doing) via crowdfunding. Since I’ve made this decision to align myself with my truth (not yours or hers or anyone else’s), the light greeted me in the following places:
- I booked 7 studios within 10 days. Within 20 days, I had 13 studios booked from Maine to North Carolina to Colorado and back again. And the emails just keep coming.
- Wanderlust.com has agreed to publish the stories I record.
- Before I could put in my notice, my salaried job laid me off, gifting me more time to plan and grow this project before I hit the road.
Let it be known: There is enough room in this world for each of us to have our own dreams that we build through the desire to connect with ourselves. If you’re worried that what you want to do has been done before or done by too many people let that go. YOU haven’t done it yet, and you are enough. Offer your gifts. It makes this world brighter and inspires others to do the same.