Just Do It!

Two days ago, I submitted to a publisher my first manuscript for a children’s picture story.  Anyone who knows me - knows the meandering path my life has taken over the years, and knows this is a BIG deal!

Looking back, I have always been a writer.  Kept a journal since high school; wanted to be an English major in college; even wrote as part of my professional work.  Although I enjoy writing, it was never crystal clear that my life’s purpose revolves around it.  In fact, many little obstacles presented themselves along the way.  I realize now that all those roadblocks were just challenges in the game of life.  And in the end, all can be overcome.

Do you ever wonder how some people manage to achieve their goals?  Why them?  Why are some people able to accomplish what they want?  The many self-help books out there share the same concept – think positive, set your mind to something, actualize your potential, anything is possible.  It seems easy, right?  Not for all of us.

But, if your life purpose is clear and you are connected with your inner self, you will catch the wind in your sail and take off.  Nothing can really get in the way of your true life’s purpose.  Doubt, fear, envy, guilt – all fade away as the driving force in your life takes hold.

Those sayings – “get in the groove”, “get on track”, “get with the program”, seemed elusive in the past.  I thought it was up to us, to create our own track.  But it’s not.  “Get” is the operative word.  You don’t have to make the pathway – it’s in front of you. You just have to find it and GET ON. And once you’re on, nothing will stand in your way.

All that’s left is to do it.  Nike has the right idea - Just do it.

Validation

Validation comes in many forms and in many ways.  And each of those moments act as beacons to help light the way to our life’s purpose. 

I had just arrived for my shift at the bookstore and was straightening an area when I overheard a young girl ask another bookseller for a title.  I recognized the book because we bought them for my daughter a week ago at a used book fair.  Turned out the book was out of print – Japanese anime from the late 1980s, early 1990s.   As I explained where we purchased ours, the young girl looked up at me and asked, “Are you -----‘s mom?”  The friend who showed this girl the books was none other than my daughter!  The girl’s mother went on to explain that her daughter who is a bit of an artist saw the drawings inside and liked them.  Another light bulb went off and I asked if the girl attended art camp this summer.  And yes, she had.  She was the one other girl at that particular week of camp that attended the same school as my daughter.  Meanwhile, the other bookseller noted the oddity of our meeting on the only night of the week that I work, right when I started.  She said it was the weirdest situation she had ever witnessed and the mother proclaimed, “It was meant to be.  It’s destiny!”  Our chance meeting served as a sign to the mother that her daughter should have these books so promised to find them.  As she walked away, I could hear her saying to the daughter, “How cool was that?!”

Just as I was thinking this event could be the subject for a blog posting, the bookseller unknowingly said, “You could write a short story about that.”  Yes, I could and in fact, I will!

What I found most interesting was the awareness of all three adults of the incident’s synchronicity.  The bookseller thought the whole thing was strange, the mother immediately chalked it up to fate, and I’m thinking – of course, this happens to me all the time now.  The incident affected each person in its own unique way.  Perhaps the mother will continue to encourage her daughter’s artistic development, the bookseller will become more aware of “coincidence”, the young girl and my daughter may grow their friendship, and I will continue to write. 

While each of us is on our own path, our lives are interconnected and dependent upon our interactions with each other.  The greater our awareness, the more each of us has an opportunity to grow.  We don’t have to make direct contact with Spirit to find our way.  But we should take heed of the signals that come along to aid us.  Not one, but four beacons lit up during that single moment in time.  Think back, look forward, and be aware now!

Learning to Drive Like a Jedi Knight

One of the first things my Guides taught me was how to drive on the highway.  As I approached the entry ramp, Sam who was around at the time said, “Now, feel the energy.”  So, I tried to “feel” rather than see my way onto the highway.  Before looking into the mirror, I would practice by guessing where other cars were located.  

Anyone who knows me, knows I drive like grandma – very slow and timid – which can actually be dangerous.  I waited interminably at intersections unable to judge the distance of oncoming cars and being afraid my own car would stall while turning.   

A week later, our family rented the first Stars Wars movie – Guides truly have a sense of humor.  Obi Wan Kanobi tells Luke to “feel the Force” while he’s flying a jetfighter against Darth Vader. Luke closes his eyes and senses where he must go.  Now, I don’t close my eyes (!), but sometimes I'll squint in order to tune in and get into the zone. 

I must admit that feeling your way around the road has its own unique hazards.  One time, I “heard” this car approach from behind.  I looked in the mirror and saw this highly animated woman talking to her passenger.  She became louder as she got closer, I worried she would rear-end me. Annoyed about her riding on my bumper, I flipped her the bird!  Immediately afterward, I realized my mistake and judging by the looks I got from that car, was totally in the wrong.  Yikes.  I sensed her quick and robust energy, could feel her car approaching mine, even hear her talking, but in reality she was driving just fine.  I felt a little bad about that one.

Another time, I was driving on the highway in the far right lane and felt an incoming car.  The driver was aggressive and as he entered the highway he drove with an intensity that said he was not going to yield to me.  He was so strong, that I swerved when our cars were directly beside one another.  Again, in reality all was okay – he was in his lane, I was in mine, but I over-reacted to his energy.  Swerving at 70 miles per hour is not a good thing.

Why am I telling you about this?  Well, despite those two transgressions, overall I’ve become a better driver.  These days, I easily merge onto the highway and drive with a lot more confidence.  How cool is that?!

John Holland suggests this very exercise in his book, “Psychic Navigator.”  He refers to it as “energy scanning” which can be used in a variety of ways to read auras, scan the body for health issues and to drive!  It’s about learning how to sense energy fields.

Now, don’t go all Luke Skywalker.  But if you do try it, “may the Force be with you.”

Crossing Wires

Last week, I had a major fiasco with the car – still recovering from the trauma.  The “check engine light” came on just as I got to dance class.  Before heading home, I checked with the auto repair shop and my husband, determined it was okay to drive, and cautiously opted for local roads versus the highway.  All seems good, right?  Being careful, thinking first, etc…

Then, before taking the car in to be checked later that same afternoon, I brilliantly decided to run a few errands further from home than usual.  This is when common sense flew out the window, never to return.  On the way, I made a wrong turn – the first of many, and I heard a faint voice telling me not to go to the store, “don’t waste your time.”  But, I wanted to go anyway and proceeded with my plans.  The entire time I ran errands, these voices kept telling me not to do what I was doing (but the reasoning was not clear, and frankly, made little sense) and I kept making wrong turns!  Come to think of it, I made several wrong turns the day before, but attributed those signals to some other issue.  “Something’s wrong, something’s wrong!” my Guides were saying.  

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Why did you keep going?  Why aren’t you listening?” Well, I thought I was listening and hearing correctly, I just didn't get it.

Finally, I’m in the car line to pick my daughter up from school.  I’m putting something in the trunk and a friend pulls up behind me.  I walk over to say hello and end up chit chatting for 5-10 minutes with the car still running. All of a sudden, clouds of smoke start billowing from the hood of the car!  Ends up being steam that stopped, so I thought it was okay to drive.  But, when the pedal and gearshift began to feel hot, I started to worry that the car might catch on fire.  

This is where you’re wondering, “Why is she still driving?!”  Truthfully - I have no idea!  By some small miracle, we stalled out at a couple intersections but made it home safely – car died as soon as we reached the driveway.   

Despite my failing to check the temperature gauge or use any amount of common sense, my Guides never stopped trying to help.  Later, I realized all those wrong turns were their attempt to get me to “pull over” or pause what I was doing and figure out what was wrong.

During next day’s meditation, a new Guide named Charles (some sort of practical guide - mechanic comes to mind), appeared.  He said the next time something like this happens, take a moment, a time-out, to ask what is wrong. He said that guidance will come not only for mental and emotional matters, but also practical.  He also said that if the warnings keep coming, then my initial interpretations are incorrect. 

As I anxiously waited all weekend for the verdict on my car (possibility the engine was trashed), a friend asked why weren’t my Guides more clear?  Why not, “You’re car’s overheating – hot, hot!”  I could hear that as well as any of the other messages I received.  Well, perhaps that would have been too easy.

Although indicators suggest a grand life plan is in place, I don't think we are simply puppets playing out a script.  We each have our own lives to lead and our own choices to make.  No one is going to spoon-feed us.  Ultimately, we make our own decisions.  Ultimately, we have to find our way.  If we can hear, more power to us.  If we follow what we hear, even better.  If we learn and grow along the way? That’s what it’s all about.

Luckily, the radiator was all that needed to be replaced.  I’ve never been so happy to have my car back! Both of us a little bruised, but still intact.