What Can Only You Do in the World?
Monday, February 26th
The past couple weeks have been filled with opportunities to do important things for my family and others I care about. It’s left little to no time for sitting down at my computer, but that’s okay. Life ebbs and flows, like the tide of the oceans which are forever moved by the gravity of the Moon.
I don’t help others because I feel obligated or guilty if I don’t help. Providing for others is a blessing. Imagine, if your friend needs help, and you can’t be there for her or him? That would feel awful, wouldn’t it? Therefore, to be able to help a friend is, in and of itself, a tremendous blessing.
However, I haven’t just been busy with activities I admire and feel good about. I’ve also been distracted by various things, and I’ve been emotional, which leaves me vulnerable to the positive equivalent of “Doom Scrolling.” I tend to “like and share” positive stories, so when I start scrolling through my feed on Facebook Reels, it’s a lot of really great content that makes me laugh and smile and … several hours pass before I know it!
What’s a woman to do, when she’s past the age of 50 and facing the shorter half of her life?
What’s a woman to do, when she cares about crucial issues effecting humanity, but she doesn’t have the reach and influence to make a dent?
What’s a woman to do, when the distractions and noise drown out her best efforts to make this world a better place by offering off-narrative thoughts and perspectives?
What a woman to do…?
I don’t have the answer for you. This question is something only we, in our own lives, can figure out. But I know what the first step is. We have to ask the question: “What can I do, that no one else can?” You may think you have no answer, but I imagine, if you take some time to think about it, you’ll discover one.
For myself, my answer is as follows: “No one on Earth can write my novel.”
For the record, for those of you who don’t know me, I’ve been working on my 4-book novel series for 11 years. I have the first two books written in full, with Book 1 in 5th revision, Book 2 in 3rd revision, and Book 3 is currently being researched.
To fully embrace my new stage of life, as a woman no longer primarily focused on the needs of her children, I need to learn how to take care of myself. How to prioritize my needs. How to make time for my projects. And really, how to claim my time.
I know I’m not alone in facing this challenge. Please feel free to share below, in the comments, how you manage to live your best life.
For fun, let me share a brief introduction to The Ghost Lords:
Until three nights ago, college-bound Jordan Claire has enjoyed six years of dreamless nights. Ever since her father was murdered and her aunt took her in under one condition: no dreaming. As if anyone could keep such a promise? And yet, she has. Until three nights ago, when that broken promise turned into a deadly secret.
Kept ignorant of her own ghostborn lineage, Jordan’s silence unleashes murder and mayhem upon those she loves, as the secret of her birth is revealed, triggering a hunt by the Ghost Family that killed her parents. As her rare powers draw dangerous attention, Jordan Claire learns too much, falls for the wrong enemy and sparks a ghostly civil war that threatens humanity’s future.
Will she follow the advice of every person who loves her, and disappear into a life of hiding that challenges nothing? Or, risk everything, for a chance to make a difference?
Warmly,
March