I just read an update on Zach Sobiech, whose song, "Clouds," has been nominated for an Emmy. I find it so refreshing... so wonderful! In the current news, there is so much talk of war, war, WAR! and then, here is Zach, a quiet, very unassuming young man who passed away much too soon....it makes me thankful for the small things in life...and has me wondering...had he survived...what other contributions would he have had? We all have what we can offer...so many of us just don't...and why not? Is it a fear of failure? A fear of the unknown, the "what if's?" What if I get laughed at? No big deal, actually...go ahead and laugh with the rest of them! Is it a fear of the word, "no?" Oh well..it's a two letter word...what is the worst that can happen if someone says "no?" Well, you start over in a different way! Is it a fear of success? I know of a few people who are afraid of things turning out better than they had thought it would...and how does one handle THAT?
In Zach's case, it was a dream...and we all know that when you complete a dream, you start on a new one. In his case, he passed away before he could see the fruits of this dream. He didn't have a chance to see how people were moved by his song, by the good feelings that came with listening to it. In this period of time, when most music is filled with negative images and beats, Zach's song is filled with hope, joy and positive images.
In 2004, after many years of writing for a church newsletter, letters to the editor and other small and seemingly insignificant avenues, I finally summoned the courage to write with the hopes of becoming a published author. With support from co-workers and my daughter, within a year I held onto my first book. It was like cradling a newborn baby. I didn't stop there. I now have over 16 books in print, I have helped quite a few other wanna-be authors also become published and I now have a successful blog as well. Yes, a dream that took shape and continues to grow. I also learned how to drive a truck...a HUGE truck! Fear gave way to courage and I am so proud of my CDL license! My badge of courage! That lead to writing about my exploits while on the road and again, publishing a novel of those travels.
How can you make a difference for others? What is YOUR dream? You only have this one life...and the clock is ticking away. Go ahead...make that dream a reality!
