I hit a dead end in my writing; whatever steam my train had been chugging up the hill with had stopped. I found myself pulled over on the side of the track, and a question lingered in the air: “What now?”
Just earlier today, I felt a clear sense of purpose when contemplating my writing. It was a feeling of “Life is brilliantly wonderful. Of course I should document it.”
How swiftly the tides turn – what once felt right now seems wrong, and conviction transformed into doubt. So where should we turn?
Well, the book “The Courage to be Disliked” holds the answer: providing service to others.
Taking the advice, I cleaned and organized the space that eleven of us are sharing during vacation. I swept, wiped down the microwave, fridge, counters, and grouped similar items together. All the tasks in my life that bring value – and however much others appreciate it – I did them primarily for myself. That is the premise of the book: self-acceptance, even embracing the mundane aspects of ourselves, and summoning the courage to be authentically you.
During a video call home, I gained insight into life there. A dying fern has just one tendril remaining, reaching toward the sky. “It still holds hope,” Jeff, our friend and house sitter, said, and I agreed. Other updates include an almost-ripe tomato and one of the ducks badgering an injured baby duck.
But at the end of the book? It’s a revelation – an, oh wow, clouds parting and walking out of the box moment. It’s a time to finally take a deep breath, where all the pieces fit into the puzzle, creating a sense that is hard to describe. It’s an invitation to dive even deeper, to continue connecting, and to strive for improvement.
I’ll get there.
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 