Family loves
Amidst struggles and trials,
Merry times and celebrations.
In all stages of life
Loved ones will gather.
You get to share everything with family.
Love is abundantly spread
Over time, distance, and members;
Vast adventures and stories are shared.
Every family member loves differently,
So thank you for loving your way.
If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio or watch a few of my poetry readings.
When I was a kid I wanted to become a vet. I loved animals and wanted to be their doctor. My grandpa was a vet and I grew up across the street from my uncles’ pig farm. Plus, my family always had a bunch of animals. I was surrounded by animals and loved it.
I was so sure I wanted to be a vet that I went to an agricultural high-school that had majors. For half the day we would take normal classes like English, Math, and History. The other half of the day would be spent in our majors. Freshmen had to take classes in every major, but at the end of the year, you picked your top three majors. I knew at the start of going to that school, like most, what major I wanted. I wanted to be a small animal science major. My second choice was large animal science, and I’m not sure what I put as my third choice. I did get into my first-choice major and was thrilled.
Each year the major had a combination of a standard book or class learning and hands-on learning. I don’t remember exactly what we learned during the lecture-style classes, but I do remember the hands-on learning.
Sophomore year we learned about small animal husbandry and how to care for the different animals. We had bunnies, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, a reptile room, and birds.
Junior year we learned about grooming and I believe aquariums. One year we had to fill an aquarium and make sure we didn’t overpopulate it along with keeping the PH balanced.
Senior year we learned vet tech. Towards the end of the semester, we even assisted in a few spays and neuters.
During my senior year, I also participated in a work-release program, where I went to a zoo and helped the zookeepers. After my normal classes were done for the day I would drive to the zoo and take care of the different animal exhibits. It was such a great experience.
When I was applying to colleges though I questioned if becoming a vet was something I really wanted to do. I did look at and apply to some schools that had animal science degrees. I also looked at and applied to schools with a theater degree. When the time came to decide I went to college for theater.
From time to time I wonder what my life would be like if I chose the other path. Would I have been happy as a vet? How would I have changed if I made that choice?
It is an intriguing thought exercise, but only a thought exercise. If I went down that other career path I would not be who I am. I would not have the friends that have shaped me or the adventures we’ve been on.
I am glad my high-school experience was the one I had, but I am also glad I chose to have a creative life. That is what a truly blessed life is, being glad for the experiences of your past and where you are now.
I have more stories that show how I became who I am. They are in the Journey to Me series. I also have stories specifically about God and of course, I wrote a book about my views and experiences with Love called To Love.
I usually start the story of my creative life with dance class and then go into my experiences with musical theater. It’s easy for me to gloss over my early writing experience.
There are three reasons I do this. The first reason is that although my grammar and spelling were not great creative writing came naturally to me. I don’t remember any lessons about how to write poetry or short stories in elementary school or early middle school. However, I do remember writing a story when I was 10 about a 10-year-old girl.
The second reason for never focusing on my early writing life is because I never felt it was important. It was always just something I did. I hardly ever shared my stories with people. Since I didn’t share my writing I never celebrated that part of my creativity. The theater was what I celebrated and did so publicly. The writing I did was a private thing.
The third reason is my confidence in my writing was low. Sure I wrote creative things constantly, but I was never amazing in English or spelling classes. I was an average student when it came to writing assignments. Grammar and spelling are not my strong suit. I still struggle with spelling certain words, and will reread sentences to make sure they are correct. Why would I talk or share something I wasn’t good at?
The thing is whether I’m good at it or not writing is a big important part of me. It is like talking to me; I may mispronounce words or not be as eloquent as others in my speech, but it is how I communicate. It is on aspect that makes me who I am.
There is increasingly more comfortable with that aspect of me. I am a writer and will describe myself as such.
I have come along way in my writing life and now I love sharing my writing. It may not be the best, but my writing is truthfully me. I would not have it any other way.
II have more stories that show how I became who I am. They are in the Journey to Me series. I also have stories specifically about God and of course, I wrote a book about my views and experiences with Love called To Love.
It is April; only the fourth month of this year, and already it has been a life changing year for me.
At the end of 2017 I decided that I would make a major change to my life. I needed to share up my life in order to truly pursue my dreams.
The decision I made was to leave my full time job in order to work towards my ideal life. I never meant to stay there as long as I had, but it was safe and seemed comfortable. However, my unneeded stress was growing and the enjoyment of the actual work was shrinking. I realized it had become just a paycheck and if I was to work for just a paycheck there are less stressful jobs closer to where I live.
In fact, before I even left the full-time job I started a new part-time job with my church. I am now my church’s admin. That job started in January of this year and I left my full-time job at the end of February.
At the end of February, the Tuesday after my last day, I went on a 2-week mission trip to South Africa. I got back mid-March and had to adjust to this new amazing chapter in my life.
I am excited to see what new adventure lay in front of me and what opportunities await me. Whatever my future holds it will be worth the leap because for the first time in a very long time I feel like I’ve taken a significant step towards my ideal life.
I am truly dreamward bound.
In 2019 I retired my DreamWard Bound Series. As of 2020, I have a few other series and a Youtube channel. I also have published my book To Love, which is for sale on Amazon.
Here is my love.
My love will be given,
from my heart
to your soul.
Relax and I’ll let it be.
Please, do not worry,
We too shall meet.
My love is here
in my heart
waiting for your soul.
If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio or watch a few of my poetry readings.
Note: There was a delay in publishing this blog.
As I write I’m 34,005 ft high. I’m flying back to California and anxiety is rising. I feel uncomfortable energy pulsing through my body into my mind. It touches my heart. There is a need to get up, to move, to do something besides sitting still.
My life is returning to me after being on vacation and cementing the process of leaping off a metaphoric cliff that I’ve been staring at for years.
I’m leaving my well paying job with good benefits to pursue my dreams. This is a big step on the path towards my dreams and it feels very real and giant.
This leap of faith I’m facing does not seem logical to me at this moment, but I know it is right. I know I need to leave the office job and start living the life I actually am suppose to live.
The unknown still frightens me.
It is an excited time in my life and I am happy that I am dreamward bound, even if there is fearful energy trying to take control. I won’t let it though, too many great opportunities lay ahead of me. I just have to remember to breathe and remind myself that I’m worth following my dreams.
I’ve walked to the ledge
fears shout from the edge
but my faith holds my hand
I’m ready for a fall
or the invisible bridge.
I know I may fall.
What if I do?
Wings will sprout from shoulder’s ridge.
If there be a bridge
my feet will firmly walk.
However, my future unfolds
I will breathe.
I will survive.
If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.
I’m reading a book that has brought up living an ordinary life. In the book, an ordinary life is a bad thing. The author views it as boring and as if the person living that life is asleep. They’re not really living. For me, an ordinary life would feel the same way. I fell into a somewhat ordinary life and it suffocated me. I lost part of me.
Unlike the other author, I can see that an ordinary, quiet life that is similar to those on television may be ideal. I can see how certain people can be happy settling down, working a stable job, and simply living life.
Ordinary does not fit who I am at my core. Even when my life is primarily ordinary I look for the extraordinary. I need to keep my eyes open to the uncommon and I am grateful for those times.
Living an unique life isn’t all about traveling the world, going on strange adventures late at night, and meeting one of a kind characters. More often than not it is little stories that are not forced or expected and one of a kind routines that are all your own.
My life strays from ordinary every Saturday I spend writing my novel and the nights I spend on my visual art pieces. It becomes unique when I have to test my church’s worship leader that I will be late to serving as the sound board operator, because my landlord’s pop-belly pig is loose and trying to find non-extant treats in my bag. Also, most people don’t drive slowly calling for the same pig that found her way out of her pen a second time, so that the pig would get back to the house.
I do travel cross country often and meet one of a kind characters even more frequently. When your eyes are open though, you’ll see everyone is a one of a kind character and we all travel, even if most of the time it’s in your mind.
My life is not for everyone, but it is perfect for me. I am grateful for my uncommon life and hope you are grateful for whatever type of life you’re living.
If you would like to read more about my Journey To Me there is a full series on the topic. I also have more portfolio writing available too. If you want to get to know me better you can do so on Instagram , Twitter, or Facebook.
Your best friend, Beth, invites you to an open mic night at a local coffeehouse. It the first time Beth will sing one of her original songs in front of people, besides you and her cat, Meowers.
It thrills you to support your friend.
After you finish your shift at the call center for a tech company, you rush home to get ready. Your clothes are changed and you redo your hair. This is in record time and you meet Beth at the cozy coffeehouse.
You can smell the beans roasting and the coffee brewing from outside the door. As you enter the coffeehouse, you look around the warmly decorated room. It has two large couches facing a makeshift stage area and wood tables that are only large enough to seat four people each.
Beth finds you and greets you with a great enormous hug, the way she does when she is nervous. As she is still squeezing you Beth stated, “You made it.” When the hug is released she tells you, “The first person is about to start. I’m fifth in line.” She straightens her red and brown floral dress that flows over her slender body.
“Of course, I made it. I wouldn’t miss this.” You look at your friend and ask, “How are you doing? Nervous?”
Beth tried to smile. “Nah, no, no. I’m fine.”
You look blankly at her and her face drops, fully revealing her nerves. “Yes, I am. I shouldn’t be, the crowd isn’t that big, but it’s my song. What if they hate it? I could mess up. What if I can’t really sing?”
“Don’t be silly. You’ll do great. Meowers and I love the song. Plus you’ve sung in front of bigger crowds than this.”
Confused, Beth asked, “When?”
“Our middle school recitals and karaoke.”
Beth shakes her head as she states, “Those don’t count. Karaoke isn’t performing and middle school ended like half a lifetime ago.”
“Still, you’ll do great.”
Just then the first performer takes the stage and taps on the mic. It is a sizeable round man with little hair on the top of his head, but plenty of white hair coming from his chin. He sings an old blues song as he strums on a guitar. This musician is talented and the crowd applauds him when he finishes. The next performer is a woman with pigtails and a banjo. She can’t seem to play and sing together, but struggles through the full song, anyway. The following two performers get progressively worse and the audience hardly even claps for the last man, who leaves almost in tears. His nerves won.
It is Beth’s turn. She is nervous and starts by fumbling the first notes on her simple acoustic guitar.
You mouth, “Breathe,” to her. She closes her eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath. She starts again and plays her song perfectly. It is beautiful. The crowd cheers for her at the end. They are very thankful that she was a wonderful singer and the song was beautiful.
Beth makes her way back to the table where you are sitting with a giant smile on her face.
As she sits, the next act gets on stage. It is a male musician who has perfectly curly brown hair and sits on the stool, but keeps one leg on the ground. He smiles a nervous yet cute smile as he places his guitar on his lap. Once he clears his throat he says, “This is my first time here too, and I also have an original song.”
He sings and your eyes meet his sparkling hazel eyes. You hold eye contact with him and smile. It feels as though the room melts away and he is singing only to you. Towards the end of his song, he looks down to make sure he is playing the right notes, but is grinning widely.
At the end of the song he thanks the audience, but is looking at you when he does so. The crowd applauds him as he leaves the little platform that makes up the stage.
He walks directly to you. “Hi, I’m Matt.” He says with his hand out.
You shake his hand as you tell him, “Hi Matt, I’m Lucy. You were great.”
“Thanks. I don’t mean to be too forward, but can I join you two lovely ladies?”
Before you can answer, Beth does. “Of course, we would love that.”
The conversation quickly dies down as the last performer takes the stage. She resembles a jazz singer with her hair pinned in curls and a black fit and flare dress on. She sings a slow and soft song. It is a very loving, sweet jazz song. After she finishes, the audience claps, but starts to leave.
Matt, Beth, and you continue to talk. After half an hour Matt buys both of you cups of tea and you help him carry them over to the table.
You do not realize the time passing. As the coffee house closes, Matt asks for your number. Smiling, you give him your phone number and he sends you a quick smiley text, so you have his.
This is the start of something new, but after a long day at work you are ready for bed.
You say goodnight to Matt at the coffee house and walk with Beth to your car, which is outside of Beth’s apartment. You say goodnight to your best friend and get in your car.
When you get home, you see that you have an unread text message from Matt. It says, “I’m glad I went to the open mic night, tonight.”
You smile as you respond with, “Me too. Goodnight.”
As you get ready for bed, another text from Matt pops up on your phone. “Goodnight.”
If you would like to read more short stories please check out my Portfolio or perhaps you would enjoy watching readings of my work on YouTube.
Last DreamWard Bound I talked about how I organized and separated my goals and dreams. This helped me easily see my priorities and make a plan to reach my ideal life.
I know being organized does not fit every personality. Some people thrive in doing work as it comes along or as they are inspired. Some people do not like making lists or tracking their goals in detail.
I am not one of those people. More and more I love organizing my goals and tracking them. I have spreadsheets with formulas and charts. I have index cards and notebooks.
These things help me track my goals, so when I feel discouraged and forget my past achievements I can look back. I can see where I started and how far I’ve come.
Having my time and goals tracked also helps me plan for my future. I can see that I only consistently write for about 4 hours a week and draw for about 3. I can see that I can increase my prayer and Bible study time by 0.1 hours a week, because I know how much I’ve spent on godly things in the previous week.
By seeing my patterns with time I can see where I can improve. I can also see how long it takes to complete a project, book, or activity.
I do want to clarify that although I have 5 sheets with a lot of charts for visual tracking I did not start with that many.
I started with a notebook and only tracked time I spent reading the Bible and my television watching. After a few weeks I added other goals and then I moved it to one sheet on my computer. Little by little I added things I tracked and organized the sheets more. I can now see the following:
The take away from all of this is to start small with your goals and tracking, but let both grow. This will help you to continually be improving and moving towards your goals and dreams.