Possibility
Oldest Daughter and her violin leave for college tomorrow. Right now, it's all about possibility.
I think nothing is more soul-crushing, nothing will age you faster, than giving up on possibility. In fact, when I think of friendships I have moved away from in life, outgrew, it was always a friend who was so filled with cynicism that they stopped believing. The "why bother" people of the world.
I just saw a sketch for the cover of Magickeepers. It blew me away as soon as I saw it--and I'll share when the final is approved. I have a new book idea that I think is exciting. I have a new release in November. The thing about this career is with every new manuscript, release, idea . . . there's the possibility of something great.
Somehow, if I could say to new writers . . . the one thing to hold onto in the face of rejection and discouragement, the pronouncements that no one is reading anymore, in the face of all of it, hold onto possibility.
My mom gave Oldest a hand-knit blanket for college. In the card she wrote "See you at Carnegie Hall." Possibility . . .
Oldest Son wants to go to M.I.T. and be a math professor. Possibility.
Baby Girl wants to be an artist/poet. Possibility.
Demon Baby wants to take over the world. Dinstinctly possible.
Anything is possible. Believe it.
Thoughts?
22 comments:
I believe that anything is possible. If I didn't believe that, it would be hard to encourage my kids to follow their own dreams. More possibilities. My son wants to be a sports broadcaster, and he's laying the foundation in many ways. My daughter wants to be a pastry chef, and a fashion designer and an astronomer. I always tell her she'll be the best dressed chef looking at the moon.
If I didn't believe in possibilities I wouldn't read all the writing blogs, and scribble notes for stories and jump out of the shower in time to write them down.
The cool thing about possibilities is that they lurk around every corner, they're under every cushion, behind every door. Many times we don't even know they're there.
Amy:
I have blogged numerous times that having a mother in a nontraditional (read: not nine-to-five) career with extremely liberal, nontraditional ways of looking at the world, has meant not ONE of them aspires to a normal job. And I think that's great . . . I want them to dream big dreams.
E
That giving up your dreams thing is what mid-life crises are all about. I think we're better off staying in the game and continuing to swing rather than head for the showers. It can be tough clinging to a dream, though.
Remember, when DB takes over world I was promised Head of Secret Police. PM
Mark:
Definitely. But giving it up means . . . aging mentally and spiritually. You're right. Mid-life crises are often the realization that some dreams will have to be let go of (like I don't think I am every going to be the manager for the NY Giants).
E
Pammie:
Oh . . . yes. And then Baby Girl will be chief minion. She may even be archtect of the world domination plan.
E
I think most people have more potential than is ever realized, taking their physical and intellectual strengths and weaknesses, genetic predispositions, age, etc., into consideration.
Jude;
I agree. I have a few times invited people to a writers' group only to have them say they could "never" write this book that has been lurking within them forever. I always think it's a shame. I would prefer a "no regrets" approach to life.
E
I'm all about staying focused on the possibilities-- it's what kept me going through my husband's cancer---it's what keeps me going period!
Another great post!
Hi Alyson:
One day at a time, while still dreaming big, being open to possibility each day.
E
Moving beyond people who are negative is liberating and necessary if growth is our intent. Possibilities are everywhere is we are open to them. Nice post.
Great post, Erica! I think I breathe in possibility. It's what keeps me going when many people would quit. I see the possibilities and they see the roadblocks.
Hi Anti-wife:
I find consistently negative people very wearying to me.
E
Erica, YES! I felt every word you wrote, and wow. So true. I not only see possibility, like Edie I inhale it. LOL. I can't imagine a world without them. In my world, they're everywhere and it's up to be to touch them.
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow too. I remember when my baby girls left home for the first time, long ago.
Hi Edie and Ladonna:
Nice to see such postive gals!!!!
E
Hi Erica,
You know, I always love your posts because they so often seem to synchronize with where my head's at - so it almost seems like a cosmic message just for me.
Those cynics that drag you down - my mom calls them psychic vampires, I think that's the best term I've ever heard for it.
And I think the minute you give up hope, you give up any chance for happiness. How can you enjoy life when you're hopeless... we need it, even if it's not a probably hope, striving for something is more important, I think, even than attaining it.
Hi Merry:
Absolutely. We all have days that can make us want to quit . . . but nurturing possibility is the surest way to energize your life.
E
Be the possibility you want to see in the world.
Possibility is all about creation... generative language.
It is really about creating a future to live into, instead of recreating more of the past upsets and mistakes to avoid in the future.
It is about giving yourself a gift.
It is about power, freedom and full self expression.
Awesome post. If I didn't already love you as a human being then this post would have sealed it for me. Thanks for sharing.
Ewoh:
You are just . . . too nice for words. :-)
E
Well said. What would life be without possibility?
You have no idea how much I needed this post.
:)
Thanks!
hahahahaha @ Demon Baby taking over the world. Yeah, that is distinctly possible. hehehehe.
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