With Christmas less than two weeks away, there are people all around the world retelling an age old story of others following a distant star in search of something wondrous. They stepped out in faith with little more than a wish and a prayer to guide them. But that was enough. Despite the hardships, despite the doubters, despite everything that might have been in their way trying to dissuade them from staying on the path they had chosen, those brave souls stepped out into the unknown because they believed in what lay ahead for them.
While I don't proclaim to compare myself to those travelers of long ago, I can see writers are on a similar journey where they step out into the vast unknown in search of some distant star called publication. The trouble is, the whole universe is crowed with stars...some of them small and not necessarily shining the right light...and others a bright beacon to tempt the masses to their inner circle.
When I started out on this journey I really didn't stop to think where I would end up. I'd spent years hushing the voice inside me that yearned to be a writer. I expended more energy in hiding behind a facade while I tried to convince those around me stories meant nothing to me when all I needed to do was step into the light and believe I was EXACTLY where I was supposed to be.
Now I go searching for that distant star. One that calls to my spirit. One to give me hope that my stories might one day shine a little light on someone else's darkness to help them realize it's okay to take that step into the unknown. It's okay to have a little bit of faith that those distant stars truly ARE twinkling for you and someday you WILL reach them.
If you don't think it could happen to YOU then go find a copy of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: ANGELS AMONG US and read my story of what happened when I decided to turn my back on that distant star. Read what it took to lead me back to a path that feels like home to me and realize if it can happen to ME then it can happen to anyone...even YOU!
All you have to do is believe and take that first step in search of YOUR own distant star...
