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Hullo, I had a great day in Chattanooga the other day. The sky was blue, the traffic was moving with a fast flow and somehow keeping up with the traffic flow thrills me. I have certain places in Chattanooga where the memories of my fiancé that died 16 years ago are so potent in my mind that they flood me with pure joy. He was a cultured Southern gentleman, the heir to a great American fortune and we were deeply in love. Love never really dies; it just takes different forms in our hearts. This is a day that inspires me. My mind floods with so many plans and I feel alive.

Thinking of positive, exciting things that we have experienced can propel us to do even more positive and exciting things. Noble life goals can be a little scary, as well they should be. What is the old saying, “No pain, no gain?” We need a certain amount of fear and bravery to achieve big things.

Fifteen years ago I began my writing career with great trepidation. I was a part of my hometown library club. The town commissioners were trying to stop funding for the library. Our club was devastated at the thought of a community with no library. During a club meeting I mentioned to our club president Ralph that I thought a column exonerating the library in our local newspaper might bring awareness to the importance of the library. Ralph looked straight at me and said, “I think you should do it.” I have always wanted to be a writer ever since early childhood and this vote of confidence and cause to fight for was exactly what I needed.

The next morning, I got dressed up and sashayed into the newspaper office and asked to speak with the editor. I laid out my idea and he hired me on the spot saying, “I think you can do it.” Thus began my writing career. The column became very popular, helped our library remain in the community and bolstered confidence in my ability to write.

 Sometimes it just takes that first step into action, (in my case in high heels). From that humble beginning I have now written for 15 newspapers as a syndicated columnist and been in many newspapers from North Carolina to Oregon. One of my recent columns was picked up by the Daily Mail in the UK. I have been quoted three times in a very intellectual and highly reputed British literary blog, been recommended to read by a famous literary podcaster out of Canada, had one editor tell me I helped rebuild a newspaper, given endless speaking engagements and even got the courage to write a book!

I am hoping this column will encourage letting your own calling and creativity let you fly free. You can do it! If you want it, go get it!