A Word from the Heart: Be Thankful

Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a good week thus far! I had a blog post planned out that I wanted to share with you guys, but at the last minute, I felt that I needed to share something else I experienced this past weekend. On Saturday, I was able to catch up on some much needed “me time”.  I did some reading, took a nap, did some crafts, created cute baby shower gifts for a friend, and just got to spend time with myself-something that a lot of us don’t get to do often! I enjoyed this time to myself not only because it allowed me to relax and tune the world out, but it also gave me time to reflect over my life and my journey.

Some of my writing

Some of my notebooks

As a little girl, I wrote all day, every day. As you can see above, I had notebooks full of stories, songs, and poems- you name it, I wrote it! I would get notebooks and fill them from cover to cover with no effort at all. I loved writing in my room by the windows outside under a tree, and at my grandma’s house during the summer, I loved writing on her porch. Everyone thought I was going to be a writer one day-I remember my family members telling me that my entire life! However, I never thought of being a writer. Sure, I loved it and I was good at it, but being a “writer” never crossed my mind.

I learned writing wasn’t just a talent- it was a passion.

As I shared with you a few blog posts back, after graduating from college, I made the decision to take a leap of faith and follow my dreams. I realized that yes, writing was a talent, but it was more than that- it was a passion. It was something I couldn’t live without. It was something I could spend my entire life doing, not because I was good at it, and it could make me money, but because I loved it and it made me happy. While I was in college, I stopped writing altogether, and because of that, there was a major void in my life. I was so consumed with everything else that was going on that I didn’t realize there was such a large void, until it was placed on my heart to start writing again. Starting to write again was a major turning point. All of the passion, happiness, and satisfaction that writing brought rushed over me. This was something I hadn’t felt in a long time, but it was amazing- that’s when I knew this was what I was supposed to do. I guess I always knew deep down inside, but with the pressures of society and life, it was out of sight and out of mind. However, I thank God that I came to the realization- it was was a big part of why I decided to drop everything and follow my dreams. The raw passion, the genuine sense of love for writing that I had, and the satisfaction it brought was something I couldn’t just throw away and God was showing me that.

Be thankful.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to realize their passion and have the opportunity to pursue it. Some of us are not physically or mentally able, some of our lives and situations don’t allow us to, some of us are too stubborn, and some of us are just afraid. So, for everyone out there who has been able to find their path and have been placed in a position where they CAN pursue their passion, I challenge you to BE THANKFUL that you got that opportunity. Be thankful that you are able to live the life of your dream! Be thankful that you get to do what you love! Looking back at this weekend, it made me so happy to know that my life was able to come full circle. I just imagine what my life would be like if I had never realized I needed writing in my life, and if I had never pursued my passion. It cringes me to think about it, and that’s why I thank God for my opportunity-that’s why I put everything I have into it.

It’s so important to take time to recognize the opportunity you have- whether you’re where you want to be with it or if you’re still building. The fact that you have the opportunity to do so isn’t something you should take lightly or let go to waste. If you have the opportunity to follow your dreams and pursue your passion, give it your all-people would kill to be in your shoes. Remember, you don’t have to be average, you can be extraordinary. You don’t have to be a rock, you can be a diamond. Be thankful, today!

-Kayla ❤