Independence:  the ability to act freely, have self-confidence, possess spunk, to be outspoken, or attitude of boldness.

Do any of those descriptions ring a bell for you?

No?

Well, it’s time that they did!

Let freedom ring!

Your day of reckoning doesn’t have to come with a revolution. It can come quietly as you take a stand for yourself today by turning right instead of left on your walk today, choose something more exotic than vanilla or chocolate to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month, prepare fish instead of hamburger for dinner, wear red (or a flattering version of a festive hue) instead of that customary (read safe) shade of beige, read a whole article, or chapter, instead of watching that sit-com summer rerun on TV.

When I was little, I wasn't ever the one leading the pack on great adventues. Where on that little face accompanying this blog do you see evidence of anyone who had the ability to be outspoken…let alone bold?

Is that little girl anyone in your life? Is it your daughter, your mother, your aunt, your niece, your cousin, your best friend, a co-worker…or is it YOU?

As a child, I only wanted to please and for quite a while, that was the story of the woman I grew up to be. Writing has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. My journals document all of life's joys and challenges. After my second breast cancer diagnosis, I especially leaned into the power of writing as a healing tool to cope with that life altering journey. Ultimately, my breast cancer journey forced me to see the consequences of always pleasing others at the expense of her own well-being. 

My childhood dreams of writing were delayed, but never abandoned. I made the decision to find ways to use my writing long before I had a Journalism degree. I wrote for the school newspaper, volunteered with my church and women’s groups to write articles, and edited newsletters. I started helping executives in 1969 take their ideas and polish them for memos and written reports well before we had personal computers or AI to finish our sentences. I began taking night classes before I quit my secretarial job to go to school full-time. A decision that had most of my family thinking I was absolutely crazy because “writing wasn’t practical.”

I declared my Independence Story every time I showed up to be the writer sharing her gifts. The writer crafting the stories...whether they are mine or as the Soul Story Catcher guiding others to discover the story they are designed to share with the world.

I'm proud of the choices I make every day to pursue my Independence Story.

I choose me.

Will you choose you?

Will you speak up for yourself and write your Independence Story?

You don’t have to wait until you have a health crisis to share your transformational soul story.

Rewrite your story!

You can choose to put yourself on that To Do list and make your dreams a priority…sign up for that art class, start researching where you will go on the solo vacation, be outspoken and buy that summer novel for yourself, then boldly read it in a bubble bath tonight, show some spunk and schedule a massage before you desperately need it and claim the freedom to take care of yourself.

By the way, taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you’ll stop doing what comes naturally to you…taking care of your loved ones…it only means you have demonstrated your ability to act freely and choose to include yourself among those whom you nurture, love and support. 

Grab a spot on my calendar and let's talk about your independence story!

Photo credit:  EAOverland