Monday, August 31, 2009

Signs

Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live! Bob Marley
This is my 799th post. Tomorrow equals 800. It seems amazing to me that over the past two and a half years I have continued to write in this space a minimum of five days a week -- day after day and I still find something to write.

That's consistency. Perseverance. Stamina.

Today, I received an email from a large health and wellness site inviting me to become a preferred blogger under their "Happiness" section. Wow. Blogging works. They contacted me after one of their principles happened upon my site.

Last week, I finally got up the courage to contact a publisher in New York about my book, The Dandelion Spirit. Within minutes of sending my query via email, he wrote back, Wow. Send the PDF. Minutes later, he asked for a hardcopy of the book to be sent. Doesn't mean it will be picked up -- but it's a far better situation than it would be if I hadn't contacted him.

More good news: This month The Dandelion Spirit will be offered up at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Sometime ago, my eldest daughter, Alexis, was waffling between going back to school this fall to pursue a masters in psychology, or to take another acting course at a private school here in the city. The University route required she still upgrade her Math 30 (go figure) which she was scheduled to do at the time. Three days before she started the math course, she called me in a panic. "The acting school just called and offered me the course for free. They have one spot left and wanted to reward me for my perseverance and commitment to acting. What should I do?"

"It's a sign Alexis. Take it."

It's a sign.

When I was with Conrad, I kept asking the angels to 'Stop it!", to please make the pain and suffering and confusion stop. There were lots of 'signs' along that torturous journey that kept appearing, providing me avenues of escape -- and I kept missing them, ignoring them, refusing to see the possibility of release from his clutches. I remember going for walks with Ellie at our favourite park and making 'deals' with God such as, 'If I find one heart rock, I'll know everything is going to be okay.' 'If that rabbit up ahead leaps left, I'll leave him. If he goes right, I'll know I have to stay.' And then, no matter which way the rabbit leapt, I'd justify taking the path of least resistance. I'd justify staying.

Deals and signs never made. Never seen. Never acted upon.

Like the invitation from a woman I know through my Mastermind Group to contact her publisher in New York.

It was a sign when I was given his contact info -- and it took me months to pick up on its significance.

It's not about 'the sign', it's about having the courage, or simply the determination, to act.

It's what I lacked when I was with Conrad.

It's what I need to stay conscious of today. My Be. Do. Have. of living the life of my dreams.

Be committed to Do what it takes to Have what I want.

Signs are everywhere. It's whether or not we're open to reading them, seeing them and ultimately acting upon them.

I can decipher them however, I want. In the end, the signs mean nothing if I do nothing with making my vision into reality. As in all things, it's what I do that makes the difference.

The question is: Are you waiting for some sign to tell you what to do, where to go, how to act? Or, are you acting on the signs in front of you, seizing this moment to make it your most?

5 comments:

SLM Moss said...

Congratulations Louise! Both on the blog invite and finding the courage to contact the publisher!! :)

Sometimes I get caught up in the "what I want" that I forget to ask myself what I need to do to get there.

I spoke on Saturday, telling my story, and realized that it is something I want to continue doing. I was encouraged and it was suggested that I take my story to all the churches in Alberta. That fascinates me, but now I have to figure out what I have to do to make it happen. I could wait for God to open the doors, but perhaps it is a door I need to nudge open. I've been trying to decide which way to go, and I think your post today is a sign. :)

Hugs and beans!
Sarah

Anonymous said...

Louise,

Oh I so needed this posting today...I have been given many signs while I have been here...but have not always followed up on them. This week I made a commitment to myself to start following up on the "signs" that have been shown to me and follow the path to see where they will lead!
Thanks for the reminder :)

Many creative artsy hugs
Kim

Louise Gallagher said...

Good for you Kim! Glad you're moving forward.

Sarah -- great reminder for me too. The open door is the support of those who heard you Saturday and encouraging you to speak throughout the province. That door is waiting for you to step through -- and God is on the other side waiting to embrace your courage.


Lead on!

Hugs to you both,

Louise

Anonymous said...

Elgie,

signs, or coincidences, are everywhere every day; sometimes they are nothing until we construct a connection in our head .. other times the connection is clear and we just get to watch it - like a TV documentary on our life


you are getting elightened .. and your success should be no surprise

Mark

CZBZ said...

Dear Louise,

You wrote, "That's consistency. Perseverance. Stamina."

It certainly is. It's also a blessing to be able to write motivational AND introspective entries on a daily basis. Within a limited time frame, too!

I am in AWE of your ability to write so quickly. There are times when it takes all day to gather my thoughts and compose an essay!

You Are A Bona-Fide, Authentic, In-the-flesh Writer.

And a friend.


Love,
CZ