FAITH > fear

Yesterday morning I posted a pic of a "Facebook Memory" from 2 years ago that said, "Everything You Want is on the other side of FEAR." Hmmm.

Somehow, I think that must have resonated in my subconscious throughout the day. Later that evening I happened to come across an ad that said, "Writers Wanted." I decided to read more about what type of writer was wanted and quickly realized that I fit the bill.

I hemmed and hawed for a bit and then decided to GO FOR IT, and responded to the ad.

After that I posted a pic that said, "If you want something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done." Well...I had just done that. The only thing left to do at that point was PRAY and WAIT.

Well...God didn't make me wait for very long. He really gets me with that. There are some things I've prayed for and He STILL hasn't answered (at least not in the way that I had hoped.) And there are other things I pray for and He pretty much answers IMMEDIATELY.

In this particular case, not even 24 hours had passed and I received a FAVORABLE response...the response I had PRAYED for.

At 9:28am this morning, I received an email that said, "...Welcome to the project!"

Yes folks, I am now part of a WRITING project for a publication that will be coming out in December. I am beyond excited and completely overjoyed. FINALLY, my work will be PUBLISHED. Thank You Jesus!!!

My final submission is due in a couple months, so until then, I'll be writing, re-writing and writing some more. This is my opportunity to show THE WORLD what I am capable of. I want to be sure to show my BEST.

So on this day, "30 Days of THANKFULNESS: Day 17 - I am THANKFUL for FINALLY walking in FAITH and not FEAR.

The difference is AMAZING!

Now Let the DIALOGUE begin: What have you done recently that you were once fearful of doing? How did that work out for ya?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Outgrowing My Comfort Zone

It's been a little over two months since I visited the magical city of New Orleans. I brought back so many memories that I will continue to reflect on until I find myself there again. YES...I am going back!

One memory to speaks to me quite loudly, and often, is that of the street performers. Oh, how I loved their amazing talent. They were EVERYWHERE. One night I found myself enjoying the music so much that I stood on a corner in POURING RAIN, and listened for about an hour. I figured, "Hey...if the rain isn't stopping them from playing, it's certainly not gonna stop me from listening."

Although the various groups played different styles...similar, yet still subtly different, one commonality was their BOLDNESS in soliciting money from the crowds. As fantastic as they were, these performers were not entertaining "for their health." This was their LIVELIHOOD. And just as I get PAID for going to work each day...THEY expected (and DESERVED) the same.

So they all had a box placed in front of them on the ground for folks to toss in some cash. That box didn't stay on the ground for long though. Nope. Somewhere between songs, WHILE STILL PLAYING THEIR MUSIC...a member of the group (sometimes two or three) would pick up the box (or boxes in some cases) and take it TO the audience...practically FORCING folks to give. I LOVED THAT!!!

You see...these performers understood their worth...and if the audience was not going to voluntarily acknowledge that worth in the form of a monetary contribution, then they would be MADE to acknowledge the worth.

Don't get me wrong...the perfomers weren't holding guns to folks' heads and DEMANDING money, yet going around the audience and TAKING the box TO THEM, versus WAITING for folks to make a decision that they may not have made otherwise, is a much subtler approach, yet yields better results than just waiting for folks to contribute in their own time.

Seeing that happen, time and time again, made me realize that I must become as BOLD as those performers with regard to my blog, The Dialogue Den. I have been BEGGING folks to 'Like' the page on Facebook and STILL haven't reached 200. It's been so difficult for me to understand because in MY case, I'm not even asking for MONEY...I am simply asking for SUPPORT.

No...I may NOT be someones FAVORITE writer/blogger...but if we are FRIENDS (which I can say for ALL of my Facebook friends, because I don't accept nor send requests unless I know you in some way, shape or form)...then your SUPPORT toward my writing efforts should come easily. At least I would hope so. After all...friends support friends, right?

Writing is what I love to do...so why would anyone hesitate so encourage me in that...especially when it doesn't cost a PENNY to do so.

Even though I've wanted to make this bold move since my visit to New Orleans, I've been reluctant. Wondering what will happen if I do this and NOTHING happens. Then what? What I now realize is this...I will NEVER know that the results COULD be if I don't try.

So..."What's the bold move?" you're asking.

I have decided to select the option on Facebook that says, "Invite Friends to Like This Page." You have NO idea how far out of my "comfort zone" it will be for me to do that, but as the quote states:

"If you want something you've never had, then you've got to do something you've never done."

I'll never grow if I don't do something different, so...here goes.

Oh, but before I go and "push the button"...

Let the DIALOGUE begin: When was the last time you made a BOLD move in an effort to get something you wanted, and how did it work out for you?

Talk to me...

Oh...and if YOU like The Dialogue Den, I'm gonna make another bold move and ask you to please spread the word for me. I would appreciate that more than you can imagine.

Til next time...

Fearless Friends

Yesterday was "some kinda day" and it had me feeling "some kinda way."

On Saturday I went on an incredibly beautiful hike/walk. The views were BREATHTAKING and the sound of the waves crashing (which is my FAVORITE sound to hear) was simply CALMING.

In addition to the amazing views and sounds, God gave me another bonus in the form of one of His furry creatures, a SQUIRREL which I have so affectionately named "Stanley".

There we were, minding our own business and I spot Stanley. I approached him "in peace" in an attempt to get him in some cool pics. Well, LO AND BEHOLD, he approached ME just as peacefully. I sat down on a nearby bench and he made is way right over. At times he was UNDER the bench, other times ON the back of the bench and even NEXT TO ME as I sat on the bench. HOW COOL!!!

I knew that I wanted to hang out with this little guy for a while and I remembered that I still had some trail mix left. So I get it out of my bag and start dropping pieces on the ground. Stanley went for it! As soon as he finished, he'd look at me with that sweet lil' squirrel face as if asking for more. So...I gave him more. He and I were having such a good time together that at one point, he hopped up on me. It happened so unexpectedly and he was only there for a second.

Contrary to what most would like to believe, I don't believe he hopped up to harm me, because if he had wanted to then surely he would have. I instead, choose to believe that in me, he simply found a friend.

Well, I was so excited about our encounter, I posted about it on Facebook. It's kinda funny how you start out with the intention of something going ONE WAY and it turns out going in a completely different direction. Yeah, that's pretty much what happened.

Instead of folks just enjoying my sweet experience with Stanley, I was instead deluged with warnings of how he could've had rabies and how I could've gotten rabies, and how even worse than the danger that Stanley may have caused me, I may have actually caused Stanley more harm...

WOW!

I hadn't expected all that.

Although I am thankful for folks being concerned about my well being, and was a little taken back by the fact that anyone would EVER think that I would cause harm to an animal (I LOVE ANIMALS!), I realized that the world I live in is a bit different from the rest.

Call me naive. Maybe I'm living in a bubble. But NEVER ONCE during my encounter with Stanley, did I ever have fear of him or any disease that he may have been carrying. Nor did it ever dawn on me that I was causing him harm. He and I were simply "in the moment". And my crazy, nature loving self, actually believes that God gave us that moment. Maybe Stanley needed a friendly face, voice and hand to feed him. And maybe I needed a furry friend to show me the kindness of nature. Whatever it was, is what it was and I am so thankful that none of the "concerns" ever entered my mind as I was out there with him. Because had they entered my mind and caused me to fear, the whole experience would have been RUINED.

So...the moral of this story is this: FEAR will rob me of so many beautiful experiences that life wants to offer me. So I choose not to live IN or WITH fear. That's just me.

If I'm out on a hike one day and get attacked by a mountain lion, so be it. Mind you, I have sense enough to NEVER walk up to a mountain lion, but if it happens, it happens. Maybe a rattlesnake will jump out and bite me one day. Who knows? Anything is possible. If it happens, it happens. We could go on ALL DAY with "what ifs". But why? That's such a waste. I guess the bottom line is this...the worse thing that can ever happen to me is DEATH. However, as a believer in Christ, death ain't so bad. Because death here on earth for me, means ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM next. So for me, it's ok.

I live with peace. I live in peace. And I have NO FEAR.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's the "wildest" creature you've ever come across? Did you stop and spend time with it, or did you "keep it movin'"?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

If you know the name of the movie you wish to see...Press 1 now!

One of the big stories in the news today was about the man who was shot and killed at the movies because his texting during the PREVIEWS was annoying another man. THE PREVIEWS!!!

From what I've heard, words were exchanged and next thing you know, someone's DEAD.

Between this killing and the one that happened a while back in Colorado, it kinda makes one wonder if it's even safe to go to the movies anymore.

I'll admit that the last time I went a couple weeks ago I did look around to see where the nearest exit was...not in case of fire, but in case of CRAZY.

And that's sad. Just sad.

Gone are the days where you could just go to the movies, shut everything out, and expect to be entertained by the big screen. Now we have to be wary of what's going on around us before and during the movie...at least I am. Before these theater killings I never even paid attention to people coming in during the movie. Now, when I see someone walk in halfway through the show, I find myself watching what they're doing and where they're going. Things I would've never done 5 years ago. No, I'm not paranoid, I'm just cautious and aware...because I have to be.

In addition to the fact that these killings have been absolutely senseless, one has to wonder why fuses are so short these days. I mean really...to shoot and kill someone because they're texting?!? My mind can't even make sense of that. There were so many other ways that the situation could have been handled, but because human life is regarded at such a low level, the shooter thought nothing of just pulling the trigger and then sitting back in his seat. Crazy...just crazy.

So anyway..."Ride Along" comes out this weekend and I wanna go see it. More than likely, I WILL go see it...AT THE THEATER. Why? Because I don't live my life in FEAR...I simply LIVE my life.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Will these random killings stop YOU from going to the movie theater?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Fearless '14

So I've never been much of a rap fan but every now and then a lyric or a beat will get stuck in my head. As a result of the wonderful things that have taken place for me today, THAT is exactly what has happened.

Today, I got to experience what it feels like to share a dream, and have folks support and encourage me in that dream. Had I known it would be like this, I would've stepped out a long time ago. Maybe.

For the handful of you who have followed The Dialogue Den since its start back in June of 2010, you know that I haven't done much promoting of the blog, nor was I very consistent.

But I gotta tell ya...when that clock struck 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2014...SOMETHING happened. SOMETHING in my heart and mind said THIS year, be FEARLESS(and consistent).

So "Fearless '14" is what I've actually named the year.

For too long (most of my life to be exact), I've always been afraid.

Afraid to speak up.
Afraid to try new things.
Afraid that people might not like me if I disagreed with what they thought.
Afraid.
Afraid.
Afraid.

Finally, I've said NO MORE! Fear has had to leave because FAITH has moved in.

So now, I'm stepping out on FAITH (I know that sounds cliché), and I've begun to LIVE. Live a life that's MINE...not a life that I think others want for me. Sure, some of my choices may ruffle feathers but the fact of the matter is...I can't please everybody. You'd think after all these years I would've figured that out by now. But hey, as intelligent as I am, I'm also a "slow learner" and most lessons take me a bit longer to get than others. Better late than never though, so here I am.

Sharing my blog with the world was just the tip of my iceberg. There a so many grand things that I need to do in this lifetime and NOW, I am ready.

Do I regret that I've wasted so much time? Nope.

Regret would only come if at the end of this life I had chosen to do nothing.

Who knows, tomorrow could very well be the end for me (none of us really know for sure), and even if it were, I still wouldn't have any regrets about the time that has passed, because at least...I did THIS much TODAY.

Now for those of you who are new to The Dialogue Den, I'll give you a brief overview.

1. This is a DIALOGUE, NOT a monologue. So I throw stuff out there and would LOVE it if you would talk back to me.

2. I'm not a political blogger, spiritual blogger, relationship blogger...and then again...I could be ALL of those. The posts here are as random as my thoughts, and for those who know me...they will attest that my thoughts tend to be quite random. Simply put, I've got a lot swirlin' around in this pretty little head of mine and it would be selfish for me to keep all this to myself.

3. My writing style is a lot like me...goes with the flow...not too serious. If I place a punctuation mark in the wrong place, or don't have the quotation marks where they should be, or use waaay too many ellipses (I use ellipses a LOT), you can point those things out to me if you'd like, but I probably won't change. Once this stops being fun, I'd possibly stop writing, and since we don't want that to happen (do we), let's just keep it fun and understand that I am a "work in progress".

I think that's about it.

As for the pic that posted...that's my 2014 Vision Board and I LOVE IT! Especially the phrase right smack dab in the middle that says "MAKE IT HAPPEN". You see, I made a vision board for 2013, and it sat on the floor behind a couch all year long. Needless to say, not many (if any) of those visions came to be.

This year is different though. I have that "MAKE IT HAPPEN" staring me right in the face, and as a result, I am DETERMINED to make stuff happen (good stuff, long awaited stuff), THIS year.

"Fearless '14" is gonna be FABULOUS! I just know it!

Oh, and as for that lyric that's been in my head all day, it's from that great rap lyricist, Ice Cube, when he says "today was a good day." Indeed it was!

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What are YOU ready to do that you've been holding back on for far too long? What can I (we) do to help "MAKE IT HAPPEN"?

Talk to me!

Til next time...