No One Is Sent To Anyone By Accident
This past weekend I had a wonderful opportunity to chat with a woman about her dreams of writing and getting published. I absolutely love having these conversations with people. Every time I attend an event I always tell myself there is going to be at least one person there that I was supposed to meet that day. Inevitably it always turns out to be true. Whether that is someone who finds inspiration for their own dreams once they learn how quickly my life has changed in the past year. Or the person who wants to tell me their ghost story because they know I will understand. Or that deep thinker who leaves me with something to ponder. Whoever it is, and for whatever reason, these are the moments I cherish.
Earlier this fall I attended a craft fair where I only sold three books, and those were to other vendors! By far it had to have been the most sparsely attended craft fair I have ever been to. In fairness to the organizers it was a beautiful day, close to 80 degrees, and I’m sure most everyone was thinking of getting in one last day of summer, not attending a craft fair. But into this craft fair walked the one person I was supposed to meet that day, ironically she didn’t even buy a book. The reason she didn’t buy a book is because she already had one. She had seen on social media that I was going to be at this craft fair and she drove there to meet me. With her she brought her book that she had purchased on Amazon. She approached my table and asked me if I would sign her book. As I reached for her book I realized along the edge of the pages were stuck all of these colorful sticky note tabs. When I asked her about them she told me those were all the places in the book where she thought it was written really well, or where there were quotes she wanted to remember. She and I then had a great conversation about the book and writing in general as she was also a writer. She was my one person that day. Didn’t matter to me that I only sold three books, I was able to connect with her.
I’m a firm believer in that we cross paths with people who we are meant to cross paths with. So every opportunity I have to meet people I view it as a moment that was meant to happen, either for me or for them. Such was the case with the woman I met this past weekend, the one I started writing this blog about. She was such a fascinating woman! She spoke to me about things she had written but had never finished. And during this conversation she mentioned that the circle of people she surrounded herself with may not have been as helpful to her in pursuing her dreams. It was then that I remembered something I had heard recently, a tidbit of knowledge.
I am on several different social media platforms, Instagram being one of them. One of the accounts that I follow for my own personal enjoyment is a motivational account, the kind that post reels and videos on staying inspired. Last week one such reel popped up in my feed and it really spoke to me. It was a very powerful message and it resonated with me because of experiences I myself have passed through years ago but even things that have happened recently on my journey with the book. Here’s the link so that you can view it yourself, but I’ll also transcribe it below if you aren’t comfortable with links.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx1XIxtAHTZ/
This was a moving video and audio from a man named Keion Henderson. If you can watch the video it is phenomenal, this is what he said:
“If you stay in environments where people don’t recognize the value of you, you will shrink your gift to the size of what they can stand. And that’s what causes anxiety and depression and stress. Because you have had to shrink. I refuse to be small just because you think small. I’m not shrinking my vision because you can’t catch up. You better roll with me or you’re going to get rolled over!”
I loved that! Because for many years of my life I too surrounded myself with a circle that wasn’t probably the best fit for me. I too have met people on my journey who’s vision just couldn’t quite keep up with mine. People, who because of their own insecurities, either didn’t believe that great things could happen or felt stronger if they could discourage others. Sometimes in life it is so hard to filter out all of the information we are fed and find the best path for ourselves. This video speaks to the power that lies in finding your own path, taking control of your environment, which in turn changes your destiny. Powerful thoughts.
It was this thought that I felt inspired too share it with the woman who told me of her dreams, so I did, paraphrased of course. When I told her this she lit right up. She looked at me and she said “You’re right! That’s exactly what I have done!” We chatted a bit more and then she thanked me. She told me she was going to go home and dig out all of her old writings and look into doing something with them. I told her I would help her in anyway that I could and she said “You already have.” She was my one person that day. It never truly matters to me how many books I sell, it’s the opportunity to meet people, to have that connection with them that my son calls my “noble cause”.
This understanding, that each person we meet is part of our destiny, whether briefly or for longer, is a theme you will find running through the Prequel of The Gathering Room that I am writing now. It is a concept that I believe in strongly and as they say, “Writers write what they know.” so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I have interjected it into the storyline.
In the Prequel Alicen, along with Ralph, have many people that cross their paths for a variety of purposes. Gavan the large and delightful sheep herded. Lord Jeremy Thurston, of the landed gentry class. Hugh Penley, cousin to the King’s mistress. Each one crossing paths with our main characters and touching their lives for a purpose. Just as it is in our own lives. I’m having a great time creating this world for you and I can’t wait to share it!!!