I was challenged to write and publish for 31 days in a row. I did it. That is not the norm for me, but it taught be some valuable lessons. Be brave enough to keep going. 

This is only the beginning.

I will continue to write and share and encourage.  This exercise has stretched me and challenged me in ways I did not expect. Like any of the hurdles I’ve experienced in life, this is really no different.  Some days were easy, while some days, I was a wreck. Some days were so difficult to write about, but those were the days I learned the most about WHY they were difficult. I’ve processed a lot and I have grown. I fell in love with writing again, and while I look back at some posts and say to myself, “Oh, I would edit that or present that differently.”, that is part of the process and learning. I will continue to blog and I am working on my book. 

Thank you for the motivation to keep going. I appreciate every text, message, email, and post that I’ve received this past month how my writing has inspired or encouraged them. It means that what I am doing has value. I recently was at a gathering and I had a friend look at me and ask me how do I do it. 

How do I keep going when faced with so many trials?  She said (and I’m paraphrasing  – my memory is not that great), “You just explained to me this very serious health issue and treatment process and here you are positive and acting like it’s no big deal. You are strong and you have HOPE. You have a peace about you. How do you do it?” 

When faced with many, many trials, I chose to keep going.  I continually choose to keep going. Hope is something I choose. If I didn’t look at the positive and have faith for the future, I wouldn’t make it to tomorrow.  I’d be under my bed, scared to face the day. I don’t dwell on the negative. I focus on what’s in front of me and what the solution can be.  I pull myself up by my bootstraps, fasten my armor, and I march on. 

I took this picture the other day when I was at the park, swinging with my boy. Swinging in the sky, upside down, I imagined myself walking on clouds.  Isn’t that life sometimes? When everything is upside down, somehow, the thought of walking on clouds seems so normal. When life is upside and backwards, God can make it right or He’ll make that your new normal. It’s all about perspective. Either way, it’ll be okay.

I am a warrior who keeps plowing ahead when ahead is my only viable option. If I turn around and look too long at the past, I will feel overwhelmed. I have a God who is on my team. He is for me. If He is for me, then who can be against me?   (Romans 8:31)

I will keep on going, keep on writing, and I hope you’ll keep on joining me in this journey!