Life is a discovery at any age. Life is a journey. We choose the paths we take and sometimes the path chooses us. At any age, at any stage, you can find a new path. Take a new road. Find yourself.
Doing so is scary. It takes bravery to find yourself, find your true self. It is easier to keep walking on the same path you are comfortable traveling on.
You can decide to be more adventurous and take a path less traveled. Life is about discovery and you are never too old, or too anything, to find your new path in life. Find yourself and find the talent you are hiding. It’s all about being brave and putting one foot in front of the other. And soon, you’ll be walking…on a new path. (did you think I would say ‘walking out the door’?)
”Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” -Neal Donald Walsh
At age 48, I started writing for the first time (professionally) and for the first time, I found myself.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t someone’s daughter, someone’s friend, someone’s wife. I wasn’t just a sister. I wasn’t just the person who answered to “Mom”—l was Dedra, the writer. Dedra, the wordsmith. Dedra, the creator. I have never been more myself or more happy. Ever.
I wasn’t unhappy before. I wasn’t even aware I missing a piece of myself. Being all those things to all those people made me happy. And still does.
But now, I make myself happy by creating.
I have always wanted to be a writer. I have always written.
Graduating with a journalism degree, in 1988, I had the knowledge but I didn’t have my words. Yet. Having no courage, no confidence, I didn’t have my words. It didn’t matter that I had the skill or the knowledge. Without the confidence, I didn’t have the bravery inside that I takes to share a piece of yourself with others.
When you write, or create anything, you are putting yourself into your creation. You are taking something inside you and bringing it out to the world; sharing a part of yourself with the world. If you don’t have the confidence to do this, the creating usually doesn’t happen. Or, it simply gets filed away, never to be shared.
I believe in perfect timing. I think, no, I believe, I was not ready. God knew. He knew the right time and He waited to show me.
Several times throughout my adult life, I had a hint of bravery.
In college, I wrote poetry.
After my husband and I married, I had a dream, woke up and started writing a novel. I wrote several chapters and then lost my bravery.
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When my oldest child was almost two, I got another glimmer of bravery. I wrote several children’s books. I learned how to submit and sent them off. When I got a response of “no”, I filed them away.
Years later, when I was 48, God finally knew. He presented an opportunity, gave me my courage. It was published. That’s all it took for my courage to sprout words. Lots of words.
”Courage is hard but once you jump, it feels so great. And once you land, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of that self-power.” -Dedra Davis
Since then, I haven’t stopped writing. My courage and birth of my words are almost four years old. The last years (almost) four years have been full of pure joy.
I am proud of my story and I love to write about it. It is an important story, not only to me, but it is an important story to share with the world. I want people to read these words of found courage and know they can do this, too. If you don’t write, then draw. If you don’t draw, then sing. Just do what it is, do what that thing is that gives you joy. It is deep within you, wanting to come out. Find your bravery and courage and share that piece of you that you have hidden from the world. Find yourself and share it with the world!
Sharing my story is important to me because I want you to believe in yourself. If I can, I know you can, too.
Find yourself, no matter your age or circumstance. Find your courage and shine.
Find yourself, no matter your age or circumstance. Find your courage and shine. #dedradaviswrites Click To TweetI hope for you to find yourself. I hope for you to find your bravery and if you wish, to find your new path.
love and blessings~dd
*This is my first published blog since writing and publishing 31 blog posts in October for Write 31 Days writing challenge. Feels good to be back to writing. It also felt good to step away for a bit. I would love for you to read one of my last in the series about Psoriatic Arthritis and what it is like for me. I would also like you to sign up for my email list below!
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Thanks for sharing your story! It gives me so much hope that I’m not too behind at 29 because it can start to feel like we’ve “missed it” no matter what age we are. I also had a background in writing and wanted to go into publishing, but I was afraid. I’m grateful for the little breezes of confidence that have helped me step out. Bless you and your endeavors!
Brooke, I wrote this for people like you. It’s so important for me to let people know it’s never too late to grow up and be what they have almost dreamed of. Thank you for reading!!
This is so beautiful and so true. I love the way that we can be whoever we want to be–even if it takes some time.
Libby, thank you for reading. It’s true-you can do what you want to do, be who you want to be, at any age. Just takes courage and hard work!