The Genius That Lies Beneath

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?   Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant  to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson

Every time I go back to this project, I feel like it was meant to be. In some twist of fate I was meant to connect with another woman and listen to her story. It was time to face another lesson that I could learn from and take with me for years to come. Looking back on my life at soon be 34, I am happily satisfied with the way things have turned out thus far. However, that doesn't mean the adventure is over. Really, it has just begun. Like everyone, I  have faced my fair share of struggles. Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today: a strong, resilient, resourceful, loyal, hard working woman. I have lived a colorful life and I don't regret a second of the mismatched, hodgepodge world I have existed in. In fact, I like it here. But, then again...this is my life and I should embrace it. In this realm, I only am here once. Inevitably,  "Life is what you make it."

Every story on this blog is meant to be different but it all rallies around one single idea: women and what we do is incredible. We all have some innate ability to overcome any adversity and still find time to craft up something nice. Test any woman on this and you find yourself losing every time. I look at my own life and what has been handed to me, what I have had to work for, and what I have given up on in exchange for something different. Granted every decision I have made hasn't panned out but for the most part-I have a roof over my head, all my limbs intact, and I'm healthy. That says a lot when you take a second to really look at the world around you. 

I may not have the fancy car but I have one that runs. I may not live in a mansion but I have an artsy house that has been mine for five years now and I may not have the Hollywood job but I have two and I am grateful for that. Hey, last year, I was rocking four and a few years back, I had none. So having two is perfect and it's beautiful that they both center around empowering women. It is true, I have never gone about things in a traditional manner. Traditional people go to college right out of high school. I traveled for a couple of years and then went. Traditional people start settling down somewhere in their twenties and start making families. At 33, I'm still all about seeing the world and have just now finally found that person I want to see the world with. Love, marriage, and the baby carriage should come naturally and before my partner, the only natural relationship I knew of was the one between me and my all organic grocery list. So, it's no wonder it's taken me this long to get used to the idea of being with someone else. Traditional people don't have this problem but they have others and I'm glad I'm not a traditional person. 

Society may not agree with me but then again maybe it doesn't have to. As long as I can be happy with myself; the rest will follow suit. I too, am guilty of judging and becoming defensive....pinning someone to a box for no reason. In some aspect we all do this...humans are cruel, what can I say? Fact: A person would stop to help a wounded animal without thinking about it before ever doing the same for a human. I have both seen and lived this very sentiment. Still, I have faith in humanity and most importantly, myself.

The world is mean and brutal and it will kick your ass if you let it. However, I decided that if life wanted to try to beat the shit out of me the least I could do was fight back. For all intents and purposes, I don't mind being the feisty, spitfire it wants me to be. It's my life and I have the potential to mold it how I see fit.

The lesson I learned from this session with my old high school buddy was to never give up on that nagging sensation to discover a part of yourself that you either a) didn't know about or b) just gave up on. In a sense, she pushed me further to chase my own dreams...and thus has begun the new odyssey.

In life, we face chances, choices, and opportunities. The path we take is uncertain at times-up is down and right is left. But, eventually-we will get to where we need to be. The road is easy, said no one. Ever. But, then again that's what makes life wonderful. The beautiful disaster turns itself into a glorious adventure...and we look back on it never wanting to change a single moment.

We will never know where we are going to end up until we finally get there.

  

Michelle: 

 

            So my high school classmate reached out to me and asked me to write an article for her blog.  She said it should be something that uplifted women.  I pondered on what I could say to other women.  Then I remembered it was what I discovered about myself that I’m most proud of.

            In the last two years my life has transitioned to a new chapter.  I became a writer and an author.  It was an unexpected plot twist in my life but I embraced it.  Though I’m smiling now, this new territory in life did not come without its challenges. 

            More than anything what I’ve learned about myself is that there was so much untapped potential inside of me that I never knew existed.  The only reason I know it now is because I was pushed to places that forced me to find the genius that was just beneath the surface.

            Let’s start here; my education is in accounting and finance.  I know, don’t judge me.  I too sometimes wonder how I went from numbers to words but it all works somehow.  I did not want to self-publish my first novel because I did not know too much about the industry.  I was more than happy to write a check and have it published. 

            The first book came out and it was awesome.  When it was time for my second book to come out the funds did not match the dream.  I was a little irked and so I asked God, “Okay, what do you want me to do now?”  I heard a tiny whisper that said, “Self-publish.”  I was like, nope, not doing it! 

            I did not want to take the time to learn another industry.  When I stopped fighting I realized I didn’t have enough to publish it the way I did the first one but I had just enough if I self-published.  So I began the process. 

            Along the way I realized there were other things needed that I hadn’t thought of.  I needed my book cover designed and I needed a logo for the company I started to publish under.  I knew I could not afford this so I sat down in front of the computer and I prayed. I said, “Lord you gotta help me do this.”  And He did!  It took some time but when all was said and done I designed my own book covers and my logo.  Please understand I had never done anything more on the computer than typing in word and putting numbers in excel.

            A friend of mine once told me that “frustration and desperation breeds innovation.”  Those words always ring true to me.  Because I believed in myself and trusted that everything I needed to do what I was created to do was already inside of me I was able to realize my untapped potential. I get so many compliments and inquiries on my book covers.  As a result I was able to bring in additional income designing book covers, logos, flyers, advertisements and anything else I put my mind to. 

            So I ask you this, what genius lies on the inside of you just beneath the fear, just below the doubt.  We must recognize fear as the enemy’s venom sent to paralyze us from our purpose.  I encourage anyone who reads this to take that first step and follow that dream. 

            Don’t fret about what you don’t have or what you’re going to need or if you can. Of course you can.  If it’s your dream then you were already born with everything you need to make it come to pass. 

            Do not be that person who looks back at the end and says I wish, I should have, I could have, I might have…but I didn’t.  I walk in purpose every day and there is no greater freedom in knowing you walk this earth doing what you were created to do. Find the genius that lies beneath and let the world see just how great you are!