Embracing Adventure

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

I recently sent out a newsletter. When I do, I usually invite readers to share a story with me or something about what’s happening in their lives if they would like to. I’ve gotten to know some of those who respond and feel as though they are new friends. Reading friends. I feel the same about you who read my posts here and share a little of your life with me in the comments. Some of you are fine, long-time reading friends. I’m grateful for each of you. For everyone who reads my words.

But wait, I need to stop chasing down rabbit trails. Back to my newsletter. This time since I shared some dog pictures, a few sent pictures of their favorite furry buddies. That had me smiling.

In this newsletter, I asked readers to share something fun about their summer. Many of those who responded had been on fun vacations with families. Others had enjoyed restful times at home. Some had great times with their grandchildren. Some were happy to have had time to catch up on some reading.

A few had some different adventures. One of those was Erin. She gave me permission to share her summer adventure. I’ll let her tell you about it in her own words.

This summer, I did the most amazing thing! Easily the coolest thing I’ve ever done – the weekend before my birthday at the end of June, I traveled to New York City and with about 240 other people, sang as part of a back-up choir for Matthew West at Carnegie Hall! He advertised back in February for the opportunity to join him on that iconic stage and I immediately applied (after conferring with my husband). After we lost my dad a few years ago, we helped my mom sell the big house on the property that was too much for 1 person to handle last year and she gifted each of us kids a sum of money from the sale. My younger siblings put theirs towards debts and my older sister did a kitchen remodel along with college tuition for her older kids, but I’d been saving mine for something special and this trip was part of that. My dad would have absolutely loved that I got to do that and I picture Jesus coming up to him and putting his arm around him that weekend and saying – check it out! Look what Erin is doing with the inheritance you provided for her! And him just beaming in response.

I’ve attached a couple of pictures of that wonderful experience. The first one shows the full group on stage with Matthew in the middle. The second one actually shows me singing (I’m in the front row of singers – 5th from the end – with my mouth wide open, lol) and Matthew West singing so it’s abundantly clear what is happening in that picture. 🙂

Thanks for the opportunity to share our fun summer adventures (since I actually had a true summer adventure this year!).

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

Sometimes it is hard to step out on a daring adventure and do something you’ve never done before but perhaps dreamed of doing. Some of us hesitate when the opportunity beckons, and the chance slides away. Or we let our practical side convince us that it can’t be done or shouldn’t be done. But sometimes you have to embrace the chance for a new life adventure.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Writing a book can be something like that. At the beginning with the characters still shadowy friends you don’t know that well, the story path can look dim. You might not be able to see to the end or even the middle. Perhaps even the first line eludes you like a slippery fish you’re trying to catch in a pool of water. But you still type that first line. You nudge your characters down the story trail. You follow that dream or set that goal to keep writing to get your story from the beginning to the end. That can be work. Just as I’m sure Erin had to do some practicing with the choir. But the writing adventure is worth the effort.

In my newsletters, I always do some kind of giveaway. The deadline to enter is this Saturday. So, if you want to read the newsletter (and haven’t already) and would like to enter to win some books, here’s the link.

As always, thanks for reading.

What adventures have you been on lately? 

Sometimes just reading a good book can take you on an adventure. I’m listening to the audio of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I read it years ago, but had forgotten the story. I hope as I write a new story that I will give readers an adventure to share with my characters the way I’m enjoying the story adventure with Francie and her family in Brooklyn.