It’s enough…

First off, a plea for forgiveness:  I have not written consistently in the past few weeks.  Some mornings that was due to me just not feeling great, but there were other reasons as well.  When I began writing “affirmations,” they were simply a quick text message that I sent out to “my” young people:  my children and some other young people who were friends and extended family. The early texts merely sought to offer a bit of morning encouragement.  We all know that life can be daunting sometimes.  Young people are still finding their way through the chaos and I wanted to help lift them up each morning.

Somehow, the number of people reading the texts grew and it was suggested that I switch to the blog format.  this was great fun for me.  I had a larger audience and the blog allowed me to write much more than I could in a text.  I’m sure that I was excessively “wordy” sometimes and for that I ask your forgiveness.  I bet those won’t be my only long-winded messages.  I really enjoy writing and sometimes I get carried away, especially when the content needs plenty of examples to support it.  I get really excited when I am able to ‘teach’ something to the readers as well.

With so much enthusiasm surrounding the blog, one would think that I would have jumped up each morning, reaching eagerly for my tablet, and smiling in excitement as I began to type.  Right?…. Wrong.  As time went on, I became hesitant instead of energized.  I begin questioning myself.  Did what I write make sense?  Did anyone actually read the posts or did they just roll their eyes when the text appeared on their phones?  Were my words helping?  I spend a great deal of time thinking about each post before I begin writing.  Was the usefulness all in my own head? Who am I to be spreading “affirmations” to others? It’s not like my own life is perfect (no one’s is, by the way! No matter what Facebook would like us to believe).  These and other thoughts took root in my heart and it just became more difficult to face the blog.

Then something amazing happened.  Several people sent texts or mentioned something they read on the blog in conversation.  Some thanked me for the posts and even mentioned that some posts came on days that they really needed to hear the message.  I was shocked.  For weeks, I have been struggling with concern that I am wasting my and your (the reader’s) time with these posts.  Instead, I learned that what I was doing was helpful.  The posts were providing support and encouragement, just as I had hoped to do when this little “project” first began.  It was enough.  

I still worry that my posts may seem silly to some, but I realize that this is in my head.  It’s a ‘me’ problem, but it shouldn’t hold me back any longer.  I am very thankful for all of the folks who have lifted me up and shared their own stories in support of the blog.  I am pleased to know that the blog is “enough” for them.