Feeding Your Soul

A few days ago, I was informed by the publisher of Rose & Thorn Journal that my short story, Amazing Grace, has been accepted for publication in their online winter issue.

"Remember that morning you said your biggest dream was to see one of your stories in print?" Bill said with a smile, "And now you've had thirty published!"

I had forgotten about that morning four years ago. I had bought my first computer and was writing stories day and night. Although I had been writing most of my life, I didn't think anything I wrote was good enough for publication. (I had a couple of stories rejected years ago and promptly gave up.)

In the meantime, I kept writing. I was unable not to.

And then my mindset changed. Overnight. I got up one morning knowing I would be published. And I didn't know why: Positive thinking? Working hard? Giving it all I had?

I think it's all of the above.  As I wrote in my December 2007 post (All I Ever Wanted):   If you are driven to write, persist, and work like a coal miner digging those words out with a pick, your dreams will come true.

That statement does not only apply to writers. We all have talents, be it writing, painting, music, woodworking. Anything that feeds our souls. But if we ignore those talents, we are denying a part of ourselves and missing out on one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.

Go ahead. Feed your soul. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.