How Do You Know?

A little slice of life in America.

Happy Monday!

How do you know when to accept or decline? How do you know when to move ahead, slow down, or stop all together? How do you know if accepting a job is the right fit for you or even, why you are here to begin with? How do you know? I don't know. I don't always know if it's best to say yes or decline mostly because the information that is provided to begin with isn't always all of the information. I typically keep moving ahead until some force outside of my control slows me down or stops me - I don't think that is the best way to operate. I've gotten pretty good at knowing if a job is good for me or not simply based on the idea that my life with Dave and Mason comes first. I only have one child and if a job will prohibit me from attending field trips or cooking demos, it's not for me. And the grand daddy of all of life's questions, "Why am I here?" Some people live their whole lives and never really get clear on that answer. 

I've had some ideas along the way of what my purpose in life might be, but only recently did some things click that made it very clear why I'm here and what I need to be doing. Yeah, that's really cool, but it's not the be-all end-all it may sound like. Knowing what and why doesn't necessarily answer how, or when. Okay, when is a no brainer, when is now, but how? Let me back up a little and share how I got to what and why. Laughing! Is this feeling a little bit like, "Who's on first?"

"I'm back in school and I am working on a certificate in applied art and design with a multi-media emphasis. After getting my communications degree, I am back taking the classes that are fun, and for me, functional. I am LOVING my video classes (editing and production). When I was 8 I was sure I wanted to be an actress (super star and all), but my mom told me I wasn't the right type, I wasn't tall, thin or the blonde/blue with the makings of Farrah Faucet. I let go of my dreams in my early teens and believed that I was fat and looked like a boy. When I turned 30 I decided my mom was full of shit (not her fault, she did the best she could with what she had at the time) and I started taking acting classes. I loved doing that but then I came to a fork in the road and decided to marry Dave and have Mason. I'm glad I did and I love that Mason is so much like me (mostly, some times it pisses me off all to hell!), and after helping him make "movies" or cooking videos and being in these video classes I can see that my dream was not really to be a movie star as much as it was to work in visual communication and to teach. I have naturally done it through ceramics, crafts, cake decorating, cooking, painting river rocks, photography and so many other visual outlets. I go to school and some days it takes all I have not to squeal out loud (it would scare the crap out of the young'uns - and so early in the morning)! I have so many ideas and I am so inspired I can hardly sleep at night. Just wait, if I only bring a fraction of my ideas to life, I will leave a legacy that can't be rivaled! I feel like I found my purpose. WOW!"

This was a bit I wrote as soon as the pieces snapped together, in fact, it was as if it wrote itself. Is that how we know, we just know? I suppose that can be true, but it wasn't until I put myself in the position to be doing the things I love to do that it all came so undeniably clear; I'm here to tell stories, visually, that inspire people and encourage them to be all they can be. This I know.

What do you know and how? Have you given much thought to why you are here and what your purpose might be, or is? I'm sure you've pondered it a time or two, but do you know? I would love to hear your thoughts on all of this, as it pertains to me or you, or just in general. Have a great week and no matter what, put yourself in the position of doing the things you love, and you will know, you will just know.