There is a lovely quote by e.e. cummings that has been on my mind alot recently:

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

When I was little I wanted to grow up and be many things, but mainly a singer and dancer. I just loved dancing, and how free and beautiful it made me feel. I loved singing, even though I never had the best ear. I took ballet lessons, hip hop classes, and joined the high school choir. I even got the lead role in the high school musical. But now that I am 31, I can look back and see that I never longed to do those things for a living. If someone asked me what I do now, I certainly couldn’t say with confidence that I am a singer and dancer.

A few weeks ago, my parents brought over some of my schoolwork that they uncovered when they moved from Cincinnati to Tennessee. One of the items was a book that I wrote in 1st grade- our teacher had them bound and we illustrated them, so it seemed like a real book. The story was called the “Two Kingdoms”, about two kings who couldn’t get along, but found a way to make peace- all in six pages. My husband and I sat and read it together, chuckling at the funny names I picked, and the childlike simplicity of the story. But then it hit me. I loved to write, even back then. I loved to tell stories.

Every day, I come up with ideas for blog posts. Ideas for screenplays. Ideas for stories to tell. My mind is constantly filled, and it’s only when I can sit down and write that I am truly fulfilled. But it is so hard to make time to do it. I don’t know why- I feel such relief when I can get my thoughts out, but I put it off until everything else is done. It takes courage to become who I know I really am. It is scary to sit down in front of a blank page.

I will always love to dance and sing, but I can do that at home when nobody is watching. God is calling me to something, and I can’t keep it to myself. I have to step out and become who I really am- who He created me to be. I hope I have the courage.

What does this quote mean to you?