Oh The Places You'll Go

Oh, The Places You Will Go!

Do you remember that book by Dr. Seuss? It’s joyful, hopeful - all about possibilities. But too, it captures life’s ups and downs perfectly. In a matter of fact, don’t-bother-whining-cause-that’s-the-way-it-works kind of way. Now that’s reality.

I think about that book as I try to tease out life’s next adventure(s). What are the possibilities? The realities? And when I mentioned it to a friend, she suggested I begin by writing an affirmation letter to myself. What would that do, I thought. Will it help to see things, and myself, more clearly? This was a perfect task for me. I love to write when I’m “stuck.” It’s like grease to me - incredibly cathartic. Definitely worth a try.

So I sat down and wrote away. Visions of the heady, swirling illustrations of Oh The Places served as inspiration. I could see every phase of my life as an adventure in itself, every one with ups and downs. And lessons, always lessons.

Have you ever written an affirmation letter? It really does help to put things into perspective about who you’ve been, and who you are. But as my friend said, it also helps to see who you might yet be. I found myself writing with conviction - and without fear - about what I want to accomplish in the future. And it gave me insight as to how to make it happen.

Timing, I realized, makes all the difference in my life. Things come only when I’m ready, and not a second before. In the meantime, I need to lay back, be open, and pay attention. To what I really need and want. But most of all, to what’s going on around me. The world reveals its answers subtly, pointing me in the right direction. I just can’t push it. It’ll come.

Though this wasn’t a completely new revelation, it was definitely a timely affirmation. It clarified what I need to do right now - accept this stage of transition, or better said, of transformation. I also realized that I actually paid attention this week to one of those subtle hints. A woman I know, talking about a totally different topic, said, “You've got to speak it into existence." That's it, I thought. I have it down in writing - now maybe it's time to speak it into reality.

Once again, have you ever written a letter of affirmation to yourself? Give it a shot - it could be interesting.