Outside your box

Life's journey takes you in many directions, especially in my case. With dyslexia, I believe I have sometimes gone down the same path more than once.

I remember being in third grade when a teacher told me I did a problem wrong. She asked me, "How did you get that answer?" I explained my process clearly, the way I understood it. She said, "I can see how you got the answer." What surprised her most was how I could explain and justify my answer. She might have been trying to be kind, but it made her question if her own answer was correct.

My journey now has brought me into a new season. I have two cats. Never in my life did I think I would own cats.

Having added these furry friends, I’m starting a new role—parenting cats. One is very relaxed and chill. Absolutely perfect. The other one drives me crazy. She always drives me crazy. She has a wild side. I need to dunk her in holy water to get her to relax.

This is an example of many parents today. Mine are cats, and yours are humans.

No age limit says you cannot start something new. A new season in your life can begin; embrace it and see where it leads.

I adopted the two cats within a week.

Writing has helped me grow into a stronger person. It gives me an outlet to share my voice with others.

If you have a gift, share it. If there’s something you want to say or do in your life, go ahead and do it. What are people really going to say? Any feelings or thoughts they had about you may change for the better. And if they don’t, does it really matter?

You will grow emotionally and spiritually. It will balance your life, even if you never thought it was unbalanced.

Writing helped me step out of my shell. Because I’m putting my sometimes raw emotions out there, doing something outside your normal routine can be tough. You set your own expectations, not someone else.

You’ll see yourself progressing toward things you never believed possible, and that will influence others. By changing yourself, you’re also changing others, even if they don’t realize it.

Take the step to step outside the norm. You might not be the person you were yesterday. You’ll be a better person today.

So, while life takes you in many directions, if you get stuck, learn what you can and take that step forward.

Don't worry about the size of the step. The important thing is that you’re moving forward. Share what you learn along the way because you never know—your steps will get bigger, and you’ll start moving faster. The more you share, the more others will share with you.

It’s like a grandma's recipe—don’t keep it all to yourself. It’s meant to be shared.