Oprah's lesson

Photo/Oprah.com

It may sound cliché, but Oprah has always been one of those “people I’d like to meet” – right up there with Dolly Parton, Reese Witherspoon and a whole host of country music performers. As the world watched Oprah’s last show, we’ve seen the many ways Oprah has impacted lives and the amazing reach of her influence.

Because it was on at 4 p.m., I wasn’t a regular Oprah viewer, really only catching episodes when I was home sick, home with a newborn or working from home and needed a 10-minute break. Yet, I have followed her career and I respect Oprah immensely. I admire anyone who can overcome difficult circumstances to make something of herself. So many people blame their troubles on a rough childhood, growing up without a father, poverty or a lack of role models in their immediate family. Do circumstances make a difference? Of course. They may make your life’s road a little more bumpy or silky smooth, but the course is still yours to take.

I read this quote from Oprah in the May issue of “O” magazine as she summed up what she says is the essence of what she’s tried to say with the show over 25 years:

You are not the product of your circumstances. You are a composite of all the things you believe, and all the places you believe you can go. Your past does not define you. You can step out of your history and create a new day for yourself. Even if the entire culture is saying, “You can’t.” Even if every single possible bad thing that can happen to you does. You can keep going forward.

Daring to ask God for the impossible

I recently completed the book “Sun Stand Still” by Steven Furtick. Go get a copy…now. It’s a tremendous book that spoke to me at just the right time. Furtick is a pastor in Charlotte who has preached at our church a few times. He’s a young guy with a great message and a passion for God. I love hearing him speak and when they sold his book at our church, I snatched up a copy. But like so many of the books I buy, it sat on the nightstand for months.

So when I started a women’s study at my church earlier this year, and one of the classes was studying this book, I knew I had to join that group. The premise of the book is “what happens when you dare to ask God for the impossible.” It’s about asking God to do something really big in your life – something audacious and seemingly impossible.

For the last year or so, I’ve been chipping away at an idea for a book on postpartum depression. I felt maybe I could help others who had gone through PPD and that surely my suffering with that illness could have a larger purpose. I have only found one book on PPD that takes a Christian perspective so I thought there could be a market for this kind of resource.

During one of the first group sessions, we shared our visions. I was hesitant to share mine, but did. Several women in the group nodded in understanding when I said I’d suffered from PPD and then talked about my desire to write a book on the experience.

A young mother approached me the next week and told me her feelings of PPD and a few days later we met for coffee. She encouraged me to work on the book and offered her support. We shared our experiences with PPD. I love when God lines up experiences, putting us in just the right place at just the right time with just the right people.

I’ve been struggling with finding the time to work on the book. In truth, I think it may be less about making the time and more about the fear of such an undertaking. But I’ve finished reading the last couple chapters of “Sun Stand Still” and continue to believe this is God’s desire for me, so I’m renewing my commitment to this project and carving out some dedicated time to work on it. So, hold me accountable on my progress. Give me a nudge. Say a prayer for me. Here I go …. 

Our tiny dancer

We enrolled Kate in dance classes in February and she had her first recital on May 15. She did a great job remembering her dance steps and didn't seem a bit afraid of performing. Clint and I were so proud!

Forty Under 40 recap

Finally getting around to posting some photos from the Forty Under 40 event earlier this month. It was a terrific event and I was honored to be among some incredible young community leaders. Read all the winner profiles (my profile) or check out some more photos from the event.

With my Step Ahead co-workers, Laura and Bailey.

A big day

Today -- aside from being my 35th birthday -- is the Forty Under 40 event. I like to think of it as a big birthday bash all about me. Ha! Take a look at my profile on the Charleston Regional Business Journal website and I'll be sure to post some additional photos.

I also have no idea how I could possibly be 35. In my mind, I'm only 26.

Forty Under 40

Last week I received some good news: I was named one of the Charleston Regional Business Journal's Forty Under 40 winners. The award is a combination of professional accomplishments and community service and I'm thrilled to be among such a great group of young professionals.

A recognition like this is nice, considering the challenges I've gone through the last couple years. And it wasn't lost on me -- and a few of my friends -- that this award is coming from the very company that laid me off at the end of 2008. I take that as proof you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on to bigger and better things.

I'm looking forward to celebrating with Clint and my friends on May 3 - what a great birthday party!

I choose 'journey'

One of my greatest challenges over the last couple of years has been letting go of long-held dreams. Circumstances beyond my control pushed me out of the journalism profession and into public relations and marketing. While I enjoy working in PR and social media marketing, I haven’t quite been able to let go of being a journalist.

Dealing with that career transition was one of my top goals in working with a mentor (read more on that here). She’s really been terrific in helping me on the road toward establishing a well-defined future career path. Step one was deciding whether I could commit to a career in PR.

I spent three weeks dwelling on that concept. Could I make that commitment? And, if so, could I be content in my decision? I ultimately decided to make that commitment to a new profession and quit straddling the fence – one foot in each career world. I decided to stop looking back and begin looking forward.

That’s not to say if an opportunity in journalism or any other career field comes along I can’t stop and take a look. But for now, I need to accept my life as it is.

In discussing this with my mentor over lunch last week, she asked me if I saw my career as a “journey or a destination.” I truly had to pause and think. A dozen years ago, I would have answered “destination” – my sights were set on a journalism career for a big city newspaper.

Today, I answer “journey.” There’s nothing wrong with having dreams, goals or aspirations, but despite all your best laid plans, your life’s road often takes such a different path that you can no longer see what was once your destination.

It’s much like taking a trip. You map out the path, selecting the interstate because you can hit 75 mph and focus on nothing but your destination. Or, you can choose the back roads, driving through small towns, eating at diners, getting out of the car to take a photo, browsing a quirky antique store or stopping at a roadside market for crispy apples and juicy strawberries.

You may eventually hit your destination or you could find joy in the journey, possibly taking so many side roads you stumble upon something even better. It's easy to be 22 years old and have a destination but as we grow older, we find the destination always changing and oftentimes elusive. Having learned that -- sometimes the hard way -- I'll choose the journey. Usually, it's more interesting anyway.