Let's Hew You

There’s a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I’m completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I’ll make it through

The words above aren’t mine; they were sung by Diana Ross back in 1980. I didn’t realise I found inspiration in her lyrics. However, if you’ve been following me, you’ll know that I’ve quoted her before. Last December, I published a piece entitled, ‘Do you know where you’re going to?’ . That piece was inspired by another of her songs, and, by the same title. Now, just about seven months later, I find myself drawing inspiration from another of her songs as the title of this week’s piece suggests.

And, yes, I’m coming out. It’s time to come out – my time has come. As I write every week, my pieces are as much for you, my beloved readers, as they are for me. Each piece speaks to me as much as I hope it speaks to you. Each piece transforms me as much as I aim to trigger a transformation in you. Call it my way of finding connection in a world that has to maintain its distance these days.

Call it what you will…all I can say is that life is quite a feat, and it takes preparation to step into it. It takes preparation to step into that feat wearing, not someone else’s armour, but yours – the armour that was designed especially for you and that is perfectly fitted to you – your experiences, your talents, your gifts, your knowledge and your abilities. Wearing the armour that was designed especially for you, you walk in shoes of peace.

Unfortunately, we are oftentimes made to rush through the preparation so that we remain ahead of the pack. My friend, what pack is there to remain ahead of? The life you live is yours only and no one can live your life as you do. Live your life the way it’s intended to be for you, not as the banged-up copy of someone else’s.

Take your time. With patient endurance, experience every moment that life brings you to, and, with grace, will you walk right through it. Take your time. Accept your bruises, accept your trials so that you can really enjoy the reward.

Take your time. Ignore the screaming crowd of competitors. Learn to turn down the volume of the exhortations of those whom you love and who love you to move more swiftly along. Savour every moment that there is. Bask in it. Take it in. Observe it and ask yourself, ‘What’s the lesson here?’ as you move from one stage to the next. And, you know what? even if you’re stuck in a stage, you still ask yourself, ‘What’s the lesson here? What am I missing? What am I not seeing?’ Interrogate yourself, challenge yourself, but most importantly, never doubt yourself.

Take your time. Allow yourself to fail, and each time you fail, you get up and keep going. You’ll get it eventually. Learn to change directions. Learn to jump over the hurdles and even sail through the air before you land on the other side of the hurdle. What’s key is that you learn, and who can learn if the lesson is rushed? So take your time.

Count your battles, as I encouraged you in last week’s piece, No one hides their epaulettes. Count your battles and more, count your battles won. And as you count them, step out in your shoes of peace and announce proudly, ‘I’m coming out!’

Look out world! Here you come! You’re coming out!