"Follow your own star and SHINE!" art postcard
I've been reading a novel titled Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. It reminds me in so many ways of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, almost too much sometimes, but when I read the quotes below, I was so pleased.
"Everyone needs to find the one thing that brings out her passion. It's what we do and share with the world tha tmatters. I believe it's important we leave our communities in better shape than we found them[...]If there's one thing I'd like most for you, it's that you'[ll find your calling in life. That's where true happiness and purpose lies. Whether it's taking care of abandoned animals, saving old houses from the wreckin' ball, or reading to the blind, you've got to find your fire, sugar. You'll never be fulfilled if you don't."
[...]"But how will I know what my fire is?"
[...] "Oh, you'll know. One day you'll do something, see something, or get an idea that seems to pop up from nowhere. And you'll feel a kind of stirring--like a warm flicker inside your chest. When that happens, whatever you do, don't ignore it. Open your mind and explore the idea. Fan your flame. And when you do, you'll have found it."
I love these quotes. When I read them, I wanted to stand up and yell to all of my students, "Go, find your fire!" But I was afraid they would think I was saying, "Go, there is a fire!" and then there would be mass chaos in my classroom...even more than normal that is.
Certainly, Joseph Campbell would have agreed with Aunt Tootie. You've gotta find your fire and then, when you find it, you have to follow your bliss.
There are two things I have in my life that are my "fire." When I'm making art and when I'm writing, I feel like I'm not just living but that I'm alive. Okay, there's one more thing: when I'm teaching creative writing to people who really want to know and who aren't worrying about a grade, I feel like I'm on fire then too.
What about you? Have you found your fire? And if so, what is it?
3 comments:
Saving Ceecee Honeycutt has been on my reading list for a bit. I think I need to bump it up a few spaces.
I feel on fire when I'm playing or singing music. Also when I'm creating something (i.e. my flower clips or watch bracelets).
I still am trying to find my fire, which lately has actually been really frustrating. I told Mike just today that I desparetly need some magic in my life. I so am in need of those serendipitous moments where you meet the right people in just the right order and suddenly you're doing something you never dreamed but that you love because then I could look at my life and KNOW that I was doing EXACTLY what I was supposed to be doing because look at all the things placed in my path to get me here!
I haven't found that yet but I'm hoping and praying looking and waiting and watching.
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