Wishcasting Wednesdays - Clear it out!

"Be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes."

Wishtress Jamie always knows just what to ask. Her prompt today is:

What do you wish to clear out?

I could go in a number of directions with this one. There's always the household clutter and storage (junk) room downstairs or last year's leaves still mucking up the yard but I think something more important needs clearing.

Fear.

My mind seems to be riddled with fear. It's not that I'm constantly quaking in my boots but I see a theme running through the past several years of my life and its time to look for a new template.

I want to make a living as an artist and writer. I want it so much I can taste it but the fear of failing chokes me and has held me back from even trying. Less than two years ago, I decided to try blogging, dip my toes in, if you will, and I found the waters quite warm. Since then, I've written a few pieces of flash fiction, some short poems, and started writing more than one novel.

Dreams became reality when I started drawing again after the group decided to create another logo for Texty Ladies. Not only am I excited about the finished project but I'm enjoying the process as well.

You say, "Well, where's this fear you speak of?" The fear prohibits me from getting really messy, making mistakes and discovering a host of incredible lessons in creativity. It cripples me and begs me to play it safe.

This fear isn't satisfied ruling one area of my life...no, its tentacles have latched onto others as well but I'm putting a stop to it now.

My wish is to clear out the fear faction so I may explore, discover, command, produce, release and yes, even fail at whatever I choose to do.

I'll be participating in Jamie Ridler's "The Next Chapter - Wreck This Journal" to help break free from fear and give myself permission to play and get messy. Maybe you'd like to join us!

For more wishes, go to this week's Wishcasting Wednesday at Starshyne Productions.

Conquering Fear

One thing that terrifies me is getting up on stage in front of a large group of people. I've done it many times but have never gotten over that horrible feeling you get right before you go on. I remember wishing those butterflies in my stomach would carry me off on their colorful wings, right away from the scary task at hand.

Last spring, I fell in love with my son all over again when he mastered this same fear by getting up on stage by himself and singing "The Cowboy Song" while strumming his guitar. I could see he was getting anxious while sitting in the audience waiting for his turn to take the stage. As his mother, I was probably more nervous then he, hoping he'd finish the song and the audience would embrace him.

He was one of several teens who auditioned for and participated in a variety show at a school for kids with learning disabilities. I can't tell you how many times I cried as I watched each person take the stage and give it their all.

Here's a pic of my son giving his all, and bringing the crowd to their feet as they clapped and danced along with him.

Next time I have to get on stage, I'll think of these kids and how they mastered their fear while touching the lives of so many.

How inspiring!