I received a gentle reminder today wrapped in a random sort of packaging. Just a quip reminding me of something I have known for some time, as an author and beyond.

The fact is people don't really care about my baggage, erroneous life errors, bad habits, weight, goals, dreams or accomplishments other than how it relates to them.

I knew this well enough when I was writing my book "A Love Beyond Time" as I wrote it in a way that I hoped to achieve bringing some sort of reality to the reader. I wanted my readers to personally relate to it at some level or some point in its journey. My efforts apparently worked as I have received miscl reviews all of which those who read it related it to themselves or someone close to them.

I have found the same true in this blog... The most impacting blogs with the highest comments are those that create some sort of emotion for the reader that they can apply or relate to their own lives.

Isn't that after all why "The Secret" is so abundantly popular? Beside the fact that it offers the viewer/reader hope in their own trying times; it is written from so many vastly different points of view that it will affect and relate to everyone if they are willing to consider what it offers.

I realize that many of my more recent blogs have failed to create any suspense let alone hope. When we were awaiting word on "The Big House on the Hill" the readership was better in that I think many who were not able to maintain close communication with me were able to follow along on the journey. They had a sense of suspense in finding out if we would or if we would not end up on "The Hill".

The funny thing is that we even had a second option to renew this vision/dream but opted not to as many realities of the state of our economy and cost of living hit us square between the eyes. It made us wonder if it was really the right thing to do. Specifically with only the hope of being able to buy surrounding land around the limited acres that we would have initially secured in the house deal. So, as the culmination of the suspense of my writing about it seemed to evaporate before my readers eyes, it never occurred to me it also took with it the factor of suspense.

But more than suspense I suspect it also took away a breath of hope for those who seen the potential. What potential you ask? The potential that says; if it could happen for us, it could happen for them as well. It slipped my attention that I really dropped the ball here!

I have to say, it probably could have happened for us if we had really continued to pursue it, and it can happen for you in whatever it is you’re believing in and for. We chose to shut a door and consider opening other doors of which I simply haven’t opted to write about. Too date, until I have a bit better sense of what it is that we are shooting for I can't put words to something I'm not even sure of myself...

Therefore, I want to take this moment to remind myself that what those of you out there no doubt are looking for in inspiration and encouragement I realize is really not my "stuff", but my belief in the unforeseen and the unknown. I have enough to go around and I will attempt to focus a bit more on sharing that with those of you out there in cyber space reading my blog with any consistency.

I will attempt to remember what I knew and still know from writing a book and a movie script that I need to remember to relate what I have to say to the viewer/reader. I will try to make my moments as a foster parent and such exploits something that other parents can relate to. I will try to remember that as I share my dreams, hopes, and aspirations and realized goals that I do so in a way that someone somewhere may find a source of encouragement... After all, if I can do it, so can you!

When you wish for someone to listen and engage with you, try to be the person you want the other party to be as well. Listen, invest and care about the other person. As you share your own life and times, remember not to shut out their life and times. Remember, no one really cares about your baggage as to how they judge you as a person.... They more than likely have enough of their own to carry around to be worrying about carrying yours. Your baggage really only concerns them as much as they can relate to it.

That does not mean you should shut down and carry your own burden all through life... As it is, most of us have a lot to share and that includes the baggage... It's not what we share but how we share it that really counts. We are all given a story to tell, a testimony that can make someone else's burden easier to bear if we take the time to relate our own knowledge and experience to those who are carrying something in kind.

Therefore, today I'm going to try to forget what my high school class mates might think if they see a picture of me looking vastly different than thirty ago... I'm not going to sweat if my horses are good enough by someone else’s standards... I'm not going to concern myself if the Christian opinion of my new book is over the top.... I'm not going to fall victim to the considerations and thoughts of an unknowing and unscrupulous world beyond, which wants nothing more than to find fault in any person's success as big or meager as it may be... I am going to realize the fact that most people who focus their energy on finding fault and pointing out the obviously negative aspects of any life well spent is doing so in a shallow attempt to make themselves feel better about their own limited existence.

I am going to believe that even those people, with the right words of encouragement can move past this point in life and expand as humans with something great to give the world beyond them!

I am going to continue to believe as a wise woman once told me... "God is in the Process... Therefore Trust the Process!"