STORY TIME

Ever feel empowered after readin a good book, hearin a great song, or watchin a gripping movie? How about after listenin to a motivating speech or talk, or seein the home team come from behind to narrowly win it at the buzzer? The reason I ask is because on the slipcover of a book I recently read were printed the praiseful words, "This empowering book..." Now, although it was a good read and all, I gotta tell ya, I'd be lyin if I told ya that it left me feeling empowered. Inspired? Yea. But empowered? Eh, not so much.

Of course maybe if I'd written the book. Maybe if I'd spent countless hours dauntlessly gazing at the empty page pondering the exhaustive list of potential reasons why I can't or shouldn't write it and wrote it anyway, then I'd feel empowered. Maybe in the midst of a long and turbulent string of sleepless nights wrestling with the unthinkable idea of what if I don't do it I did it anyway, then I'd feel empowered. Maybe if in spite of all my doubts and fears I eventually conquered all my doubts and fears by simply buckling down and focusing on the work at hand, then I'd feel empowered. Maybe, just maybe, if after the better part of a good long while I had remained fully committed to doin that work and through it all finally proved to myself once and for all that I could do it, then, I would feel empowered.

Remember Taylor from the last time around, the 18-year-old girl who loves playin soccer but hates those dreaded running drills her coach doles out to the team during practice? Personally I felt that was a pretty inspiring story. But I'm guessin that if anyone was empowered by Taylor's story it had to be Taylor herself. I mean after all, she made the commitment, she put in the effort, she endured the pain, she took the necessary steps to find her stride, and after two tireless months of puttin her nose to the grindstone she's the one who hit it. Empowering? Hell yea! For Taylor.

The point is, inspiration is one thing, and if ya need some just take a look around. Because what you'll find is that while Taylor's story is a unique and personal one, it's also one that's not all that uncommon. If you're lookin to be empowered, however, well, that's another thing altogether. That's a whooole 'nother story. One I'm sure is just waitin to be written. Get my drift. See ya soon. Till then, keeep it up.