Don't Stop!!

The other day my daughter Clare earnestly asked, "Mom, what's your favorite quote?" 

I have many favorite quotes but I wanted to give her one that would "sum me up", that would express the sentiment about life that I most want her to know I believe in.  I told her I'd have to get back to her...   

A while back, I took one of those cheesy Facebook quizzes: If you were a Journey song, what song would you be?  As much as I don't care for those quizzes, I couldn't resist taking this one. I have a soft spot for Journey (going way back before Steve Perry was the lead singer!) and saw them in concert a number times back in the day. 

According to the quiz masters at Facebook, if I were a Journey song I'd be Don't Stop Believin'.  Somehow despite the suspect origins of the survey, after all they don't know  me, they managed to hit the nail right on the head! 

Although very good songs, I could never be  (whatever it means to be  a song) Lights or Wheel In the Sky.  How did they know that I sing Don't Stop Believin' at the top of my lungs in the car when it comes on the radio?  How could they know that hearing it never fails to lift my spirits?  They're good over there at Facebook.

So Clare, to quote Journey, "Don't stop believin, hold on to that feelin'."  At the age of fourteen I'm not sure she has any idea how hard that can be sometimes. Clare, don't become discouraged; don't be afraid; try to remain positive in the face of adversity.

Overall, I'd say I'm a pretty positive person, but like most people, occasionally I experience self-doubt - especially when facing a new challenge or opportunity.  Even when a challenge is a positive one, an opportunity to do something that I've been dreaming of for a long time, I have to overcome that tiny voice of self-doubt.

Such is the case with two opportunities coming up in my near future:

I've been asked to chair the Benicia Historical Society's annual home tour, the Society's biggest fundraiser of the year. No pressure! I'm thrilled and honored to be asked but I'd be lying if I didn't also say I'm a little terrified. Really, I'm more of a co-chair because thankfully I'll be working with a team of talented wizened veterans who will walk me through the process and reprise their key roles from last year. Hallelujah! None the less, I'm nervous.  I don't want to be the one who burns down a house, or floods someone's basement.

For years I've secretly wanted to attend a writer's conference and finally, thanks to Mr.Greenjeans who's willing to hold down the fort, I'll get to do just that in April in Alturas.  The Write Now Workshop is perfect for me: it's small, with personalized attention and feedback from professional writers; it's low-key with no pretense or intimidation. Perfect!  I'm excited but I'll admit I'm anxious, too...there's that quiet whisper within...who do you think you are?

I don't know...I'm just me, Victoria Cullen, the woman who's just crazy enough to think that if she just keeps believin' she can follow her heart and do these things.  And I really hope that whatever the outcome, succeed or fail, that my four girls are paying attention.  I hope they see that I felt the fear and did it anyway...

 

 

 

~Some Other Favorite Quotes~

 

For Clare, Hilary, Cori and Caroline

May they inspire you, too...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XOX, VC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Theresa]

Oh, Vicki. What a beautiful post for your wonderful, talented daughters. You are going to do an amazing job with the Historical Society! They see it in you and you will shine. XOXO, T

[Sue Horst]

If only I could
See the world through your eyes.
Take something small and find it's beauty and share it with others
and make their day a better one because you care.

You really do inspire me.

[Victoria Cullen]

Dearest Theresa and Sue, I swear I need to print these comments,put them in my pocket, and take them with me everywhere I go! Thank you, my friends. You make it all so worth it <3