Melony's Wisdom Monday: My Advice to YOU...Follow Your Heart!
Beautiful People,
On planes, trains, buses & automobiles…
Through concrete deserts, sandy beaches, red dirt plains and mountain hills...
I have searched for the me I lost somewhere striving for the American Dream.
Or what I thought was the American Dream.
I was attempting to discover my passion. I liked everything, loved nothing.
As a romantic young woman in rebellion, I loved the wrong men.
And then grew to be manipulative
loving no one…Not Even Myself.
I was searching for money, power and success. I wanted to be a successful marketing professional, to have my voice heard, to make a difference.
And in many ways, I did and have!
I was so driven to make change in our society that in each and every instance, I met resistance with resistance and was prepared always to fight the good fight.
And I did.
By normal standards in Pittsburgh, PA; I was successful. I owned my own business, worked hard to meet payroll weekly, helped clients achieve their marketing objectives, planned media tours, press conferences, wrote speeches & coordinated special events.
I lobbied for all the ‘right’ causes and some of the ‘wrong causes’, was know as a “brilliant rebel”, and drove my staff bananas by insisting that work was life’s number one priority.
They called the office "Miss Mellie’s Plantation" and created a cartoon series.
I laughed. Oh how I laughed!
Pro-bono was my middle name but even with all my good community deeds, I was still a taskmaster. Inside I Was Dying. I was tired of fighting and wanting to belong.
During this time my Mom was downsized after more than 27 years, then she went through two bouts of cancer. I became a doting daughter walking around with fibroids and anemia that was so severe that life began slipping away.
Perhaps I enjoyed being a Martyr. At times though, the burden was too heavy.
Thinking a change would help, I prayed for financial security and less responsibility. God said okay.
Within weeks of my request, I closed my business and took a job at a major advertising agency. The money was good. The transition was extremely difficult. Still all was in Divine Order. A few months later I had major surgery.
Afterwards I had plenty of time to reflect. Plenty of time to evaluate how, when & why I had closed my heart.
I Began a New Journey!
Ultimately, the path I have now chosen allows me a new way of thinking about life, about Love.
Today I marvel at the toddler that gives me a smile or a hug and says “Hi, Miss Mellie Rainbow!”, the senior that shares her or his story, the power of Love & Friendship and the True Potential of Our Human Collective.
My Advice to YOU...
Breathe. Listen Deeply. Say Thank You! And No Matter How Challenging...
Follow Your Heart!
Live & Love!
Always, Melony
(c) excerpted from the book
SEEKER DREAMER: Amazing, Brilliant, Compassionate You!
Photo by Hakim Mutlaq
