In the middle of a pandemic and a civil rights movement (Black Lives Matter), I experienced much pain but also in the midst of the pain, moments of joy. How and why this happens is beyond me. What I have learned is to live in moment – love, laugh, cry, release anger, work on healing yourself from wounds caused by others, and wounds you gave yourself from being your worst critic and not being as kind to yourself. I learned that you can’t pour from an empty cup and there is no shame in saying no when people want your time or resources. Guard your heart.

Every now and then I receive an email or comment about my journey. Most dreams and their journeys are fraught with pitfalls, detours, and snares along the way. It is like “off to see the wizard” only to find out he’s a fraud or poor Frodo not fully understanding what taking the ring meant until he hit the road. Not to deter you just that people always tend to focus on the “success” and not the trials and rejections that seem to be a constant companion while dream chasing.

I wrote an article about dream chasing after reading The Alchemist.

The Alchemist sums up the joy and pain of the dream chaser. “Before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which most people give up. Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”

Paulo Coehlo said it best. “We don’t all have the courage to confront our own dream. There are four obstacles. First: we are told from childhood onward that everything we want to do is impossible. We are then faced by the second obstacle: love, afraid of hurting those around us by abandoning everything in order to pursue our dream. The third obstacle: fear of the defeats we will meet on the path. We who fight for our dream suffer far more when it doesn’t work out, because we cannot fall back on the old excuse: ‘Oh well, I didn’t really want it anyway.’ We warriors of light must be prepared to have patience in difficult times and to know that the Universe is conspiring in our favor, even though we may not understand how. The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times. Then comes the fourth obstacle: the fear of realizing the dream for which we fought all our lives. But if you believe yourself worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why you are here.”

I am moving to a different stage of my journey. Dare I say that I am happy, better yet content. I am at peace with myself. I am still trying to be the best me that I can be, but I am learning to be kind and tenderhearted towards myself. Things might seem sparse or quiet on my websites, but I am taking some time to explore other opportunities. However, I am amazed how some of my old articles are still ripe and prescient for the times. Feel free to peruse Ronda-isms.com.

If I have anything pressing to say, it will probably be on my personal Instagram account: @RondaWrites

Thank you for sharing my journey, reading my writings, and your support.