Today’s guest post, Intentional Purpose, is by Joan Hall, an intentional writer.
No matter what our dreams, we have to pursue them intentionally and purposefully. My dreams of having an ideal job and being a writer would not have happened if they remained dreams. Teresa Parker’s book, Gift of Purpose: How to Start Living Your Dreams reminded me of that. I almost let my dreams slip by.
Sunset at Sea by Joan Hall.
I thought I had finally landed my dream job. It combined everything I wanted:
- Working in a busy office
- Relating to the medical field
- Requiring computer work and data entry
- Challenging with a lot of intense concentration on my part
- Never boring, always busy.
- Outstanding benefits with a lot of vacation time
I often said, “I’ve finally learned what I wanted to do when I grew up.” I envied people like my older brother, who recognized from his first week of school he wanted to be a teacher.
Career
In actuality, though, I knew from an early age I wanted to work in an office. I grew up in the country. There weren’t any children with whom to play. When school dismissed for the summer, some weeks I didn’t see other children except at church on Sundays.
I never had any trouble entertaining myself. With 40 acres of woods and fields to explore, I kept busy. I had plenty of make believe games. One of them was playing office. I loved to make plans, organize things, and peck away on an imaginary typewriter. By the time I was in high school, I chose elective classes such as typing and bookkeeping.
Writing
Around 10, I realized I also wanted to be a writer. I was an avid reader and I wanted to be able to create stories people would enjoy. I began writing about animals and life around the farm.
As a teenager, I wrote some poetry and a very short novel. Yet, once I finished school, I let go of my dream of writing and working in an office. I took a job well below my capabilities.
After almost five years, through a series of circumstances, I took a job with a local bank. I was finally able to begin utilizing the skills I learned in school. I worked there for 15 years, changed jobs twice, and then began working in my present position.
Each job was a stepping stone; a place where I could further develop my skills. My dream of being a writer, though, did not come to fruition until much later.
I never lost the desire. There were times I sat down at my computer and wrote short pieces, most of which I deleted.
Intentional
Around six years ago, I decided if I was going to be a writer, I needed to be intentional about it. I made up my mind to write. I took some online classes, attended some writers’ conferences and workshops and joined a critique group. Finally, I started a blog and began writing.
You see, my day job helps pay the bills. My real dream is to write. Here’s the deal, we may have dreams, but if we don’t act upon them, they will remain dreams.
We may learn skills, but if we don’t apply them, what we have learned is in vain. What is your dream? What is one thing you desire? Is it a specific career? Is it learning a new sport? To become physically fit?
The only way we will ever achieve our dreams is to be like the old Nike ads—just do it.
No matter how many writing classes I take, no matter how many conferences I attend, if I don’t write, I’m not a writer. I have to be intentional about writing.
Live purposefully
Whatever your goal, your desire, your dream, pursue it intentionally. Live purposefully. You can achieve your goals and live your dream.
What is one thing you do to be intentional regarding your dreams?
By day, Joan Hall abstracts data for nationally reported healthcare quality measures, but writing is her true passion. She is a regular contributor for Splickety Magazine. She also enjoys outdoor walks, bird watching and nature photography. Connect with Joan at www.joanhallwrites.com.
Teresa Shields Parker is a Christian weight loss author, coach, podcaster, and speaker, who has lost 250 pounds and kept it off since 2013. Her books include: “Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support,” “Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection,” “Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor,” “Sweet Grace Study Guide,” “Sweet Victory: Winning the Battle,” “Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds,” “Sweet Journey to Transformation: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Live Healthy”, “Sweet Freedom: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With God’s Help,” “Sweet Freedom Study Guide,” “Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation,” “Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God,” and “Sweet Excuses: Stop Lying to Yourself & Start Losing Weight.” She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP intensive coaching. Don’t miss her weekly podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, where she shares tips from her personal journey of losing weight and discovering healthy living. Contact her at [email protected].
Isn’t it ironic that most of us just wait for to be done to us rather than doing something. Not sure how we think a dream is going to be fulfilled unless we intentionally start towards it. Great post.
So true, Teresa. If I hadn’t been intentional about developing my skills, I wouldn’t be at my present job. If I hadn’t been purposeful in writing, I would still be a “want to be” writer. God gives all of us talents and abilities, but it is up to us to use those gifts. Thank you so much for having me guest post for you.
Blessings!
“If I don’t write, I’m not a writer,” I love that! I will turn it around and say, “If I write, I am a writer!” and be intentional about pursuing my dream.
So true, Kathleen! As Jeff would say, “You are a writer, start acting like one.” I’m thankful to be able to pursue my dream alongside you, Teresa, and so many Tribe Writers.
Great post, Joan! I wish I had been more intentional when I was younger. But it’s never too late to reach for your dreams. Now I just have to work harder to get there.
Anastacia, I wish the same thing. I was talking with a fellow writer at a workshop a few years back. I told her that I don’t know why I put off my dream of writing for so many years. She said, “You were gathering stories.” That made me feel a lot better!
I like that! It does feel better thinking of it that way. :-) Thanks!
You just encouraged me to park my butt and WRITE tonight. I was supposed to go somewhere but decided if I can’t be accountable to my writing, my goals, then who will know? We owe it to ourselves to commit to our dreams. Writing helps me understand life, do you feel that way sometimes?
“Writing helps me understand life…” I hadn’t thought of it that way, but yes that is true. I have to consistently remind myself to be intentional about writing. That being said, there are times when we need a break. I try not to write on Sundays because that is (1) church and (2) the only day my husband and I are off together. Some times we just need to live life.
The other day I found a composition I had written back in highschool, when I was 17 years old. I found it very wise for a teenager. It reminded me how much I loved writing then and how impressed my teachers were. I even thought of posting it in my blog one of these days.
Life, marriage, motherhood, teaching happened and I forgot about writing, until I was confined to a wheelchair for over two months, during which time I read, journaled, wrote poems and listened to music. Being intentional about writing began at some point after that, a time during which I was passionate about writing my book.
Then, a couple of months ago, Life again demanded attention, and I can no longer write, no matter how much I intent to do it. Family comes first and I am too old to tackle both. I put my book on hold and at this point I can’t even journal any longer.
Joan, your post is beautiful! Teresa your book sounds great! I subscribed to it, but it did not come through.
Bless you both ladies! You are great writers!
Katina, you should have gotten a confirmation email. If you click on that it will take you to the download page. There you simply click on the Click Here and it will download. I just resubscribed myself to make sure it’s working. Can you check and see if the confirmation might have gone to a spam folder?
Katina – I agree that family has to come first. I hope that soon you are able to write again. I miss seeing you on the Facebook group, you are always so encouraging to others. And thank you so much for the compliment. Blessings.
Joan, you know by now that you are my encourager and inspiration. Since the time we first met online as bloggers, your writing has been a motivational tool I look forward to reading and often acting upon. In March you issued a challenge to write every day. I did; I’m not sure I told you then. But that challenge and meeting it moved me to sign on for two challenges this month — the A to Z Blog Challenge and another daily writing challenge. I have managed to do both to date. What I’ve realized that when I sit down and write “with intentionality” blocking out social media and emails until I have written for awhile I am able to accomplish more than I dreamed. I just told husband Bob the other night that if I compiled all that I had written in the month of April, I would have a good chunk of my memoir written! Thank you for continuing to share your dream and how you’re moving forward.
Sherrey – I’m glad I was able to encourage you. (And you are doing so well on your A-Z Challenge!) Social media is a big hindrance to me – I love the interaction, but I have to limit my time otherwise I would never get any writing done. Thank you so much for visiting Teresa’s blog today – she is also a big encourager and her book is awesome!