Commentary by Nancy Edwards
When was the last time you had a “pinch me” moment? You know, when you say to someone, “Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming”? That relaxing vacation on the beach? When you found the love of your life? When you won a jackpot at a casino?
My “pinch me” moment has happened several times since the beginning of my new career as an editor a few months ago. You see, I’d waited a long time for my dream job. In today’s economy, I thought it would never happen. I’d gone to the front of my church after service to pray for a good job for a year; I began to volunteer as a writer and editor, then wrote a little each week for Current. After a year had passed, I was told “you’ll find a job you love.” Maybe, I thought, but when?
Flash forward to a few weeks ago. I interviewed two Fishers authors who had just published their novels. I was excited for them; a bit envious, maybe, assuming that luck had followed them wherever they went. As I began to talk with one of the authors, K.B. Laugheed, about her recent historical novel, “The Spirit Keeper,” she told her own personal story of publishing a book for the first time in her life. This was the 13th book she had written (who says number 13 is unlucky?). When her mother died, she needed therapy. This therapy was in the form of a book that literally spilled out of her. She turned her own tragedy into a novel, just released, and already has many excellent reviews on the internet.
I also met with Dr. Rob Bell, a Sport Psychologist who wrote his second book, a nonfiction inspiration read called “The Hinge: The Importance of Mental Toughness.” In this book, there are 38 individual stories of celebrities and athletes whose success was not when they had planned them to be; in fact, many assumed their success would be fleeting. For example, Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines had planned to enter the Olympics four years earlier than he had planned due to a setback. Those extra four years of endless practice and determination caused wins that may not have happened otherwise.
My “pinch me” moments occur when I realize, after talking with many talented individuals in the community, that it is never too late for your dreams. Each week, I interview someone eager to start a new business, lead a charitable organization, or produce or write their own musicals. Many of these individuals, even ones who are older, have that enthusiastic spark in their smile or eye, and their fervor for life inspires me for the rest of the day, even if I wake up in a bad mood.