You could be one meeting, one chance
encounter, e-mail, phone call, or connection away from having your entire life
changed in extraordinary ways. I've been writing for a long time and I can
remember different times when I tried reaching out for different writing and
publishing opportunities and kept getting rejection after rejection after
rejection. I'd get discouraged and think maybe I wasn't meant to be a writer nor
had what it takes to be a successful one. Then something wild happened. I
started meeting different people and when they asked me what I did, I’d say,
"I'm a writer." Suddenly, I’d find myself in touch with someone who
knew someone, who knows someone else that's into writing and could help me get
published. And that’s exactly what happened to me at the end of 2017. I was
face to face with a published author who gave me all the information I needed
to get published. See how God works? When I started taking more meetings I felt
like, "Wow, how did this all happen?" Once I started taking more
meetings I got business cards made (and I honestly got laughed at from
different people for having them) but I wanted to make sure people I met had
the chance to get in touch with me if needed. Having those business cards in
place even landed me an interview once. The woman showing interest in hiring me
was impressed and excited to see I had a card in place before I even had a job.
Because when you believe in yourself, no matter how ridiculous other people may
think you sound or seem, other people will start believing in you too and many
doors will open up to you. In fact, you’ll begin to be sought after. And the
same people who rejected you could be calling you, just hoping to have a moment
of your time. Keep grinding and give it time. Where a lot of people mess up is
in having the mindset that the preparation happens once you get the
opportunities you want. Preparation begins long before you’re given opportunities.
You’re already what you will be before you become it and where you begin is not
where you’ll end. Behind the scenes and day to day of working a regular job,
I’m always reading, writing, studying, and getting inspiration to improve my
writing, branding, and other gifts and skills, so that if and when I find
myself in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, I can be
ready for the opportunities I’ve dreamed about and worked for. I’m doing what I
have to do now, so I can do what I want to do later. It's important to be
prepared for the kinds of opportunities you want before they even happen. You
never know who you'll meet that can change your life.
Ghosting: the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. I’ve been ghosted by every guy I’ve met within the past two years. About six to be exact. · The first guy pursued me and then got shady whenever I asked him about what he did for a living and where he lived. When he started dodging and avoiding questions, wouldn’t initiate dates, and slowly stopped keeping in touch with me altogether, eventually, all communication ceased. · The second guy was someone I met through a family member. He was super cool, very smart, handsome, and funny, but didn’t want to be in a relationship and acted like he didn’t want to be seen with me publicly. When we had plans to meet for an outing, he didn’t show up, and then texted me about a week later with an apology. We chilled at my place a few times, had a few phone conversations, and exchanged occasional texts, but eventually he stopped responding to me