IDEA - How do YOU spell it?

As I hit 40 years old, it occurred to me that my laptop was ten years old. But, of course, that's a relic in technology years.

The old laptop worked and seemed a great learning tool for our little person. She was stoked to get something so grown up. Immediately she started typing a story in Word. My heart melted like a chocolate Easter Bunny on the dashboard of a car at 80 degrees. ::sigh::

While I was working on the fancier new laptop, she asked, "Mom, how do you spell DEA?" I was confused, and my face expressed it, and I asked, "Do you mean idea?" She said, "Nah, I already have the i." It sincerely sent me into a belly laugh and mental expression, "She's so cool!".

Fast forward to bedtime, my mind wouldn't let it alone. Why is this so fascinating to me?

We went through our very regular slumber routine.

It wasn't until the following morning that I was knocked out of my getting ready steps and grabbed my phone, brain bursting with AH-HA! moments. Notes opened, and my thumbs could not keep up with the thoughts flying through my nervous system.

A few hours later, my hands were drawing a picture of a lightbulb. The IDEA image was born.

I was mapping out what has always been on my heart, but not fully clear until I was asked how to spell "dea."

Wild.

As an author, folks expect ya to help others write, publish or do something like that alongside the writing craft. However, my dream isn't to teach others to write or publish.

I love to ask folks what they want to be when they grow up. ...and not just little people but big people too. Everyone gets this question from me, especially if they're going through some troubling times.

Sarah Blakely once said that whatever makes you cry is what your passion is. Tears fall, and my heart breaks for folks who lose that light in their eyes and accept life as is. When their mental exploration is stunted or snuffed out by daily to-do lists.

For anyone who knows me, I don't sit still well. I enjoy learning, growing, thinking, and encouraging others to do something similar. My go-to question is, "What do you love to do?" That open-ended question gives me access to who that person is and desires to be. It's a lovely looking glass into the soul. The follow-up questions vary from person to person based on our relationship/conversation setting. It's exhilarating for me. I am, ideally, planting seeds of desire and hunger to grow and learn. Eeee! So fun!

This love note is to tell you...I am dreaming up a plan to get YOU (and our loved ones of all ages) to dream, grow and explore your love, passions, and desires.

Right now, all I have is this:

You bring the I, and we search for the DEA = IDEA.

I = Your ❣️ & 💡

D = Dream/Discover ✨

E = Explore/Experiment 🔭

A = Answers/Awards/Adventure 📌

This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting new people at a craft show and introducing them to this "Idea" that was born. It was so exhilarating to me.

My favorite answer I got from a kiddo was, "I want to be a waitress." Her mom looked confused and like, "That's it?". I smiled and asked, "Do you like to serve people and help others?". She lit up and said, "Yes!". My next thought to her was, "So maybe being a waitress is a great way to start serving folks. But don't stop there. Go bigger. Where else are you able to help serve folks?" She smiled and said she'd think about it.

Many moments like this during last week's show left me beaming. This is what life is about. Encouraging others. So this is me planting a seed as I go...if you have any suggestions on what you'd like to see/hear, please let me know.

As this develops and grows, please join me on this adventure of asking the questions of loved ones to get them to beam with excitement for life.