This past week I haven’t been able to shake the echo from a close friend of mine, words of advice from him to me, “Writing is you more than any other career. I hope you keep following that passion.”

Aren’t we all born with something we love? I say yes. I also say, the things we love most can influence our mood and the way we wake up every morning wondering, just maybe, are we missing something? Why can’t I be happy today?

For instance, I’ve always been one to busy myself to the point I rarely have a chance to catch a few hours of sleep at night. I’ve always worked endless hours to pay the bills, devoted my life to my second passion of exercise, and now raising my kids and being the mom involved with everything (at least whatever I can in my circle of influence). I crash exhausted on my pillow at night and the very next day the cycle repeats.

I don’t have any current writing deadlines. I don’t have a publisher banging on my door in the moment begging me to get my book done. But I have decided to wake up most mornings before the rooster can bat his lashes and cry his call, and I do a little something to tend my own personal fire in me.

And you? What is your talent? What is the desire you want deep in your heart? Maybe once you wanted to be a fighter jet pilot and it never happened. Or maybe you always said you wanted to be a model. So now? You could check out Pinterest and learn to mix and match your clothes, a new hair style, maybe you play with your makeup different and go out on the town with your besties. The question I ask is how can we give ourselves the power to live our dreams and feel happier, little things that can be doable right now?

I’m no expert on happiness. I’m certainly just a dreamer trying to live my life as best as I can with a smile most days. Life hasn’t turned out the way I really wanted and planned it to. But the point of today, is to never give up. Find something beautiful for you, in every single day.

Happy Friday, all.

~Erika