Making a Difference

I'm traveling home from AZ today. We attended the funeral for my husband's grandmother yesterday. She was a month shy of turning 93. She lived a long, good life and though we'll miss her, we're sure that she's having a wonderful reunion with her beloved husband, her parents, siblings, and other family members. How blessed we are to have the knowledge of the gospel.

Recently, some friends and I have been discussing being moms and writers (this also applies to dads) and whether or not we do, or should, feel guilty for taking time to write. After all, shouldn't we spend that time organizing the pantry, sewing, cleaning the basement, teaching our kids another language, spending more time being a mom, developing our domestic goddess talents, etc. It's a serious reflection when we take our roles as wives and mothers to heart and want to be the best that we can, while also feeling this strong, deep need to write.

No one seems to begrudge a woman the time she spends practicing piano, sewing, singing, knitting, or redecorating a home. Those things seems to be "okay" while writing seems to fall under the "selfish" category. Why is that? Isn't writing a talent? Aren't we counseled to develop our talents rather than bury them under a bushel? Can't we also bless the lives of others with our writing just as we can through singing or playing an instrument?

President Kimball gave a talk admonishing those of us who have talents in the arts to develop them and then to share them with the world to give people art that uplifts their souls. The world needs our art and we need to produce it. There's plenty of smut out there--we need to combat that.

Orson Scott Card said, "...if your story really does matter, if your made-up tales have any real value at all, then it truly is an act of charity, of brotherly love, to open up that story to as many people as can possibly receive it." Don't you love that quote?

Our writing can make the world a better place. We can testify of truths in our writing. We can offer a respite, a safe resting place for a few moments while people read our stories. We can teach and uplift. We can entertain in a wholesome way. We can make a difference and we should.

Comfort?

If anyone has read Carol Tuttle's new book, "It's Just My Nature" which is about personality profiling based on the earths elements, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say that I'm a 2. I have always thought myself to be a quiet, gentle, go-with-the-flow type of person. I like soft things, and I love to be comfortable. So the entire time I was reading about "2's" I kept thinking, "No way, that's totally me. It's like they just copied my personality and put it in this book, even the weird, quirky things, like hanging onto everything."

The personality trait I'd like to focus on is comfort. Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to make Caramel Apple Crisp and plug mine and Michelle Stewart's cookbook, "The Diet Rebel's Cookbook: Eating Clean and Green" (coming April, 2010) on Studio 5. While this was a very exiting chance to share my talents and the things I've learned about how sprouting grains partially digest gluten and starch and increases nutrients, I was largely uncomfortable for two reasons.

1. I was nervous about how it would all turn out, if I would say everything I wanted to or if I would say something totally embarrassing, if I would get there on time, if I remembered to bring everything, if I would blush or make a fool of myself on live TV, etc.

2. I was wearing really uncomfortable high heals. Now, comfort is important to me, so part of me said, "It's not like your feet are going to be filmed. Wear your three-year-old, toe-scuffed everyday shoes. Your feet will thank you." But the other part of me quickly said, "You need to dress up, and you can't wear those things! Besides, you never know, they might get a shot of your feet." I opted for style over comfort.

So there I was, walking and standing for a few hours. My feet were killing me, and so were the butterflies attacking me from the inside. But I discovered something very interesting, and that was, when I was focused on setting up, placing things where I wanted them to go, chatting with the people there, and observing my surroundings and the other segments that went on before me, I paid no attention to my discomfort. Likewise, every time I had time to just think, those discomforts came to mind.

Sharing talents, whether through writing or other things, can sometimes take us our of our comfort zone. I've discovered that this is very good. I have also discovered that when I focus on the task at hand; the message I wish to share and if it has the potential to touch and uplift the lives of others and myself, that I'm naturally more comfortable. Sometimes I'm just downright happy! And that is a very good feeling. Now I just need to work on my shoes.