What does it take to LISTEN?

I have said on numerous occasions that God speaks in the way that we listen. Not only that, but the universe will start at a whisper, then speak, the yell, then its a deafening echo ringing in our ears without yield. And even though I say these things, and I know these things, sometimes it still takes me getting life lessons in surround sound before I take action. I have been working at listening at 2, and for lots of things I've done well, but with others... People have been suggesting I write a book or publish my posts as a book for as long as I have shared my blog and to some extent even before that. At first, I said that I didn't have a books worth of anything to say about any "one" thing. Well...I have over 1,200 posts and if I used my tags like I should, I'd be willing to bet I'm wrong and already proved it. Then I said I didn't have time.  Then I didn't have help. Then I said okay! I'll do it, but then...I didn't. Twice.

I thought about this curious cycle as I lay in bed itching to write just as I wake, like most mornings, and I sent words of gratitude to a friend who had written to me suggesting I publish. I thought, what is it going to take for you to listen? I asked myself, "are you playing small?"

Naia text me yesterday and spoke of our lives and how they often run parallel even across great distances. She spoke, also, of how she had recently been warned about playing small and laughed when she read it had come up for me on Friday. I thought back to Brene and I wondered what it would feel like to step into my power.  I should say, step fully. Not that having one foot in is celebratory; it has you completely off balance and when you're halfway in two spaces, you're not really in either. 

The feeling that comes to mind is that high you get after you just ran on a crisp day. Clear mind, open lungs, a heart racing with excitement...and it occurred to me just this moment that I have never experienced that. Yet, that is what I imagine power to be...isn't that interesting and telling? I want to be a runner, I want to be a published author...I want to experience the runners high but in order to do that--i have to run. If the high is power then I have to step into it. That was one of those moments where things make sense on a whole new level.

The Colonel always asks, "if not now, when?" And that just felt very deafening. This is me listening.