Roots and Wings

There is a quote, by Marianne Williamson, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." This quote has been with me for years and continues to take on meaning as I learn and grow.

As I chase my dreams and epose them to the world, I have few fears of success or failure that come from inside of me. I know with all that I am, that this is exactly what I should be doing, in this minute. My fears come from the inability to retract what is exposed and left for others to evaluate. For this reason, I have been playing small.

Most of my life I have followed. I became very good at smoke and mirrors, and even received a great deal of recognition for it. I was praised for this or that and I began to believe it was all that I was. I continued to play small. Through a great deal of reflection and the search for true joy, I have learned that playing small is not helping me or anyone else.

I, like you, have so much to give. I, like you, will not experience all of the blessings this life has to offer, until I stand in the light of all that I am. It's risky, I get that. But, I feel that there is a greater risk in not fulfilling our life's work, that comes from honoring who it is we were created to be.

Right now, for me, this means I throw my hands up on the air, spin in circles, and shine. Not because it looks a certain way to certain people, but because it is my time. I don't want to be bigger than life; I want to be full of it. I want to pass this knowledge on to girls and help them to stop looking outward, but learn what it feels like to be filled with the self. To know that who you are, your thoughts and beliefs, your likes and dislikes, are just as they should be.

I am 31 years old. I feel fortunate to be learning this lesson now. But oh, wouldn't it be great to have our girls growing up with a group that is connected by its desire to understand their unique gifts and talents, rather than playing small in order to be the same as everyone else? It is not a deliberate lesson, no one teaches our girls to play small, but what if they were taught not to?

Do you ever think you are ready? You stand at the edge of the pool, in full dive position, but you just know how cold it is. You are ready...right? Or maybe no?

Well this time, I am ready. The water is cold, and I'm jumping in.

I have now launched my web page for Roots and Wings. http://jdraper.webs.com exposes my dreams to the world. It's out there and I'm not turning back. I'm thinking that Red was jipped when not given credit for her amazing bravery upon seeing The Big Bad Wolf on her way to Grandmother's house. I mean really, it was totally overlooked. There she is, a young girl, on the path to her grandmother's house, and a wolf confronts her. She didn't turn back; she didn't even kick him in the knees. She boldly told him where she was going. I, like Red, know where I am going, and am ready to tell every wolf in my way. {You follow? because this is really what goes on in my head...crazy I know.}

So Mr. Wolf, here it is. Come and get me! I'm working on a three year plan for Roots and Wings. I am chunking it into yearly segments and taking the first year into three month goals to be further broken down monthly and weekly. I am dreaming big. I'm not talking big like "How nice", I mean BIG like, "NUT UH". These girls will change the world. Not only will we meet weekly for our Connection Group, but we will have monthly events to impact our community. We will travel inside of the United States to experience the wonder our country has to offer, but also leave the country to better understand our significancein the world.

My girls will understand that their value comes from a place within. It has always been there waiting to be recognized, and celebrated, and shared. This is not a skill; it's not a talent, a stupid human trick, or a one time deal. It is endless and with more power than magic or fear, or even misunderstanding. My girls will understand how complete they are in their ever evolving state and even more, recognize it in others. My girls will celebrate who they are and pass it on. My girls will change this world.

I am very tempted to place an Oprah proclamation here; however it is so much bigger than that. Whoa! Yep! My girls will know their value not by external recognition, but by the ability to sleep soundly with an intimate understanding of who they are and the internal pride that comes from being OK with that person.

How am I getting there? I am developing curriculum to begin in schools with girls grades 3-5 this year. My goal is to be in at least 2 schools in January.I am planning community events for girls of all ages in conjunction with the Breast Cancer 3Day and, Trick or Treat for Cans on Halloween. I am talking with volunteers and making note of their unique abilities in order to plug them in accordingly. I am researching other girls' programs in order to establish my unique gift to my girls. I am facing my own fears; I am walking boldly in the direction of my dreams.

There will be more to come, updates, setbacks, celebrations. But I'm coming. I'm standing in the light that illuminates my path and although not always clear, it is mine to discover. I'm ready... for real this time!