I posted this article earlier this year to my RWA NYC chapter newsletter and thought I’d share it more broadly.

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I was recently invited to a friend’s daughter’s piano recital. I remember holding this child in the hospital the day after she was born, so the fact that she is now MAKING MUSIC is something that I find wildly incredible and I jumped at the chance to attend.

As I sat there listening to the various children play their prepared pieces, something struck me like a lightning bolt.

These children have courage.

Ranging in ages from five to twelve, they played their work in front of an audience, smiling and enjoying themselves through each and every note. It didn’t matter if they missed a note or hit the wrong one, nor did it matter if they needed to start over. They were so incredibly excited about playing for their audience.

And then a second lightning bolt hit.

As adults, we so often forget that joy – the profound joy of sharing our gifts with the world. Gifts that aren’t always perfect or polished, shiny or new. Gifts that require sacrifice and effort, but which define who we are and why we have purpose on this earth.

I think this is something that often happens on the writer’s journey. If you have the desire inside of you – and presumably you do if you’re reading this newsletter from a professional writers organization – you are called to be a writer. Somewhere in your soul, there is a flag that waves with the word WRITER on it. It accompanies you through the ups and downs of life and it colors the way you perceive the world around you.

Just like lights and bushel baskets, your flag longs to wave before the world, not hide in that quiet place inside of you that no one can see.  Your gift calls you to share your work, to practice and hone your skills until that work is ready for an audience.

Will you miss some notes? Of course.

Will everyone like the piece? No, they won’t.

Will you get that profound joy from sharing your gift? Yes, absolutely.

So let’s take a lesson from the grade-school crowd. Have the courage to share your gifts. The world is waiting.