I’ve been writing this story for two years. Well, okay- I started it two years ago. Since then, I’ve turned it over and over. Every time I entered it once again, my palms would get hot and my fingers stiff. I’d stare at the computer screen.
For a long time.
It’s gone almost nowhere in two years. When Jeff challenged us to create something ugly and share it with someone, my palms heated and I put my face in my hands.
I had the ugly part; bits and pieces of unorganized heart-clutter. But, who? Who am I really going to let read this. Of course, the only person I’d let lay eyes on it is Elora.
You know what she didn’t say? She didn’t say “yeah, trash it.”
She didn’t say “Uhhh. Huh?”
She said to keep writing. Keep moving- don’t abandon this. In fact, she saw it in a much bigger picture than I ever did.
“For some reason I can’t shake the feeling that this is supposed to be part of your book…”
And while I’d be far to embarrassed to introduce this piece of writing in that light, it’s where my heart was. She saw it and I didn’t have to tell her. This is why I can’t be afraid of the ugly. Why I have to get over perfect. Why I have to forget presentation. I never want to miss out on this kind of encouragement ever again.
If you have something written that is still in the ugly phase, I’d love to read it.
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