Don't Be Afraid To Share

June 23rd, 2008
In my book Polka-dot Star Flowers: Real Help for Real People I share my personal life experiences. I go into detail about how I got into some real life messes, and how I got past those experiences. I help people see that joy can be found in our lives no matter what is going on around us- because joy does not come from the outside in, but from the inside out!

Over and over I have people ask how I got brave enough to tell so much about myself- some of it pretty unflattering. The truth is that God has shown me ,that it is by sharing, that we can make sense of the mistakes we have made in life. By sharing those parts of ourselves with others, we bond in new ways. We ALL have things we have done, or been through that cause us pain or shame. It is in releasing those things that we find healing to our hearts. Our mistakes can help someone else then. They are useful in that way.

I have found not condemnation, but love in sharing my life with others. It is amazing the number of people who come to me and say, “I thought I was the only one”. You are not alone in this life. You were never meant to be. It is because we hide our inner selves that we feel alone. We place ourselves in a box, and close the lid to try to hide our pain. Just because you are in a box with the lid clamped down does not change anything. Inside that box you are still who you are, baggage and all.

I say it is time we stopped living in boxes. I have not had one person who has read my book say anything ugly to me. I reached out in love and love is what I have received in return. If there are things you are hiding in your life, I want to encourage you to rethink that. Hiding the things that make you who you are has no value. It causes you pain and leaves you alone and weary. Life is to short to live it in a box. There is a big world of wonder out there. Step into it. let the sun shine on your face. Breath deeply and love fully. Hugs, Barbara