That sounds so simple. Right? But even after years of holding the phrase tightly in my fist, like my own personal talisman, I’ve found that it isn’t simple at all. In fact, the very idea sounds a bit self-centered, a bit naive, a bit of a cliché.

As children we are told that we are special and then we are measured against others. We are pushed to develop skills that society values. We are praised for what we can do, what we are good at. But what we are good at won’t necessarily make us happy.  We are taught to covet happiness and in the same lesson taught to ignore our inner voice and comply with external expectations. We learn that happiness is ephemeral and elusive, and worse yet… maybe we don’t deserve it. We haven’t worked hard enough. We haven’t sacrificed enough. We haven’t earned it yet.

In the words of Samuel L. Jackson: “I call BULLSHIT!!!”

My name is Rena Willis. I am a writer and an educator. I am a wife and a mother. I am a GenX’r who is possibly in the midst of a mid-life crisis and I’m okay with that. I’m on a mission to discover and follow my bliss.  Join me on my journey.