Playing a new game. Exploring new territory. Venturing into the unknown. Earlier this week I was chatting with a wonderful young fella. He may have been 9. He told me a joke. It went something like this:
       Why is a woman always giving GPS directions?
            (I start to wonder how to start the gender neutrality adventure with a child I've just met)
       Why?  I ask...
       He says, because a man wouldn't say 'continue to the next road and turn right'... a man would say, 
       'Awww, just pass it... I know a shortcut.'

I laughed. A lot. The truth to this is striking. And, being a beautiful blend of masculine and feminine, (just like you,) I can identify more with taking the supposed short cut.
Recently, I went on a solo trip. An adventure up northwest Michigan. I took three short cuts. One landed me wandering right out of the Manistee National forest with a big heavy backpack. I almost fell into a bog. The next one had me climbing through dune-side thicket, in a dress, in strappy sandals, carrying a Big Heavy BackPack. The third, was more conventional, I turned eastward from 31, just minutes shy of my destination because I was sure I had.... a shortcut.
My life, as you can guess, has turned me toward many shortcuts. Through frustration, I've learned about patience. Through curiosity, I have learned a lot about adventure. I laughed so much at the little boy's joke because it very well could say, Why won't GPS use Alicia's voice? I can relate so much. And I am so grateful.
Writing this blog isn't like taking a short cut, but it is a respond to a lot of internal dialog. Very much like travel, when I hear the small voice that says, turn here. I very seldom ignore it. For the past few years I have been window shopping for real estate to expand my business. This year, I decided to stop believing that expanding was insensible, unrealistic, etc. I started believing in the process. Then, on May 1st, I found the perfect place to expand. I did not buy. But- by simply looking toward my hearts desire, I found the tools to safely venture on. Now, I write because creating a blog is like following the call to 'turn here.' There is a lot to offer from this heart, this life. We all have a deep need for love and attention and true connection. Because of this, I have decided to answer that little voice with a 'yes.' I want to share things, whatever they are, with whoever you are, because I care so much about you. Even if I don't know you yet.
We shall see how this new game plays out.