If you are a son or a daughter, a husband or a wife, a father or a mother, you are a part of a family way of life. That makes you an important role player, where your actions work to build a joyful life experience for everyone at home. 

Then taking the initiative to lead by example can create the environment for a joyful living together, because every change starts just with you.

Beginnings Are Not Easy

When I was five years old, I knew that I wanted to be an actress when I grew up. I liked acting and reciting poems at family parties. Then, since early in life, I knew that I could bring joy to others by doing what I loved.

When I was fourteen years old, I joined the acting group at the school. One day, my dad asked me what I wanted to become in the future; without hesitation, I said —Dad, I want to be an actress—

—“What? Sweetheart, you are not serious.” —He said with a disappointing expression.

 After that moment, I discarded the idea of pursuing my artistic aspirations as a goal. My parents didn’t show any intention of helping me pursue an acting-related career in the future.

—Anyway, I like public speaking. I should pursue a Law career when the right time comes. — I thought.

Without fear of speaking in front of an audience, I was good at memorizing long poems in just a few hours. My teachers at school used to ask me to join every artistic and cultural event. I still remember all those years of learning and studying, blended with playful moments of joy.

Work Toward Your Dreams

The time went by, and filled with much excitement for life and the future, I became the mother of a beautiful baby girl at twenty.

All my focus and main goal then was providing a bright future to my daughter. I had a bigger motivation, an interest that surpassed my well-being. She became my inspiration and the drive to all my accomplishments through the years until she graduated from college.

As the seasons of life went by, my daughter grew up, found the love of her life, married, and took charge of her life, plans, and dreams.

More years passed by, and I realized lost in my thoughts without knowing what was next for me. My motivation was gone.

Finding myself motivated to take action took time because I had forgotten my dreams and did not have plans.  The hustle and bustle of life had numbed my inspiration, and for sure, I was not confident, nor dare to make my dreams a reality, working towards a joyful life.

Work What You Love Doing

Some people can work on what they enjoy doing, and I think they are people who exude excitement and confidence. I would say they are the happiest people because they do what they love for a living.

One morning while reading the Scriptures, I found:

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God”.

Ecclesiastes 5:18,19 NASB

Just then, I realized that rejoicing and enjoying oneself in all one’s labor are rewards and gifts from the Lord.

It was as if my eyes were opened towards a new understanding and the reality of my life’s thinking process. I remembered my God-given talents I was born with, and my gifts as a new creation in Christ.

Get to Know Your Purpose

Why are you in the middle of a way of living where you are not getting the fullest of yourself?— I asked myself.

Until then, I felt I was dragging instead of flying toward my dreams.

Yes, you can feel you are flying when you are accomplishing your goals. Know that your dreams can come true if you have plans and work on them with a purpose.

I found that being certain about what you want will lead you to act with purpose.

Then, I went back in memory to those happy moments of my childhood and youth, when I played to be the poet, the dancer, and the actress.

—I see a door opening for me, a door to new possibilities, my inspiration is back!—

New and fresh ideas came to my mind, and I started writing down new goals and plans to carry out. I decided to use my God given talents and make a living with them.

Now I am working towards a joyful life, doing the work I love.