In May 2012, Oprah Winfrey wrote an article for her magazine
called, “What I Know For Sure.”
I clipped the article because I liked how she
wrote about her fondness for telling other people’s stories
and “exacting the truth of their experience into a digestible nugget that could
inform, inspire, or benefit someone else.”
I feel the same
about my writing. I love seeking out people who are interesting and telling
their story to the world.
In her article she wrote about her time as a reporter, “I was just moving on instinct.”
I think instinct plays a part in going after stories,
and writing about other people's lives, and what inspires them.
The theme of Winfrey's article was how we doubt our chosen path.
I doubt many of my decisions and actions several times a day. But she says we shouldn’t, and I know I shouldn’t. I know I made a good move and I’m so thankful for friends, family, health, and good experiences.
For example, this week I got to mountain bike in the desert for the first
time with friends from my road biking team.
This weekend I will run a marathon.
In a few months I will participate in races on a mountain bike, a road bike,
running on roads and running on trails.[Not on the same day.]
What I know for sure is that I’m on the right path, having
adventures, meeting interesting people, and it only makes sense for me to write
about it.
And the really great news is the project I’ve been working on for the last six years,
a collection of stories about living in the mountains, will be published next year.
Writing helps me make sense of my experiences, makes me
remember what I know for sure. Writing makes me tell the truth of my
experiences. This is what I intend to do this month as I’m finishing Arizona stories and
editing Colorado stories.
Life is good in Tucson. And while it is my first Christmas
without snow, I think I found a paradise, a respite from the cold. I’m not sure
for how long, but for now, Tucson is home.
Six months ago instinct led me south to the desert where I
can ride my bike year round. I'm not going to doubt that this is where I'm suppose to be for now.
What I know for sure is that Anything is Possible in this life.I'm going to ride the wave of good times.
