What's Your Story?

Remember those bedtime stories you used to love as a kid? I was a huge fan of fairy-tales. I wanted every story to be filled with epic battles, long journeys, and of course, a hot kiss at the end to signal that true love had been found and the hero and heroine were going to live happily ever after.

As a child, I thought that life was simple. You grow up, go to college somewhere on the East coast, wear preppy clothes and fall in love with someone. Then you would get married at the ripe old age of 23 and start living your happily ever after. None of that happened to me. I went through college in a very non-traditional way, spent time working/interning in Europe, and didn't get married at 23.

Had I been cheated? Even with the magical college diploma in my hand, the world wasn't waiting in anticipation for me to make my appearance. I got a job as a barista, slowly building up my freelance portfolio, and learning how to make almost every coffee drink under the sun. Idyllic, enjoyable...and boring. I wanted more.

In every story there's a character. They usually undergo some sort of transformation. They have a quest - something scary that only they can accomplish. When faced with the choice, they choose bravery. Not all the time, but enough times that we stick with the story. Through their journey, they face trials and adventures that test what they are made out of. The characters have to grow character in their souls. In essence, the character chooses that their goal is worth whatever crazy adventures they have to go through.

Everyone has a dream that they are chasing. I think God gives everyone a dream or vision for their life - goals that they want to achieve. For some people, it's as grandiose as being a racecar driver. I know a few people who just want to be good people and love those around them. That's pretty noble in my book. Whatever your goal is, stick with the journey. Your road may get hard. I had years of freelance before I finally went corporate. There will be times when you just want to chuck it all in and do something "normal" so people won't always ask you “what you are doing with your life!”

But do you want to know a secret? If you aren't pursuing what you were created to do, you are cheating the world.

Quitter by Jon Acuff and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller are great books for people trying to figure out where their story is taking them. Have a great journey. I'm off to slay a few dragons.

—Caitlin Muir

Caitlin is a writer from the Pacific Northwest. You can follow her online at www.caitlinmuir.wordpress.com or on Twitter @scribblinghappy.