One Very Important Lesson Dorothy Taught Me – Remember Your Why

Can’t you give me brains?” asked the Scarecrow.
“You don’t need them. You are learning something every day. A baby has brains, but it doesn’t know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.”
― L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

At the Onset of Dorothy’s Journey to Oz.

When Dorothy set off on the yellow brick road, she had one intention: get to Oz in order to get back home. As we all know, the journey was anything but easy. Dorothy met huge obstacles like flying monkeys, scathing evildoers, poisonous poppies and talking trees, yet her purpose remained very clear: Dorothy wanted to get back to Kansas and nothing was going to stop her.

Every journey will have its obstacles. Be ready! Click To Tweet

At the Onset of Our Journey to Being an Author

At the onset of any journey, spirits are high, aren’t they? Even if the odds are stacked against us, we feel a certain indomitable spirit fueling us. As “almost authors,” our Oz is clear: We are going to get published.  Yet it doesn’t take long before we, too, face obstacles dressed like rejection letters, negative feedback, restless nights and lonely days.

Writers face the obstacles of rejection letters, negative feedback and often, long days and lonely nights. Don't quit. Click To Tweet

Remembering Our Whys.

“If you only have brains on your head you would be as good a man as any of them, and a better man than some of them. Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man.”
― L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Why, then, do we so easily lose heart? The fact of the matter is clear: the obstacles in our way become fear-producing hindrances instead of courage-filled hurdles.

Hindrances stop any and all forward motion.

Hurdles might stall us, but ultimately, we will figure out how to jump over them.

Sometimes, like Dorothy, we need a little help along the way.

Dorothy meets a seemingly silly scarecrow who longs to have a brain.

Without skipping a beat, Dorothy invites the Scarecrow to join her on her journey to Oz. She realized they are better together than alone.

One Very Important Lesson Dorothy Taught Me

Thank you, Dorothy, for exemplifying the power of relationship and community.

We need each other. When one of us falls apart and loses the straw stuffing of our being, the other can pick us up and help put us back together again.

Hurdles might stall us, but ultimately, we will figure out how to jump over them. Click To Tweet

That is why we are here. To help your hindrances become hurdles. To help you train for the marathon of authoring and publishing.

To help you reach your very own Oz, where you, too, can see your dreams come true.