“We are all unique and blessed with special gifts. We just have to figure out what they are.”

Michelle Parsons

We are Unique

All of us have at least one trait in common. We are all unique. I have believed this idea for awhile, but it really hit home as I thought about it during the week. My goal in writing this blog is to inspire you to become a better version of yourself. What I didn’t account for is that each of us takes a different journey. No two lives are exactly alike. The way you approach and experience life will be different from me. In some cases, your lives may vary vastly from mine. In other words, what works for me may not work for you. My hope is, however, that you will take my experiences and turn them into tools that you can use.

Moving forward, I’m not going to give you a list of things you should or shouldn’t do. I’ll suggest what worked for me and what didn’t work for me. If what worked for me doesn’t work for you, then its a signal that you might need to approach the problem in a different way. Remember the goal is improvement and progress.

My Amazing Wife

It’s interesting. My wife and I are tremendously different from each other from head to toe. I’m a native white Idahoan and she is a beautiful black African Princess from Ghana! I personally love the contrast. Some people may say these differences are superficial, but the fact remains each of us comes from a different background with different experiences. No two people are exactly the same! We all have something to contribute to this world. I love that my wife and I are so different from each other. The way she approaches a problem is born of the experiences of her life in Ghana. And while it is not always how I would approach it, I can learn from her and likewise she can learn from me. Our differences make us unique and valuable. Our experiences define who we are now, and our future decisions will define what we become.

My Best Friend

Next I’d like to talk about my dear friend, Levi Graham. Our lives are much more similar in comparison with my wife’s life experiences. He and I grew up together in Rupert, Idaho. We’ve known each other since 1st grade, and it amazes me how different we are! His life experiences are different from my own, even though we have shared many experiences together. Let’s shift the focus to writing. Levi approaches writing a book as a discovery writer. You’ll have to ask him how he does it, but he is able to map out his story without an outline. My approach is different. I prefer to use an outline when writing a book, and I have a hard time seeing further ahead without a roadmap to guide me. My best writing occurs when I have a little more structure. My point? What works for Levi as writer may not work for me. I can still learn how he does things and apply it to my writing and likewise he can learn from me. If it works great! If not, we can continue to write in a way that works for us!

Final Thoughts

My blog posts have been aimed at a wider audience, but I’m going to start narrowing down as I move forward. I’ll do my best to highlight interchangeable principles and truths, but ultimately if you’re not a writer it’s going to require a little more work from you to distill powerful ideas. Don’t fret! When we discover something for ourselves it becomes so much more awesome! Whatever your passion is, start building up your toolbox. Seek out and learn from reputable sources. Don’t believe everything you read online! Question it! Make sure that you’re not being led astray. I’ll do my best to provide you with solid resources that will help you become a better person and writer. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead. If I’m being honest, I’m learning more by writing these posts than you probably are by reading them. If you’re a writer; start writing. Don’t worry if how you write is different from others. Do what works for you! Ultimately, you will discover your path in this life. I’d also encourage you to include God in your plans. He will guide you on the path that will help you become the best version of yourself.

Photo Credit: Oliver J. Evensen