How to Cover a Mile - Anna Angela

We waited for the DJ to announce our names when suddenly he started talking in paragraphs. The groomsmen looked confused. The bridesmaids pressed in closer to hear. We looked at each other, a half grin on our faces and one collective question on our lips.

“What is the DJ going to say about me?”

And by proxy, what did the bride and groom write in our little bios?

I’ve been a bridesmaid 4 times and attended oh so many weddings, and it was only this last time (last Saturday) at my best friend’s wedding that the DJ didn’t simply announce the names of the bride and groom’s entourage. He introduced us to 200+ guests. They learned our names, our connection to the bride or groom, our jobs, our hobbies, and whatever else the bride and groom decided to include.

And my beautiful bff called me out. She told everyone – my parents, friends, people I haven’t seen in years, and total strangers – that I am a writer.

She told them my dream!

She told them my struggle.

She told them my purpose.

She told them what I’ve been too afraid to tell them myself.

At first I wanted to hide. I wanted to brush it off, laugh it off, and dance it off. But in the middle of the dancing, someone asked about it. And I shared a bit more of my dream.

There’s something about being called out that pushes us into action. Like a spotlight is shined on us and we have to answer yes or no.

Yes, I am a writer and this is what I’m doing about it. Or no, I am not a writer; my friend was wrong. I am actually [fill in the blanks] and this is what I’m doing about it.

“Angela, you’re a writer?” someone asked.

And my answer was yes…is yes.

Then the dream solidifies. The idea becomes real. It’s more tangible because someone said it and hundreds of people know it.

Oh goodness, hundreds of people know it.

I’m waiting to freak out, but it’s not happening because even though hundreds of people know it, the world didn’t descend down on me. Nobody pointed out what I lacked. Nobody accused me of my failures. One person asked and said it was cool.

I realize that the details didn’t matter as much to them as it did to me. It didn’t matter to anyone that I hardly make money (right now) from being a writer. It didn’t matter the last time someone published my work was years ago and I haven’t been accepted anywhere else. It didn’t matter that my first completed children’s book is actually 12,000 words short, words that I can’t seem to find. Or that my ebook is not even halfway done. Or that I’m blogging in my little corner and don’t always have the energy or time to promote posts, update website designs, interact on social media, and all the other stuff required to be a success.

I found an old journal entry where I wrote, “Cover a mile inch by inch.” I’m pretty sure that nugget of wisdom didn’t come from me. I don’t remember where I read it or who wrote it (if you do, won’t you please let me know?), but it makes sense.

Cover a mile inch by inch. (Click to Tweet)

We will get to our destination little by little. We will fulfill our purpose step by step. I am a writer, but I am also a process.

You are [fill in the blanks with that dream you can barely whisper out loud], but you are also a process.

Maybe we need a little bit of patience and someone to call us out in front of hundreds of people. Then we’ll have the freedom to either say yes or say no. The freedom to stop worrying about what other people think. And the freedom to cover our miles inch by inch.

Take an inch right now. Tell me that dream!