Inside Out: Part 1

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Hey guys!  Have any of you ever been lost?  Of course you have! Or what about being lost in a storm…or lost in a daze and not quite feeling like yourself?  Think back to that time, whether it was as a child in the grocery store or while driving to a new destination.  Recall the heart pounding feeling while in a crowd of unfamiliar faces.  The instant panic of not recognizing your surroundings on the road, followed by a playback of every horror movie you've ever watched.  How did you feel?  What did you do?  Let's not dwell on the negative for too long.  Now, think about the first five minutes after you were found or after you got back on the right track to your destination.  What steps did you take to get there?  It's been a little over a month since our last chat and I apologize.  During our time apart, I was lost.  I had a difficult time understanding myself resulting in an intensely frustrating period of writer's block.  However, instead of harping on and on about how materialistic things threw me smack dab into the middle of "Nowhere Pacific Ocean", I'll share with you my process of swimming back to shore. 

Once upon a dark and stormy night!  Nah, just kidding!  Well, I mean… kind of.  It was nighttime and it just so happened to be storming.  About five minutes before it started storming, I awoke from my slumber and looked out the window.  Strange, right?  I thought so too.  I don't know about you, but I'm not one to spring up and stare out the window. However sleepwalking is a WHOLE other story for a different article - haha! While gazing out over my well-lit neighborhood, blue flashes illuminated the clouds in the background.  Since it was so far away, I thought nothing of it and continued to watch.  I still was not sure what I was watching exactly.  Probably because I was lost! Well, within two of the five minutes prior to the storm, lightning managed to jump from the clouds on the horizon to the space right outside of my window.  A shock of lightning accompanied with a roar of thunder set off the mighty tempest sending me safely away from the window.  Guys, I was as freakishly calm as it sounded. With the storm outside, I sat on the inside; just me and God.  In that moment I realized exactly what was happening.  On the outside, I was lost in the storm, and on the inside, I was sheltered safe with God.  The storm couldn't physically reach me in my room, however if need be, I could get to it.  With the right preparation, I could walk out into it and be fine, just as I was inside. 

So for us who are lost in the middle of "Nowhere Pacific Ocean", calm down from the inside out.  Do not think about the waves and chaos around you, but focus on yourself.  Take a deep breath, get in a positive mindset, and swim.  For those of us who do not swim, think about the clothes you wear.  Hopefully, we all wear clothes.  If you look closely you will notice that all of the stitchwork is done from the inside.  As I am currently learning more about this craft from a sewing class I am taking, I've noticed that this technique creates smooth edges and near perfect seams. 

If you are physically, emotionally, or spiritually lost, find your way from the inside out.  Once you are connected with who you are on the inside, you can conquer what you face on the outside.  As I am still learning, I will share with you the logistics of finding yourself from the inside out.  If we ever feel lost, the first step to finding yourself is working inwardly.

Sending out positive vibes, I challenge you to search for yourself from the inside out.  Have an amazing week! 

Kaci Hollingsworth