I'm All Grown Up: Now What?

By Ellen Shea

A true story of learning to go within to find the courage to make a dream a reality. Are you still waiting to grow up to figure out what your purpose is, what will make your life more joyful? In this easy to read book Ellen shares what has worked for her and how she is living the life of her dreams and how you could also. There has never been a better time to stop and listen to your inner voice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellen Shea
• Release date: Dec 15, 2009
• ISBN: 9781452350455

Ellen Shea

Ellen Shea has been inspiring people to live their lives with joy by finding what their dreams are and going for it. Life is a journey and the path we take determines the experiences we have along the way. In her first book "I'm All Grown Up--Now What? she talks candidly about her struggles and triumphs as her path takes some unexpected twists and turns. She shares what works for her along with some exercises for the reader to do to discover their dream.She has found her passion in writing along with working with individuals and groups. Her second book is in the works and will be on relationships.

Book preview

I’m All Grown Up--Now What?

Ellen Shea

Published by Ellen Shea at Smashwords

Copyright 2009 Ellen Shea

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is dedicated to my mom, Betty Shea. Thanks for supporting and believing in me, even when things didn’t seem to be working. I miss you every day.

You Have Wings

By: Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi

You were born with potential.

You were born with goodness and trust.

You were born with ideals and dreams.

You were born with greatness.

You were born with wings.

You are not meant for crawling, so don't.

You have wings.

Learn to use them and fly!

To my thinking; living your dream, following your passion, finding your purpose, whatever we want to call it, is really just living your life from love, from your true source. When you come from love miraculous things start to happen. Where you put your focus expands in your awareness so, your dreams have to come true.

Contents

Foreword

Chapter 1:When We Gonna Be There?

Chapter 2:I’ve Gotta Be Me

Chapter 3:My Own Strength

Chapter 4:I Did it My Way

Chapter 5:The World Will Change For Me

Chapter 6:One Moment in Time

Chapter 7:Nothing is Impossible if You Believe

Chapter 8:No Time Left for You

Acknowledgements

Resource Guide

I’m All Grown Up   Now What?

A Baby-boomer’s Guide to Living Your Dream

Foreword

The last 16 months have been a period of introspection and growth for me, although at times it seemed like I was just digging further into my cocoon and not much growing was happening. Of course I realize on a deeper level that this was when most of my growing was occurring. Like the butterfly that emerges from the cocoon and tries it wings for the first time, I am emerging from my self imposed shelter. Only unlike the butterfly, however I am learning to fly once again. You see, I have already soared with the eagles and am now looking for my direction to a new path.

Spring came in fits and starts this year to the Pacific Northwest, where I call home, and my arrival came in much the same way. One day I would make great strides and the next I would wonder what was happening to my path, for I couldn’t see it. I am happy to say that spring is finally here, and I feel that my life is beginning to blossom in ways I had never thought possible. It seems that we emerge from our chrysalis into new beings when we realize it is within us to do so. Each of us has the capacity.

This one particular day started out like most; I woke up early, meditated, fell back asleep for a while. Got up about 8:45, did my stretches and jumped on the mini trampoline then joined some neighbors for coffee and donuts—some days you just need a donut! But from there the day seemed to just go downhill, maybe too much sugar with the donuts. Nothing really wrong, just couldn’t find my groove; everything I tried to do was a struggle.

Later in the day, after watching two soap operas I went for a quick walk with my neighbor. Since the skies looked like they were going to let loose any minute we stayed close to home. It seemed as the sky got darker so did my mood, and by the time the rain started falling so did my tears. I have been learning over the past year or so that it works much better to give in to these feelings and let them run their course rather than bucking up and ignoring them. So, if I was going to have a pity party, why not do it in the tub where a few tears wouldn’t matter?

I filled the tub with warm water, added an orange scented milk bath powder, set the colored lights to violet and gave way to self pity. You know, the usual: what am I doing with my life, why doesn’t anything ever work out, why can’t I attract the right guy (one who is available), and what makes me think that I have anything worthwhile to say or do? Here I am 55 years old, single, no job, no retirement and I’m not out looking for a job; what is wrong with me. Why do I think I can start another business when my last one failed, and how could I contribute to anyone else’s life when mine was in such chaos? Do you ever talk to yourself this way? For some reason we seem to think it is okay, along as someone else doesn’t say mean things like that to us.

In the past I would have continued this pity party for at least the rest of that day and probably into the next, but this time something different happened. As I said that my life was in chaos, I got an overwhelming feeling that nothing was farther from the truth. Sure, I haven’t had a real job in 16 months, had gone bankrupt, may still lose my house, and owe a big chunk of money to everyone’s favorite, the IRS. By society’s standards it would appear my life was a mess, but I feel peaceful and more in touch with whom I am than at any other time in my life. I continue to show up each day and to dream about what I want to do with my life and how I can serve others.

I am very lucky that I have a large, loving and supportive family, seven incredible grandkids and a circle of good friends. What more could anyone ask for? That day I had finally realized it—I mean really realized it down to my core—I was at peace. Yes, I may still have mini meltdowns, but they just help to reaffirm that I’m human.

After my pity party in the bath, an idea came to me about what the next step on my journey was to be—this book! I am actually sitting here wrapped in a towel writing on manila file folders (couldn’t find any paper handy) because I didn’t want to lose the idea. I’m getting cold, so I guess I’d better hop back into the tub to warm up. Got to get those AAA batteries for the voice recorder I bought last week so I can record without paper, no matter where I am when inspiration strikes. Seems this is usually when I am in the tub; something about being in hot water gets the ideas flowing (maybe that’s a subject for another book).

I realize that most people can’t take a year and more off to find themselves. My hope is that this book will give you the inspiration and some guidance on your journey to lead you to the right teacher when you are ready for the next step. Get ready for a wild expedition of self discovery; believe me it’s worth it. You will just have to trust me for now. (Boy, how I always hated it when men said that!)

Sometimes the words in this book are from my life and my rational mind; from all that I have lived, read, and learned; while at other times they seem to just flow from my subconscious. Anyone living near me is probably wondering why my light goes on and off all night long at times. It seems that while I sleep, my subconscious gives me ideas which just flow. I wake up with words running through my head, so I turn on the light, and grab a pen and paper.

Throughout this book I have used terms that are interchangeable, words which speak to me may be different for you. Terms like God, Higher Power, Universe, Higher Self, as well as dream, purpose, and passion. Select the word that works for you and insert it in place of the words that I have used. What we call it isn’t nearly as important as just knowing that each of us has within us all we need to live a joyful life full of love and passion.

Chapter 1

When We Gonna Be There?

The possibility of stepping into a higher plane is quite real for everyone. It requires no force or effort or sacrifice. It involves little more than changing our ideas about what is normal. —Deepak Chopra M.D.

Some of the chapters in this book, as you will notice, come from songs as I sometimes find that ideas or answers come to me in this way. I read somewhere that when the angels or spirits are communicating with us they may do so in songs or poems. I like to think that this is where the songs in this book have come from.

The title for this chapter is from a song my granddaughter Sydne sang to me one day when she was three and we were having a girls’ day out. We were heading out for lunch at her favorite place when from the back seat I heard When we gonna be there? in her voice, quickly followed with the same words in a deep voice and a giggle. We continued to sing this phrase in different voices until we got to the restaurant. It seems like a good way to start a book on finding and living your passion, as many of us are beginning to ask ourselves that same question. When are we going to be the person we dream of being, living the life we want?

I have learned a lot from Sydne over her short life. She is now four, so she can do what she wants, (or so she told us on her fourth birthday)! Probably the greatest lesson, however, is to slow down and savor that which you enjoy, which for her is eating vanilla orange ice cream cups. It is a joy to watch her savor every bite and to put her entire focus on what she is doing in that moment. Do you remember some of the things that used to bring you joy that have gotten pushed to the back