I recently turned 36.
While it’s officially the oldest I’ve ever been, I decided to do something that felt admittedly…childish? No, that’s not it.
Indulgent?
No. Thats not it either.
I don’t know.
Let’s just say it felt wonky, but in the good kind of way.
Even though it was freezing cold I went outside to sit on my back porch (because being outdoors helps me think) and I brought my favorite spiral notebook- the one that reads “Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You” in shiny metallic gold lettering across the front.
It’s the notebook that currently holds all my most important words.
My ideas.
My notes.
My outlines.
My reminders.
My inner monologue.
It’s all there.
But I realized there was something MISSING from the book. Something so important that I can’t believe I’ve never bothered to write down.
My dreams.
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As I sat on my porch casting vision for the year ahead and reflecting on the year behind, I realized that 2017 was full of surprises. It was a year full of dreaming bigger and saying Yes to pursuing those dreams. It was an impetus of sorts, and God wasted no time in drawing me directly outside of the comfort zone that I’d carefully created for myself.
Remember on Inside Out when Joy draws a circle for Sadness and tells her that her only job is to STAY INSIDE THE CIRCLE? It was kind of like that except I’d drawn my own circle, labeled it Comfort Zone, and planted myself there like a fool. We could really get deep here and talk about Joy and Sadness and how in reality, comfort zones are the easiest place to become miserable, but we honestly don’t have time for that today.
The point is, all of that changed the moment I began saying YES.
I started saying yes to God and waking up to parts of myself that I’d disregarded for too long.
I said yes to bigger than I’d imagined things, smaller than I’d imagined things, to new friends, to new opportunities, and to experiences that I couldn’t have made up if I tried.
At one point my yeses landed me on a red leather couch in the audio/visual room of Dutch Bros Headquarters, doing a freestyle RAP at the beginning of a podcast. IN FRONT OF OTHER HUMANS. Who were not deaf and could actually hear me.
What even is life?
I do not know.
But I do know that the more I said yes, the more I came alive. I began to wake up to my creative self and to my dreams.
So much so, that while my year of yes is technically over, I still find myself increasingly compelled to step further out of my comfy little circle in pursuit of those dreams.
Even when it seems foolish.
Even when each step feels more like a leap out of an airplane than forward motion.
☝?Which is basically always, in case you’re wondering. I keep thinking it’ll get easier. I’ll stop being nervous all the time. It’ll become like second nature at some point.
It hasn’t yet, so I’m also saying yes to telling the honest truth about all the wonky feelings that come along with saying yes.
Welcome to my blog. Nothing is sacred.
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Every single step towards my dreams feels like a free fall into the unknown, or like a swan dive cannonball into the deep end of the ocean.
But here’s the good news about the unknown: it is full of infinite possibility. I have no doubt that God hangs out in the deep end just waiting for us to jump in with him and discover the treasures hidden there.
(My feelings on this can best be expressed by the movie Moana, which had me ugly crying like a weirdo in the front row while my kids repeatedly asked for popcorn and Icy refills while failing to notice their mother was busy having a major emotional and spiritual breakthrough.)
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So here I am. I surthrived my year of yes. And yah, I’m sticking with that made up word. Because while in some of my yeses I thrived and in others I merely survived, together they taught me to say yes to who I really am.
The ironic part is that I’m just beginning to realize that all this “saying yes to who God made me to be” business MIGHT ACTUALLY INCLUDE MY DREAMS.
Hi. I’m Amber and I’m a little slow on the uptake.
For most of my life, I unwittingly believed that my dreams were somehow indulgent or silly and that they certainly had nothing to do with my spiritual life.
While I wouldn’t have said it out loud, deep down I suspected that God didn’t truly care about all of my interests, unless those interests involved like, moving to Africa and being a missionary or something.
I had subconsciously compartmentalized my life in such a way that I separated my “spiritual life” from my “regular life”.
*smacks forehead*
I know.
I KNOW.
*throws arms in the air in incredulity*
I just figured all my personality quirks, preferences, and tendencies fell somewhere in the fringe of Things That Actually Mattered.
So what if I never forget a good movie quote, that laughter is my love language, and that SNL references are one of the shortest and most direct paths to my heart (Taco Bell aside)?
So what if I love to read and write and connect with other women?
So what if I love interior design, homemaking, and organization literally makes my pulse quicken with delight?
What does all that have to do with anything?
You guys.
What if the answer is EVERYTHING?
What if that stuff actually has everything to do with Things That Actually Matter?
What if it matters BECAUSE HE MADE ME THIS WAY?
I’m sorry about all the shouty capitals and italics here, but this information is completely revelatory to me and I’m having a hard time controlling THE VOLUME OF MY VOICE.
Guys, God is so into you.
He is into everything about you. It all matters to him.
Nothing is wasted in His economy.
None of those parts of yourself that you consider “inconsequential” or silly: your fears, your quirks, your tendencies, your passions, your skills, your aversions- none of it is wasted. It all matters. It all contributes to the unique art that you have to offer the world. (Ps. Your art might not look how you expect it to. You might not even realize it’s art. But we’ll talk more about that later.)
It wasn’t until my yeses drew me further towards the things I truly love, like writing, connecting with women, and house flipping, that I finally began to see that all those parts of myself that I’d compartmentalized, that I’d shoved into the drawer marked “inconsequential” actually had everything to do with how God wired me to process and contribute to the world around me.
Maybe, just maybe, God cares about all the silly dreams tucked away in our hearts even more than we do because HE put them there.
On purpose.
And for such a time as this.
What if he’s just waiting for us to wake up to our creative self and to pursue those very dreams with boldness and an unflagging joy?
Wouldn’t that be so wild?
Guess what. God is wild.
Sky Peters says
Amber, this came in a time when I desperately needed a sign!! Thank you for opening up and letting it all out!! You were my very first friend to ever take me to church. I remember it very vividly and I would like to take the time now to thank you for it!!! We are all important– every part of us!! Thank you so very much for the reminder!! xox
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Sky- I’m so glad if you found this post meaningful! You are amazing! Cheering you on, as you continue on your own unique path. Love ya, friend!
layla says
Good words Amber. I shared on FB so that more women can read this piece of wisdom. xoxo
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Layla, thank you so much! I deeply appreciate you sharing this post!
Stephanie says
I did too!
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank you Stephanie!
Tammy says
Are you my doppelgänger? I have all those same interests (I like organization but it doesn’t quite make my pulse race just yet. More like starry eyed). I want to say yes, but I am stuck! This indecision’s bugging me. Bonus points if you can name that quote.
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Blurg! A movie quote and I don’t know it! It feels familiar… GAH! Now this is going to drive me nuts all day! What movie is it?
Tammy says
To be fair, it’s a song quote.
ambersalhus@msn.com says
AH! Okay okay okay! I’m picking up what you’re putting down!
*scratches chin and starts humming as if that will help me remember*
Tammy says
You were probably a toddler when it came out. Lol
Jen Ferguson says
Love this! I love your line about God being so into us. You are so right!
Katherine Sleadd says
“Surthrived” might be my new favorite word. It makes me laugh …aaaand it makes me cry. To use another Disney reference it is the essence of “falling with style.”
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank You Disney, you will always be relevant!
Love,
The Lady Who Sobbed Through Moana
Stephanie says
I haven’t even finished reading and I’m sobbing. I needed this more than the air I breathe today. Confirmation is everything in God’s timing. Amber you are the definition of inspiration and motivation. Thank you, thank you for speaking, thinking and sharing what some of us fear to share out loud. God bless you and your family. Keep making that grand impact on all who look forward to what you have to say and share. Much love xoxo
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Stephanie! You are so welcome. The fact that these words resonated with you is a gift. I’m honored that you are reading them.
Jessica C says
Just what I need this morning! Thank you!
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank YOU for reading Jessica!
MaryLou Caskey says
Hi Amber, I enjoy getting to know you in HopeWriters and really appreciated this comment, “But here’s the good news about the unknown: it is full of infinite possibility. I have no doubt that God hangs out in the deep end just waiting for us to jump in with him and discover the treasures hidden there.” Thank you.
Melissa says
I love your honesty. And your amazing and refreshing perspective at how God love us and call us to step into our dreams and embrace who He creates us to be! Always enjoy your inspiring words! I’m so glad you say YES to Him! You are a blessing!
Adrienne says
Fabulous post.