Your Faults Might Be Your Strengths

I tend to get reflective as the year comes to a close. What went well? What can I do better? Today on "Coffee With Yaasha," I share the question that has most bothered me this year as I've written novels, nonfiction resources, and connected with other authors. 

This video is a follow-up to a post I put on Instagram and Facebook, which I reproduce here: 

I love to learn and try out new things, and for a long time, I hated that about myself. I'd start a new routine and suddenly find myself distracted by the newest shiny thing. I want to sing in a cantata! I want to learn how to tap-dance! I want to upcycle every random object in my house! I want to travel the world!
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I've spent my entire adult life fighting to keep focused on my writing and my relationships, because those are the two most important things to me. But every time I actually "settled down" and "focused," I could not enjoy those important things. They felt hollow. Other adventures beckoned and I felt torn between duty and delight. I labelled myself "flaky," "flighty," "distracted," and "unfocused," because of these tendencies.

I've been learning this year, digging deeper into the "why" behind this constant cycle of frustration.  And in the last month, through a series of hard-hitting questions and sweet, gentle nudges in my spirit from the Lover of my soul, I understood something.

It's actually OKAY to be that person. As my dear Dragon put it, "You want to force yourself to drink the coffee black, but that's not good enough for you. You want to try ALL the drinks. You know what that is, don't you? It's called wanderlust." How does my Dragon know me better than myself? (Husband superpowers, I'm sure.) But here's the point: When I balance my responsibilities and priorities with that natural enjoyment of the little things in life, I am happiest AND most productive.

It's made me think: How many times do we have expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet, that diminish our natural strengths rather than working with them? What if we looked more graciously at the things we think are our faults? Are they really faults, or are they natural strengths that don't fit in with our narrow agendas for ourselves? How can we better balance our responsibilities with our joys? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

As for me, I'm going to knit, swing dance, ride horses, do archery, climb mountains, and drink every flavor of coffee I can find. Then I'll write about it in my fantasy and sci-fi novels.

And then? Then I'll go on new adventures.