The Challenge Ends (Sort of)

(Day 30 — 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge)

Tucked behind the back pocket of a long forgotten favourite pair of jeans she had once worn habitually was a dream she had once dreamed about repeatedly. Pragmatics, the demands of the busy nine-to-five, and the simple frustration of not being able to come up with anything significant had pushed that pair of jeans – and that dream – deep, deep into her closet. They would have remained there. They would have stayed as mere mementos if it hadn’t been for a gentle prodding of the Spirit to plough through the closet and bring that pair of jeans – and that dream – out.

Hesitantly, she dug through the layers of excuses and doubt, allowing her fingers to touch the familiar and comfortable fabric once again. Her heart did Russian somersaults as her hand reached into the lint-filled pocket.

Though covered with dust, the golden ball was as magnificent as it always was.  Finally. The dream is out.

I started this 30 Day Challenge at the beginning of the year because I was looking for way to get my creative juices flowing. I wanted oh-so-badly to go back to writing, to go back to my very first (or was it my second?) love. I already knew then that I wouldn’t be able to finish it in 30 days (full time work, ministry, and social life anyone?) but I had set it in my heart that I would finish it, I would finish it, I would finish it, I would.

And so here we are. At the end of the challenge. If you wish to retrace the journey, you’ll find it all here:

• The Challenge Begins
• Day 1: Introduce yourself, 15 interesting facts
• Day 2: Nicknames
• Day 3: Your first love
• Day 4: Your parents
• Day 5: What song inspires you
• Day 6: Pet peeves
• Day 7: What makes you happy
• Day 8: A place you’ve travelled to and where else you want to travel
• Day 9: A favourite story your best friend
• Day 10: Something you’re afraid of
• Day 11: A quote you love
• Day 12: Something you don’t leave the house without
• Day 13: Goals
• Day 14: How have you changed in the last year?
• Day 15: Death row meal
• Day 16: Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it
• Day 17: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
• Day 18: Something you miss
• Day 19: Things you want to say to an ex
• Day 20: Something you wonder “What if…?” about
• Day 21: Something you’re proud of
• Day 22: What do you want your future to be like?
• Day 23: Favourite Movies and TV Show
• Day 24: Something you’ve learned
• Day 25: Something you are looking forward to
• Day 26: Your dream wedding
• Day 27: Photo of your city
• Day 28: What stresses you out?
• Day 29: Who is your hero?
• Day 30: 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge.

Oh but I’m supposed to write about the five good things that happened since I started the challenge. Well, here they are:

Number 1. I fell back into love. With writing, with drawing, with painting even the simplest pieces of artwork.

Number 2. I learned about the profound power words have on other people. With my writing I can inspire, change mindsets, induce bouts of laughter, and even make waves of kilig warm other people’s hearts.

Number 3. I found out that my parents are still my greatest fans.

Number 4. I learned to keep dreaming, keep writing, keep living, even when – especially when – the world around me – the world as I knew it, the world as I hoped it would remain to be, the world as I hoped it would be – crumbled down into indistinct gingerbread shambles.

Number 5. I realized that when God gives you a gift, you just have to use it. Don’t worry too much about what other people say. Don’t worry too much about what other people think. Just use the gift, hone it, and wield it well. I am trying to do that now — I know one day I shall get far. Very far.

And so this challenge may end here. But the writing does not. Thank you for reading through this entry. If you have also read through the others, I thank you for being part of the journey, too. So cheers to this. Cheers to us. Cheers to you. ;)