Simple Steps for Real Life is that gentle nudge you need to move past your past, learn to trust your own instincts or break out of a rut. Sometimes the smallest action can make a huge difference—and Simple Steps for Real Life will show you how! It’s up to you to decide if you are ready to move forward. This is about you, your real life and your choice.
At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want. – Lao Tzu Desire It! Know What You Want Introduction I am sitting on a rock at Bandon Beach on the Oregon Coast as Jack begins his first round of photography for the day. At a distance I can see him in the surf with a backpack, tripod and camera, getting down into the frigid water just to get the perfect angle for the shot. Three hours from now he will return to the same spot, hoping to capture the rock formations in the perfect light. Jack knows what he wants ... even more ... he will pursue it relentlessly until he gets what he wants. What about you? Do you know what you want? Are you prepared to sacrifice what you have for what you want? I admire Jack's tenacity when it comes to photography. And I admire those kids in school who seemed to know what they wanted to be when they grew up. It’s that drive and singular focus that enables them to succeed regardless of adversity, detractors and roadblocks. When you know what you want and have the passion necessary to turn it into your reality ... you do! If you are reading this chapter, then you probably aren't where you want to be when it comes to doing what you love. You are not alone! I was in my fifties before I figured it out. It came as a quiet discovery - not a startling revelation. And as quietly as it arrived, it took me a while longer to even realize that what I had wanted was right in front of me all along. In this chapter I’m going to give you a few Simple Steps that will help you hone in on what you want. Since everyone receives information differently, there are a variety of options for you to experiment with. Not every Simple Step will be appropriate for your situation … yet each one offers ideas that can help you determine what you want out of life. It’s really important to take the time to figure out what is important to you. If you just let life happen, then you have to take whatever comes your way. What if you don’t like it? Are you going to keep waiting and hoping for a different result? You don’t have to pile on the pressure to figure out your “calling.” When, however, you focus on what brings you joy, you’ll discover your future is actually calling you. If you’re ready to start living your life by your own design, turn the page and take a Simple Step forward.
When Cheryl Maloney first started blogging in 2009, she was an out-of-work, out-of-shape, over-fifty corporate executive collecting unemployment, questioning her own worth, coping with her husband’s scary health diagnoses and beating herself up for the stupid financial mistakes she had made. Is that enough baggage?
After months of daily writing, Cheryl started posting her thoughts on Facebook. Eventually, she realized that she wasn’t alone in her challenges. There were more people dealing with major life issues than she had thought—and by reading Cheryl’s posts, they knew they weren’t alone, either!
Cheryl is passionate about helping others. She continues to blog, share inspiration on the Simple Steps…Real Change website and Facebook page along with co-hosting a weekly radio show on Empower Radio.
Cheryl and her husband Jack reside near Portland, Oregon with their pets. They enjoy exploring the landscape and small towns of the Pacific Northwest.