Saying goodbye to The Linda Project...
As many of you have probably realized by now, The Linda Project has been very quiet. So quiet that it's been months since the last blog post. It wasn't that I didn't want to write or share my thoughts with all of you, it was that I just didn't have the words to do so.
Seasons of life often change so quickly that we don't even realize the things that keep us healthy and sane are the first things to go when we're under stress. My family and I experienced a terrible loss early in 2019 (more to come on this) and I just couldn't find the words. The more I tried to force the words to come, the more frustrated and discouraged I became.
I was conflicted by trying to find the right words for this terrible loss, all while trying to find the right words to reach the largest audience. These two pressures ultimately left me paralyzed with nothing left to say. I went as far as to tell my closest family and friends that I was done with The Linda Project. I was tired of putting so much pressure on myself, and tired of feeling like I was failing.
Time is funny though, isn't it? After my declaration it felt like more than ever people began to ask me about The Linda Project. They were curious as to why it's been so quiet. I think I took quite a few people off guard when I told them I was done. Some pushed back and some didn't, but I could tell everyone had more to say about it.
After a couple more weeks, a complete stranger walked into my life. The premise of the introduction was to partner together at work (ultimately to make him more money), but this person was more interested in talking to me about my writing. HE, yes, HE, who I usually don't consider my primary audience wouldn't let it go. Even when I met him in person (after telling him we couldn't partner immediately), he still went onto encourage me about my writing.
I sat with it for a while and really prayed. I asked the hard question of what The Linda Project is? Why am I doing it? How much time can and should I give? Every time I prayed about it, I came up empty. Then, I heard a small inner voice tell me that it is time to move on from The Linda Project, but not to stop sharing what our Lord ultimately puts on my heart. The one catch? I had to stop hiding. I needed to step out boldly and own my writing.
Stripping the name, The Linda Project, pushed me out of my comfort zone. Now, there's no way people won't know it's me (I know that sounds ridiculous, but that's how I felt...exposed). But, God kept prompting me. Own it. These are your words. I believe he was using certain people to help build my confidence at this time to really get me to step out of my comfort zone.
So, here I am. Just me. My truth. My fears. My questions. My encouragement. My faith. My real life.
When writing this post, I was reminded of this truth:
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
- Isaiah 41:10 ESV.
So friends, I invite you to come on this journey with me. Please subscribe, so you get notifications of when a new post is published. Join me as I tell the story of my heart. As I dream new dreams. And if you're feeling the unease of anything in your life, pray about it and sit with it. You just never know when that inner voice may speak to you.
Blessings my friends,
Jenna