My Overactive Thinker

This past weekend, our family and a large gathering of friends from a span of about 28 years spent an enchanting evening together in the March cool weather of Arizona. The dream of writing a book was followed by a book launch event.  When I first told Kurt, my husband, about the idea of having a book launch event, he didn’t understand the purpose of such an affair and thought it was going to be something small. 

I explained to him, “How often do I write and publish a book?! And besides, I threw you the best surprise 40^th birthday party ever; I even had your family fly here from New Jersey, Kansas, and Oregon! I have thrown countless, huge parties for our kids, and I want a big party to celebrate my book! I want it now!” I started to sound a little like Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I mellowed out a bit and shared how it will be a really fun party, and it’s what you do when you write a book. I could tell from his puzzled look that he was unsure his role, but he was soon on board. 

The celebration was filled with delicious treats, flavorful and warm coffee, book signing, trivia games, prizes, and stories shared.  I’m not too sure if the guests were thrilled about playing the Sound of Music trivia game, but I figured it had to be better than Pride and Prejudice.

As I watched and looked over the crowd, in my head I recalled stories and experiences Kurt or I or our children had shared with each person. How funny that they all were there to celebrate the Hope Follows book launch and the HOPE that our team is scattering all over the world, but they, in fact, planted seeds of hope inside of me. Dare I say they are “hope influencers” and don’t even realize it.

One friend who is my hiking buddy and relentless about being my sounding board when I am facing challenges; she always has something hopeful and positive to share with me and shift my perspective. There is the friend who I walked with and shared about the challenges and discoveries of the early parenting years. Yet another friend who has shared his story of never quitting on his dreams. There is the couple who led a marriage ministry that really inspired hope into Kurt’s and my marriage long ago. The list goes on.

When is the last time you looked around at the people you know and recalled the good things they have brought into your life? It may be slow as you start making a mental or written list (especially if you are older like me and my brain gets a little sleepy or distracted), but I bet the memories and thoughts will start overflowing. I shared at the event that yes, this is a celebration for a newly published book. But, more than anything, the evening was about two things.

FIRST, may we STRIVE to be people who remain open to HOPE. In a crisis, we see the light at the end of the tunnel when we allow our hearts and minds to feel new hope and joy.  I urged our friends to consider becoming a “carrier” of HOPE to all those around them. Seriously!  Let’s trade in being carriers of Covid-19 to being carriers of hope, joy, and encouragement.

SECOND, the book and newly broadcasted television show Hope Follows is a product of purpose and passion crossing their lonely paths. I love what Bob Goff says about this, “You hit the jackpot when you connect the things you love to do (your passion) to your deeper why (your purpose).” He goes on to list the three sizes of dreams, “Tall, Grande, and Venti. Don’t be afraid to try a Venti dream.” I’m glad I went for the Venti dream of writing and publishing a book. Thanks, Bob. This is my second point: what dream did you have 20 years ago? 10 years ago? Recently? Dust it off a bit. It’s so worth the uncomfortable and hard work.

My passion to write crossed paths with my renewed joy and overactive thinker. I had identified long ago that I had a purpose to help, encourage, and tell others what to do because I know what is best.  That last statement is not as glamorous as it sounds. That was my attitude with my children; we can all agree Mommas Know Best! But, sometimes my overactive thinker would get me into trouble with my children and husband.

Today, how I write blog posts and create content for my show comes from that overactive thinker. Yep, my brain thinks so much that I don’t know when it rests.  I seriously think I think while I am sleeping. See, I even said the word think twice in one sentence. As I was out hiking recently, I got a revelation to this journey of Hope Follows and my thinker.

The constant over thinking and over worrying about my children through the years grew to a big cluttery mess in my brain. As I started to blog when my children were older, I slowly began to transition my brain from wasteful worry to unique ways of looking at things. Object lessons would pop into my head by looking at a rock on my hike or the turtle in the backyard. Stories were the result. Blog stories.

Aha, that was it. My overly active thinker had a makeover! I went from thoughts of worry about my children to thoughts that contained relevant messages of hope and encouragement. And some of the messages are serious and helpful, while others are a little odd and funny. I try to keep you on your toes. Now, I am not so hard on myself with my overactive brain, but I try to use it for more productive things.

Lesson: identify a weakness you have. Take that weakness or blind spot, and find a way to transform it into something positive and helpful. 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2