Lately, I have been thinking about how I might be living a Plan B life.  

And what it would mean to live a Plan A life.  

What would it look like?  

How would it feel to greet every day with passion, and a desire to serve?  

These thoughts roam my mind, as if on a field trip through a flower-filled meadow.

 They lead me to think of times when I felt I was living at my best.  

My strongest, most alive self.

I feel it now, when blogging.

I feel it when journaling.

And I have felt it many times before when seeing someone else’s light and wanting to help them make it shine.

A lady friend of mine. Love her dearly. She had a fabulous idea for a business and I tried and I tried and I tried to encourage her to start it. I don’t recall the reason why, but that business never materialized.

She tried another business. I saw so much potential for her and it! I encouraged her and supported her. My husband even became her first customer. But that business quickly fell to the wayside as well.

Then there was yet ANOTHER business. I know she could have done it! She could have made a success of it! She could have made a success of working for herself in any one of those businesses.

I saw it. I felt it.

Her light and potential was clear to me.

But I guess she never saw it.

The same thing happened with her daughter. A beautiful, artistically talented girl. I saw her potential, and encouraged her to pursue the art she loved.

She could have come to live with me to attend UNC Asheville, which has a fabulous art program.

I saw the possibilities. I saw the light.

I guess she did not see it.

Another time she wanted to go to school to become a massage therapist.

Fabulous! A super smart choice for her, as she could set her own hours, travel to clients’ homes or businesses, and work her massage magic.

My husband and I bought her a bunch of supplies to get her started.

I saw the light. I invested in it hoping to fan the spark inside her.

I guess she did not see it.

But the Universe works in strange ways.

I know now that my lady friend sister was not meant to open her own business. She is successful and happy at what she does helping someone else run their business.

Her daughter is still searching. But she will come into her own one day. I know it. I saw the light inside of her.

The point of this story is not about oh-look-how-great-Renae-is-helping-these-people.

The point of this story is about the feeling inside of me, the yearning to help other people live their best, most fabulous lives.

The feeling is akin to being drawn to a romantic love.

It’s that strong. That consuming.

I felt that same pull while reading the amazing story of Bill Strickland, founder of Manchester Bidwell, a jobs training center and community arts program in Pittsburgh.

When I feel that pull, it tells me that there’s something powerful going on!

Magical, even.

Today, I opened an email from The Dragontree.

Briana and Peter Borten. You may have heard of them.

Inside was an article by Peter Borten called, Claim Your Light and Illuminate the World.

The title pulled me in.

I read the opening paragraphs, and then followed the instructions to click here to read more.

I continued reading, and was struck dumb by this paragraph, bolded parts mine:

When we’re conscious of our true worth, this obliterates any perception of ourselves as broken, sinful, or undeserving. Further, when we’re conscious of our worth, we want to share it. We want to serve and contribute. We want to help others experience their worth. And regardless of our ability to do this through our various acts, simply owning our self-worth is empowering to others. Or, as we say in the book, As I claim my light, so is the world illuminated.

As I claim my light, so is the world illuminated.

As I read those words, everything I wrote in this post — and a whole lot more — flashed through my mind in an instant.

• My dear lady friend x 3
• My dear lady friend’s daughter x 2
• Bill Strickland x 100!

We want to share it. We want to help others experience their worth.

“I’m listening, Universe,” I said. “I’m open and here to learn.”

Poking around on the Dragontree website, I stumbled upon a link that said, “Become a life coach.”

I’ve never given much thought to become a coach, thinking I’m not really “coach” material. I’ve always considered myself more of a “consultant,” wanting to give solutions to and get stuff done for my clients.

Now, I have been interested in Martha Beck’s coach training program, thinking I’d like to do it even if just for my own personal growth.

But I have never felt … compelled … while reading Martha’s content.

Here, reading Dragontree’s, I’m pulled.

I feel a call.

A call to learn to help others be their best selves.

To lift them up.

Encourage.

Inspire.

Listen.

Guide.

Part of me is saying inside, “Yes, Renae. Follow your heart.”

Another part is saying, “Holy crap I can’t do another program right now.”

And yet another part is saying, “That’s some mighty fine copywriting, causing you to want to jump in!”

Alas, I can’t partake now, as I really do have too many other obligations.

But one of these days…. hopefully not too far in the future.

Because this pull … this call … it’s so strong!

So powerful.

It’s been here for a long time in my life, and I suppose it won’t be going away any time soon.

It’s power. It’s magic.

It’s inside me, yearning to be set free.

Can you feel that same power inside of you?

Have you felt it?

Friend, the next time you feel that inexplicable pull, I hope you’ll remember these words.

I hope you’ll listen to what the Universe is saying.

It could be the turning point you’ve been waiting for all along.