Written By: Gemma Smith, UK Chair for Global Goodwill Ambassadors Foundation
We are all ordinary people, though ordinary people can sometimes do extraordinary things by shining a light in a dark room. Have you ever thought about doing something so much, but you continue to procrastinate, put it off and think that you will do it ‘one day’ to find that it never happens? Ever since I was a little girl, I had a burning desire to write a book. Being a believer in the idea that everybody can become the best version of themselves, I could never let go of the idea to fulfill a dream (even if it was a childhood dream).
Traveling Our World
For around 10 years, I explored my love of craft writing through blogging and travel writing while traveling the world solo. At the age of 19, I decided to embark on the journey of a lifetime and travelled to 5 countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. I have an urge to see the world, live through more experiences and immerse myself into new, unknown cultures. As an advocate for learning, what better way to learn than through discovery and exploration?
Following a traveling adventure, the deep-down desire to write a book just wouldn’t go away. I couldn’t help but notice the light within all of humanity, after all, I could just FEEL the light and FEEL the love radiating from humankind. I questioned myself and realized that I too had this same warmth, this same radiation that I discovered could positively impact all of those around me. Caring about mental health so much, I strived to support and care for as many people as possible – from strangers to those nearest and dearest to me – I figured that together we must be there for one another. We must support one another. We must give back, love, care and share in a selfless yet rewarding and ever-lasting, transformative way. Learning and Teaching This urge to support and get involved continued to soar, which is why I decided to become a teacher. I loved to learn, I loved children and I loved to give back. Being around children reminded me to be a child again, to not take life so seriously but to be grateful and enjoy and appreciate the ‘present’ moment. At this point in my life, I realized that I had to start leading by example. If I had a childhood dream that I cared about so much, like writing a book, then why wasn’t I following through with it? I believe that every person has their own story to tell… there is not another you so share your story with the world. Leave your mark. Leave a legacy. My life leading up to that point had been fulfilled with consistent ‘learning moments’. When something interesting had happened to me, or when I had heard something that ‘wowed’ me, I decided to write it down. I didn’t want to forget about any exciting knowledge or wisdom that blew me away. I wanted to capture it and remember what I had learned from those around me, from people I had met, which is what led me to eventually believing that I had obtained SO much knowledge that I knew I HAD to share this with others.
Why not?
The Turning Point
So, one day, I decided to spontaneously sign up to a writing workshop because I felt deep inside of me that I wanted to have some guidance (but also some encouragement from other writers) to turn my dream into a reality. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals, I realised just how desperately I wanted it. During moments of adversity and feeling like I wanted to give up, I was reminded by inspiring people around me to remember my ‘why’… what was my reason for doing this? Well, I wanted to share all of the knowledge and wisdom that I had obtained throughout my life so far with the world. I wanted others to benefit from what I knew as I had. What good were my knowledge and wisdom staying inside of my mind and not on paper? This ‘why’ kept me going, it was my purpose and continued to motivate me to feel the fear but do it anyway!
I knew that I enjoyed expressing myself through words and it made me feel happy. When something makes you feel happy, that’s a sign you’re on the right track. You are in alignment with yourself and you are on the right road of discovering who you are. You are in a position to shine and share the light that lives inside of you with the world. Feeling stuck in the darkness of procrastination and being caught up in the whirlwind of life can be very demotivating and stressful, but just remember that you too have a gift. Whether you know it now or not, you have something to offer others. You are important and special because there is only one of you.
Your Right to Happiness
Even if you don’t know your life art right now or you can’t have your life art just yet, you need to set yourself up with the right qualities to lead you on to greatness. In all that you do, do it with all of you. Create an infinite love inside of you for all that you do and in all that you are because you know that your ultimate right and worthiness is to be happy and serve others.
We have an empowering ability to transform lives with the light that lives within us, to maneuver people out of the darkness, to rid the rain and invite the sunshine into their lives. You could just be the ray of light that a person needs to turn their life around.
Ask yourself, what is it you truly desire, want to achieve and know deep within you, you must do?
How can you shine your light and share it with others?
What impact are you going to make next?
To read more of Gemma's book, visit: