I finished "Tinny" Thursday evening. At 0430 Friday morning news came in; I am changing my life. Not sure what the future will bring. Here's what I posted in "Realm Makers".

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I have a message for you, it's from God. Yeah, the Big G. He has a plan and wants you to set aside your fear and low self-value; you need to get with the program. The plan needs you.

Actually, the message was for me. I needed to quit fighting Him and write about tough subjects like teen pregnancy and suicide. I didn't think writing about a struggling fourteen year old girl was my job; I'm not a girl. I'm old and out of touch. I didn't think I could do it.

I didn't think a friend's fourteen year old daughter would take her life earlier this week. I was wrong.

If you write to encourage people to value themselves and others then please, please, write. Share your work; someone needs it. We can't change the past but God wants you and I to give someone a future.

So sad for you and her family. May God give you the courage and skill to write what He has given you. Also, thank you for the encouragement to keep on even when you feel inadequate for the task.

(Moved thread to a Writer's Life)

As someone who has battled suicide and lost my younger brother to it, I want to give you my love and encouragement as you fight through this, Dom. You are absolutely right about your message. It's important to remember that the writing may be just as much for you as it may be for someone else; you may need to process something, or God may be preparing you to deal with emotions He knows you'll soon face. Everything will come out in the "wash" of editing--if you didn't get the message right the first time, it'll be fixed as you go along. So write freely, and don't be afraid to let the Holy Spirit do some editorial work.

Don't assume you're alone, kiddo.

Ditto.

*hugs* Thanks, guys.

I'm free of it now, but it's an important part of my testimony. People used to be very surprised when they found out I dealt with depression and anxiety (and everyyy once in awhile the Devil tries to pull a fast one in that department, but it doesn't work nearly as well). Not so much anymore, but it's very important that people know ANYONE can struggle with it. External circumstances has little to do with whether or not anxiety can get a toe in the door.