By Michelle Shellabarger, Miss February 2015

My oldest daughter is a senior in high school.  The college journey is daunting to say the least.  The mail is filled with pamphlets and email is flooded too.    We are both feeling a bit sad and overwhelmed. I’m trying hard to remember how I felt at that scary time, when I was on the verge of womanhood trying to find my place in this world.

Talking over college forms the other day I brought up topic of doing what makes you happy.  How you should do what calls to your heart and makes it sing with joy.

I know I once read that whatever you enjoyed pretending to be when you were a child is probably what you were meant to do.  Maybe there is some truth there.

I liked to pretend that I was a ringmaster in a circus, a cake decorator, a poet or a playwright, a mommy, and a teacher. 

Guess what?

I have been a teacher and pastry chef.  Now I do have what some might call a small circus with my four kids and crazy pets.  I write and blog.  I am happy and, I’m still not finished. 

What I want her to know:

That just trying something is 99% of the battle (most people are too scared to even start)
Finding joy in the mundane
and being kind
are the most important lessons she will learn in this life.
That she can change her mind
That she can (and probably will) be LOTS of things
and
That life is surprising
and wonderful
if you allow it to be.

I’m excited to see what the future holds.