Remember the book called The Secret? It’s a book in the self-help genre written by Rhonda Byrne that basically states that the law of attraction is real—that positive thoughts or energy attracts other positive thoughts and energy. It goes further to express that the power of positive thinking can help you achieve what you want or imagine and will it into existence.
As it says on my blackboard, a great quote from J.K. Rowling: “Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic.”
Some may believe these things are possible; others may not.
I am in the camp that believes it can happen. But then again, I’m a pretty positive person. I don’t think I could be a teacher if I were not.
Earlier this year, and after many years of teaching and writing novels, I had decided to explore the possibility of doing some freelance writing. Mind you, this desire was only in my head; I had expressed it to no one. I teach courses in journalism, so the mere idea of writing for publications would be fun and exciting for me, and something different from what I’m doing presently. I teach the courses, but I also want to practice my craft.
A little opportunity arose for me to write for a local community magazine. I decided to take the folks up on the offer, and I began to write articles for them. To date, I have written four pieces since I first decided to take it on.
Then, a former student of mine, who knew I taught travel writing, reached out to me about writing for a publication called marylandroadtrips.com. After a conversation with the woman who runs the magazine and website, I am now going to be writing travel articles for the publication, thanks to our connection and the fact that my former student thought of me.
Additionally, I was asked to write a column for a start-up magazine called Swoonworthy Stories about writing and novelists. You can check them out on Instagram. I’m super excited to be a part of this new magazine, as I have gotten to know the women involved in the project and am keen on seeing the project succeed.
Which leads me back to The Secret.
I do think there is something to the power of wishing things into existence, or fate, or the power of positive thinking. Every job I have ever secured in my life has been the result of fate or things falling into place. It doesn’t hurt that I bust my butt and put my all into everything I do, but I do believe in the magic of timing.
Ultimately, I think if you work hard at anything, put the time in, and have a true passion for things, there is just that more potential for good coming from it all.
Perhaps that is, as they say, the secret.
