Connie McDonald's Blog

Asking Good Questions

What makes you come to life? What lights you up? What gives you joy?
What do you love, love, love? What makes you smile?​

All, such good questions. Right? But sometimes life’s have to’s, and commitments, and “got to do’s “, relegate such questions to nice sentiments, posters on our wall. We feel unworthy to take time to truly reflect and ask ourselves that very thing, let alone let those answers get inside our soul and propel us forward.

But those questions keep on knocking, and suddenly a good friend says, “ When you were telling me that just now about… , your face just lit up!” Or looking at pictures, of the time you were at your daughter’s wedding, and your husband say’s “you were radiating, that day.” Or the time, you were laughing so hard, roaring out loud, that you felt like a college girl again.

---

When I ask myself what lights me up, what makes me come to life, the list definitely includes: Dancing , especially with my husband, Engaging in anything Creative and Colorful., Watching Children Play, Connecting with Kindred Spirit Friends & Ah Ah moments when I see the love of God surrounding me in nature, in repeated themes, everywhere I turn.

It is said” The Glory of God is women or man, fully Alive.” Yes, Yes, Yes. I say! 
And …. “By the fruits you will know them…”, doesn’t it stand to reason, that whatever gives you joy, and life, and peace, and zest, is a good thing? 
Why are we so stingy with ourselves??? As far as letting ourselves play, letting ourselves partake in the very things we love more??? 
Hmmmmmmmmmm…… OK? I will reflect with you, on just a few of my “Come Alive” questions and answers to get in touch more with this.

​Dancing- what is it about Dancing, that I love so much?. The beat of the music, the rythmn and tune, that gets my tow to tapping, the ability to let it flow, let it go…. Like my grandkid’s music video says… You got to “Move it, Move it… Or the Gene Kelly musical sings….”Got to Dance, Got to Dance….” Or when my parents era, jitterbug song comes on at a wedding, and Tim and I get up and “cut a rug”… Such fun, such joy, such release.

Engaging in anything Creative and Colorful- Just walking in to a room, with pleasing harmonious colors makes me smile. What’s creative for one person, might not be for another. But it’s a big deal now for me, to pay attention to what makes my heart sing, what feels good and what makes me come more alive. ​

As I embark on launching my book: “Embracing God’s Rainbow”- how God took me from Black and White to Technicolor”, I recently uncovered a kidlike, message/sketch from my journal that said: “In a flat, 2 D, black and white, small print, lackluster world I wish to be a Living, Technicolor, 3 D, multimedia person, creating, inviting and encouraging” .

It gives me goosebumps, on one hand to seeing that prayer, hope, dream come to life…. But also scares me silly. To take myself and my dreams to heart…WOW. To allow God to propel me forward, after germinating and being underground for soooooooooo long. 
​Comment below. I want to hear what lights you up?
What about you what’s stirring in your soul? What are you daring to sketch in your journal? What makes you come alive? What lights you up.? Pay attention to these things for they are clues to what the world needs more of. YOU, just being yourself, fully Alive, En-joying, and Living live in Technicolor, whatever way that looks like to you.