Five Minute Friday - Encouragement

This post is part of Five Minute Friday over at http://lisajobaker.com/ - The rules are simple.  Write for 5 minutes and don't edit it.  Then post it over there and visit the person in front of you.  Or several people in front of you.  The encouragement you get is wonderful.

Which is funny because that's the word today:  Encouragement.

And GO:

Encouragement.  It's such a powerful little word.  I used to be known as a good encourager and maybe to some extent, I still am.  Or at least I'm trying to do more than I used to.

But recently, I've become aware of an online community called (in)courage.  The website address is beautiful.  www.incourage.me   Isn't that great? 

They also have an online conference called (in)RL.  I may not have that exactly right, and any editing I do today is strictly to get the right web addresses listed.

Regardless, the preview trailer for the conference is beautiful and encouraging and it made me cry.  Because I DO have a story to tell.  My story.  And that has changed everything.  Instead of being the encourager, I get to be encouraged simply by telling my story.  My ups, my downs, my ins, my outs. 

I'm actually on the brink of discovering my story, and I feel like it may be bigger than I have ever realized or imagined or bigger than I understand.  I'm thoroughly excited to be in this process, even though I'm also ultimately terrified. 

But encouragement means so much to the person you give it too.  It takes so very little to give that to someone.  Reach out and try to encourage one person, big or small, and let them know they are appreciated.

And STOP.

Hugs,
Melinda