Are you feeling stuck? Trapped in the wrong situation. You can’t get anywhere until you do one thing. Read this story and discover what it is.

Nancy Mitchell

Let It Happen!

What does it mean to “be human?” Have you ever thought about that, really thought about that? So often, our bodily form is something we take for granted or, worse, criticize. Somehow, we are never “good enough, thin enough, tall enough, muscular enough, pretty enough, rich enough, or not something enough.” From that perspective, we can’t see how marvelous we are!

The beauty of the body and how it functions is sheer magic. Our minds are even more amazing; we can think, solve, calculate, and create in ways unlike any other form of life. We have dominion over all that is made. Yet, when have you stopped to appreciate this fact? The mind and body are just tools we are born with, right? No big deal. You don’t think about it.

Stop for a moment and think about how amazing “being human” really is. Think about how you have eyes to see with, ears to hear, a mind that thinks, and the ability to speak. That’s incredible stuff! Yet we don't give a second thought to how truly amazing we are.

It gets even better when people realize that with just a few changes in attitude and perception, their lives can change from sad to glad. That’s wonderful! The next time you’re in front of a mirror, examine yourself. See the beauty of how you’re made. This is not the time to find fault but to appreciate the life force within you that made this body possible. Be grateful. Breathe that in. You’re special. No one in the world is like you. That’s why there is no better design than being yourself?

Today’s story is about Eleanor and how she came to understand there’s more to life than she thought.

Eleanor, like many women today, is eager to “fit in.” She follows the rules, goes along with what’s expected for a woman in her social class, not realizing she’s robbing herself of someone special. That someone special is being herself.

When she was a child, Eleanor didn’t think about what a career as an artist meant. She drew pictures because she enjoyed expressing herself that way. She drew many subjects: the neighbor’s cat, a bird in a tree, a caterpillar in the branches, anything that sparked her desire to express herself. As she grew, her drawings improved steadily. Yet this skill, honed over many years, “had to go.” Art was considered foolish for a girl who couldn’t afford to be an artist. Her mother said, “Give it up,” and so she did.

It wasn’t until she was in her late twenties that she took stock of her life and wondered, What if?

This happened unexpectedly while grocery shopping. She was eyeing a product on the shelf when she bumps her cart into another. The older woman looks quite annoyed, then glances at

Eleanor quizzically. Eleanor stares back, vaguely remembering this woman as a teacher from high school. Surprisingly, they smile at each other at the same time, realizing who the other is.

“Miss Fray?” Eleanor asks.

The older woman looks at her, smiling.

“I was in your high school art class,” Eleanor confesses, “I’m Eleanor Williams. Remember?”

“Yes! Eleanor! I remember,” the teacher replies. “Wonderful art student! Where are you displaying your work? I’d love to see what you’re painting now.”

Eleanor becomes silent.

“I don’t work in the art field,” she says softly. “I gave up art a long time ago.”

Miss Fray’s expression softens. “Oh, I see. We all make changes, don’t we? So, what are you doing now?”

“I’m a waitress,” Eleanor responds candidly.

“I see,” Miss Fray says quietly. “Are you happy?”

Eleanor looks at her blankly. “Why do you ask?”

“Are you happy with this line of work?”

Eleanor stares into space for several moments, slightly annoyed that this woman is asking her to reveal a truth she has been determined to hide. The truth is, she hasn’t been happy, but there isn’t much she can do about it. She needs to work and this job pays the bills.

“Miss Fray, I hate my job, but I have to pay the bills,” Eleanor confides truthfully, surprised by her openness.

“Eleanor,” Miss Fray continues, “you have a gift. Not to express this gift is to deny yourself, and others, the joy of that expression.”

“Joy of expression! Nothing joyful about work! Work means to be unhappy. That’s why they call it ‘work.’” Eleanor replies defiantly.

“That’s one way of looking at it,” Miss Fray explains, “but there are people who go to their jobs happy to be there.”

“I can’t imagine being happy to go to work.” Eleanor confides. “ You have to work hard to pay the bills.”

”Eleanor, we all need to make money, but you have a gift that could provide you with an exceptional income if you only applied yourself. Not to do that is to lose yourself completely by being someone who isn’t happy.”

“Miss Fray, I don’t mean any disrespect, but I can’t afford to ‘be true to myself.’”

Miss Fray studies Eleanor for several moments.

“Eleanor, I understand this may be —-.” She stops and looks at Eleanor squarely before continuing. “When you go to work, how do you feel?”

“Truthfully? I force myself to go. Still, I’ve got bills to pay,” Eleanor confides.

“It may have been years ago, but do you remember how you felt when you painted?” Miss Fray asks.

Eleanor pauses for several minutes. She’d never forgotten those feelings, which she has buried deep inside her. Remembering now, a wave of emotional bliss comes over her as she imagines capturing a subject on canvas. Her heart skips a beat. It’s a feeling of inner satisfaction that she can’t put into words, except to feel wonderful.

“Yes, I remember. It’s exhilarating to think about how much I enjoyed painting,” Eleanor says softly.

“Does being a waitress do that for you?”

“Of course not! But I can’t afford to paint when I have bills to pay!”

Miss Fray becomes silent, watching Eleanor wrestle with the idea of being true to herself. Then she shares her honest assessment of Eleanor’s situation.

“Eleanor, of course, you work at this job, but that doesn’t mean you can’t afford your art too. I sense that if you ask yourself how you can do your art, the answer will come to you.”

“Ask myself?” Eleanor blurts incredulously. “What do I know?”

Miss Fray shifts her stance.

“I know this may sound odd and not what you expected when meeting me today, but I feel I owe you my honest feelings. You are an artist. To deny that is to do a grave injustice to yourself and others. You have a gift. You must find a way. Believe me, you know the way!”

“I know the way?! How can I know what I don’t know?” Eleanor asks.

“Trust me when I say this: answers come to you intuitively. You’ll be surprised when you ask and listen. It doesn’t cost anything to ask, and it can lead you to the satisfaction you’re seeking. Try it tonight before you go to sleep.” Miss Fray smiles before moving her cart to finish her grocery shopping.

Eleanor’s eyes follow Miss Fray as she ponders what the teacher had just told her.

Ask myself?! Her mind spins with questions. Why on earth did I meet this woman today? Ask myself!

Eleanor walks out of the grocery store. I haven’t touched a paintbrush in years. Can I still paint? Okay, I’m asking myself, what should I do? Should I paint or not paint?

She feels an urge to stop at the art supply store and buy supplies. Once home and after putting away the groceries, she sets up the easel, the canvas, the paints, and the brushes, then stares at the blank canvas for several minutes.

This is awful.

She decides to put on some music, thinking that might inspire her. She listens to a few songs, and although it’s relaxing, the music isn’t inspiring her to paint. Exasperated, she goes outside to the backyard, where she sees a squirrel. Watching this squirrel chomping on a nut becomes an interesting subject. The flicking of his tail back and forth makes her laugh. The squirrel pays no attention to her, totally engrossed in his snack.

Eleanor decides it is a face she has to capture. She rushes inside to grab a piece of paper, hoping the squirrel continues to joyfully eat that nut so she can capture a quick sketch.

With a few quick marks on the paper, Eleanor has an outline she later uses to paint Buddy the Nut Lover! The painting is surprisingly good. She successfully captures the soft brown eyes of this absorbed rodent intensely enjoying an afternoon snack.

Eleanor feels exhilarated, having captured this squirrel on canvas, and so quickly. Clearly, she hasn’t lost her touch. The gift of painting is still within her! Now she is determined to express more of this talent that has been dormant for many years.

Every day after work, Eleanor paints. At work, she finds many subjects to paint, especially people with interesting expressions. Sometimes, when business is slow, she pulls out a notebook and sketches. She completes these on canvas at home. Over the next few weeks, her body of work expands, continuing to paint subjects that interest her.

One of her customers notices Eleanor sketching a customer and asks what she does with the drawings. Shyly, she confesses she paints them. Intrigued, the customer asks her to bring a sample of her work to his art gallery. Delighted to share her art with someone who appreciates art, she brings several paintings to his shop on her day off.

He is genuinely impressed by her style and wants to sell her paintings. Eleanor is flabbergasted.

“Really? You think I’m that good?”

“Good? You’re an amazing artist!” He gushes. “I’m surprised you don’t have your own show.” Then adds with excitement, “What am I saying? You can have your own show here!”

Eleanor is thrilled. Her own art show!

On the evening of the show, she sees Miss Fray, who is delighted to see Eleanor’s body of work beautifully displayed on the gallery walls. Eleanor is thrilled to see this teacher who inspired her to “find a way” to paint. Life has become wonderful as she paints everyday as an artist, feeling the appreciation of others enjoying her paintings for this art show. She never knew life could be this good.

“What you said to me in the grocery store that day, Miss Fray, changed my life. I’m so glad we bumped into each other!”

They both laugh.

“Eleanor, I’m so glad you are now expressing your true self—- this gift of an artist. Expressing your true self makes all the difference, doesn’t it?”

“Absolutely. I had no idea how pitiful my life was until I saw that squirrel and captured him on canvas. Yes, I’m a waitress. Maybe not for long, as my work sells! But even as a waitress, I’ve grown as a person, trusting my instincts and feeling good about being me. You did that, Miss Fray. Thank you.”

“No, Eleanor. You did that. You decided you wanted to be more. That decision made you express the creative you! Now you’re blessing yourself and others with your talent. Congratulations!”

The story of Eleanor shows how anyone can change their life when they believe in themselves. Ask yourself: How do I get there? When you express your true self, life unfolds like a gift, opening opportunities that weren’t there before. It’s truly magical. This is what’s meant by heaven on earth. Being true to yourself is what every human being should strive for. It makes for a happier world because more of us would love life. A fabulous life begins when you believe in yourself. That’s a blessing that only being human offers— the ability to change so you can have an incredible life. Breathe that in.