So like many of you, I watched this week as Oprah said her farewell to her daytime talk show after 25 years of being on the air (
http://www.oprah.com/index.html). One of her messages to her audience and to the world was to figure out and follow through on why you were created. What is the purpose for your life? Well, I too have pondered this question on many different occasions. I have been given a vision and a dream and after years of talking about it, I am finally taking the steps to bring it to life! What I am talking about is Uplifting Arms, Inc. Many of you reading this may say or think, "Oh, yeah, I remember you talking about this company years ago!" Well, that is true. It has taken me this long to finally overcome the fear of my lack of business knowledge and sense and fear of making mistakes to finally putting the pieces together to form the company. I am an educator and education is what I know. I do not have a business background and I let that hold me back. One thing that I do know, however is that I have been created to positively impact the lives of the youth in our communities.
Well, with my many meetings with Kevin at Jacksonville's Small Business Development Center, the many books about nonprofits that I have checked out of the library, the countless phone calls to family and friends, etc. we have done it! Uplifting Arms, Inc. is officially a 501c3 approved Public Charity! We got our approval letter from the IRS last week! Now the hard work begins!
Well, I am writing this to encourage you to dig deep within yourself and think about these questions: What are your passions? What steps do you need to take to start living out the dreams that have been placed within you? Or, perhaps, you are already living out your passions and dreams. Either way, please share your responses and experiences with us. This is a journey and I would LOVE for you all to travel with us as we share one another's experiences in this thing we call...Life.
