The Next Big Thing....
lessons from A Quilter's Affair in Sisters, Oregon
and
Jenny Doan
I had the pleasure of speaking with Jenny Doan
of
while I was teaching at A Quilter's Affair
What a pleasure, a privilege it is to just "chat"
And then.
Then she asked me.
"What's the next big thing you're doing?"
I froze.
What to say, what to say.
Told her about my upcoming fabric line with Windham Fabrics.
And we chatted about the upcoming event at Missouri Star,
The Birthday Bash.
As I was walking through the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show,
it hit me.
What my next big thing is for me, when I return home.
It is a visit with my neighbor and friend, Roger,
who is turning a spry 90 years old this year.
THAT
is my next big thing.
We'll go for sour cabbage soup
"it's only served on Tuesdays and Saturdays", he will remind me.
And then we'll take our weekly walk through Sam's Club
or Costco
We'll laugh and cry as we both tell stories about our pasts.
And we'll share wisdom of the ages.
He'll be polite and kind with my "energy".
He'll tell me to settle down a little bit
in the kindest way.
We'll joke about how much food we're both getting
and talk about the "best orange juice ever"
from Sam's Club
(they squeeze it fresh for him)
And when I returned home
I realized also, what Jenny was telling me,
not asking me.
"What is the next big thing you're doing?"
She didn't want to know at all where I would be teaching
or if I was attending a show.
She didn't need to know where my travels would take me
or when my next fabric line was releasing.
She was coaching me, in the kindest of ways.
Same as my 90 year old friend.
Offering me some space to think about where my boat is pointed.
Where I'm headed.
The big picture.
Thank you, Jenny.
Thank you, Roger.
Thank you for taking time with me.
For asking.
And for gently guiding me along the way.
So, today, on this blog that is long overdue, I will ask you -
What is your next big thing?
HappiestDays.
Natalie.
be.do.create
