As a kid, I could not stop the problems I saw taking place in my family. The only thing I knew to do was to escape through writing and my imagination. I played with my toys and imagined that I could be any place or at any time.
A friend of mine introduced me to Dungeons & Dragons, and I realized that I could make up stories that I could then tell to my friends. Together we’d go on a journey of our imaginations. What I enjoyed about Dungeons & Dragons is that as the game master, I told a story and my friends pretended to be wizards, fighters, or clerics who went to fight monsters. All we needed was a few books, pens, paper, some dice, and our imaginations.
I started playing D&D when I was about 10 years old and had a lot of fun. I found empowerment by telling stories. My friends liked hearing the stories and I would make up adventures, draw maps, and together we’d pretend to beat the monsters and win the day.
The world outside was filled with uncertainty and confusion, but I had created a niche for myself that was safe and secure.
No one empowered me, I discovered that I could empower myself.
Now as an adult, I’ve not played Dungeons & Dragons for more than 20 years, but I took a leap of faith and started writing stories as a kid. In school, my teacher asked me to read out one of my stories because it was so popular with the class. And that realization made a big impact on me.
I realized that I could bring hope and solace to others through my stories.
For today, when you look at your life, where is your empowerment? What work do you do that makes a difference? What impact can you have on those around you by giving back and sharing your gift?
For too long, the dysfunction we grew up with has negatively affected who we are. But what if we embrace what we grew up with and use our gifts to help ourselves and others?
Instead of thinking that we’re broken and damaged, we can allow ourselves to be empowered. We don’t need to wait for others to tell us what to do.
We have always had the power within ourselves.
All we need to do is to believe and then take that first step.
Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.