A New Year Inspiration

My Grandmother, Gigi, receiving her college diploma

My Grandmother, Gigi didn't go to college. Well, for most of her life she hadn't gone to college, that is until 1995. When I was enrolling in my last year of high school, Gigi, enrolled in her freshman year of college at James Madison University. She was 76 and lived about 30 minutes away in the tiny railroad town of Shenandoah, VA.

For the next nine years Gigi navigated dark country roads, paid bills for tuition and books, studied for and passed tests and final exams, learned to use the word processing component of the computer so she could write papers, took a math class, and cared for my ailing grandfather. Even after Joe passed Gigi didn't give up on her education. To complete her degree in Theater Arts she had to write, stage and present an hour+ long monologue, fully memorized, in costume, to a live audience. She did it with grace and her never ending charm.

In May of 2004 Gigi walked across the stage and received her diploma from JMU. The audience gave a standing ovation. (I, personally, burst into tears!) She turned 85 that summer.

(At 92 she still lives independently with loving support from my parents and is as dramatic as ever!!)

On this New Year's Day just remember: It's never too late to follow your heart and go for your dreams. It doesn't matter how long it takes for them to come true for you. As long as you are following your heart nothing can touch you. Certainly, obstacles with present themselves, after all, how will you know you are truly going fully into your life if you aren't challenged? Let nothing stop you. Chase your dreams and they will run toward you! Ask for Grace and she will support you. And know that you are fully loved and supported in all you endeavor to create out of your one life.

I am so thrilled to see what this new year will bring. With love and blessings! Happy 2012 -- Sarah