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Reading through your essay, I've realized that I am pretty clear about the first four steps. The hurdle for me has always been step five: the uncertainty. It's something I've always struggled with. A lot of history has been attached to that, but I know intellectually that uncertainty is inescapable. The trouble has been accepting it emotionally and moving past it. But the Ursula LeGuin quote is a strong reminder that the only thing we can control is what we choose to do in the situations we face. I'm going to try to remind myself of this when I resist writing (which is *my* desire).

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Yeah, uncertainty is certainly one of the hardest aspects of being human so I totally hear you on that.

And, there’s another side to it, too: uncertainty is also what makes it fun.

After all, it’s much more exciting to watch a sports game if you don’t know who will win. Or to watch a movie or read a book if you don’t already know the ending.

I think the key is knowing that whatever happens, we will be okay.

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I absolutely agree...intellectually. And the reality is that the uncertainty of life won't disappear whether I pursue my desires or not. It makes so much more sense to follow my desire, and at least then I will have done the things that matter to me most. I'm trying to think that this pursuit doesn't have to be some great plunge; it doesn't have to be throwing myself off a cliff. It can just be wading bit by bit into the ocean. My goal now is to participate in that wading, easing myself into the deep water.

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“Your life is speaking to you because it wants to speak through you.”—Onward

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Oh, that is beautiful!

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Thank you, Dr. Louise!

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