“Did you know that hell isn’t a place but a state of confusion? That heaven is what you see no matter where you are when you know the truth? And that light can hurt eyes that have been in the dark too long? No matter where you are.” So wrote Mike Dooley in From The Universe on June 23, 2026.  

Seems like there are times in life when we’re in the dark and other times we’re in the light. For the past three years, I’ve felt as though I’d run into a wall and instead of walking through the doorway, I just sat down and gave up!   

Having the publisher take $10,000 for nothing and giving presentations with little movement forward felt like that—a huge slam into a doorframe.   

Even though I’ve been playing piano for a local restaurant, writing blogs, crafting drafts for upcoming books, walking the dog, living life inside, I felt like I was walking around in circles trying to find just the right door to open.   

Life can do that to us, can’t it?  

An unexpected crash into the wall!  

Sometimes the bump on the head is slight, and sometimes it can knock us on our butts!   

Though this journey felt long and pointless, slowly, ever so slowly, God has been leading me back to the light.   

A few days ago, I received an email asking me to give a virtual presentation. Though I’d rather give my Blind Elephant in the Room presentation live, I said yes. I filled out a blurb and gave the email no more thought. I have blogs to write … there’s always something to fill up my time. Then, yesterday, totally not expecting an answer so soon, I got the next email stating I’d been accepted and that half the fee for this presentation would be in my checking account in two days.  

My response? Wow! I guess God wants me to do this! Who knew? I guess I’ll step into this light and see what happens!   

It’s so easy to get caught up in thinking, “This one, this will be the speech that makes me famous! This will be the career that will catapult me forward! This is my big opportunity, my fifteen minutes of fame!”   

This time, none of those thoughts have entered my head. This time, I’m doing the presentation because I was asked and I can serve. This time, like so many times in my life, I’ve said yes because there really wasn’t any reason to say no. I have the time, so why not!!!   

That’s how I sang in two operas, became a psychotherapist, built my Habitat for Humanity home, wrote my memoir, entered the Ms. Colorado pageant, and climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Why not? I was asked, and I stepped into the light.   

Sometimes the light doesn’t appear until after we stop pounding on the wall. We simply have to become willing to try the next door. In doing so, we’ll discover the door we’ve been searching for has been there all along.   

So, the next time opportunity knocks on your door, the next time you find yourself sitting on the floor wondering how to get up, say yes! Bring yourself to your feet! Stand up! Step into the light! And, when you step forward, you will change the way you live.