Happiness is a form of Courage

I posted this pic on my Facebook page today:

 Sometimes, it takes courage to allow yourself to be happy.  I can think of a hundred different scenarios that apply to this simple observation (Hello!  Writer here!) but it reminds me of "Absolution" and what these characters go through during the course of the story.

Ally faces each day with a smile on her face, determined to show the world that she is not a victim.  As Jack says to her at one point: "It's just what happened to you.  It's not how you define yourself."  Yes, she has her moments (don't we all) when she wants to crawl back into bed and hide, but she wants to be happy.  And being happy, for her, means she has to put her doubts aside and fight for that happiness.

Jack faces up to everyone he walked away from and asks for a second chance.  This is something I think we can all relate to in some way.  Regrets are common.  Asking for a second chance when you think you don't deserve one takes guts.  He has two choices: run and hide (he tried that - all it brought him was misery) or stand and fight.  There's no such thing as the easy way out.

To allow ourselves to be happy is a choice.  It takes guts.  It takes determination.  Sometimes, you have to make that decision to put your fears and doubts aside, and go after that happiness with both hands.

I began writing this story four years ago.  Now, with barely 2 weeks until it's release, you can bet I'm biting my fingernails and feeling more than a little twitchy.  But the hopes I had for this story were beyond it making me happy and then sitting in a drawer for the forseeable future.  And in order to realise those hopes and dreams, I'm putting my doubts and fears on the backburner too, and I'm sharing it with you. 

If it all goes swimmingly, fantastic!  If it doesn't, I have another couple of stories I think you might possibly enjoy.  Either way, I'm not giving up.  That's my choice, that's what I want. 

~ Amanda