Meet Me in the Margins

by Melissa Ferguson

A total stranger had given me solace through the power of words, helped me escape the troubles of my world if just for enough time to get a much-needed breath, and even—through several quietly uplifting messages threaded throughout his fast-paced novels—showed me what it was like to pursue my dreams. Try new adventures. Dare. The written word became my passion.

“Best to get those steps in early. And then, not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing you are successfully working toward a healthier body, but you’ll find it easier to retrain your mind to— “Climb the other mountains in your life,”

Because we Cades live by three life words: Generosity. Persistence. Family. You live each day looking for an opportunity to serve another. You persist in achieving the best for your life come drought or high water. And you stick to family. Always and forever, you stick to family. We’re like the mafia. Only . . . nicer.

be the change we wish to see in the world. Great opportunities to help people seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. We rise by lifting others.

It turns out, racking up accomplishments doesn’t mean anything. Life is not simply some game where the person with the most plaques wins. It’s not about a perfectly organized home or acquiring degrees you’ll never use or the number of inches around your waistline or, most especially, counting steps. Life is about movement, and pause. Work, and rest. It’s about relationship. About valuing others and truly taking the time to show them they are precious. About valuing yourself, too, and your uniquely given, whispered-into-your-DNA goals and dreams.

It’s about appreciating the miraculous gift that is existence. It’s about loving on others as much as you can. And yes, it is also about appreciating what organically makes you happy and, where reasonable, finding it.

“Waiting impatiently for something that will inevitably happen either way is a waste of time. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.”