Sweet Sue

the power of a name

I’ve been told that my father named me before I was born, actually before I was even conceived. He met my mother when she was 37. He was 47. She had no children, a sad fact for her. He told her they would have a child, a girl, and her name would be Sweet Sue. My father might have something to do with my belief in manifesting.

Me at 4

I haven't given my name much thought until the last few weeks while doing the exercises from The Artist's Way, especially Chapter 5, Recovering a Sense of Possibility. 

Sweet Sue is quite a name to live up to. Just think of all the things that a Sweet Sue should not do. There are too many to list. Rest assured, I've failed my name just a few times. But I've also done my fair share of living up to my name, so that's a push.

Julia Cameron discusses the many ways we sabotage ourselves by "making nice," the tiny pieces of our soul we willingly offer to others to avoid being considered selfish or demanding, or in my case, "not sweet enough." 

The chapter provoked introspection and generated some new personal goals. Thankfully at 67, I'm not talking about a major overhaul, but I see room for improvement. 

Playing nice has been a long-standing issue for me. Luckily I've made significant strides over the years, but I doubt I'll ever completely abandon the desire to be considered sweet. I welcome this newest opportunity I've given myself by reading The Artist’s Way to cinch up my suspenders where they have begun to loosen, reminding myself that honesty and sweetness can live harmoniously.

As Crest reminds me, "you can say anything with a smile."

I also love this quote in Chapter 5, from Peter Drucker.

There is the risk you cannot afford to take, (and) there is the risk you cannot afford not to take.

I couldn’t say it better. I plan to keep taking the risk, speaking my truth, with a smile, of course.