Yesterday I attended a reading and book signing by author Cara Black for her recently released book Murder Below Montparnasse. As she shared bits and pieces of what lead her to begin writing (this particular book is the 13th in the Aimée Leduc investigative series), she shared a tale from her childhood. Impressed by a particular author as a young girl, she chose to write a fan letter. And something occurred that may seem nearly impossible today – the author wrote back. Naively and innocently seeing this letter as an invitation to visit on a future trip to Paris, she used her detective skills to seek out the author, knock on a door and then have it promptly shut in her face. But that is not where the story ends. The author opened the door up as she had turned to leave and invited her to join him for espresso and a cigar at his regular haunt in Paris.

Reality really can be stranger and more inspiring than fiction at times, and in this case the lessons are many, but the one that caught the eye of my mother as well as myself (as we attended the event together) was the tenacity of this young girl to knock on the author’s door. Perhaps the door would not have been opened, perhaps it would be the wrong person, perhaps the door would have stay closed after being shut, but she did not know until she knocked.

One of the most significant lessons to learn as we each traverse toward our most ideal life is to keep a burning persistence within ourselves. For when we set our sights on what we wish to achieve and are able to not be distracted by an endless list of goals that only tickle our fancy but then quickly lose our interest, we streamline our energies toward an eventual success.

Even if the first twenty doors don’t open to the opportunity we had hoped they would, perhaps that twenty-first door will. But we will never know unless we knock.

Over this past weekend I have begun to set up my flat in Portland, and while I only have a bed to sleep in and dishes to eat on, I’m making progress as I set up the life in the city I have dreamed about. I plan to keep “knocking” because as the quotes states above, I’ve made progress and am on my way, heading in the direction toward the goals that I seek. And while any worthwhile goal worth attaining takes time, I will be reflecting on Cara Black’s story frequently as a reminder of why it’s worth it to keep going to another door until I find what I’m looking for.

I know you too are making tremendous strides. I know you may not be exactly where you want to be yet, but you’re getting there. Never stop knocking because it will eventually pay off.

Have a wonderful start to your week.