When Life - Building Your Lemonade Stand

Every week I show up in some way on social media asking you to share your story. And every single week I hear the same thing… “I don’t have a story to share,” or, “I have one but maybe I will get around to sharing it later.” Sure, I ask you because I want to help take that story and get it in front of eyes and hearts that need to see and hear it, but I am always trying to help you understand the importance of building your lemonade stand.

You see I built mine. I just happened to name it When Life and turn it into my passion. That isn’t necessarily what you have to do, but I do think it’s important to put your little sign in your window that indicates you got something good and refreshing to share.

You see there is so much more to sharing your story than what you think. And if you have shared your story with me, then you know exactly what I am talking about. There is nothing like putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and pouring out your heart and soul. It’s freeing. It’s empowering. And if I’m being honest, it can be life changing.

Just like building an old-fashioned wooden lemonade stand, getting those words on paper is building the actual stand itself.

It’s the foundation, because obviously you aren’t building anything without a story. Once you’ve built the foundation, or shared your story, you have every right to be beaming with pride! I mean it took a lot of guts to put yourself out there like that, so yes you have every right to be proud!

Now that you have this stand, how will anyone know about you? How will people find out about your story to even be able to relate to it?

I will tell you exactly how! They will find you because you will be living your truth. Sure, people will see it when it’s written and shared on a blog space or website, but that isn’t even what I am talking about. They will find YOU because you will be living your redemption. Just like most great things, it’s word of mouth that usually gets what you have to offer in front of the right people. I can’t tell you the number of times I have had someone reach out and say they read a story from the blog because their friend sent them over. The same thing happens off screen too. How many times have you said to someone, as they are pouring their heart out to you, “You should meet/talk/hear about my friend who is going through the same thing you are.” If you are like most people, a lot. That’s what we do when we are hurting or have something going on in our lives. We begin to search for connection. As you open up and share the sour moments that life has handed you and how you turned them into something much sweeter, you are helping others more than you will probably ever know.

And now why would anyone “buy” what you are selling? In other words, why would anyone want to hear or know your story?

Because just like lemonade, it’s refreshing. It’s what they needed at that exact moment. You see, people crave connection and they want to bond with someone who “gets it.” Someone who has walked a mile (or 20) in their shoes and understands. They may come around and check out your stand to see how it’s doing because they are considering doing the same thing. In other words, they just want to see you survived before opening up and making their own stand.

There is so much power in your story. It can breathe life and faith into someone. It has the ability to empower someone to share their journey. It has the power to save a life.

Lemons rot and can’t be used unless they are cut open and the juice begins to flow. Stop holding onto to the lemon’s life has given you and use them to make something so sweet.

With love and lemons,