Taken from the preface of Moving from the Basement; To your Penthouse of Purpose: I hear this statement all the time: "Your story is not for you; it's for you to share with the world." That is such a noble statement, but one that can be filled with the complexities of emotions and fear. In spite of the space emotions and fear sometimes still occupy in my life, I walk to the center of my life-stage and share this chapter of my story with you. There are a lot of books these days that encourage us to share our stories, but few ask these three questions: "What story am I telling? Who am I telling my story to?" and most importantly, "Why am I telling my story?" As an author and storyteller, I feel I should let you know to what I am inviting you before you enter. So, I will give you my what, who, and why. Here goes!My "what": I am sharing a creative non-fiction account using a basement apartment as a metaphor for the different fears I had to confront before I could start to live my life more purposefully. With "who" am I sharing? With those of you who are living below your purpose, stuck in the basement, with those of you who have settled in the stairway above the basement called mediocrity, and with those of you that have made it to the top of the stairs and stand at the doorway to the penthouse called purpose. My "why" is because I want to share with you a path I have traveled, the lessons I've learned, and the wisdom I have gained to reach yet another road I must now travel. I share it because I lived the daily fear of being exposed as a basement resident, hid behind mediocrity, and cheated the world of the gifts entrusted to me. I understand the fear of walking through shadows that test our faith. I know what it is like to feel hurt and deceived, to be lonely, and to be alone. I know what it is like to start all over again when you thought you were at the finish line. But most importantly, I testify and celebrate the warmth of the joy in my soul that I would never have known without taking that first step to move out of the basement. I believe in creation and that as Christians each of our steps help another one on their journey. My basement may be your penthouse, or my mediocrity may be your basement. No matter what our basements are: fear, personal relationships, finance, career, or even not knowing what our personal basement is, human beings are more alike than different. It is my hope to bring transparency and understanding to you by the sharing of a chapter of my story that shows taking consistent steps in all things can move us toward the changes we seek.