Meet Alissa Dedic

We recently connected with Alissa Dedic and have shared our conversation below.

Alissa, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from the unexpected experiences in my life. The best example is when my husband and I faced a surprise, high-risk pregnancy. After going in for a routine ultrasound, we learned that we were having twins, and not normal twins. Our daughters were sharing a water sac and a placenta. Each twin is supposed to have their own. This dangerous situation required me to be admitted to an out-of-town hospital for monitoring. Our daughters needed to be in a NICU that was equipped to care for babies who are guaranteed to be born premature. We didn’t know anyone else who had experienced this situation. There was no one to ask about how to face all the unknowns. While we had a plan and goal for delivery, every day was a re-evaluation of what was safest for our daughters. Many factors were out of our control. I learned resilience from this experience because I learned to be flexible with changing plans and content with the idea that I’m already doing what I am supposed to do.

I was able to do this because of my belief in Jesus. I believe that Jesus goes with me into all situations in life and already knows the outcome. My daughters’ middle names are joy and grace because there were two Bible verses that encouraged me as I faced this unpredictable situation. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “… the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (ESV) 2 Corinthians 12:8 says, “… My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… ” (ESV) These two verses encouraged me in this situation because my strength came from Jesus’ presence and his presence gave me the strength to face each day with its scary challenges.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have loved to read and write my whole life. I don’t remember a time when I was not able to read or write. Often I learned life lessons from characters in the books I was reading. I felt seen and heard when characters had similar experiences to my own. I feel like reading books shaped my character as I grew up. I was able to experience life beyond what my rural, small town had to offer.

I’m introverted, so I can find it difficult to express myself in spoken words. At a young age, I learned to express myself in writing in order to share my feelings and thoughts with others. This lead me to pursue an English degree with an emphasis in creative writing from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Recently I have continued to hone my editing and writing skills through continuing education certifications and classes.

In March of 2022, I started my freelance editing and writing business to help others express themselves in writing too. It is important to me to help my clients express their stories and messages to their audiences. I provide editing services that focus on clarity as well as accurate grammar and spelling. Words can shape our reality, so I think it is important to help my clients share messages that encourage others to grow, to learn and to carry on.

I’m currently accepting new clients for my editing business and pursuing opportunities to submit my writing to competitions and publications seeking contributions. I’m working on a writing tips series for my blog. I plan to start writing more about my personal experiences once or twice a month on my blog as well. I’m also working on a nonfiction book about how faith grows through trials.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three skills that I found most helpful as I look back on my journey are dreaming, seeking community and being persistent.

I had an overactive imagination as a child. This turned into my ability to dream of being a writer or an editor who helps others share their stories. Dreaming and imagining are the beginnings of experimenting as we problem solve. I’ve had to solve problems that I didn’t know would come up as I started my business. When it was difficult and I wanted to quit, I would remind myself of my dream to help others share their stories.

I used to struggle with asking for help. As I grew up, I learned that relationships and community are built through asking for help. We were meant to work as team members. No one can do everything alone. We need community to help us continue to learn and grow. When I don’t ask for help, I prevent someone from being blessed by using their skills and abilities. When I ask for help, I allow others to feel blessed through helping me. This encourages others to ask for help from me. It is a relief to not feel overwhelmed or alone.

Persistence is something that helped me to deal with the issues of setting up a business. I’m not a big risk taker, so doing something new to me was daunting. I learned to keep asking questions or to keep trying new options until the issue was solved. I have been tempted to give up because it was intimidating and difficult. I have learned problem solving strategies help to ease my fears. I have found solutions and growth in unexpected places because I kept looking for an answer instead of giving up. Over time I became familiar and comfortable with experimenting until the problem had some kind of resolution. Persistence has given me the ability to accept being a beginner at a new task.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to encourage me to write. My dad used to tell my siblings and me that we could do anything we set our minds to. I was often discouraged from seeking a writing career. People would tell me that I wouldn’t make any money doing that. I wasn’t interested in being wealthy or famous. I wanted to encourage and inspire others with my writing the way books had encouraged and inspired me. My dad would tell me to set my mind on why I wanted to write and not on the negative reactions from others. This has been impactful because if my writing only encourages or inspires one person that is more than enough for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elkcreekcontentbyalissadedic.wordpress.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551953784623

Image Credits

Tara Paul Photography

Alissa Dedic