Have courage

Find it deep within you, to do something or say something that is difficult...even if it is just difficult for you. If it is something you don't normally do, like sing in front of family for a game you are playing. Yes, I did that this weekend and even though it was scary (I mean, my youngest son who does show choir in front of hundreds of people couldn't do it), I tried to not let my fears control the moment and just enjoy it. Being brave doesn't have to be something huge. It can mean reaching to someone that you have lost contact with for a while. It can mean saying something that is difficult for you, because it has been that way your entire life. Don't let excuses and "because I have always done it that way" rule what you don't do. You just give yourself an out because it is easier. You justify to yourself that you are willing to accept what you currently have because doing something different might mean you have to do something different. I had so many walls up before and I know there are family members that read this from time to time. I also know that they see more of me, or at least get an small inkling of the thoughts in my head. Start something new today that you really want to do or at least try. Sometimes, situations can make sense to us logically, but emotionally they don't. More often than anything, the emotion sides don't make sense because it is not something we want. Reasons are understandable and feelings are not. I understand why Rocky doesn't come anymore to run, but I wish she did. What scares you? Calling an old friend that maybe you wronged in some way? Trying something new that no one would understand why you want to do it? Asking someone for help? Telling someone you love that you need them in your life? Be brave today. Even if you don't know how it will turn out, don't live with the regret of doing nothing. If you want something different, do something differnt. A swimming pool will still be a swimming pool, even if you don't maintain it. Don't let fear win over doing what your hear tells you to do. Put logic aside for a moment...get off the easy road...and listen. With the adrenalin flowing and the sound of your heart pounding, have courage today. Conquering Obstacles Under Remarkable And Gutsy Environments.

The Hard Way

I'm not sure why I thought about this subject this morning. Maybe it is because I am back on the dreaded elliptical as the weather turns colder. Rocky doesn't come anymore (I understand why), so getting up and staying motivated is different now. I remembering telling my husband that I get up to run/walk/elliptical not for her, but for me, but it is easier to get up when you know someone is going to be at your door at 5am. But I also started thinking about the life I've lead and to some it may seem that I've lived it the hard way. Not intentionally or by choice, but I guess by design. By someone else's design. When I was growing up, I didn't know any different life, but knew there were certain things I did want or didn't want. There are things and people I have fought for and would committ to for life. Choices were made that might have made me struggle, but through that I learned what I am capable of and what I can accomplish. When you love something and treasure it so much that it pains your very core to be without it, you will do all you can to keep it. We all feel, at some time or another, that life is not perfect...that we think it is unfair...but when we struggle, we learn. We grow...we change our attitude...we accept. As much as we would pick something different for us, maybe that in itself is meant to teach us something. Although this was hard for us and we grieved for life lost, for something unfulfilled, we also know that this was the way we were meant to travel. It was designed for us. People that have everything given to them would never know how to survive outside their little perfect world because you and I know the world isn't perfect. So remind yourself today that if something is in front of you that you are having to confront, know and accept that it is there for a reason. It's going to be hard to make you make notice of it. Somehwere, in the middle of the strife and chaos, there is a lesson. I know I learn lessons all the time...even those I don't want to. Sometimes, the hard way is the only way and after a few scars and mistakes made along the way, you have to realize that this is the designed way.

How do you keep from being discouraged?

I think I am in the middle of a big test right now. Lots of things are coming my way, all at once and I am handling them. But don't you ever notice that it always seems that way? I know things happen in three's, so I guess when one thing happens, we need to be ready for at least two more things that are going to show up sooner or later. Some of you may be asking yourselves, "Why is she posting this? This is supposed to inspire me, not bring me down." I guess, my thought was that we have to address life as it truly is, not as we always wish it would be. We have to have bad days so we can appreciate the good ones. We need to see struggle so that we know what it looks like not to. We ALL have moments when we wonder if it is worth it and when we want to give up. That would be the easy way. I don't think easy is in my vocabulary any more, but it shows up from time to time. This morning, I took easy. I did not get up to walk/run even though I did get up at 4:30am as usual, but then I went back to bed. My mom would say, "Keep on truckin" and I think that might have been a phrase she used "back in the day". Not sure what "day" that was, but maybe glad I was not around to see that. Maybe glad to not see other days as well...just saying. When days come like this, we have really one choice and one choice only. Admit that we are here and feeling what we feel because dismissing that is worse. Then, we address whatever it is that is in front of us right now and get through it. Even if it means we stumble and stub our big toe in the process. Yes, that hurts. We get our balance once again and carry about our business. We move ahead...maybe a little more weary and unsure, but we take our steps. We all get discouraged at times. The difference is what we do after that makes the difference.

Be grateful

We forget this sometimes, as we become focused on what can bring us down. We allow that to happen. It is easier to do it. I have a few things on my plate right now that I did not plan for or ask for, but they are here anyway. I cannot change it. However, in trying to explain a perspective to a young man that I care about, I wanted him to think about how his situation could be worse. When we focus on the negative, we are neglectful to what we do have. Life stinks sometimes. Not just for you or me, but for all of us. Choices we make end up biting us on the back side and we have to move on. No whining or throwing a fit about "what's fair." Get done what needs to be done and continue on this wild ride. We are all thrown into situations we would not pick, regardles of what they are. I have never heard of someone wishing that their loved one had passed on. It just doesn't happen. We wish for the good to always be present and for the bad to never show up. Guess what? Life does not work that way. "You have to have blessings and obstacles. One without the other is neither." You wouldn't know the difference of a blessing or an obstacle unless you knew what the other was like. Be grateful that whatever is before you is not worse. Sure...everyone picks for it to be better. Who wouldn't? I have also never heard of someone who bought a lottery or powerball ticket who wished they WOULDN'T win. It just doesn't happen. Whatever is in front of you is meant to teach you somethong. Pay attention. The lesson may not be what you think it should be. Use this event or situation to motivate you. I am grateful for whatever life brings me, even if it is unwanted. I am meant to deal with it and I know I will be better for it. I am most grateful for the chance to make amends, look at things with a new view, and appreciate what is before me. It makes me a better me...and for that I am eternally grateful.

When people don't see it

It really isn't that hard. It is quite simple. Maybe that is why I don't get why people don't see it. The "it" I am referring to is different things on different days. Maybe "it" is when people say one thing and do another. Sometimes it is when saying the right thing is not meant to hurt. Being kind is not hard nor does it require a lot of thought or work. We usually overlook the person doing the right thing because we notice first the person not doing the right thing. And that person doesn't see it. I put others before myself and am extremely embarrased if someone notices it. I do it for them...not for recognition. I was gone most of the weekend attending a family wedding out of town and then, I noticed something that had been left behind. Something that made me smile. Something that may never be erased from the surface (but may accidently be erased), is now imprinted forever in my memory. Little things like that can really affect people. But, people don't see it. They don't get it. I know I am more real than I probably have been because I am done playing the game. I am done hanging out with people that don't have the same mindset as me. Not that they have to agree with everything I say or think, but I realize I am leaning more towards the people that have those same thoughts. When people don't see it, there usually is an excuse close by to explain why. The real reason and the only reason is because it is easier not to care...easier to take care of me...easy. This world is far from it. It throws all kinds of pitches at you and you have to be ready. And even if you are not, you will be in a short amount of time. Are you one of the ones that sees it or not? If you don't see it, do you want to? You can see it, but you have to not choose easy and LOOK. Really LOOK. It is there. Even when you think it isn't. And once you see it, you will feel it.

Resistance

Yes, we know it exists, but that does not mean that we like it or that it will last long. Most times, we do not know how long the resistance will be in our lives or why it even came up to begin with. But, understand this. We still have three choices when resistance shows up and tries to push us back and impede us from going where we want to go. Choice one - just stop. Hold our ground. Tread water. Stay afloat. Do whatever we can so we are not going in the backwards direction. Send out an S.O.S. and see what ships come to our rescue, never knowing if they ever will. Choice two - allow the resistance to be stronger than we are. We allow its push to be greater than anything else we have learned up to that point. We give in. We surrender. We are left to drift, at the mercy of the resistance. We lose control of ANYTHING. We become a victim. Choice three - we move through it. We forge ahead and even though it is tough, we move - little by little and step by step. It becomes the mission to at least try with EVERYTHING we have to be somewhere different. To be someone different. Each choice has its own costs and therfore, its own benefit. Choice one leaves you with some weariness and may make you put out more effort than you want, especially once you realize you are not going anywhere. Choice two takes you where you have already been, where you hold on to what was and you stay stuck. Choice three requires the most effort, but also shows you that you with courage, strength, and hope you can move through tough times. Are you facing resistance today in your life? We all probably have some of it, even if it is minor, in our lives every day. Resistance can cause damage if we let it. Ultimately, the choice is still ours to make. What is your FINAL ANSWER?

"Anything worth doing...

...is going to be difficult." This is something from a movie that always reminds me of how things SHOULD be, not necessarily the way things ARE. This movie is centered around a character who does not like following the rules. He is surrounded by people telling him, "That is the way we have always done it." and things like that. But what gets him really thinking is when a woman in the emergency room is begging to see her daughter who has been seriously injured in a car accident (where her husband and son have ben killed), and the nurse is refusing to let her see her little girl until the mother fills out the "necessary paperwork". Are you kidding me? Seriously? That is when "Patch" really starts to see what SHOULD be. He starts to invision what's possible. How exciting!!! He wakes up his colleague and literally starts talking almost as fast as he is thinking with ideas of what he sees and what SHOULD be. She tries to disuade him and discourage him because it will not be easy. Then, he says, "ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT." What are you doing or want to do that is worth it? Understanding that it will not be given to you because that would be easy. It will be difficult and you will have to fight through everything that wants to hold you back - whether it is your own doubt and fear of the unknown, negative feedback from others, lack of funding, or seeing the end result but not sure how to get there. Making it difficult makes it worth it. And your dream and you are worth it. Believe it.