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Humbless comes to me

I sigh, but not in disgust or in frustration. I let the air escape from my lungs in acceptance. Humbling accepting the compliments that have visited my life in such a few shorts days. I still almost find it difficult, but by my being me, it actually is very easy. It can be difficult for us to see AND accept what others see in us. Do you do that well? I don't but am working at getting better at it. Last night, we had another G.I.F.T meeting and I will post a quick summary soon. Some new faces and some that had come previously. Two ladies said that they feel inspired when they read what I write here. Amongst their crazy lives with the ups and downs, twists and turns on their rollercoaster ride, they find something in my blog that tells them to just stay the course. Later, I received a text from SM (love you!) that said that this meeting has her thinking and asking herself questions she maybe was afraid (to get wrong) to answer. And looking through some postings on Facebook, she also posts about how we should accept compliments, because not doing so with grace takes away the gift of giving it. Then, I was totally blown away today. Let's just say I was speechless. Yes, yes, I know. It does happen. I was visiting with a co-worker who I do not know very well and she asks my opinion about something she is thinking about doing in the next couple of months that will be different for her. Then she tells me that she says to herself, "If I could only be one-third of her." I am not sure who she is speaking about, but TM tells me that I am the "her" she is referring to when she says that. WOW! I am not sure what third she wants to be like, because sometimes I am not sure I like all of the thirds of me. But, I didn't know what to say, and I wasn't sure specifically talking about, and tried to accept the compliment. Then, I told her about the blog and the G.I.F.T. and how I got started. She sounded very excited as I gave her a hug and went on my daily tasks. Someone else told me that I should not be surprised by these words because "I'm amazing." DOUBLE WOW! I think it is almost impossible to fully comprehend and understand the magnitude of the effect we have on each other. How something we say inspires someone to do something different. How an action we take encourages someone to stand in front of a group of 5 year old ice skaters and takes lessons as a teenager. I posted a few months ago about how "IT MATTERS" and I am not trying to repeat myself here. Last night and today, I received genuine compliments that I will never forget. Because I have left them with something that they will never forget. Thank you all.

The G.I.F.T. 9-27-11

So, I have been trying to figure out a way to share what we do in our G.I.F.T. meetings with more people that are unable to attend the meetings for whatever reason. Since I am fairly confident that some of those people read this, I thought I would start here. Maybe it will spark a conversation...maybe it will encourage you to do something different in your life. The choice will and always will be yours to make. So, here goes.

After we did an ice breaker to get the ladies comfortable talking to each other , I explained more about the journey I have taken, how it started, that I did not want to hold this group, to my weight loss, etc.

I shared one of my favorite quotes by Mark Nepo, "There comes a day when the risk to be held tightly in a bud is more painful than the risk to bloom."

I quote my "I refuse" list which I shared with you earlier in a post. I told the ladies about MOXIE - Making Ourselves Xtraordinary In Everything. They also each received a card that has the "I first had to" poem on it, along with you get a positive ATTITUDE through Achieve This Through Insight, Time, Understanding, Empowerment, Dedication.

I gave them a book using the 20 questions from Oprah's February 2010 issue authored by Martha Beck. I told them that if they had the courage to ask themselves the questions, then one day I hope they have the courage to answer them. I mentioned the ONE question that Rock asked me so long ago - "What is the one thing you wish you could change about your life?" When Rock asked me that question, I told her I wanted to lose weight. Never in a million years, would I have thought that answering that one question would lead me to where I am now.

I told the ladies that this was our group and it would develop on its own. I also asked them hard questions? What is holding you back? I showed them that taking ONE step changes you because even by taking just that ONE step, you are already someplace different than you were before.

Greatness Is Found Together