What is precious to you?

Last night, I was reading an article about a former teacher of one of our son's who is fighting breast cancer. She commented that it took a blessing (cancer) for her to really realize how many people care about her and love her. WHY does that need to happen before we get it?? Before we start to treasure the people that truly make us better? Because what is precious to us has been threatened to be taken away. Why wait? Because we take people for granted and think they will always be there. I used to keep a voice message on my phone not to remind me of the day it was left (originally it was), but to remind me of the voice that left it. Who means the world to you? Why do we all have regrets after someone is gone? Because we left things undone or words unsaid. That can haunt you forever. Don't wait. I know I talk alot and share more than I should, but if this life is truly to live without regrets, then take the time you have been given and use it fully. Do not make excuses. Stop for a minute and think about who or what needs your attention RIGHT NOW?? Even if it is just 5 minutes. Do the unexpected. Because you can make someone's day with little things. Even if it is not received in the way you intended, you will have let your heart lead you and there can never be any regrets when you let that lead. Make the call you have been dreading to make. Then, you can feel better about reaching when you were unsure if someone would be at the other end. Show people that they matter to you. Send them a card or a text just to wish them to enjoy the day. Because, in a blink their life or your life can change forever without warning with no possible way to fix it. Wake up and make a point to do all you can to show them they how much they mean to you. We all need reminded from time to time to feel that our existence is important to others. That is why we love and live our lives. You are precious to others, even if they don't tell you or show it. Maybe they don't know how to tell you or how to show it. It just seems so easy...you are precious to someone.

TRY!!!

Don't you have to at least do this? Sure, it is easier not to, but really? Don't you want to be able to say, "I did that!"? Even if falling on your rear while you descend the 40 foot rock wall can be a lot of fun, you might have allowed the terror you thought would keep your feet on the ground to stop you. I have noticed and allowed myself to try new things lately...a lot of new things. Things that TOTALLY (remember, from So Cal) make me nervous to where I could be getting "the look" or the "flipping pages in the magazine" reminders. But, I am trying. "Before you quit, try." - Ernest Hemingway. Don't you owe yourself that much? No one will do it for you. Plus, you get the greatest joy when you can say, "I DID THAT!" And when you try, you live with no regrets. When I look back on my life, I have plenty of things I wish I had done differently. But we usually only wish we could change those things that turned out badly. We do not usually wish we could change those things that worked out well. But living with regrets means you hold onto those things you cannot change. Someone told me once that I would learn not to regret, but I really did not know what she meant. I love to give to others...it absolutely brings me the biggest joy. I can take the easy rode and not try, but sometimes what is easy for me might be difficult for others. Yoda said, "There is no try...there is do or do not." Because essentially, if you try, you do. Right? Right.

One voice

Can one voice make people listen? Can one thought inspire more thoughts? Can one dream create more dreams? I believe the answer to these questions is "YES!" Those questions were easy...this one is harder. Do you believe that you are that one voice, have that one thought, or have that one dream? Remember and earlier post about changing lives starts with me changing my life. Same thing. Over the last few weeks, I have met more women for lunch that I might have in the last year. Some of these women I do not know very well and others I have known for a long time, but never let them see the real me. I have three lunches next week. I love sitting with them and talking and we think and share and learn more about what we want out of life. And why shouldn't we get all we can out of the one life we have in front of us right now? The more I share of me, the more I begin to realize that we are not alone in our quest to live our "best" life. Most of our lives have many events in it that we did not plan for and yet we basically let go of the wheel completely. We cannot do that. We need to understand that we still can do all we want to and it will happen when it is meant to happen. Your voice and the words you use are powerful and impact others when you think what you said didn't matter. Sometimes, you may not even remember what you said. That happens to me alot. Someone remarked to me once I get into my "mode" that I am doing my thing, that I change into someone different. But I do not even realize that I do it. My voice gets heard. Maybe not that day, but someday when they least expect it. My thoughts and dreams can inspire others to have cahnge their attitudes and find their own dreams. I love watching someone that is so committed to their dream that they will not waver...they will not cave. They are there in it for the long haul. Regardless of what happens. One voice can change the world. One thought can change the world. One dream can change the world. That is what is on my agenda for the rest of my life...what is on yours?

Never Rule ANYTHING out

Have you done this? Who hasn't? Where you dismiss possibilities before they really have a chance to grow into something that is living and breathing and becomes engraved so deep that it could never wash away? Keep yourself open to anything the comes your way. My focus for almost a year has been on teenagers - mostly because of what I see that they need. They need someone to believe in them, to tell them that they can have any future they want. They are going to have to work hard to get it, but it can be theirs if they want. I see struggles and lack of motivation and giving up every day and it makes me so sad. I want to help. Do I have all of the answers? No. No one does. I know what it looks like to feel empowered and stronger than ever before when you just hear the words, "I believe in you." Those words can be life changing and can motivate people like they never thought possible. Lately, without warning or a lot of thinking, my most recent attention has been on women and helping them find their "what". More to come on that later. I guess the point of this little note is that even though I was preoccupied with another goal, I have been presented with something that seems to welcomed and appreciated. The women I talk to feel like they are alone so they don't say anything to anyone. Guess what? We all are there - in that same exact moment and here is where we start to dazzle and show the world what we can do. I cannot rule anything out even though inside I am thinking, "Are you serious? Do I really need another thing to do right now? Really? Really?" Those of you that know me personally can probably hear my voice saying these exact words. However, my arms are receiving this and my heart is open wide. There are so many promises yet to be fullfilled that I can't even imagine any of them. I can, but I am not going there. I am "going with the flow" and "embracing the journey". Do not close the door on anything that presents itself to you - even if it is going to be difficult...even if it is not what you expected...especially if you think you can't. Anything is possible and you're possible. I'm possible. You have to try. Trying will lead you to doing and there in lies your success and the realization that your life can be different and better and what you always wanted. Anything and everything means more than you think it does, especially to me.