More afraid of not...

I was watching a movie over the holiday weekend and heard a phrase similar to this one and it struck me as something that I needed to explore more. I used to live with fear and being afraid of living for a very long time. It always appeared to me that if there was something good or bad that could happen, the bad seemed to be the one that should up more often. So what did I learn? That if I took chances, I usually lost. Seriously. So, I didn't take them. I became conditioned to play it safe. To not make waves. To do what was expected of me. To follow the rules already written for me. Here is where I am right now...I am more afraid of NOT following my heart than of not. It hurts more to sit and do nothing than to write these words, maybe thinking they might impress themselves on someone else and therefore, make a difference. Being scared has created a shell that I lived in to follow the norm and live under the radar. Now, I am out there...taking chances that may include some skinned up knees and some failings. But I will have the scars to prove that I tried. That I was there. That I stood for something. That I took chances despite the failings and I picked myself back up to go back for more. That I never gave up and kept fighting for what I loved and treasured most. Are you afraid? Why aren't you shaking so much in your boots that you KNOW that keeping still and staying silent is no longer for you. Let your heart breathe. Feel the pure joy that others can bring to you, if you let them. Open up and stay strong, even when you want to run. Be afraid of monotony and spice things up a bit with new knowledge and unknown travels yet to be discovered. Be afraid. I have been given a mission with no itinerary and no final destination. I do not know how I will get there, but will expand what I share with others so as to make this world better. I have to...it is what calls to me. I cannot ignore it and it becomes almost self-propelled with all of the force of an avalanche barreling down a snow covered mountainside. But it is not destructive; it is constructive. I am more afraid of doing nothing than I am of standing still...even if I am smack-dab right in the middle of that same mountainside.

Channel your own path

We all have paths we take. Some we are paths we have not chosen, yet needed to take for reasons we may not have understood at the time. Some we are yet to take and are unsure of what will come our way. And yet others, we can decide for ourselves and purposefully select paths for our reasons. Which path are you on right now? One that was chosen for you or one that you have chosen for yourself? Which one would you pick if you could? Do you think you have a choice? Maybe not all of the time, but if you could incorporate a new path, would you take the chance to create it? What would it look like? Who would be next to you, always there, as you travel that path? Paths taken are not always what we think they should be and at times bring us things we did not want. Those are things we cannot change. It is necessary to accept them and move on. There is work left to do, people to meet, and dreams to make reality. Then, other paths take us to places that brings us such joy and happiness that it would have been impossible to even imagine it. How awesome it is when you can realize that you have control over the way you want to channel your path. Your path will amaze you and mine amazes me more everyday. To where it almost stops me in my tracks and takes my breath away. When I look back at where I was six months ago or a year ago, I have to really search for what my path looked like then. I cannot even remember what my path looked like last week, even. My path is like the yellow-brick road - as I continue to travel, the road appears almost underneath each foot as I take my next step. Never sure what lays in front of me, but never looking back. I am constantly growing in my faith, in my dedication to making my life different than my past, in my committment to my dreams and making them come true. Are you still wondering what you are doing here? You have to give in to the path that is before you...you will not regret it and you will be forever better. I told Rocky's mom once that "I am better because of her and she is better because of me." Mama Rock looked at me and told me, "No one has ever said that about her before." I said it and mean it. Everyday and always will. There is a reason (GOD) put the two of us on the same path that day that changed our lives forever. We have also traveled other paths we never thought we would, but are grateful that we did. They made us stronger and allowed us to be "all in". Pick your path...believe in it...embrace it...share it. This path is yours to take. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO?