Jan 26, 2017 | Be Inspired
These compelling words by Ralph Waldo Emerson keep repeating in my mind. Sometimes I ask myself if I’ve become the person I had dreamed I would be when I was a little girl.
And then as I reread Emerson’s words you realize that the power behind your destiny is within you.
You become who you decide to be.
What I love about this right now well past half of my life is that these words also make me feel like it’s never too late to become whom you decide to be. Because we are always each moment of each day living out our becoming. We are ever always becoming. For our entire life we are deciding who we will be each day.
These days I’m more interested in the qualities I live and express regardless of what career choices I still make.
Such as…
Are you deciding you will be happy? Kind? Loving? Helpful? Generous? Thoughtful? Patient? Honest? Creative? Teachable? Open-minded? Willing? Forgiving?
Just like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz who learned she always had the power to go back home, we can realize that we always have had and still do have the power to become the person we decide to be.
Our power has always been within.
So important to remember that when we feel like everything is out of our control and we have no power or it’s too late to make a change. It’s in those moments when we can’t change what’s outside of our control that we must recognize and change all that is within – our attitudes, our reactions, our decisions, our choices, our beliefs, our feelings.
It is what is WITHIN that we CAN change. We decide.
Each day offers us a fresh start. A do-over. New opportunities. Another chance.
It’s never too late to become the person we decide to be. What a relief!
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Jan 19, 2017 | Be Inspired
“May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears.” These words written by a man who spent a major part of his life incarcerated amazes me and yet perhaps also speaks to how his will to live survived those horrible years.
As a woman who has more fears these days than hopes, I say living by this statement is not so easy. Or at least it doesn’t feel so easy on the days when my fears are far overshadowing my hopes – which honestly is a day like today.
BUT on those days or in those moments when my hopes shine through and rise above the clouds of my fears, making choices that reflect and are inspired by my hopes happen naturally.
So how do we keep our hopes higher, stronger and more powerful than our fears?
Pay attention to those moments and days when your hopes are strong. What’s happening in those moments? What are you doing? Where are you? And however you answer these questions, DO MORE OF THAT!
When your fears seem to overwhelm you and invade the confidence and certainty that your hopes inspire, do more of whatever you do that feeds and fuels your hopes.
I’m asking myself these questions RIGHT NOW as I type this message while listening to beautiful soothing saxophone background music. It’s helping to quiet my fears. I need to walk outside. It always surprises me how the sounds and views that nature provides can bring fresh perspectives. And the deep breathes that being in the outdoors invites give my hopes encouragement and reassurance.
DO MORE OF WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO FEED AND FUEL YOUR HOPES!
Don’t give in to your fears without a fight! You’re not alone in your battle. I’ve been remembering there is a divine presence and power called God, Love, Spirit – whatever name you prefer – that will comfort and strengthen you. Reaching out to friends is also a good choice and one I forget at times when I’m feeling very alone. You are never alone. You have friends (and even strangers!) who are ready and waiting to be the angel of hope that you need. All you have to do is choose to ASK.
Choose hope!
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Oct 12, 2015 | Author, Word Art
I just returned from my first ever women’s retreat and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Perfect because I got to feed my heart with playful painting, insightful journaling and fellowship with amazing women.
Six canvases would be painted and I thought I would share how the inspirations for each piece evolved.
As I sat there staring at the first blank canvas, I had no idea what to paint. A heart of course could have been the logical answer since I was at the Heart Art Retreat. But I wasn’t feeling inclined to paint a heart YET. Since writing words consumes much of my focus, word art seemed like the way to go but what word?????
This past year has been an emotional roaster coaster with my sweet mamma in and out of hospitals and rehab facilities. So honestly, part of my longing for the weekend was some time to just BE. Time to take some deep breathes without a million things on my to-do list.
That’s it, I thought! I would paint BE!
Did you know that one of the synonyms for BE is BREATHE?
LIVE is another synonym!
When you explore the meaning of BE, you’ll also come across another word that I love – UNDISTURBED.
BREATHE. LIVE. UNDISTURBED. BE.
YES!!!!! Oh how I love to BE!!!
In fact, word art included on one of the pages in my upcoming adult coloring book is the statement: “Make time to just BE.”
Stay tuned for the word I painted next!
Jul 16, 2013 | Books & more that inspire!, Good book club books, Queen of Damn Good Advice, The "me" you want to be
When people stop learning, stop wanting or trying to learn, or start believing they have nothing to learn, they cease to make progress. Without progress, there is no life, no growth. At the very least, life becomes less interesting.
Perhaps learning is a habit. Like some good habits, such as eating a balanced meal or exercising, we can get lazy or negligent. Our laziness and negligence become bad habits that are difficult to break—but not impossible. I’d like to think that any bad habit could be broken with due diligence and perseverance, and that good habits can be created and maintained in the same way. Gandhi’s words,
“Learn as if you would live forever, live as if you would die tomorrow”
tell us there is always more to learn and we should digest as much as we can each day. It is never too late to comprehend and master something new. The old adage “practice makes perfect” is always true regardless of our age.
Daughters of the world, be wise women.
Approach each day with this question: “What can I learn today?”
You may not know what you want or need to learn, but I believe there are countless options and infinite possibilities when you’re open and ready to discover them.
The above is an excerpt from:
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Jul 9, 2013 | Books & more that inspire!, Queen of Damn Good Advice, Remembering a lesson learned, Southern Women Writers, The "me" you want to be
Listen up, princesses!
http://www.last.fm/music/Happiness
You are the woman of God’s creating—made in her image. Your innate nature includes the qualities of poise, confidence, strength, courage, compassion, love. Be true to yourself.
Happiness is found in being who God made you to be.
You can do it. Your thinking is your most powerful weapon. Use it. Follow your heart. Don’t hide your light and love. Be the spiritual self that God intended. Don’t be shy. Be yourself—freely, unconditionally, and fearlessly. You’ll be much happier if you do.
This is an excerpt from:
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