Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Good Side of Life....

I promise to not keep stealing topics from what I hear at church but I did want to expand on something that was discussed.  When you look at the media, it seems as though the world is just getting worse and worse by the day.  It drives me crazy that tragedy, crime, and sensationalism is what really sells on TV.  I always wish that for once, the news would report on all good stories - but the truth is, the ratings would probably go down and the networks would not want that happening!  The media has such influence on our thoughts that we tend to believe that things are hopeless and that the bad outweighs the good - but I refuse to believe that.  Yes, certain events and situations do require our attention in order to bring about change - but we should not allow our perspective of the world to be determined by the bad that is going on. 

I love hearing stories of hope, stories of survival, stories of those who use their own lives to change others.  These are the real stories that truly make a positive difference in the world.  I googled a few inspiring stories and wanted to post them today to remind us of the good that really is going on in the world.

"Giver Girl" and her husband "Giver Boy" came up with a simple yet powerful idea: donating $52 to a different charity every week for a year. After each experience, they post their moving reflections, invite others to join in, and maintain total anonymity. The brilliance of their project is captured in a week when they spontaneously decide to make that week's gift a $52 tip to a waitress serving them. After leaving the tip, they decided to 'run away without watching (their) waitress's expression.' "That's it right there. That's generosity. Giving in a sacrificial way with the intent of blessing others while seeking nothing in return -- not even recognition, gratitude, or praise. And this lesson is the biggest gift that Giver Boy and Giver Girl have sent out."   I love this idea!  It fits right in line with the Pay It Forward idea and I know that this couple is making such an impact on lives - even more than they realize!

A few folks in New York City wondered what it's like to be homeless. So they gave four men cell phones and Twitter accounts to help them share their stories with the world. For Daniel Morales, these gifts would change his life. Three weeks into the project, Morales used the social networking tool to find his 27-year-old daughter, whom he hadn't seen in over a decade. After posting his cell phone number and a photo of her when she was 16, a stranger saw the message and the next day, Morales got the call he'd been waiting for. "Just to find my dad after 11 years...I don't even know how to feel right now, I'm just very, very happy."  What I love about the story is this - had these people not followed through with their idea, Daniel Morales may have never found his daughter.  Not only did they come up with a creative idea, they followed through with it and made a lasting difference in someone's life!

Every week they provide food for as many as 1,500 households in Marin County (CA). They don’t charge for the food. Nor do they get paid themselves. Who are these people and why do they do this?  They are two community elders, Ruth Schwartz and her husband Curt Kinkead, supported by a team of about 100 volunteers. They do it because Curt “gets fed by the joy he sees in the people who come to collect the food he delivers.” Ruth adds, “If we [Ruth and Curt] do something together where we face out into the world and make a contribution, that is a key piece of having our relationship thrive.”
Respecting Our Elders started in 2005 when Curt and Ruth, residents of a subsidized housing development, noticed that some of their neighbors weren’t getting enough to eat. The couple decided to do something about that. One thing led to another and in no time a thriving organization spun into existence that picks up and delivers food seven days a week, several times a day.  This generous couple is not doing this for money but for the joy that comes from giving!  Love it!

These are just three stories that I found that not only inspired me, but also challenged me.  I am not doing near enough to make a difference and need to proactively look for ways to make more of an impact on the world!  Yes, there are bad things going on in the world, but think about all the good that is actually going on.  The statement I loved from this past Sunday was this - When did a pessimistic attitude every bring about change in the world?  When did someone who constantly complains about his or her situation ever see good come out of it?  I encourage all of us to be a part of the change, not a part of the problem.  Use your life to make your mark on the world - you never know how it will impact others!


Today I am grateful for:  1.  Waking up and making a conscious decision that today will be a good day  2.  Having a good time at work  3.  Seeing some trick or treaters visit my workplace and seeing the smiles on their faces  4.  Reading stories of hope and inspiration  5.  Enjoying a great conversation with a friend

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Beauty of Faith....

After a 2-week absence from church, I was really excited about attending yesterday  morning!  For those who do not know, I attend Cross Point Church here in Nashville and I absolutely love it!  I know that there are many great churches out there so I will not declare that Cross Point is the ONLY one - but it's really, really good - I'm just saying!  At the end of Pastor Pete's message, he encouraged everyone to write down three things every day this week that they are grateful for.  Of course, I was so excited that he challenged everyone to do this, since that is how I end my blog each day.  I agree that it will change your perspective in life and help to make positive changes in the world. 

As we sang, watched videos, and listened to Pastor Pete - I was reminded that faith is really what makes life so good.  I was talking to someone a couple of weeks ago and we were discussing those people who are so intelligent that everything has to be explained or they have a very hard time believing it.  Although there is nothing wrong with highly intelligent people (I am not in that category), I do find it sad when they cannot believe simply because it cannot be understood.  The beauty of faith is the fact that there is something greater that cannot be fully explained but that I can trust to make the most of this life of mine.  This something greater may be called different names, but I do know that it is God.  The truth is - God is beyond our comprehension and cannot be fully explained.  But wouldn't you rather put all of your faith and trust in something much greater than yourself?  If our faith was in a human, there would be faults and therefore we could not fully trust.  But I know that God is the Creator of all and even in the midst of all that is going on in the world - He has a greater plan for my life. 

I do find beauty in many parts of life, but I will say that there is a connection that I make during that hour on Sundays that is just out of reach of any words that I could put in a blog.  It is energizing, cleansing, motivating, and beautiful.  I also experience those moments during the week - I do not want to come across as putting God's presence only at church - it truly is a lifestyle.  However, this past Sunday I was just reminded of how sacred a moment it truly is.  Maybe it was because I missed a couple of weeks, but I loved being reminded of what truly matters in life. 

I have learned in life that many people search for something greater in various ways.  I do not believe that a belief in God comes only from a certain denomination, culture, or upbringing.  It is often found in our own unique journeys - but I do pray that each of us find that faith and realize that it is a hope in things unseen.  Our life is much better lived in the hands of the One that is beyond our comprehension - that is the beauty of faith.


Today I am grateful for:  1.  Spending time with family and friends on Saturday  2.  Getting back to church on Sunday and being reminded of how much I love it there  3.  Going to Trader Joe's yesterday - love that grocery store  4.  Taking a long walk yesterday afternoon  5.  A good start to a new week  

Monday, October 17, 2011

Joy Rising....

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  One of my friends that I have not seen in almost a year showed up on my front doorstep on Sunday and it was such a great surprise!  She said that she passed my neighborhood and almost did not stop (to which I replied that I would have been so mad) but decided to just make a random stop and I am so glad that she did.  It was really good to catch up on life and spend a lot of time laughing - which is something we always do when we are together.  I say that to say this - little surprises in someone's life really make a difference, so when you have that instinct to do something for someone else, go with it!  Randomly showing up on someone's doorstep may or may not work but there are plenty of other things that we can do to help brighten someone's day - so thanks Dana for making a difference in mine!

I love moments in life when you get to experience kindness being given to someone so deserving.  Anytime I watch a show where someone's life is changed or their dreams come true - it makes me so happy and motivates me to want to do more with my own life!  I have had those moments happen in my life and it is always humbling and puts me in such a state of gratefulness.  But when I am able to see it happen to someone else, it is like no other!  The expression on their face says it all.  Their entire demeanor changes and as someone once said, it is like seeing joy rising!  I love that phrase (and yes, it did come from an Oprah show) but it is a great way to describe what happens.  An act of kindness - whether big or small - can really change a person's life.  The thing to remember is that these events may have never happened if someone had not decided to look outside their own interests and reach out to others.  We cannot wait for others to do something - we each are called to make a difference.  I promise that what you will get out of it will cause you to want to open your heart wider and do more! 

One of my goals in life is to always find bigger ways to make a difference.  With the holiday season approaching, I really want to challenge all of us to be a part of something bigger.  To do something that would truly make an impact on the lives of others - where we would not be paid back with material possessions, but with the opportunity to see joy rising.  I am working out the details now, but I hope that all of you will join me in this effort.  It will probably happen in December so be on the lookout for more details!  Until then, I challenge all of you to look for ways to share kindness with others in our day to day life.  If you have experience that in your own life - feel free to comment below and let us know how that made a difference in your life!


Today I am grateful for:  1.  A great weekend to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather  2.  Getting to run a 5k race on Saturday  3.  Emerald's dark chocolate and peanut butter mixed nuts - seriously, try them!  4.  A great day at work  5.  Hearing that my sister Cara is doing so well in her PTA program - she is doing exactly what she is meant to be doing!

 

Thursday, October 13, 2011

I Might Need a Drink....

Today has really been one of those days that I was jut ready for it to end at about lunch.  At work I deal with customers all day long and although most of it includes good interactions, I seemed to get more than enough... how shall we say... challenging personalities today!  Most of the time I just let it roll off, but people were in full form today and at one point I just wanted a margarita!  However, work is over and I can let that go and enjoy the remainder of my night.

As you know, I am a big fan of Oprah and I have been really excited about her new show on OWN that started this week.  It is called Oprah's Lifeclass, and she is taking lessons that she learned from her talk show and sharing those with us, the viewer.  Of course it has been really good so far and she has dealt with topics such as:  our ego, forgiveness, and being our true selves.  I am going to try and not copy her show into my blog each night (although it's tempting) but rest assured that there will be some mentions of it when I feel it necessary. 

The one lesson I did want to mention tonight is forgiveness.  The definition used is this - forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.  As we have all heard before, forgiveness is more for ourselves than the person you actually forgive.  Holding grudges can eat away at you and if not dealt with, can destroy your life.  Have you ever been mad at someone and then see them and they seem to have moved on with their life while you are left holding on to that anger?  Forgiveness does not mean that what happened is OK; but rather it allows you to continue on with your life -  free from the grip of anger and hurt.  It is not an easy thing to do, but I can attest to the fact that life is much better lived in freedom than in anger.  I have been mad at people in my life before and will just let it boil inside me for some time.  Then I have to remember - this is only hurting me and ruining my day!  Once I confront the issue, forgive, and move on - I literally feel lighter and so much happier. 

In order to experience all that we are meant to be in life, we need to make sure we are not holding on to any anger or hurt towards anyone.  Yes, people in our life are going to hurt us just as we will hurt others - we are human, so it happens.  We may not be able to control what happens to us and other people's behaviors - but we can control how we react and what we do with that situation.  We have all experienced great forgiveness in our lives - be sure to give that to others. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!  I am going to pass on the margarita tonight - maybe some nachos will do the trick instead!


Today I am grateful for:  1.  Being reminded of good things in my life even on a not-so-good day  2.  Getting a good workout in at lunch - good stress reliever  3.  Receiving a picture of my nephew Wylie on my phone - always makes me smile  4.  Forgiveness that I have received in my own life  5.  Looking forward to a great weekend

Monday, October 10, 2011

Giving Out Referrals

I wanted to use my blog tonight to refer you to other blogs that I really like.  I was turned on to the idea of blogging by reading others and I know that those who write one put a lot of work into it and so any way that I can help - I'm all for it!  So below is a link and a brief description.  Enjoy!

1.  http://www.southernchampagnewishes.com/  My good friend Anna started a blog and actually is one of the main ones that encouraged me to start my own.  Although she is not able to currently write, it is still a great blog to read!  She gives her view on life, products that she uses, and always includes a picture of the shoes she wore that day. 

2.  http://wwwmyspiritualgifts.blogspot.com/  Beth has always been a great encourager of mine when I blog and I was really excited when she decided to start her own!  It includes great devotionals and encouraging words from her own point of view.  Be sure and check it out for a great way to start the day!

3.  http://www.thewanderingparent.blogspot.com/  If you are a parent with small children, you will definitely want to check out this new blog!  Ryan is a father of two small girls and he and his wife will be giving out reviews and info on restaurants, hotels, and other places of interest - all from a parent's point of view! 

4.  http://famjordan.blogspot.com/  Anna's blog is inspiring and includes the cutest pictures of her two little girls.  She gives us a glimpse into their life as a family.  You will love reading it and hearing about all of the events that happen in the day to day life of the Jordan's. 

5.  http://thetransparentlife.blogspot.com/  I am all about honesty and love it when someone gives a real perspective about life - the good, bad, and ugly.  If you feel the same way, check out Ashley's blog!  Her writings are honest and she is able to say a lot of things that others just think - it's a great read!

6.  http://loolabee.blogspot.com/  My friend Shaundra has a great blog that is all about creativity!  She gives reviews on unique things that she finds as well as access to her own line of products!  I highly recommend it and I am sure you will find great ideas not only for yourselves, but gifts for others!  Take a look and read about her own take on simplicity! 

7.  http://rachelheldevans.com/  This blog was referred to me by my sister, Christy and I wanted to pass it along!  She is a great example of one who started off a simple blog and has now turned it into a career!  She has a unique perspective on life and covers a variety of topics!


If I did not include your blog tonight, just know that it is coming!  I realized that there are a lot of blogs that I follow and so I will include another "Referral Blog" in the near future.  If you have any that you would like to recommend, just leave it in the comment section or on my facebook page and I will make sure and include it next time.  I only include blogs that I have read before. 

Thanks again for all who visit my blog and read about my own perspective on this thing called life!



Today I am grateful for:  1.  A great weekend to have fun and relax.  2.  Christy, Jordan, Martha Ann, and Wylie going to the zoo on Saturday - seeing Martha Ann's face as she sees some of the animals for the first time!  3.  Getting some really good news at work today  4.  Other blogs that I read that encourage, inspire, and enhance life  5.  The opportunity to use my blog not only as my own therapy but hopefully to encourage others

Thursday, October 6, 2011

When One Person Changes the World....

I logged on to facebook before writing my blog yesterday and was very surprised to hear the news that Steve Jobs had passed away.  As I scrolled through facebook, almost everyone's post made mention of it.  Although it was known that his health condition was a primary reason for him stepping down as CEO of Apple back in August, it was still very sad to hear that he passed away so quickly and at the age of 56.   

I read an article online covering the story and his life is truly an amazing one.  The effect of his work has had an impact on millions of people.  As the mastermind behind the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and iTunes - it is safe to say that the way we live our lives has been changed by this man.  I recently bought my first iPhone and I love it!  My mind is definitely not wired in a technical way nor as an inventor - so I am in awe of those who create these instruments and make our lives so much easier and fun. 

On Apple's website, the following was written: 
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.  Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

What an amazing legacy to leave behind!  Even though most of us do not know him personally, we have forever been impacted by his life.  He definitely exemplifies the definition of a visionary and creative genius and he used those gifts and abilities to change the world.  What if Steve had decided to pursue a different path or to put off his true calling until later in life?  The way we communicate with each other and live our day to day lives would be different.  I am sure that in the early days he would not have dreamed of the impact he would have, but he stayed true to what he knew he was put here to do - and for that, we can all be very thankful. 

One of the quotes from Steve was, Your time is limited; so don't waste it living someone else's life.  We are not meant to be someone else.  We were all created with a unique purpose and once we realize what that is, we can then truly begin living the full life we were meant to live.  Many have called Steve the modern day Thomas Edison - I would have to agree with them.  He did not try to be someone else.  He knew of his abilities, started creating in a garage, lived out his unique life, and ended up changing the world. 

It is true that one person can make a difference in the world.  It requires vision, persistence, hard work, and at times creativity - but one lesson that can be learned from the life of Steve Jobs is that we should make the most of our time here, figure out what we are meant to do, and get about the business of doing it.  Find joy in the fact that you are unique and created for a reason.  Find hope in the fact that our differences all work together to impact the world.  Find motivation in hearing how others live their lives to its full potential.  I found this quote from Steve and wanted to end with it: 

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.


Today I am grateful for:  1.  Being inspired by the life of Steve Jobs  2.  Having lots of fun at work today  3.  Finally winning my first contest at work  4.  Breakfast at Chick Fil A  5.  Getting to spend some time outside in the great weather

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Some Fresh Fruit to Brighten the Day....

Today has been a really good day!  I am usually pretty chipper in the mornings and today was no exception.  I did not have any TV shows to catch up on this morning so I made a quick run to Kroger to get a few essentials - chapstick, toilet paper, mouthwash, contact drops, and lemonade.  Yes, those are listed in order of importance!  I was also able to take Axel for a morning walk (which I have not done in awhile) and that also gave me time to have my  morning prayer and get focused for the day.  It was freezing this morning so my walking and my talking were brisk - but I believe that Axel and God were both able to keep up with me.  I am definitely a lover of cooler weather - to me it gives that extra edge in your day and adds excitement to life!

At work this week, it is Customer Service / Spirit week.  I am not exactly sure what all it involves, but I know that they keep having various contests during the day as well as surprises for the employees - and the best part of all, we get to wear jeans all week!  We received an email saying that there would be free fruit for the employees today in the cafeteria.  Normally the wellness center offers free fruit on Mondays which consists of a few apples in a barrel - so I just thought it would be along the same lines.  Oh, how I was wrong!  I walked into the cafeteria and it looked like the garden of Eden had been recreated!  There were so many different kinds of fruit available - an overflow of color and smell just waiting for all of us.  As a lover of healthy food (and well, food in general) this was such a beautiful sight to me!  I noticed people leaving with plates piled high.  One lady even had a box full!  I just kept smiling as I saw strawberries, kiwi, peaches, clementines, grapes, apples, bananas, plums, and oranges - all for the tasting, and as some people clearly exemplified - for the hoarding as well!  I got my fair share (no, I did not fill up a box - just my lunch sack) and am looking forward to eating it over the next few days.  I did sample the strawberries and they were so good - the only way it would have been better is if there had been a chocolate fountain to dip them in - YUM! 

On a different note - I wanted to say that there is going to be another Pay It Forward event planned for the holidays.  A friend of mine commented on my facebook today that the leftover fruit should be given to a shelter - which I thought was a great idea.  However, at the end of the day there was nothing left.  I guess we all went a little crazy in the big fruit giveaway but it did remind me that I want to plan something big for the holidays and try to get as many people involved as possible.  Be on the lookout for more details and feel free to leave any ideas in the comment section! 

Yes, it might seem a little over the top for me to get so excited about some fruit but 1)  The visual of all that fruit was an overload to my senses and 2)  I do find joy in the small things (another way of putting it - it doesn't take much to excite me!)  So as  I look back over my day and think about what I am grateful for, some fresh fruit will definitely make the list.  What are you grateful for today? 


Today I am grateful for:  1.  Waking up in an extra good mood  2.  Great focus time and prayer -  being reminded of all the good things in my life  3.  A good workout (since I missed yesterday)  4.  Seeing my work team make great improvements  5.  All the fresh fruit given away today

 

Monday, October 3, 2011

Getting Back Up....

This past Sunday was another inspiring and encouraging day at church.  Pastor Pete spoke on the topic of solitude which I do want to talk more about later this week, but I wanted to focus on one verse that he mentioned that I don't believe I have ever read - but it really encouraged me as I pursue my own journey.  This is also connected with last Monday's blog about knowing that God has a better plan in store for our lives. 

When you look back over your life, are there moments that did not go exactly as planned?  Are there times that you may have made poor choices and had to reap those consequences?  Or were there times that life knocked you down and you found it hard to want to keep going?  I would bet that each of us could answer yes to these questions.  Pursuing the good life means that there will be ups and downs - that is simply the reality of life itself.  I can look back over my own life and see times that for whatever reason, life did not go as I had hoped that it would.  This past year is an example of that.  I do not mind saying that I lost my job and my car in a matter of a couple of months.  That was definitely a setback for me, but my new job already has me moving in the right direction again so I am thankful for that and know that a car will be coming soon (for now, I'm saving on gas, right?).  We all know that in today's economy, many people have had setbacks in life and are having to work hard to get back on track or even find a job.  There are many other situations that I know we all are going through that simply make life hard. 

Pastor Pete read this verse on Sunday.  Proverbs 24:16 - The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.  I found this to be so encouraging.  When life does not happen as we thought it would, we MUST get back up again.  Sometimes it is easy to look at other people's lives and wonder how they have it so easy.  The truth is, they may not.  We all experience tough times, but we must remember to get back up again.  Find strength in knowing that it will get better.  One thing I know for sure when it comes to life - it is what we make of it and if we want to truly experience the best life possible, then we must keep pursuing the higher goal, even when times are hard.  Getting back up again may mean that if we fail the first time, we keep trying.  It may mean that we keep the bigger picture in mind when obstacles come our way.  It might mean getting out of bed the next day when life is hard.  What I love about looking back over my life so far is that even though there have been hard times - the good far outweighs the bad and it strengthens my belief in why I am here on earth.  I do believe in focusing on the good, but the truth is sometimes life is hard.  If you have a bad day, a bad week, or a moment that knocks you down - do not forget to get back up again. 

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. 



Today I am grateful for:  1.  The cooler weather - I love it!  2.  A really good weekend  3.  Getting to have dinner with Cara Saturday night  4.  Church on Sunday  5.  The reminder to keep pursuing the best life possible