This past Sunday at church, we watched a video of our pastor, Pete Wilson, interviewing Matt Hasselback, the quarterback of the Tennessee Titans. I am going to make a confession and say that I thought Matt was married to Elisabeth Hasselback from The View. So I was a little surprised when Pastor Pete asked Matt about his wife Sara! However, thanks to Wikipedia, I have now learned that Matt is Tim Hasselback's brother - who IS married to Elisabeth. Basically - I do not keep up with sports so my only tie to Matt Hasseblack was that he might be married to a celebrity.
It was an interesting and very engaging interview. One of the main things that I took away from what Matt said was how he lives his life with such intention. In his personal and professional life, there is great purpose in the decisions that he makes. He knows that his fame gives him a platform to make a difference and he does not take that lightly. He is a husband and a father and he knows the importance of working on each relationship. His daughters are young and he knows that their definition of a future husband will be based on what they see day in and day out with him and his wife. Even with the hectic schedule of a professional athlete, he puts the work in to keep his marriage strong and vibrant. Matt said that this drive to succeed and live life with integrity comes from his own upbringing as well as a natural fire within him to make the most of this life.
This should have us all thinking about our own lives. In our own goals and purposes, what is our intention? If it is to simply put our lives on show, then the ulterior motive will cause our lives to seem unfulfilled. However, if our intention is to improve our lives and ultimately to be used for the greatest good, then there is going to be purpose, depth, and a force in our lives that will be greater than ourselves. In our relationships, what is our intention? When we are friends with someone, dating someone, married to someone only because we want something out of it for ourselves - then those relationships are not genuine and most likely will end in hurt and confusion. But when we put the work into it and strive to both benefit each other, then that relationship will flourish and greatly enhance both lives. Our intentions play a part of our daily decisions, our career choices, and the direction that our lives take.
The thing about intention is that we cannot hide its truth from our lives. Whether good or bad, it will always come out. I have not always had a conscious awareness of my intentions in life, but it is something I have used recently and it really helps to keep myself focused on what are not only my true priorities but also those goals that I should continue to pursue. Whatever your next decision in life is - think about your intention. What is your true reason for doing it? Allow those pure and good intentions help to drive yourself to a more fulfilled and meaningful life.
Today I am grateful for: 1. The cold weather - I love it! 2. The Christmas lights in my neighborhood - it's looking great! 3. Having lunch with a group of friends today 4. Hearing a miracle story about a friend's daughter 5. Ending the month of November and officially entering into my favorite time of year!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Family Matters....
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! I am still recovering from all the food I ate - and will be enjoying all the leftovers this week (which are just as good!). It was a really fun weekend being with family and being reminded of all that we have to be grateful for. I love Thanksgiving because it has all the fun of being with family and enjoying all the great food without the craziness of trying to get Christmas presents bought. Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas! I was outside in the rain yesterday putting up Christmas garland and lights, singing Christmas carols, and feeling the Christmas spirit (until my hands were frozen and some of the words coming to mind were not very Christmasy - then I as over it). But Thanksgiving is almost that "calm before the storm" day.
Our family got together on Saturday this year and I was looking forward to it all week! I am from Jackson, Tennessee so as I made the 2 hour drive down the interstate, I was singing and dancing and in a great mood - yes, I am that guy that you pass and thinks no one sees him grooving to the beat. In true family form - my sister called at one point to tell me that they were not waiting on me to eat so I better hurry up! I thought maybe it was a joke, but as I walked in the door everyone had eaten not only their meal, but dessert as well! No worries though - the kitchen counter was still overflowing with all of the delicious Thanksgiving staples - ham, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, casseroles, and Asian slaw (doesn't everyone eat Asian slaw at Thanksgiving?). I piled my plate high and enjoyed every bite of it before hitting the dessert table. It is one of those days where you know you are full, but you keep eating because the taste buds are loving it! One of the best parts about family get-togethers like this is you just keep snacking throughout the night! Talking and eating and talking and eating. Most of the time you do not even realize it - your hand just keeps stuffing your face. Mom had been cooking and preparing all week - and we all enjoyed every minute of her hard work!
As the night continued, I was reminded once again how much the love of family means to me. My 92 year old grandmother - who is still as feisty and funny as ever - was able to come up and join us and that meant so much. She commented more than once how she loved being around her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I thought of how life must look from her perspective - to see the fruits of her labor and to know that she is loved so much. Of course my two year old niece and almost one year old nephew kept us busy as well. I love them so much and they were both enjoying all of the attention that they deserve! I would say that life from their perspective is pretty good as well. Things are still very new to them, they are loved and spoiled, and let's face it - they have it made! As with every family gathering, at some point during the night - my two sisters, my mom, and myself will end up in the kitchen (because that's where the food is) talking about our lives, other people's lives, reliving funny memories, and laughing the entire time! There is always a "confession" that shocks mom - and my sisters and I like to tell on each other until we have taken it a little bit too far - but at this point, I do not think that mom is surprised anymore. One thing is for sure - love runs deep in our family and laughs are loud whenever we get together.
As the night came to an end, and my food coma began to take over, I felt grateful. Mom loved having everyone home and I loved being there. I know that many of you experience the same love when you get together with family. I am also aware that others do not. Family takes on many forms and whatever your situation, I hope that you experiences the love of whomever you call family and at the end of the day can feel very grateful for those special people in your life.
Today I am grateful for: 1. A great weekend to be with friends and family 2. All of the great food that I enjoyed and continue to enjoy 3. Mom's hard work at making such a great day for all of us 4. Being together with family and loving every minute of it 5. All of those I call family.
Our family got together on Saturday this year and I was looking forward to it all week! I am from Jackson, Tennessee so as I made the 2 hour drive down the interstate, I was singing and dancing and in a great mood - yes, I am that guy that you pass and thinks no one sees him grooving to the beat. In true family form - my sister called at one point to tell me that they were not waiting on me to eat so I better hurry up! I thought maybe it was a joke, but as I walked in the door everyone had eaten not only their meal, but dessert as well! No worries though - the kitchen counter was still overflowing with all of the delicious Thanksgiving staples - ham, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, casseroles, and Asian slaw (doesn't everyone eat Asian slaw at Thanksgiving?). I piled my plate high and enjoyed every bite of it before hitting the dessert table. It is one of those days where you know you are full, but you keep eating because the taste buds are loving it! One of the best parts about family get-togethers like this is you just keep snacking throughout the night! Talking and eating and talking and eating. Most of the time you do not even realize it - your hand just keeps stuffing your face. Mom had been cooking and preparing all week - and we all enjoyed every minute of her hard work!
As the night continued, I was reminded once again how much the love of family means to me. My 92 year old grandmother - who is still as feisty and funny as ever - was able to come up and join us and that meant so much. She commented more than once how she loved being around her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I thought of how life must look from her perspective - to see the fruits of her labor and to know that she is loved so much. Of course my two year old niece and almost one year old nephew kept us busy as well. I love them so much and they were both enjoying all of the attention that they deserve! I would say that life from their perspective is pretty good as well. Things are still very new to them, they are loved and spoiled, and let's face it - they have it made! As with every family gathering, at some point during the night - my two sisters, my mom, and myself will end up in the kitchen (because that's where the food is) talking about our lives, other people's lives, reliving funny memories, and laughing the entire time! There is always a "confession" that shocks mom - and my sisters and I like to tell on each other until we have taken it a little bit too far - but at this point, I do not think that mom is surprised anymore. One thing is for sure - love runs deep in our family and laughs are loud whenever we get together.
As the night came to an end, and my food coma began to take over, I felt grateful. Mom loved having everyone home and I loved being there. I know that many of you experience the same love when you get together with family. I am also aware that others do not. Family takes on many forms and whatever your situation, I hope that you experiences the love of whomever you call family and at the end of the day can feel very grateful for those special people in your life.
Today I am grateful for: 1. A great weekend to be with friends and family 2. All of the great food that I enjoyed and continue to enjoy 3. Mom's hard work at making such a great day for all of us 4. Being together with family and loving every minute of it 5. All of those I call family.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Choose Gratitude....
How many times are we quick to complain about what we do not have? How many of us look at a situation and automatically see the bad instead of the good? How often do we wish for our circumstances to change but are unwilling to put the work in that is required? Our natural response to any given experience says a lot about who we are and where we are going in life. To complain or to be grateful - that is the question.
The past couple of years have not gone exactly as I would have planned and at times I will admit that I have complained and allowed that negative energy to grow inside. However, every time my complaints begin to stir, I am reminded of all the good things that are a part of my life and that joy begins to rise. I am grateful for my health and for each day that I wake up. I am grateful for my family that knows me and loves me unconditionally and for the connection that we share. I am grateful for friends that are supportive and genuine. I am grateful for knowing that God's love for me will never change, His plan is always for the good, and that He is the true reason for this life. I am grateful for a house that I really like in a neighborhood that I love. I am grateful for a job that I enjoy and that helps to provide. I am grateful for life's experiences that continually teach me. I am grateful for those moments that I have been able to give to others and make a difference in their lives. I am grateful every time I hear of something good happening in someone else's life. I am grateful for the passions, dreams, and desires that have been given to me and for the assurance that life will only get better from here.
The power of gratitude is such a powerful force. As I said yesterday, we cannot control everything that comes our way in life - but one thing I know for sure is that if we will meet those circumstances with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness, it will get better. Just as negative feelings grow and effect those around us, positive feelings also grow and compound and not only enrich our own lives but those around us. Seeing great things happen to others makes us happy (at least it should!). That energy is contagious and causes us to see the possibilities in our own lives.
Where does gratitude come from? It comes from a relationship to the Source. I know that comes in a variety of ways for many people - and for me the gratitude comes from knowing what God has done for me and that my life would be completely empty without Him. It also comes out of a conscious decision to look for the good in every circumstance and to trust in the fact that no matter what is going on, it will get better. The practical answer is this - when has complaining ever made the situation better? When has pessimism ever changed the world? Start small and just focus on those things in your life that are good - I promise that choosing gratitude will bring more joy into your life. I challenge you to write it down. Start the day with it or end the day with it - just do it! Choose gratitude.
I want to end with a quote that I heard last year and have kept at my desk and look at it often:
When you surrender, and stop resisting, and stop trying to change that which you cannot change... But be in the moment, be fully open to the blessings that you have already received, and those that are yet to come to you... And stand in that space of gratitude and honor, and claim that for yourself... And look at where you are, and how far you have come... And what you've gotten, and what you've accomplished, and who you are... When you can claim that, and see that... The literal vibration of your life will change. The vibration of your life will change. It is all about your relationship to the Source.
The past couple of years have not gone exactly as I would have planned and at times I will admit that I have complained and allowed that negative energy to grow inside. However, every time my complaints begin to stir, I am reminded of all the good things that are a part of my life and that joy begins to rise. I am grateful for my health and for each day that I wake up. I am grateful for my family that knows me and loves me unconditionally and for the connection that we share. I am grateful for friends that are supportive and genuine. I am grateful for knowing that God's love for me will never change, His plan is always for the good, and that He is the true reason for this life. I am grateful for a house that I really like in a neighborhood that I love. I am grateful for a job that I enjoy and that helps to provide. I am grateful for life's experiences that continually teach me. I am grateful for those moments that I have been able to give to others and make a difference in their lives. I am grateful every time I hear of something good happening in someone else's life. I am grateful for the passions, dreams, and desires that have been given to me and for the assurance that life will only get better from here.
The power of gratitude is such a powerful force. As I said yesterday, we cannot control everything that comes our way in life - but one thing I know for sure is that if we will meet those circumstances with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness, it will get better. Just as negative feelings grow and effect those around us, positive feelings also grow and compound and not only enrich our own lives but those around us. Seeing great things happen to others makes us happy (at least it should!). That energy is contagious and causes us to see the possibilities in our own lives.
Where does gratitude come from? It comes from a relationship to the Source. I know that comes in a variety of ways for many people - and for me the gratitude comes from knowing what God has done for me and that my life would be completely empty without Him. It also comes out of a conscious decision to look for the good in every circumstance and to trust in the fact that no matter what is going on, it will get better. The practical answer is this - when has complaining ever made the situation better? When has pessimism ever changed the world? Start small and just focus on those things in your life that are good - I promise that choosing gratitude will bring more joy into your life. I challenge you to write it down. Start the day with it or end the day with it - just do it! Choose gratitude.
I want to end with a quote that I heard last year and have kept at my desk and look at it often:
When you surrender, and stop resisting, and stop trying to change that which you cannot change... But be in the moment, be fully open to the blessings that you have already received, and those that are yet to come to you... And stand in that space of gratitude and honor, and claim that for yourself... And look at where you are, and how far you have come... And what you've gotten, and what you've accomplished, and who you are... When you can claim that, and see that... The literal vibration of your life will change. The vibration of your life will change. It is all about your relationship to the Source.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Life's Petty Distractions....
Although Christmas is my favorite time of year, Thanksgiving has become a really close second! I love it because it is a day set aside before the hustle and bustle starts. It is more about family and friends, being grateful, and of course - food! I went to a Thanksgiving party over the weekend and the food was so good. My eyes lit up as I saw the spread lined up (a sign of a true food lover) and as usual my eyes were bigger than my stomach and I was miserable afterwards - but I have to admit it was worth it! I know that the food and the parties and seeing family and friends are all part of this time of year and I am going to love every minute of it!
I was reminded over the weekend how good life really is and how we must savor the moment and make sure our lives are lived in an active state and not merely as a bystander. I will admit that I can get caught up in the petty things sometimes and allow stupid things to really distract me from the present moment. A good example would be yesterday morning. I am almost embarassed to tell this story, but it does prove my point - and hopefully someone will be able to relate! As I was getting ready for church, I could not figure out what to wear. It is time for a major overhaul in the jeans area and everytime I go to my closet, I am not excited about the selections looking back at me. As the clock kept ticking away I had to just go with my final choice but it was not good, and neither was my mood at that point either. I actually allowed a bad pair of jeans to affect my mood and my outlook on the day. Yes, I know - PETTY - but we all know that when you look good, you feel good, and in that moment I wasn't feeling too good! I made it to church and as the church service started I almost laughed at what I had allowed to happen to me. My inner thoughts were something like - Kevin, you are 36 years old! Are you really going to get distracted by what you saw in the mirror this morning? Get over it! So I did and of course, the message that morning at church was on gratefulness vs complaining - Yes, God, I hear You loud and clear!
I have said it before, but life truly is about living and there are hundreds of distractions that comes at us every day. Some that could slightly get us off track and some that come at us like a brick wall. Although we cannot always control what happens in our lives, we can control our response to it. Whether it is something petty like that driver that cuts in front of us on the interstate, a wrong order at the drive-thru, or a bad jeans crisis - or something big like an unexpected job loss, a broken relationship, or financial hardship - how we respond is really up to us. Obviously I have not mastered this skill, but since life is a constant work-in-progress, I am learning and hope to react better the next time around.
With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I hope that all of us will choose to look at our lives through the lens of gratefulness and make conscious choices to let life's petty distractions fall by the wayside. See it for what it really is and move on. Life truly can be good and focusing on the bigger picture helps us to keep things in perspective.
And yes, I will be buying new jeans this week to put that fashion disaster to rest!
Today I am grateful for: 1. Meeting new people and the great food at the Thanksgiving party 2. Encouraging church service Sunday 3. New book I'm reading 4. Reminder of gratefulness5. All the rain we are getting today
I was reminded over the weekend how good life really is and how we must savor the moment and make sure our lives are lived in an active state and not merely as a bystander. I will admit that I can get caught up in the petty things sometimes and allow stupid things to really distract me from the present moment. A good example would be yesterday morning. I am almost embarassed to tell this story, but it does prove my point - and hopefully someone will be able to relate! As I was getting ready for church, I could not figure out what to wear. It is time for a major overhaul in the jeans area and everytime I go to my closet, I am not excited about the selections looking back at me. As the clock kept ticking away I had to just go with my final choice but it was not good, and neither was my mood at that point either. I actually allowed a bad pair of jeans to affect my mood and my outlook on the day. Yes, I know - PETTY - but we all know that when you look good, you feel good, and in that moment I wasn't feeling too good! I made it to church and as the church service started I almost laughed at what I had allowed to happen to me. My inner thoughts were something like - Kevin, you are 36 years old! Are you really going to get distracted by what you saw in the mirror this morning? Get over it! So I did and of course, the message that morning at church was on gratefulness vs complaining - Yes, God, I hear You loud and clear!
I have said it before, but life truly is about living and there are hundreds of distractions that comes at us every day. Some that could slightly get us off track and some that come at us like a brick wall. Although we cannot always control what happens in our lives, we can control our response to it. Whether it is something petty like that driver that cuts in front of us on the interstate, a wrong order at the drive-thru, or a bad jeans crisis - or something big like an unexpected job loss, a broken relationship, or financial hardship - how we respond is really up to us. Obviously I have not mastered this skill, but since life is a constant work-in-progress, I am learning and hope to react better the next time around.
With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I hope that all of us will choose to look at our lives through the lens of gratefulness and make conscious choices to let life's petty distractions fall by the wayside. See it for what it really is and move on. Life truly can be good and focusing on the bigger picture helps us to keep things in perspective.
And yes, I will be buying new jeans this week to put that fashion disaster to rest!
Today I am grateful for: 1. Meeting new people and the great food at the Thanksgiving party 2. Encouraging church service Sunday 3. New book I'm reading 4. Reminder of gratefulness5. All the rain we are getting today
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Who Is Your Bestie?
Last night I did something I have not done in way too long - hung out with one of my best friends. Although we keep in touch through texts (my main form of communication), it has been four or five months since we actually hung out. We met up at one of our usual spots for a drink and conversation. His name is Richard and the thing about our friendship is that we are so different but it seems to make for really good besties. We see the world from two different perspectives. I am more of an idealist and he is more of a realist. He is a thinker and I am.. well, not always a thinker. I love Oprah and he is not her biggest fan. (That last one is still hard for me to accept but it's OK - he will come around one day). Although I probably try to force him to believe the way I do too much - I have learned that I could learn a thing or two from his view as well. It has not always been that way though.
For those who may not know - I am a rather independent, sometimes stubborn, one who likes to be in control type of person. At least that is what other people tell me. I do feel as though I have improved some in these areas (maybe) but I will admit that I do not always take criticism very well. I tend to get defensive and at times want to tell the other person that they could not be any more wrong - but I am learning that it is good to just listen and take in what the other person says sometimes. Perhaps there is a chance that they could be right. Richard has become one of those people that I allow to speak the truth to me, whether it is good or bad, and I take it in and process it before I react. Allow doesn't really sound right, but you know what I mean. It has not always been that way though. The first time he did it, I fired back with everything I had and could not believe the nerve of this person to say such things! I later learned that part of his motive was to push some buttons and see how I would react. I guess it worked - so if you would like that type of reaction from me, just ask Richard. Over time however, I began to realize that whether I liked it or not, he was able to see my life from a different perspective than my own and it might help if I would listen sometimes and heed his advice. So now when we talk and need to have those "tell it like it is" moments, I do not look for a heavy object to throw - I open my mind up to the possibility that he might be right. For the record - I still think on my own and he is not always right, but I am just saying that I consider the possibility.
As we talked last night, we discussed life's lessons that we have both learned, are in the process of learning, or need to learn. Hindsight is always 20/20 and if we knew then what we knew now would we have made the same decisions? We did come to the conclusion that sometimes you just have to go through something, learn from it, and hopefully come out of it a better person. The learning part is not always fun but that is part of what life is about. As I mentioned yesterday, life may speak in whispers or loud voices but we will hear it one way or another. The conversations last night were mainly of those lessons we had to learn the hard way but everyone does it. We all wish sometimes that we could convince someone we care about that they do not want to go down a particular road because we have been there, done that, and know how it will turn out! But sometimes you just have to let that person experience it and learn from it. That is where my stubbornness hurts me. I have had to learn lessons the hard way and just last night I asked Richard why in the world he would not just tell me that I was making a mistake! But he knew that I had to learn it on my own. Finding that balance is the key to a good friendship.
Who is that best friend in your life? We all need them and we all need to be that person for someone else. Make sure that there are people in your life that you allow to speak the truth to you - and when they do, be open to really hearing what they have to say. They can see our lives and our situations from a different perspective and that is a good thing! They are someone that we can trust, be completely honest with, and are completely ourselves around. I am thankful that I have more than one best friend and could write about each one of them (and probably should so they don't get mad)! I know I do not have it all figured out yet so it is good to learn from others and hopefully be the type of friend to them that they are to me.
And if Richard happens to read this blog - I said a lot of nice things about you today so try to keep your ego contained or I will have to share some of those "bestie secrets" that we have!
Today I am grateful for: 1. A night out last night to see friends 2. A day off from work today 3. Sweet potato pancakes I had for lunch 4. A new book I am about to start reading 5. Best friends in my life
For those who may not know - I am a rather independent, sometimes stubborn, one who likes to be in control type of person. At least that is what other people tell me. I do feel as though I have improved some in these areas (maybe) but I will admit that I do not always take criticism very well. I tend to get defensive and at times want to tell the other person that they could not be any more wrong - but I am learning that it is good to just listen and take in what the other person says sometimes. Perhaps there is a chance that they could be right. Richard has become one of those people that I allow to speak the truth to me, whether it is good or bad, and I take it in and process it before I react. Allow doesn't really sound right, but you know what I mean. It has not always been that way though. The first time he did it, I fired back with everything I had and could not believe the nerve of this person to say such things! I later learned that part of his motive was to push some buttons and see how I would react. I guess it worked - so if you would like that type of reaction from me, just ask Richard. Over time however, I began to realize that whether I liked it or not, he was able to see my life from a different perspective than my own and it might help if I would listen sometimes and heed his advice. So now when we talk and need to have those "tell it like it is" moments, I do not look for a heavy object to throw - I open my mind up to the possibility that he might be right. For the record - I still think on my own and he is not always right, but I am just saying that I consider the possibility.
As we talked last night, we discussed life's lessons that we have both learned, are in the process of learning, or need to learn. Hindsight is always 20/20 and if we knew then what we knew now would we have made the same decisions? We did come to the conclusion that sometimes you just have to go through something, learn from it, and hopefully come out of it a better person. The learning part is not always fun but that is part of what life is about. As I mentioned yesterday, life may speak in whispers or loud voices but we will hear it one way or another. The conversations last night were mainly of those lessons we had to learn the hard way but everyone does it. We all wish sometimes that we could convince someone we care about that they do not want to go down a particular road because we have been there, done that, and know how it will turn out! But sometimes you just have to let that person experience it and learn from it. That is where my stubbornness hurts me. I have had to learn lessons the hard way and just last night I asked Richard why in the world he would not just tell me that I was making a mistake! But he knew that I had to learn it on my own. Finding that balance is the key to a good friendship.
Who is that best friend in your life? We all need them and we all need to be that person for someone else. Make sure that there are people in your life that you allow to speak the truth to you - and when they do, be open to really hearing what they have to say. They can see our lives and our situations from a different perspective and that is a good thing! They are someone that we can trust, be completely honest with, and are completely ourselves around. I am thankful that I have more than one best friend and could write about each one of them (and probably should so they don't get mad)! I know I do not have it all figured out yet so it is good to learn from others and hopefully be the type of friend to them that they are to me.
And if Richard happens to read this blog - I said a lot of nice things about you today so try to keep your ego contained or I will have to share some of those "bestie secrets" that we have!
Today I am grateful for: 1. A night out last night to see friends 2. A day off from work today 3. Sweet potato pancakes I had for lunch 4. A new book I am about to start reading 5. Best friends in my life
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
When Life's Whispers Become a Slap in the Face....
I have talked before about the whispers of life. They happen all the time and they are subtle cues from life that help point us in the right direction. It might be something someone says or does, or an opportunity that presents itself, or that intuitive feeling that says something is just not right. However it happens, life's whispers help guide us and we have to be open to hearing it and following its lead. Many times if we do not listen, then it becomes a louder voice in our lives. Then there are times like Sunday that life simply slaps you in the face and tells you to wake up!
Writing is such a passion of mine and something I want to continually improve on and challenge myself to do more of. For me, it is a way to creatively express my thoughts and hopefully encourage others to make the most of their own lives. Earlier this year I started a new book project entitled Standing On The Edge. The basis for the book is that many of us know what we want out of life but we are too afraid to really go after it. We allow obstacles to get in the way and become a passive observer to life instead of an active participant. I spent a lot of time working on various chapters and presenting a practical way to help overcome those obstacles and really live out the life we are meant to live. Then I stopped. I have to admit that I have not added one single word to the project in over six months. I could give you a list of reasons why but when it comes down to it - they are simply excuses. I allowed distractions to get in the way of pursuing a passion.
At church Sunday, I had two distinct moments that really woke me up. One was during the music. As we were all singing, I felt such a love and gratitude for life build up inside me. Throughout my life, both good and bad, there is the constant thread of God's love and faithfulness in my life. Life has not always gone the way I hoped it would but I was reminded that it is not about me. There is always a bigger picture and that force is always working to mold me into who I am meant to be. The truth of that caused my eyes to tear up and I simply thanked God for every good and perfect gift in my life. I was so motivated to live out my true calling in life and to not settle for mediocrity.
The second moment came as Pastor Pete was speaking. He spoke on fear and how it holds us back from experiencing a full life. At one point he said that many of us just stay on the edge and are afraid to take a risk. I am sure that those words spoke very different meanings for each person there, but for me it reminded me of my book project. He said on the edge probably five or six different times and by the end I almost verbally said, "OK, I get it! I need to get back to working on the book!" I chose to just say it internally since everyone at church would have wondered what I was talking about - and I might have been quietly ushered outside. When I believe in something I want to pursue it with everything I have and this book is something I know that I should do because it is a work within my own life and could help make a difference in others.
What I have learned since then is not only did those words mean for me to get back to the book - it also meant that I need to stop standing on the edge in my own life. What if the things in my life that I said were holding me back were simply excuses? Am I allowing fear or situations or other people to keep me from moving forward in my own life? It is time to lay those down and keep pursuing life with purpose and determination. I have always been one to dream big and as I refine those dreams and focus in on what my purpose is - I know that those desires will become reality.
My advice - listen to life's whispers instead of waiting for that slap in the face!
Today I am grateful for: 1. Being so encouraged at church Sunday 2. Great weather over the weekend 3. Having the next two days off from work 4. Really good friends that are in my life 5. Continually learning from life's lessons
Writing is such a passion of mine and something I want to continually improve on and challenge myself to do more of. For me, it is a way to creatively express my thoughts and hopefully encourage others to make the most of their own lives. Earlier this year I started a new book project entitled Standing On The Edge. The basis for the book is that many of us know what we want out of life but we are too afraid to really go after it. We allow obstacles to get in the way and become a passive observer to life instead of an active participant. I spent a lot of time working on various chapters and presenting a practical way to help overcome those obstacles and really live out the life we are meant to live. Then I stopped. I have to admit that I have not added one single word to the project in over six months. I could give you a list of reasons why but when it comes down to it - they are simply excuses. I allowed distractions to get in the way of pursuing a passion.
At church Sunday, I had two distinct moments that really woke me up. One was during the music. As we were all singing, I felt such a love and gratitude for life build up inside me. Throughout my life, both good and bad, there is the constant thread of God's love and faithfulness in my life. Life has not always gone the way I hoped it would but I was reminded that it is not about me. There is always a bigger picture and that force is always working to mold me into who I am meant to be. The truth of that caused my eyes to tear up and I simply thanked God for every good and perfect gift in my life. I was so motivated to live out my true calling in life and to not settle for mediocrity.
The second moment came as Pastor Pete was speaking. He spoke on fear and how it holds us back from experiencing a full life. At one point he said that many of us just stay on the edge and are afraid to take a risk. I am sure that those words spoke very different meanings for each person there, but for me it reminded me of my book project. He said on the edge probably five or six different times and by the end I almost verbally said, "OK, I get it! I need to get back to working on the book!" I chose to just say it internally since everyone at church would have wondered what I was talking about - and I might have been quietly ushered outside. When I believe in something I want to pursue it with everything I have and this book is something I know that I should do because it is a work within my own life and could help make a difference in others.
What I have learned since then is not only did those words mean for me to get back to the book - it also meant that I need to stop standing on the edge in my own life. What if the things in my life that I said were holding me back were simply excuses? Am I allowing fear or situations or other people to keep me from moving forward in my own life? It is time to lay those down and keep pursuing life with purpose and determination. I have always been one to dream big and as I refine those dreams and focus in on what my purpose is - I know that those desires will become reality.
My advice - listen to life's whispers instead of waiting for that slap in the face!
Today I am grateful for: 1. Being so encouraged at church Sunday 2. Great weather over the weekend 3. Having the next two days off from work 4. Really good friends that are in my life 5. Continually learning from life's lessons
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A Dollar Goes a Long Way....
With the holidays quickly approaching I hope that we can all find ways to give to others. I know that most of us do not have loads of cash just sitting around to give away. We want to spend our money effectively and I love hearing about unique ways to help others without breaking our own bank. I ran across an article in a magazine that listed unique and fun ways to really make a difference. They are all under $15 but would definitely make a positive impact in another person's life. I thought I would pass it along and challenge everyone who reads this to pick at least one and donate. The websites are listed as well for more information.
$1 - Two books shipped to a classroom in Africa. www.booksforafrica.org
$2 - A set of drumsticks for a low-income public school student learning to play the drums. www.littlekidsrock.org
$3 - A field trip to a museum, concert, or theatrical production for high-risk youth. www.createnow.org
$4 - Two hours of prepaid phone time for a soldier stationed overseas to call home.
www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
$6 - Measles vaccinations for 15 children in a developing country. www.doctorswithoutborders.org
$7 - A week's worth of food for an abandoned dog or cat at a shelter run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. www.aspca.org
$11 - Eleven trees to be planted in Alabama communities devastated by the April 2011 tornadoes. www.arborday.org
$14 - Two nutritious meals delivered by volunteers from Meals on Wheels to a housebound senior citizen. www.mowaa.org
$15 - A backpack and school supplies for one homeless or low-income urban child. www.cradlestocrayons.org
Taken from Spend a Little, Give a Lot by Lauren Murrow and Rachel Mount, O Magazine, Dec 2011 .
There are plenty of great organziations to donate to and I know that we can all afford to give a few dollars to really make a difference! I know which ones I will be donating to and I hope that each of you will choose some as well. Have a great weekend and I will see you back here Monday!
Today I am grateful for: 1. A day off from work 2. A great walk and prayer time this morning 3. Getting my hair cut and brows down (it was looking bad) 4. A great video sent of my niece, Martha Ann reading a book (always brightens my day!) 5. Being productive today
$1 - Two books shipped to a classroom in Africa. www.booksforafrica.org
$2 - A set of drumsticks for a low-income public school student learning to play the drums. www.littlekidsrock.org
$3 - A field trip to a museum, concert, or theatrical production for high-risk youth. www.createnow.org
$4 - Two hours of prepaid phone time for a soldier stationed overseas to call home.
www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
$6 - Measles vaccinations for 15 children in a developing country. www.doctorswithoutborders.org
$7 - A week's worth of food for an abandoned dog or cat at a shelter run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. www.aspca.org
$11 - Eleven trees to be planted in Alabama communities devastated by the April 2011 tornadoes. www.arborday.org
$14 - Two nutritious meals delivered by volunteers from Meals on Wheels to a housebound senior citizen. www.mowaa.org
$15 - A backpack and school supplies for one homeless or low-income urban child. www.cradlestocrayons.org
Taken from Spend a Little, Give a Lot by Lauren Murrow and Rachel Mount, O Magazine, Dec 2011 .
There are plenty of great organziations to donate to and I know that we can all afford to give a few dollars to really make a difference! I know which ones I will be donating to and I hope that each of you will choose some as well. Have a great weekend and I will see you back here Monday!
Today I am grateful for: 1. A day off from work 2. A great walk and prayer time this morning 3. Getting my hair cut and brows down (it was looking bad) 4. A great video sent of my niece, Martha Ann reading a book (always brightens my day!) 5. Being productive today
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
In Our Lives for a Reason....
It is staggering to think of the number of people that come into our lives. Some remain for a majority of our lives, some for only a short season, and others for just a brief moment. What I have learned is that no matter who they are and however long they stay in our lives, it is for a reason. The bigger picture to keep in mind is that all of these connections really play a vital part in shaping who we are. Entering a new relationship, starting up a new friendship, or adding to the family can really change the course of your life - hopefully for the good or sometimes the not so good. Either way, we can learn something from each of these encounters.
A majority of the time, common threads in who we have become can be traced back to our families. How many times have we said that we will never behave as our parents did only to find ourselves mimicking them? There are many times that I will say something or act a certain way and think how my dad used to do the same thing. The same could be said for me and my mom. Although there are differences in me and my two sisters, there are a lot of similarities between us - mostly for the good and some would say for the "good, but crazy." The truth is I am a very independent person and feel that I have evolved into who I am today because of my own searching and learning but I am also very aware that a lot of my design comes from my family.
Friendships also play such a strong part of our lives. If we were honest, some of our closest friends may know more about us than our own families. Over the course of our lives we may have different groups of friends. One might be a best friend one day and an enemy the next - and then back to a best friend. In high school, we believe that we will always be friends with our group but I do not believe I have kept in touch with anyone that I graduated with. However, they do have an impact on our lives. Today I consider myself very blessed to have a great group of really close friends. Genuine friendships should accept us for who we are - the good, bad, and ugly.
There are also those people that we only meet for a brief instance. It could be in passing at work, at church, shopping, or anywhere in our day-to-day life. These are actually the ones that intrigue me the most. I do not believe that we realize the impact we can have or the impact someone has on us in just a few minutes of interaction. It can brighten our day, make it worse, or change the direction of our day. This is where the bigger picture really comes in to play. If we could see our lives from above, we could see how all of these "strangers" actually connect us and possibly play larger roles in our lives than we realize.
My encouragement would be to not take any of our relationships for granted. They are here for a reason. Whether it is for a long part of our lives or only for a short time - do not think any of it is by chance. Learn from each of them and allow it to make you more of a better person and live a more enriched life.
Today I am grateful for: 1. A good day at work 2. Really good music on the way to work 3. Enjoying one of my weaknesses - McDonald's 4. Good conversation with a friend 5. All of the people that have influenced my life
A majority of the time, common threads in who we have become can be traced back to our families. How many times have we said that we will never behave as our parents did only to find ourselves mimicking them? There are many times that I will say something or act a certain way and think how my dad used to do the same thing. The same could be said for me and my mom. Although there are differences in me and my two sisters, there are a lot of similarities between us - mostly for the good and some would say for the "good, but crazy." The truth is I am a very independent person and feel that I have evolved into who I am today because of my own searching and learning but I am also very aware that a lot of my design comes from my family.
Friendships also play such a strong part of our lives. If we were honest, some of our closest friends may know more about us than our own families. Over the course of our lives we may have different groups of friends. One might be a best friend one day and an enemy the next - and then back to a best friend. In high school, we believe that we will always be friends with our group but I do not believe I have kept in touch with anyone that I graduated with. However, they do have an impact on our lives. Today I consider myself very blessed to have a great group of really close friends. Genuine friendships should accept us for who we are - the good, bad, and ugly.
There are also those people that we only meet for a brief instance. It could be in passing at work, at church, shopping, or anywhere in our day-to-day life. These are actually the ones that intrigue me the most. I do not believe that we realize the impact we can have or the impact someone has on us in just a few minutes of interaction. It can brighten our day, make it worse, or change the direction of our day. This is where the bigger picture really comes in to play. If we could see our lives from above, we could see how all of these "strangers" actually connect us and possibly play larger roles in our lives than we realize.
My encouragement would be to not take any of our relationships for granted. They are here for a reason. Whether it is for a long part of our lives or only for a short time - do not think any of it is by chance. Learn from each of them and allow it to make you more of a better person and live a more enriched life.
Today I am grateful for: 1. A good day at work 2. Really good music on the way to work 3. Enjoying one of my weaknesses - McDonald's 4. Good conversation with a friend 5. All of the people that have influenced my life
Monday, November 7, 2011
My Day Without a Cell Phone....
On my way to work this morning I realized that I forgot my cell phone. Some of you may have read that sentence and not thought much, but some of you may have gasped! Had I not been running late I would have gone back to get it but I decided to keep going and see how my day would survive without it. By hour two I thought I was going to go crazy! I recently got an iPhone and I love everything that it can do. All I could think about was the hundreds of people that must have been texting me (reality: just a few), all of the emails I was missing out on (reality: only one important one telling me my new shoes were being shipped to me), and all my favorite apps that were not being used. I literally sat at lunch wondering what to do?! If you can't play Angry Birds, what in the world are you supposed to do with your free time? I have become so dependent on my phone that it is now a vital part of my life.
I am old enough to remember the days before cell phones. We could only talk to friends from our home phones, which we had to share with everyone else in the house. We actually had to talk on the phone - there were no texts. When we left home, there was no way to contact anyone until we arrived at our destination. It is amazing that any of us survived. Then the first cell phones came out and they were so big that it was not something we just put in our pockets. I remember our first cell phone as a family. It was a bag phone and we would all fight over who got to put it in their car. It was big, bulky, and so cool! Dad said it was for emergencies only but I would call my friends just to say that I was talking to them from my car phone (how cool was I?) Now they are so small, can really do anything we want and are pretty much a necessity in life. I think about my little neice and nephew and how they already know what a cell phone is and what to do with it (mainly because they see their mom talking on it so much!). They will grow up in a world where a landlane is pretty much obsolete. They will definitely laugh at the fact that our phones used to be connected to a cord.
Now to get to my point. I posted on facebook earlier today that I left my phone at work and I wondered how I would ever survive. One person commented and said that they had to tell me something. Of course it was horrible to have to wait hours and hours to find out the news instead of getting it instantly on my phone. However another person told me to try and make the most of it. I thought about that and how we all get so distracted with "necessities" in life. By the end of the day, I noticed that it was actually nice to not have my phone. I talked with more coworkers, went for a walk at lunch, and was a little more productive at work (but let's not repeat that last one). Now I am not saying that I will give up my phone - that would be crazy talk. But what I did learn is that I can survive a day without it and in today's world of instant communication, it is OK to not know everything that is going on.
Is there anything in your life that you think you cannot live without? Something you might look at as an essential but it might actually be a distraction. It might be a phone, a computer, facebook time, twitter, or any other technological item. Of course they are not bad things but I challenge you to give it up for one day. See that the world will go on without it and your life will not fall apart. It might even add to your day. My morning started out feeling distraught and panicked but ended up kinda nice not being able to be reached or distracted. When I got home I actually forgot about racing to find my phone - at least for ten minutes :)
Today I am grateful for: 1. Encouraging time at church and being reminded to choose joy 2. A good converstaion with my sister last night 3. Being encouraged at work 4. Sitting outside at lunch and enjoying the quietness 5. A day without a cell phone
I am old enough to remember the days before cell phones. We could only talk to friends from our home phones, which we had to share with everyone else in the house. We actually had to talk on the phone - there were no texts. When we left home, there was no way to contact anyone until we arrived at our destination. It is amazing that any of us survived. Then the first cell phones came out and they were so big that it was not something we just put in our pockets. I remember our first cell phone as a family. It was a bag phone and we would all fight over who got to put it in their car. It was big, bulky, and so cool! Dad said it was for emergencies only but I would call my friends just to say that I was talking to them from my car phone (how cool was I?) Now they are so small, can really do anything we want and are pretty much a necessity in life. I think about my little neice and nephew and how they already know what a cell phone is and what to do with it (mainly because they see their mom talking on it so much!). They will grow up in a world where a landlane is pretty much obsolete. They will definitely laugh at the fact that our phones used to be connected to a cord.
Now to get to my point. I posted on facebook earlier today that I left my phone at work and I wondered how I would ever survive. One person commented and said that they had to tell me something. Of course it was horrible to have to wait hours and hours to find out the news instead of getting it instantly on my phone. However another person told me to try and make the most of it. I thought about that and how we all get so distracted with "necessities" in life. By the end of the day, I noticed that it was actually nice to not have my phone. I talked with more coworkers, went for a walk at lunch, and was a little more productive at work (but let's not repeat that last one). Now I am not saying that I will give up my phone - that would be crazy talk. But what I did learn is that I can survive a day without it and in today's world of instant communication, it is OK to not know everything that is going on.
Is there anything in your life that you think you cannot live without? Something you might look at as an essential but it might actually be a distraction. It might be a phone, a computer, facebook time, twitter, or any other technological item. Of course they are not bad things but I challenge you to give it up for one day. See that the world will go on without it and your life will not fall apart. It might even add to your day. My morning started out feeling distraught and panicked but ended up kinda nice not being able to be reached or distracted. When I got home I actually forgot about racing to find my phone - at least for ten minutes :)
Today I am grateful for: 1. Encouraging time at church and being reminded to choose joy 2. A good converstaion with my sister last night 3. Being encouraged at work 4. Sitting outside at lunch and enjoying the quietness 5. A day without a cell phone
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Thanksgiving - A Great Time to Give Back....
I have noticed that a lot of people on facebook are taking a Thanksgiving challenge and posting things they are grateful for every day for the month of November. I love that and know that being aware of the good gifts in your life will only bring about more and open your hear to a more abundant life. I came across a list of "35 Little Acts of Kindness" today and thought I would pass it along. They are all very simple and most of them do not cost a penny - but they will make a difference in someone's day. As we are aware of all that we have been blessed with, use that to motivate us to do more for others. I challenge all of us to pick one or two a week to put into practice from now until Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Turning 36 is Looking Pretty Good....
I can't believe it has been a week since I posted anything! As the title suggests, my birthday was last week and due to the festivities I did not get a chance to blog. I have always gone with the motto that age is just a number and this year is no exception. Of course there were comments from dear friends about getting older but I have to say that I love being in my 30's! Although there are changes that I still want to make, I know for sure that there is so much to be thankful for in my life. Turning 36 is not a milestone but I was reminded these past few days of how great life truly is.
One of the benefits of facebook is that it makes everyone's birthday brighter! I loved hearing from friends that I have not talked to in a long time and it was a lot of fun to read everyone's messages. I am the first to admit that I would not know anyone's birthday if it were not for facebook so thanks to all of those who took a moment to post on my wall. That night I had the chance to do something I have wanted to do for years - see the play WICKED! I have always heard great things about this show and it definitely exceeded my expectations! It is so well written, really funny, and very interesting to visit a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. The actors were so talented, the singing was superb, and were it not for some lady behind me that made a comment every five minutes I believe I would have teared up at the end. The experience of seeing a Broadway play is one everyone should experience in their life - and if you have not seen WICKED, go see it! Thanks Jordan for making that happen for me.
On Saturday, my two sisters - Christy and Cara, and my niece and nephew - Martha Ann and Wylie came over to celebrate. Cara arrived first and as I was about to come down the stairs she told me to wait a minute. I began thinking that she must have made a huge birthday banner and was hanging it up as a surprise for me. Or maybe she was filling the living room up with helium balloons - something I have always wanted to do. Upon her cue, I ran down the stairs anxious to see this grand gesture! There were no banners or balloons - instead there were some leftover birthday streamers she found at her house hanging in the doorway. What?!?! Just kidding Cara - it was fun and funny all at the same time.
We decided to go to a Pumpkin Patch, another first for me, and let the kids pick out pumpkins and have fun exploring. I was looking forward to the corn maze - which would be a first for me as well! The farm was beautiful and there were corn mazes, hayrides, farm animals, trails, and a pumpkin patch. I have to admit the corn maze was a slight disappointment. I believe it was meant for little kids but even Martha Ann, who is 2 years old, was over it after the first five minutes. Let's just say that going forward I will say that I have yet to go through a real corn maze. However the rest of the activities were a lot of fun - we all went on a hayride, saw the chickens, goats, cows, and turkeys, played in the barns and watched Martha Ann go from scared to death on the slides to loving it in a matter of minutes. It was a wonderful day and we all ended up with pumpkins that we later decorated for Halloween. If you are on my facebook page - pictures will be posted soon.
I know that some people dread birthdays, but to me it is one of those things that you cannot change so why not make the most of it! Between the facebook posts, the phone calls, the text messages, the cards, the events, and yes - even the pitiful birthday streamers I had to take a moment and reflect on life and be grateful. It was such a great birthday and I am thankful to all who played a part in it. I am looking forward to all that 36 has in store for me and I definitely believe that it will only get better!
Today I am grateful for: 1. The past 35 years of life and all that is to come 2. All the little moments that happened to make it such a great day 3. Spending Saturday with family and loving every minute of it (except the corn maze) 4. All the trick or treaters that invaded our neighborhood last night 5. Really good food I had over the weekend at 2 of my favorite restaurants
One of the benefits of facebook is that it makes everyone's birthday brighter! I loved hearing from friends that I have not talked to in a long time and it was a lot of fun to read everyone's messages. I am the first to admit that I would not know anyone's birthday if it were not for facebook so thanks to all of those who took a moment to post on my wall. That night I had the chance to do something I have wanted to do for years - see the play WICKED! I have always heard great things about this show and it definitely exceeded my expectations! It is so well written, really funny, and very interesting to visit a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. The actors were so talented, the singing was superb, and were it not for some lady behind me that made a comment every five minutes I believe I would have teared up at the end. The experience of seeing a Broadway play is one everyone should experience in their life - and if you have not seen WICKED, go see it! Thanks Jordan for making that happen for me.
On Saturday, my two sisters - Christy and Cara, and my niece and nephew - Martha Ann and Wylie came over to celebrate. Cara arrived first and as I was about to come down the stairs she told me to wait a minute. I began thinking that she must have made a huge birthday banner and was hanging it up as a surprise for me. Or maybe she was filling the living room up with helium balloons - something I have always wanted to do. Upon her cue, I ran down the stairs anxious to see this grand gesture! There were no banners or balloons - instead there were some leftover birthday streamers she found at her house hanging in the doorway. What?!?! Just kidding Cara - it was fun and funny all at the same time.
We decided to go to a Pumpkin Patch, another first for me, and let the kids pick out pumpkins and have fun exploring. I was looking forward to the corn maze - which would be a first for me as well! The farm was beautiful and there were corn mazes, hayrides, farm animals, trails, and a pumpkin patch. I have to admit the corn maze was a slight disappointment. I believe it was meant for little kids but even Martha Ann, who is 2 years old, was over it after the first five minutes. Let's just say that going forward I will say that I have yet to go through a real corn maze. However the rest of the activities were a lot of fun - we all went on a hayride, saw the chickens, goats, cows, and turkeys, played in the barns and watched Martha Ann go from scared to death on the slides to loving it in a matter of minutes. It was a wonderful day and we all ended up with pumpkins that we later decorated for Halloween. If you are on my facebook page - pictures will be posted soon.
I know that some people dread birthdays, but to me it is one of those things that you cannot change so why not make the most of it! Between the facebook posts, the phone calls, the text messages, the cards, the events, and yes - even the pitiful birthday streamers I had to take a moment and reflect on life and be grateful. It was such a great birthday and I am thankful to all who played a part in it. I am looking forward to all that 36 has in store for me and I definitely believe that it will only get better!
Today I am grateful for: 1. The past 35 years of life and all that is to come 2. All the little moments that happened to make it such a great day 3. Spending Saturday with family and loving every minute of it (except the corn maze) 4. All the trick or treaters that invaded our neighborhood last night 5. Really good food I had over the weekend at 2 of my favorite restaurants
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