Balance is an essential element to a fulfilled life, but is very hard to find. How many days start off with the right intention but by the time it ends, we are just thankful to have survived the day? I can always tell when I lay down at night if there was balance in my day or if it was "one of those days." It is safe to say that there will not be a year in our life where all 365 days were completely balanced, but we can do our best to try.
What does it take to have a balanced life? Each of us have different things to factor in. Our beliefs, our families, our friends, careers, hobbies, and personalities. Finding balance can sometimes feel impossible but I believe the best way to do it is one step at a time. Some questions to consider are: Am I truly happy with my life? Do I feel overwhelmed a majority of the time? Am I able to rest peacefully at night? Do I feel like I am lacking anything in my life? Do I know what my purpose is in life? The answers to these questions will give us a good start to what areas need improvement in order to feel balanced.
I know for me, it is the little things that help keep me in balance. I usually have my morning prayer time in the shower now - I like to multitask - and it is always a really good way to start my day off right and get me in the right frame of mind. I also have been doing something different on my lunch break at work. Normally I am talking with coworkers the whole hour, but now I take the last fifteen minutes or so and go outside to this nice park area and sit on one of the benches. Sure I may look like a loner, but it helps my own sanity to have a few minutes to myself each day. Spending time with family and friends helps to keep balance in my life as well and I know when it has been awhile since I have been around them. It is also found in the way I eat, how much I exercise, and if I am staying in line with what I feel to be my life's calling.
For me, a balanced life includes a strong connection to God. Knowing that my life is being used by someone much greater than myself helps me to know that I am fulfilling my purpose. That connection comes from a variety of ways - focus times, church, serving others - and each one helps to keep me centered and focused. I do believe that God is the Creator of life so who better to guide me in the best way to live it!
What areas of your life do you need more balance? I know that we are all so busy and many of you have many more responsibilities in life than I do - but I believe that small changes to our schedule or newly formed habits can help us to enjoy life more and get the most out of it. Do not let excuses get in the way - create balance.
Today I am grateful for: 1. A good friend who has really helped me on a daily basis this past month 2. Building upon new friendships at work 3. Being reminded of the brevity of life and to make the most of every day 4. Hearing that Martha Ann made a big step in potty training today(her mother is grateful too!) 5. A great phone call from a really great friend
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thinking Outside of Ourselves....
Wow, I only got one blog in last week! Sorry about that - my schedule was a little different last week and for whatever reason, I did not do any writing. However, this is a new week and I should be able to get my four committed posts done! I hope everyone had a great weekend and is looking forward to a very productive week! Let's get right to it...
Yesterday at church (it's Monday, so of course this is a church blog), Pastor Pete spoke about our responsibility when it comes to service. As human beings, our job is to help others when we see a need. Many times, we get so caught up in our own lives and trying to look out for "number one" that we lose sight of what is going on around us. I am guilty of this and yesterday was a strong reminder to get back to volunteering, finding opportunities to serve, and paying it forward (subtle reminder that our Pay It Forward day is Saturday, September 17th!)
There are many reasons as to why we should serve others. Besides the fact that it is our responsibility, there are two that I want to mention. The first is the effect that your own heart has when you give of yourself to helping others. Every time you volunteer, help out a charity, give financially, or help someone going through a hard time - your heart gets bigger and it motivates you to want to do more. We all know the feeling of seeing someone's face when they are the recipient of an act of kindness, and it really is priceless. Serving is not about what we get out of it, but the truth is it makes an impact on us as well as them. The second reason is that we really have no idea the long term impact of one act of kindness. You can be a part of changing someone's life and they can go on to change other people's lives as well. Some of the "movers and shakers" of the world are that way because someone intervened in their own life. That someone took a moment to invest and it literally changed the trajectory of their life. It might not have happened if they let that opportunity pass them by.
I cannot stress the importance of serving and getting past our own needs to help others. Lack of opportunity is not an excuse. Not enough time is not an excuse. Lack of resources is not an excuse. You can google "your city's name and volunteer opportunities" and I promise that plenty of options will come up. Many of us are busy, but we make the time for those things that are important to us. Carve out a few hours on a Saturday and I promise that it will be time well spent. We might not all be able to give huge amounts of money, but most volunteer opportunities do not require any money. They just need our time and willingness. I am a part of an organziation called Hands On Nashville. I love this group because it allows you to find lots of different ways to volunteer and use your own talents and abilities to help out!
As Pastor Pete shared the various ways that our own church is serving across the world, I wanted to sign up for every one of them! He also shared some alarming statistics of those in need in our own city and it will make you angry that people in America suffer the way they do. It is not right and it is up to us to make a difference! Instead of talking about it, we must put action to our words! Find an opportunity to do something, anything to be of service! Allow your eyes to be opened to the reality of the needs of this world and do your part to make positive changes and share God's love with so many who need it.
One way to do it is through our Pay It Forward Day. It is Saturday, September 17th and it is all about thinking past ourselves and making an impact on someone else's life. You can participate in whatever city you live in. Simply think of one way that you can make a difference in a stranger's life - a random act of kindess. Then encourage them to pay it forward to someone else! I am really looking forward to that day and already thinking of what I can do! I hope you will join me as well!
Today I am grateful for: 1. A really fun and full weekend 2. Church on Sunday - so energizing 3. Good things happening in my family's life 4. The 3-layer chocolate cake I had last night 5. The motivation to be used more
Yesterday at church (it's Monday, so of course this is a church blog), Pastor Pete spoke about our responsibility when it comes to service. As human beings, our job is to help others when we see a need. Many times, we get so caught up in our own lives and trying to look out for "number one" that we lose sight of what is going on around us. I am guilty of this and yesterday was a strong reminder to get back to volunteering, finding opportunities to serve, and paying it forward (subtle reminder that our Pay It Forward day is Saturday, September 17th!)
There are many reasons as to why we should serve others. Besides the fact that it is our responsibility, there are two that I want to mention. The first is the effect that your own heart has when you give of yourself to helping others. Every time you volunteer, help out a charity, give financially, or help someone going through a hard time - your heart gets bigger and it motivates you to want to do more. We all know the feeling of seeing someone's face when they are the recipient of an act of kindness, and it really is priceless. Serving is not about what we get out of it, but the truth is it makes an impact on us as well as them. The second reason is that we really have no idea the long term impact of one act of kindness. You can be a part of changing someone's life and they can go on to change other people's lives as well. Some of the "movers and shakers" of the world are that way because someone intervened in their own life. That someone took a moment to invest and it literally changed the trajectory of their life. It might not have happened if they let that opportunity pass them by.
I cannot stress the importance of serving and getting past our own needs to help others. Lack of opportunity is not an excuse. Not enough time is not an excuse. Lack of resources is not an excuse. You can google "your city's name and volunteer opportunities" and I promise that plenty of options will come up. Many of us are busy, but we make the time for those things that are important to us. Carve out a few hours on a Saturday and I promise that it will be time well spent. We might not all be able to give huge amounts of money, but most volunteer opportunities do not require any money. They just need our time and willingness. I am a part of an organziation called Hands On Nashville. I love this group because it allows you to find lots of different ways to volunteer and use your own talents and abilities to help out!
As Pastor Pete shared the various ways that our own church is serving across the world, I wanted to sign up for every one of them! He also shared some alarming statistics of those in need in our own city and it will make you angry that people in America suffer the way they do. It is not right and it is up to us to make a difference! Instead of talking about it, we must put action to our words! Find an opportunity to do something, anything to be of service! Allow your eyes to be opened to the reality of the needs of this world and do your part to make positive changes and share God's love with so many who need it.
One way to do it is through our Pay It Forward Day. It is Saturday, September 17th and it is all about thinking past ourselves and making an impact on someone else's life. You can participate in whatever city you live in. Simply think of one way that you can make a difference in a stranger's life - a random act of kindess. Then encourage them to pay it forward to someone else! I am really looking forward to that day and already thinking of what I can do! I hope you will join me as well!
Today I am grateful for: 1. A really fun and full weekend 2. Church on Sunday - so energizing 3. Good things happening in my family's life 4. The 3-layer chocolate cake I had last night 5. The motivation to be used more
Monday, August 22, 2011
A City Boy Goes to the County Fair.....
I have not been to a county fair since I was a kid. I guess part of it is due to lack of opportunity and the other part would be due to lack of interest. I have nothing against them but it is just not something that I normally find myself doing. Well, I do have a little something against them and I promise I do not mean this in a bad way - but I really do not trust the rides at the fair. I know that the workers are great people but I just have this fear of getting stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel... and having to climb down.... and tripping... well, you get the picture. I had the chance to go to the Wilson County Fair over the weekend and it was quite the experience. Although I knew that I would not be riding any of the rides, I forgot about one thing - the food!
The Wilson County Fair is the largest fair in Tennessee and I quickly realized that as we proceeded to inch our way towards the parking lot - about ten miles before we got there. I am one that has a tendency to enter into a bad mood if I go too long without eating. When I started thinking about what all the fair would have to offer, I decided to starve myself that day to be good and ready. My mood worsened as we got closer and all I could think was how fast I could rush through the crowd and start devouring everything in sight. We finally arrived and as we made our way through the entrance - I noticed all the sights, sounds, and smells of the fair and my mood quickly changed from irritable to excited! Everywhere I looked, there were neon lights begging us to come and explore what awaited. There were sounds of children - some laughing, some screaming; sounds of parents - some laughing, some screaming; and sounds of carnival barkers wanting to guess my age or my weight, hypnotize me, or asking me to take out a small loan to throw rings on a bottle and win a stuffed animal. Something about the fair gives us all that nostalgic, childlike wonder - no matter how old you are.
I have to say that my favorite sense used that night was smell. The variety of food offered is sure to please any artery-clogging consumer, and I decided to throw out all healthy ideals that I hold dear and live it up! First on the list were corn dogs, a staple at the fair. They were delicious and within minutes we found our way to the roasted corn cobs! The butter dripped off the stalk and the heat burned my tongue but I didn't care. Of course I had to eat a funnel cake and it brought back fond memories of being a kid. It never fails that I will take a bite and inhale the powdered sugar at the same time which results in choking and what I think to be my few last moments on earth - but I recovered and we finished the whole cake. Then came the moment I had been waiting for - something I had never had before and could not wait to try - deep fried Oreos! I felt like a kid waiting in line and as the nice, older man handed us our order of 6 Oreos, I could barely contain myself. I picked up the first one and as I took a bite, I felt a small tear roll down my cheek. The taste of chocolate and Oreo filling wrapped in deep fried batter is indescribable people! It exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend that you experience this little slice of heaven - at least once in your life.
We proceeded to walk around and do another one of my favorite things - people watch. I am not one to judge or talk about stereotypes, but it is just a fact that you will see all kinds of people at a county fair. All shapes, all sizes, all clothing styles, all ages, all kinds - again, I am more of a "city boy" and most county fairs are just not very "city-fied." My V-neck tshirt did not exactly fit in with all of the overalls and cowboy hats that I saw. However, that is all part of the fair. You almost go back in time when you are there and every once in awhile, that small town feeling is fun. It ended up being a really fun night and for those who ride the rides - more power to you, but I go for the food. The deep fried Oreos alone will have me coming back again next year.
Hope everyone had a great weekend and is looking forward to a great week. Just a reminder - PAY IT FORWARD DAY is Saturday, September 17th so be thinking about how you can make someone's day a little brighter! If you haven't already click on the link and "like" the page to gain more information about this event! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pay-It-Forward/187761993898
Today I am grateful for: 1. A very full, fun weekend 2. All the great food I had at the County Fair 3. Incredible worship at church Sunday 4. Being reminded of the importance of community 5. A good start to the week
The Wilson County Fair is the largest fair in Tennessee and I quickly realized that as we proceeded to inch our way towards the parking lot - about ten miles before we got there. I am one that has a tendency to enter into a bad mood if I go too long without eating. When I started thinking about what all the fair would have to offer, I decided to starve myself that day to be good and ready. My mood worsened as we got closer and all I could think was how fast I could rush through the crowd and start devouring everything in sight. We finally arrived and as we made our way through the entrance - I noticed all the sights, sounds, and smells of the fair and my mood quickly changed from irritable to excited! Everywhere I looked, there were neon lights begging us to come and explore what awaited. There were sounds of children - some laughing, some screaming; sounds of parents - some laughing, some screaming; and sounds of carnival barkers wanting to guess my age or my weight, hypnotize me, or asking me to take out a small loan to throw rings on a bottle and win a stuffed animal. Something about the fair gives us all that nostalgic, childlike wonder - no matter how old you are.
I have to say that my favorite sense used that night was smell. The variety of food offered is sure to please any artery-clogging consumer, and I decided to throw out all healthy ideals that I hold dear and live it up! First on the list were corn dogs, a staple at the fair. They were delicious and within minutes we found our way to the roasted corn cobs! The butter dripped off the stalk and the heat burned my tongue but I didn't care. Of course I had to eat a funnel cake and it brought back fond memories of being a kid. It never fails that I will take a bite and inhale the powdered sugar at the same time which results in choking and what I think to be my few last moments on earth - but I recovered and we finished the whole cake. Then came the moment I had been waiting for - something I had never had before and could not wait to try - deep fried Oreos! I felt like a kid waiting in line and as the nice, older man handed us our order of 6 Oreos, I could barely contain myself. I picked up the first one and as I took a bite, I felt a small tear roll down my cheek. The taste of chocolate and Oreo filling wrapped in deep fried batter is indescribable people! It exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend that you experience this little slice of heaven - at least once in your life.
We proceeded to walk around and do another one of my favorite things - people watch. I am not one to judge or talk about stereotypes, but it is just a fact that you will see all kinds of people at a county fair. All shapes, all sizes, all clothing styles, all ages, all kinds - again, I am more of a "city boy" and most county fairs are just not very "city-fied." My V-neck tshirt did not exactly fit in with all of the overalls and cowboy hats that I saw. However, that is all part of the fair. You almost go back in time when you are there and every once in awhile, that small town feeling is fun. It ended up being a really fun night and for those who ride the rides - more power to you, but I go for the food. The deep fried Oreos alone will have me coming back again next year.
Hope everyone had a great weekend and is looking forward to a great week. Just a reminder - PAY IT FORWARD DAY is Saturday, September 17th so be thinking about how you can make someone's day a little brighter! If you haven't already click on the link and "like" the page to gain more information about this event! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pay-It-Forward/187761993898
Today I am grateful for: 1. A very full, fun weekend 2. All the great food I had at the County Fair 3. Incredible worship at church Sunday 4. Being reminded of the importance of community 5. A good start to the week
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Take That First Step....
Adventurous! Risk taker! Spontaneous! <-------------> Fearful. Comfortable. Monotonous.
Which group would you fit into? Are you one who loves to try new things and change it up or do you feel better when there is a routine and your life pretty much stays the same? You might fit somewhere in the middle as well. I would say that my life fits more to the left although I wish it was all the way to the left. I do enjoy some routine in my life, but I also love to change things up and take some risks in life. Those who fit into the first group might actually experience more disappointment in life because they do take risks but they also believe in the motto - better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Those who fit into the second group might have a good idea of what is going to happen each day, but they also never open themselves up to experience more.
I see nothing wrong with being somewhere in between but I do think that if you lean more towards the fearful, comfortable, and monotonous side - then you really are missing out on making the most of your life. I would bet that all of us can think of something that we would really like to do or experience in life but we believe that it will never actually happen. Fear of failure keeps many of us from trying something new. It is true that we might not succeed, but what if we did? Seeing that idea become a reality really should outweigh whatever it is that holds us back.
I am the type of person that if I decide that I am going to do something, then I am going to go for it with everything I have. I love this because it keeps me in line to put action to those thoughts and work towards seeing it accomplished. However, there is always the chance that it will not happen and I have to be willing to deal with those consequences if it does not. One example that immediately comes to mind is when I auditioned to be on Oprah's reality show called Your Own Show. The winner would get their own talk show on Oprah's network and this has been a dream of mine for a long time. My sisters and I made the trip to Atlanta and I stood in line with thousands of people and gave my 60 second spill on why I would make a great talk show host. I just knew that I would make it on the show and did everything I could to stand out and make an impact on the producers. They told us that we would receive a call back that night if we made it to the next round. I remember my sisters and I went to dinner that night and the entire time, I stared at my phone waiting for it to ring! It never did and I have to admit that for a little while, I was so disappointed. My sisters would agree that it was not our most fun dinner together. However, I was so glad that I at least tried. I would have regretted it more if I had never even auditioned. Although that story does not have a happy ending, there are plenty more in my life that do. The common thread in each one is that I had to take that first step. And don't worry - one of these days you will be watching the Kevin Buchanan show!
What is one thing that you really want to do? Is there something you have always wanted to try but is completely out of the norm for you? I say go for it! The regret of not trying at all is far greater than the regret of not succeeding. It is very true that we all get one shot at life so make a conscious decision to take that next step and see what happens! It really does keep life exciting.
Today I am grateful for: 1. Great meal at Qdoba last night (didn't make it to Moe's) 2. New friendships that are forming at work 3. Getting to make a small difference in a customer's day 4. Getting through a cardio workout 5. Looking forward to a fun weekend!
Which group would you fit into? Are you one who loves to try new things and change it up or do you feel better when there is a routine and your life pretty much stays the same? You might fit somewhere in the middle as well. I would say that my life fits more to the left although I wish it was all the way to the left. I do enjoy some routine in my life, but I also love to change things up and take some risks in life. Those who fit into the first group might actually experience more disappointment in life because they do take risks but they also believe in the motto - better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. Those who fit into the second group might have a good idea of what is going to happen each day, but they also never open themselves up to experience more.
I see nothing wrong with being somewhere in between but I do think that if you lean more towards the fearful, comfortable, and monotonous side - then you really are missing out on making the most of your life. I would bet that all of us can think of something that we would really like to do or experience in life but we believe that it will never actually happen. Fear of failure keeps many of us from trying something new. It is true that we might not succeed, but what if we did? Seeing that idea become a reality really should outweigh whatever it is that holds us back.
I am the type of person that if I decide that I am going to do something, then I am going to go for it with everything I have. I love this because it keeps me in line to put action to those thoughts and work towards seeing it accomplished. However, there is always the chance that it will not happen and I have to be willing to deal with those consequences if it does not. One example that immediately comes to mind is when I auditioned to be on Oprah's reality show called Your Own Show. The winner would get their own talk show on Oprah's network and this has been a dream of mine for a long time. My sisters and I made the trip to Atlanta and I stood in line with thousands of people and gave my 60 second spill on why I would make a great talk show host. I just knew that I would make it on the show and did everything I could to stand out and make an impact on the producers. They told us that we would receive a call back that night if we made it to the next round. I remember my sisters and I went to dinner that night and the entire time, I stared at my phone waiting for it to ring! It never did and I have to admit that for a little while, I was so disappointed. My sisters would agree that it was not our most fun dinner together. However, I was so glad that I at least tried. I would have regretted it more if I had never even auditioned. Although that story does not have a happy ending, there are plenty more in my life that do. The common thread in each one is that I had to take that first step. And don't worry - one of these days you will be watching the Kevin Buchanan show!
What is one thing that you really want to do? Is there something you have always wanted to try but is completely out of the norm for you? I say go for it! The regret of not trying at all is far greater than the regret of not succeeding. It is very true that we all get one shot at life so make a conscious decision to take that next step and see what happens! It really does keep life exciting.
Today I am grateful for: 1. Great meal at Qdoba last night (didn't make it to Moe's) 2. New friendships that are forming at work 3. Getting to make a small difference in a customer's day 4. Getting through a cardio workout 5. Looking forward to a fun weekend!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
A Great Quote to Live By....
"A picture is worth a thousand words." "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." "I see dead people." These are all quotes that we have heard many times. I googled "famous quotes" and there are thousands of them! Every once in awhile you hear one and it sticks with you. I have many that I love, but there is one that I wanted to mention today and make a promise that if you will apply this to your life, it will bring about such freedom and discernment. It is by Maya Angelou and it says....
The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.
I first heard this a few years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. We have all heard that actions speak louder than words and that is basically what Maya Angelou meant when she said this. People can say one thing, but the truth of who they are comes though in their actions. For example, if someone said that they love to exercise, but all they do is sit on the couch and eat potato chips - those actions are speaking much louder than what their words say. If someone else said that they are always on time for things, but constantly arrive fifteen minutes late - well, they do not really value punctuality. Someone's actions are what we end up believing, not their words.
The most important part of this quote is the first three words - the first time. I know that the argument can be made that people have the ability to change, and I agree with that. However, many times we rely on a false hope that someone's behavior is going to change. If we had just believed them the first time, we could have saved ourselves a lot of time and stress. If someone shows you that they are not trustworthy, believe them the first time. If someone shows you that they are an abuser, believe them the first time. If someone shows you that they will betray a friendship, believe them the first time. This idea also ties in with another quote - Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. If someone behaves in a negative way, do not be surprised when that bad behavior is repeated.
The oppostite applies as well. If someone shows that they are honorable, believe them the first time. If someone shows that they are kind, believe them the first time. If someone shows that they are a true friend, believe them the first time. This produces such a positive experience because we know that we can count on a consistent behavior. Yes, we all have our moments (I know I do!) but for the most part our actions are consistent with our inner beliefs.
I am sure that we can all think of a time in our life when this quote applied. I would encourage you to keep this in the back of your mind as you interact with those in your life. Thanks Maya Angelou for a very impactful quote!!
Today I am grateful for: 1. An encouraging email I received this morning 2. Some very interesting conversations with customers at work today 3. My new iPhone - it's a life changer! 4. Getting to eat Moe's tonight (the Billy Barou is calling my name!) 5. Being reminded of the meaning of this great quote.
The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.
I first heard this a few years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. We have all heard that actions speak louder than words and that is basically what Maya Angelou meant when she said this. People can say one thing, but the truth of who they are comes though in their actions. For example, if someone said that they love to exercise, but all they do is sit on the couch and eat potato chips - those actions are speaking much louder than what their words say. If someone else said that they are always on time for things, but constantly arrive fifteen minutes late - well, they do not really value punctuality. Someone's actions are what we end up believing, not their words.
The most important part of this quote is the first three words - the first time. I know that the argument can be made that people have the ability to change, and I agree with that. However, many times we rely on a false hope that someone's behavior is going to change. If we had just believed them the first time, we could have saved ourselves a lot of time and stress. If someone shows you that they are not trustworthy, believe them the first time. If someone shows you that they are an abuser, believe them the first time. If someone shows you that they will betray a friendship, believe them the first time. This idea also ties in with another quote - Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. If someone behaves in a negative way, do not be surprised when that bad behavior is repeated.
The oppostite applies as well. If someone shows that they are honorable, believe them the first time. If someone shows that they are kind, believe them the first time. If someone shows that they are a true friend, believe them the first time. This produces such a positive experience because we know that we can count on a consistent behavior. Yes, we all have our moments (I know I do!) but for the most part our actions are consistent with our inner beliefs.
I am sure that we can all think of a time in our life when this quote applied. I would encourage you to keep this in the back of your mind as you interact with those in your life. Thanks Maya Angelou for a very impactful quote!!
Today I am grateful for: 1. An encouraging email I received this morning 2. Some very interesting conversations with customers at work today 3. My new iPhone - it's a life changer! 4. Getting to eat Moe's tonight (the Billy Barou is calling my name!) 5. Being reminded of the meaning of this great quote.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Just Be Yourself....
How many times have you met someone, gained a first impression, and then as time goes on you discover that they are not at all who you thought they were? This could be good or bad. Sometimes you meet someone who comes across very quiet and shy but the more you get to know them you learn that they have a very outgoing side to them and love to talk. You might also meet someone and think that they are stuck up and come across very arrogant, but the more you are around that person you realize that is not true at all. Others might be considered a very good friend and then their true colors start shining through and you are very surprised with certain behaviors and it changes the way you see them. I know that many of us may act a certain way around our family and friends, and then a different way around coworkers or acquaintances - but I am mainly referring to the idea of not being authentic in life - changing your colors depending on the situation and what we think people will like most.
The topic of authenticity intrigues me because I believe that in one way or another, we all struggle with this at some point in our life. Why do we do this? Many times it comes out of a fear that those around us will not accept us unless we blend in or behave a certain way to gain the approval of others. The problem with "faking it" is that when our true selves surface, and they always do, then it skews our credibility. The people that I admire the most in life are those who are authentic and have a consistency in who they are, no matter the situation. I do not want to go too deep into this because sometimes people are just shy or struggle with self-confidence and they might just keep to themselves. The opposite is true as well. Sometimes as time goes on, we are surprised in a good way with a person's true persona. I do believe that as we become more comfortable in our skin, we are able to really live out our true purpose - over the span of our lives as well as on a day to day basis.
I speak from experience because I have been guilty in the past of hiding parts of myself or trying too hard to blend in simply out of the need for acceptance. However, as I have evolved as a human being, I have learned that being true to myself is a really good thing. I had this conversation with my family on Sunday and we talked about how trying to come across as perfect is a very unhealthy thing to do. No one can live up to that standard so why can't we just be ourselves and not waste time putting up a disguise. Although I desire to live life with excellence, I gave up trying to be perfect a long time ago. The ironic part is that our true identity is beautiful and makes us the unique individual that we are. Our contribution to the world comes from our ability to be our authentic self and connect with others to make a difference.
So my encouragement to you is this - stop trying to be someone you are not and just be yourself! Understand that you were created a certain way for a reason! Do not try to hide behind a mask, but rather embrace who you are - and I guarantee that it will make for a happier, fulfilled life.
Today I am grateful for: 1. Friends who really are a "help" in my life 2. Getting more comfortable in my new job 3. Making a small difference in a customer's day 4. Beautiful weather outside 5. Learning more about my authentic self
The topic of authenticity intrigues me because I believe that in one way or another, we all struggle with this at some point in our life. Why do we do this? Many times it comes out of a fear that those around us will not accept us unless we blend in or behave a certain way to gain the approval of others. The problem with "faking it" is that when our true selves surface, and they always do, then it skews our credibility. The people that I admire the most in life are those who are authentic and have a consistency in who they are, no matter the situation. I do not want to go too deep into this because sometimes people are just shy or struggle with self-confidence and they might just keep to themselves. The opposite is true as well. Sometimes as time goes on, we are surprised in a good way with a person's true persona. I do believe that as we become more comfortable in our skin, we are able to really live out our true purpose - over the span of our lives as well as on a day to day basis.
I speak from experience because I have been guilty in the past of hiding parts of myself or trying too hard to blend in simply out of the need for acceptance. However, as I have evolved as a human being, I have learned that being true to myself is a really good thing. I had this conversation with my family on Sunday and we talked about how trying to come across as perfect is a very unhealthy thing to do. No one can live up to that standard so why can't we just be ourselves and not waste time putting up a disguise. Although I desire to live life with excellence, I gave up trying to be perfect a long time ago. The ironic part is that our true identity is beautiful and makes us the unique individual that we are. Our contribution to the world comes from our ability to be our authentic self and connect with others to make a difference.
So my encouragement to you is this - stop trying to be someone you are not and just be yourself! Understand that you were created a certain way for a reason! Do not try to hide behind a mask, but rather embrace who you are - and I guarantee that it will make for a happier, fulfilled life.
Today I am grateful for: 1. Friends who really are a "help" in my life 2. Getting more comfortable in my new job 3. Making a small difference in a customer's day 4. Beautiful weather outside 5. Learning more about my authentic self
Monday, August 15, 2011
Family Matters....
Yesterday was a great family day! With my new job and the "busyness" of life, I do not get to see my family as much as I would like. I have been looking forward to yesterday for a few weeks now because one of my uncles emailed me saying he wanted to come visit and hang out with me and my sisters and our families. He is one of my dad's brothers and due to distance, we do not get to see his side of the family as much. It is always good to be with any of them because not only are we all very close, but they remind me of my dad in many ways. So lunch was planned at my house and I was prepared to serve a delicious meal! I seem to learn something every time I try and prepare a big meal for a group of people and yesterday was no exception. If you are making lasagna with chicken sausage, let me advise you not to substitute the chicken sausage with smoked sausage. Just spend the extra dollars! Although everyone told me that it was good, it tasted more like hot dogs in there instead of sausage. Oh well, all the extra cheese and Alfredo sauce helped disguise the substitute and we made it through the meal!
Family is such an important part of my life and anytime we are together, you know it is going to be a really good day. It was great to see my uncle and get caught up on what is going on in all of our lives. Seeing my sisters is always fun and you can count on lots of laughter while we are together. And of course, seeing Martha Ann and Wylie (my niece and nephew) completely makes my day! I have to say that Martha Ann is now calling me by name "K-K" and I heard her say it for the first time yesterday - at first she would not do it (I think it was on purpose) but then she ended up saying it many times throughout the day. There were a couple of times yesterday that I just sat and thought about how blessed I am to have such an incredible family! We are by no means perfect and I am actually going to talk some about that tomorrow - but we love getting together and hanging out. I know that many of you know exactly what I am talking about and many of you did not grow up with a close-knit family. I never take it for granted and will always consider it one of the aspects of my life that I am most grateful for.
I think the word "family" can take on various meanings. There is our biological family but many of us have close friends that we would consider our family. Those people that we work with might be considered a family of sorts as well. We spend more time with them than we do our own families! As the definition of a family broadens, it is really important for us to realize that everyone needs someone that they can call family. Whoever you consider your family - I encourage you to never take that for granted. Make the most of those moments and make sure that they know how much they mean to you. Yes, they might drive you crazy at times (I could tell some stories) but that is normal. Who we surround ourselves with greatly influences our life and I hope to be as much of a "good thing" in my family's lives as they are in mine.
Today I am grateful for: 1. Amazing music at church yesterday 2. Spending the day with family 3. Hearing Martha Ann say my name 4. Seeing how much Wylie is growing up 5. Really beautiful weather today
Family is such an important part of my life and anytime we are together, you know it is going to be a really good day. It was great to see my uncle and get caught up on what is going on in all of our lives. Seeing my sisters is always fun and you can count on lots of laughter while we are together. And of course, seeing Martha Ann and Wylie (my niece and nephew) completely makes my day! I have to say that Martha Ann is now calling me by name "K-K" and I heard her say it for the first time yesterday - at first she would not do it (I think it was on purpose) but then she ended up saying it many times throughout the day. There were a couple of times yesterday that I just sat and thought about how blessed I am to have such an incredible family! We are by no means perfect and I am actually going to talk some about that tomorrow - but we love getting together and hanging out. I know that many of you know exactly what I am talking about and many of you did not grow up with a close-knit family. I never take it for granted and will always consider it one of the aspects of my life that I am most grateful for.
I think the word "family" can take on various meanings. There is our biological family but many of us have close friends that we would consider our family. Those people that we work with might be considered a family of sorts as well. We spend more time with them than we do our own families! As the definition of a family broadens, it is really important for us to realize that everyone needs someone that they can call family. Whoever you consider your family - I encourage you to never take that for granted. Make the most of those moments and make sure that they know how much they mean to you. Yes, they might drive you crazy at times (I could tell some stories) but that is normal. Who we surround ourselves with greatly influences our life and I hope to be as much of a "good thing" in my family's lives as they are in mine.
Today I am grateful for: 1. Amazing music at church yesterday 2. Spending the day with family 3. Hearing Martha Ann say my name 4. Seeing how much Wylie is growing up 5. Really beautiful weather today
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