Taking the tough days out of sight and turning them into something more

Every day I come in here and treat this like a private room.  I use this place to express my gratitude, insight, passion and to learn.  

Each day is not only a gift of life but more than we know in the moment.  It’s our biggest opportunity.  To learn, grow, express and forgive.  

As you, I have great days and I have some not so great days.  Those days that are filled with greatness when things go right, everything falls into place and my challenges are completed on time, correct and with some shine.  

The days where they are not so great, I leave feeling flushed in the face, heart pounding fast and my emotions get a hold of me quicker than I know what to do.  

This is how I see it though.  Those tougher days, when things don’t go right.  Where everything seems to fall apart and I want to crawl in a warm blanket, curl up and fall asleep.  They are the days I learn the most.

I learn I can endeavour, I can learn to become better, I can do this.  

I can, I can.

I learn how to solve a problem on my own, with or without someone.  I have the strength to make it right and to calm my nerves, emotions to a slower pace.  I know there is always tomorrow and that coming home to hear how my son’s day was will put me at peace.  To hear my friends laugh and ultimately know I am not the only one.  

I will take every day with the utmost gratitude and know that if I did it, I can do it again but better.

Where does charity start?

They say you should head out and help others.  This is something that should make you feel stronger, wiser, better.

However....

They say charity begins at home, so let it begin.  

Be good to yourself.  It is OKAY to take a rest, read a book, go for a walk.  Stop, breathe and look around you.  Survival is only successful by knowing the value of what you have.

You only need permission from yourself to slow down and at some moments stop.

It is okay to think about yourself once in awhile.  When we start to take care of ourselves, it becomes easier to care for others, to give back and before you know it you are leading the pack!  

So go ahead, be okay with who you are.  Be grounded with accepting that it’s okay to take a break and think of yourself for once.  Remember, charity begins at home. 

Living without regrets

Somewhere along this life, I lost who I was. I fell into the roll of mum and wife while putting things aside. 

And.... I'm okay with it. I stopped thinking about myself, I started to think outside of my box, my world and started to live for others. 

In the end, it created a different me without expectations, without dissapointments without regrets. Thank you to my family and friends who span oceans that keep me looking back so that I may move forward.

I hope you gain the same in return.

The Journey

As a young lady I figured the world revolved around me, like any young person I didn’t see much out my back yard.  This world was my oyster even if it was the small fenced in yard that we lived in for a temporary time.  I learned to adapt as we moved, my eyes open wider than others by the experiences through this journey.  

Life’s struggles are there for each of us to be part of, learn from and become stronger.  

I, like yourself went through peaks and valleys.  Emotions grabbed me and had a strong hold at times.  This is natural, trust me.  You too will get through this.  

When I started to write here, I wasn’t sure where it would go but I knew it wasn’t about me but about sharing a story that resonates with others, we are the same.  On this journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self or way of life.  

Metanoia.

Beauty is in all places

Ahhhh... stretch... yawn... pull the sheets back, grab my alarm and shut it off.  Drag my feet to the bathroom to start the shower and there it is.  My reflection in the mirror.  

I could laugh and say that I scream at it daily asking where the body snatchers took my youthful, slim body and replaced it with this ageing and wildly shaped one.

Oh right... I’m no longer 29 and wait for it.. I had two kids... life happens. 

I look a bit closer ... oh dang, those are what Gram use to call.. crows feet at both corners of my eyes? My hands no longer resemble the ones I had 20 years ago.  I use to think like a cocky young woman.. HA!  I’ll do my best to take care of this and watch, it will be just fine. 

ppssshhhttt.... (blowing out air with noise)

Was I wrong!  Time has no mercy.  Yep, all you young ladies.. drink that water, put the cream on stay out of the sun.  Mother nature has other plans.  

HOLD ON!

What did you get in exchange for those different shapes, lines in the face and the cracked hands?

I’ll tell you what I got.

42 years of laughter, some tears and many heart breaks.  Lessons learnt and wisdom my mother couldn’t teach as I needed to learn them on my own.  That’s my face.

My waist?  HA!  Best resignation ever.  I have not one but two beautiful boys who I admire, love and deeply cherish.  I wouldn’t trade a thing for the experiences I’ve gained.

My hands?  They’ve taken some things but I am proud to say they’ve given more.  Love, joy, happiness.  How?  Hugs, openly and full armed.  My two hands have guided not only my boys but myself.  I’ve learnt to trust them.  

So, here I am tonight typing away with them trying to tell you that beauty is in all places.  Accept who you are with what you have been given.   

What’s for you won’t pass you by.

Yesterday I spent the day in the garden.  Sun shining, music playing.  Others walking by as I hummed a tune, all the while thoughts ran through my head.  Sure things weren’t handed to me in ways that I thought they should have while I was growing up but in the long run the things I longed for when I was younger gave me more riches now as an adult.

I didn’t have money to fly to resorts, meet Mickey or lace my toes through sand.  I did have laughter, love and life.  

Now after years of doing things to provide, i’ve been given the gift of peace.  Spending the time in the yard yesterday, hands in the soft, warm soil.  Having others walk by waving and chatting.  I stopped when I came across a rock I put in the garden years ago with the word.. wisdom.  It hit me then. 

Wisdom doesn’t happen over night, it’s not paid for or given away.  I’d say that I’ve been given a little of this by living life.  

I would reflect on my past, thinking I needed to live life to it’s fullest, don’t miss a heart beat, keep on going through the rough patches.  What I missed was that I didn’t let life pass by, I was part of it all along.  I’m not missing anything like I use to believe, I’m creating it.  My life, as it engulfs me, becomes part of who I am.  

Don’t rush in the fear you are missing something.  Don’t worry that you’ve lost out on something.  

What’s for you won’t pass you by.  Create your happiness, live in this very moment.  

Wisdom is gained from trying something new.  Learning to pick yourself up after a fall.  Being kind to anyone as you do not know their battle.  Forgive quickly, smile as you never know who’s watching, hug someone with a squeeze, laugh hard and loud, remember the simple things.  

Something to lift you today...

Kindness needs nothing in return.

Weight of your words

If for one moment you think the weight of your words equal the sum of your total body weight, you could be wrong.  

Sometimes they are more.  

I’ve scoured the world for words that can make a difference in lives.  Positive, heartwarming, strengthening and forgiving.  In the process, I have come across ones that outweighed a total body mass.  

To gain from anything that is not desired will have an outcome not expected.  

For a moment take yourself back to where you were in the middle of emotion where you said something to fight back.  

*you shudder* 

That moment, you passed control from what you know and who you are.  Don’t let your mistake weigh you down, don’t let others mistakes change you and stop living in the past.  

Become a better person for yourself and you’ll notice that the weight you’ve been carrying around from yourself and others will be gone.

From the ordinary to the extra ordinary

Daily I see how many people make their ordinary day's extra ordinary.  These amazing, kind hearted people are just like you.  Someone who's experienced struggle, heart ache or tough moments in their life.  They take those moments and turn them around. 

Don't think for a moment this world is filled with angry, hurtful, spiteful people.  Believe that this world is filled with loving, kind and giving people.  Doing an act of kindness doesn't require a certificate of education, may not cost you a dime or will in any terms take away from you. 

Start with seeing the good in yourself, continue with passing it on and end with knowing you've contributed in the extra ordinary. 

Creating doubt

It can be a strong emotion.  Letting others inside your head, your thoughts rolling deep within growing doubt in your heart.  It takes one comment to tear you down from a mountain top and when it does, you wonder how strong you truly were.  Responses to these can vary depending on who you are.

I’ll admit, I’m one who’s reacted on emotion but I know better.    

Use your gut instinct and that little voice inside your head that’s screaming the truth.  

"They are wrong, you are better than that”

Take a step outside yourself and look at the surroundings as to why you feel this way.  Perhaps the words of doubt have been deep within you and you are afraid to face them using whatever means to keep your own sanity.  

Remember, this is your life.  Don’t hand the keys over to someone who will create doubt.  Your belief is the strongest thing you’ll carry.