Each journey in our lives has a beginning, middle and end, it’s who tells yours that’s important.
We drive ourselves for education, for a great job, for a great home, car, belongings. Most of us have children, if not then we have someone we care so much about they become part of us.
We work for the promotion, the title the higher life. At the end of our lives regardless of when that comes, will those cars, homes, items remember us? Will these tell our stories? Highly unlikely.
My opinion is that my boys will be the ones to pass on my life, my stories. However they wish, is up to them. I’ll be lucky one day to have grandchildren and great grandchildren. As lucky as my grandparents. If I was offered time back i’d have to think about this as each moment in my life, it’s been placed somewhere of value. With someone, not something. That’s why I will say over and over again that my boys, my family are the biggest investment i’ve made to date.
This all came from a conversation with someone close to me. She told me that she felt her life was given away to others and never did anything for herself. I reminded her that she did so much, it wasn’t tossed away. She has the best life i’ve seen. Giving back to so many, in the end her happiness was filled and she didn’t even see it until now. Her story will be told for years after she leaves us, for generations to re-tell as if it’s an impossible story.
Be free to let those close to you, those who care enough that you love them as well.
I will continue to do so until my last breath. Let this be yours.
Okay, I am not a ‘girly girl’. Mum wasn’t one to put bows in my hair nor did I think painted nails look attractive. This all at the age of 10. I was a tom boy and I was okay with it. Fast forward to 2014 and I am working in a profession where I think it is necessary to wear more than simple black slacks and a white dress shirt. So I do my best to put a dress on, boots or shoes to match and a set of pearls. It’s what you don’t see that’s funny.
Behind my desk are large windows which I am quite certain if the blinds are up everyone can see what I do.
I slouch. I sit back and let things just ‘be’. Most times, those damn heals get kicked off and if I could, so would the stockings. They restrict the growth of hair on my legs. In fact, the shoes make my feet smell. This damn dress? Pffttt... It makes me have to watch how I walk! Then it’s the hair... if I could, I would put it in a pony tail daily. Not spend all this time, trying to make it look neat and tidy.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy looking ‘professional’ but I LOVE relaxing and being who I am. An occasional cuss, the faces I make when hearing a funny story, my snorting while laughing and yes a comfortable pair of jeans.
So, while I find it acceptable to wear those dresses i’ve been slowly collecting attempting to be a bit more professional my little girl inside is still happiest in her jeans and a white t-shirt goofing around with friends, snorting while laughing at jokes and making faces.
Hope you are having a great week so far. Remember, do your best to be kind. Find a random act of kindness and pay it forward. The only reason you should be looking down at people is when you are helping someone up. This is what I tell my boys every day.
Trusting ourselves and who we are is a big step forward in life.
Regardless of you nationality, gender or who you love no one, not a single soul should decide who you become in life.
We have influences, good and bad but it's up to you on how you let them, if at all control your direction. When you come into this big world and start life, someone guides it until your eyes open, your heart exposed and your mind starts thinking for itself.
This is where being true to yourself, or as I put it, being organic you. Start to listen, form your opinions on knowledge and your own experiences. If someone offers you theirs, question them. Ask why and get as many facts as possible. Challenge opinions, not to prove wrong but to prove right.
Remember, don't live your life for others but choose to live it for you.
Flash back 24 hours.
It’s Friday morning and we all anticipate the weekend. If it’s for a night out, a late morning rise or a simple leisurely weekend. Right now, you are working hard to complete the task at hand so that you can enjoy those moments.
This Friday was no different for myself. Happily working away, goal in mind knowing what lays ahead of me. I had planned to volunteer with a good friend. She inspires me and gives me guidance. Young enough to be a daughter but wise enough to learn from. Regardless, together we always have a great laugh.
It was going to be a 3 hour night of standing on your feet, selling raffle tickets for the MS Foundation. If you have to ask how it was, let me give you some insight.
We were the first 2 to grab those lovely smocks (Nichole 1 & myself 2). Then proceeded with the 30 some odd volunteers for ‘training’. Of course before it started, we both chatted up a storm with anyone near by. I was fortunate enough to meet this woman, who just lost hear husband 5 months ago. She was telling me the adventure of their lives & the best part of her life. She went on to say they would do things like this together.
Okay, so I headed out with Nichole to sell tickets. We laughed, did random things with complete strangers like dancing, singing, following and cheering. It made so many people laugh including ourselves. I’m quite certain that if we didn’t sell the ‘winning’ ticket, we made someone’s night. It didn’t really cost me a thing other than my time which I’d gladly give away for those sore cheeks, softened heart and the wee bit of sore feet at the end of the evening.
If you get the opportunity, give back. It has more rewards than you anticipate.
Each of us are given this slot in life. What we choose to do with it is com-PLE-tly up to us.
I can’t say I believe in chance meetings, things in life fall into place and happen for a reason. Lessons mostly. WE all need to learn what we take from each experience.
Regardless of how the experience ends, don’t be angry, hurt or sad. Keep it close to you and be glad it happened. Perhaps right now in this moment it hurts too much to say it’s okay, too much to say you were happy it was with your life this was shared.
The ends to everything can hurt but the ends are the means to a beginning. Each turn, each step you take is away from your fear but towards something fantastic.
Live life. That’s what we have it for. Open your eyes, stretch your arms and open yourself up. Use words, your mind, your soul, your heart.. any part of you to live it. Don’t be afraid to tell someone you love them. Know it’s okay to feel your emotions and laugh.
I never fully comprehended what it was to be a parent, how hard the work ahead was and what the results would look like. Here’s what I’ve discovered.
I was an 18 year old girl when I gave birth to my first child. I figured I owed it to him to do the best job I could. I have no regrets and figured that I’d learn as I went along. Never putting him in harms way. Certainly I knew that much.
I would read to him, sing to him, tuck him in at night extra tight. Protect him from anything I felt, saw and smelt. He had clothing on his back, food in his belly and a roof over his head. I told him to not be the centre of the world. It was safer not to be noticed. Just carry on with your ‘have to’s’ and those ‘want to’s’ can hold off until we have more time, money or whatever it is that gave us the opportunity.
In the process of raising my child, I did my best to lead by example. I wasn’t perfect, making mistakes along the path. Not at the expense of his safety or well being mind you. Just learning like each of us do.
Now I into my second child. 10 years apart and the lessons I’ve learnt are being carried over and I hope that this time around I don’t create the reflection of my fears but the reflection of my hopes. Each day is a challenge but I see each day with a reward when I see both of my boys being wonderfully strong, determined people who I am proud to have part of my life.
Raising a child isn’t always about butterfly kisses, and painted rainbows on the fridge. It’s about discovering who you are. Your fears and learning to let them go, your needs and putting them last, your life and learning to live it for others.
I enjoy the privilege of hearing conversations, thoughts and life in general. Tonight I was enjoying coffee at a local shop, doing work and listening. I admit, the work was slow as conversations were a flurry and it was more enjoyable than the task at hand
Someone's opinion struck me though. They were afraid of the ones out there that take advantage. This person was bitter, angry. I would want to guess because they were mistreated, misused, misguided. I wanted to join the conversation and let them know that the percentage isn't that big, the good ones are over looked by arrogance, pride and emotion.
One key in life is to try and not let others take away the best part of your life. Believe in yourself when others try to take you down. Believe in others when they give you doubt. Remember, we are human. Forgive so you can be who you are without doubt.
I watch several people succeed in what they do by the chances they take. I’ve been told that several of them have fallen more than once, however the key to their success isn’t having the financial backing but themselves going over and over with a drive that won’t stop until they get there.
The biggest key, the best part of this? They were given confidence. By friends, family... it was one of the biggest Random Act’s of Kindness in their lives and they may not even be aware of it. Someone said they could do it, someone instilled belief that it’s possible.
From this moment on, remember you may have a part in helping building someone’s success. You may not know it. Perhaps you’ve already done it. Yesterday you said to your friend, “I think you can actually do this”. will be all that it takes.
This cost you nothing, your time was small and when you see what happens, the rewards are endless and priceless.
Remember, the opposite is true. As much as 1 single, positive & thought provoking comment can build a person, help them succeed, 1 small negative and self doubting comment can tear a person down just as quickly with as much consequence.
While growing up, mum would take us to Gram’s for a visit. We’d sit at her feet as a young child, beside her on the couch as a young teen, or at the kitchen table sipping tea as a young adult. All the while listen. Mum and Gram would discuss the events of her day. Until I was an adult I never understood why she did all the things she did.
Through her life, she was there for many people. She volunteered wherever she could, help someone, do something kind at any given moment and it was ingrained in me as part of life. If you have spare time, volunteer, if you had something to give, then so be it.
She was a volunteer within her church teaching sunday school. Later in life, she volunteered in a Senior’s home and she did this until the last few years of her life.
I’d ask her why. Her answer, simply because it made her feel youthful. Well, if that’s isn’t one of the keys to happiness, i’m not sure what is.
Now as an adult, just over 1 year after she passed, I hope to continue her life through my every day actions. Life to give back. This is the biggest part of my life and put’s the biggest smiles on my face. Doing Random acts of kindness, and doing it without expectations is one of the greatest gifts you will receive. It warms your heart, puts a glow in your smile and is great for your health. Go ahead and try it, this works.
