Reminiscent Holiday

As you sit in a room full of people and watch family and friends grow weary of indulging, your mind is enticed into memories by the smell of the food and the sound of the laughter...or maybe even the cry of a babe.  You begin to muddle through your mind's memoir of gatherings that were fun and wholesome...and others that weren't so fun.  Suddenly, you feel an onslaught of emotion...and you exit the room momentarily to collect yourself.  You think to yourself..."maybe I shouldn't have come", "maybe I should have stayed home", "I wasn't ready for all this", or "where is all this coming from?".  As weird as you may feel, you rejoin the festivities.

Despite the feelings of relief, happiness, sadness, pity, embarrassment, or anger you may feel about the past...there is always another chance.  You see that chance in the eyes of the children playing.  You hear that chance in the laughter that rings through the house.  You feel that chance in each hug you receive as family and friends come and go.  All you have to do is take it.

This or any holiday may be reminiscent of past pain, embarrassment, anger, or happiness and joy.  No matter the memory...create a new one.  Whether or not the past has been as full of love as you'd prefer or not...fashion a new custom.  Establish a new tradition...a legacy of your own.  From this day forward design a mental chronicle of peace-filled moments for your children, grandchildren, other family, and friends to cherish.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Awakening

At times you're awakened to birds chirping and the sound of the first movements of life outdoors....wind blowing, leaves rustling, creatures scurrying.  At other times you're awakened to the sound of your thoughts - the ones from which your rest has allowed you a sense of reprieve.  At desperate times, you're awakened by fear, the feeling of your heart pounding rapidly, the sound of vehicles crashing, horns blaring, or sirens sounding off.  Fear grips at the core of your very being...because you have no clue what has happened or what's going on.

Nevertheless, every once in awhile, you're awakened from a dream that you've been living with your eyes wide shut.  You do the things you think are right.  You act in a way that you think is proper and acceptable.  You even see things clearly through a cracked lens.  You haven't seen reality in quite some time.

Hearing what you don't want to hear and feeling the pain or embarrassment that results jars you into reality.  No more rosy colored glasses or auto-focus pictures.  Reality has become real to you and your eyes have been opened...you've been awakened.  You no longer see what you want to see or hear what you want to hear...you simply see and hear what is.

Don't be afraid.  Adjust to the light and move forward.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Loving

It's life that gets you loving.  It's liking that gets you loving.  It's moving that gets you loving.  It's happiness that gets you loving.  It's positivity that gets you loving.

It's hope that gets you loving.  It's motivation that gets you loving.  It's inspiration that gets you loving.  It's attitude that gets you loving.  It's love that gets you loving.

It's laughter that gets you loving.  Laughter in the heart, mind, and soul...is where love resides.  Love brings laughter.  Laughter spreads and shares love.  Let love in...it won't hurt.  It feels good!

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Awaiting Enlightenment

In the still hush of the night; when all you hear is a plane overhead, you sit and think...and wait.
Your mind races like an anxious new father en route to the hospital to capture the birth of his first son on tape.
You can't find answers and your body harbors nervous energy...working energy...creative energy.
Anywhere but here,
   any thoughts but these,
      any choices but your own...

You've prayed, meditated, focused and re-focused your energy, but nothing seems to work.
No answers are arriving at the crossroad of your heart and your understanding...so you wait.
You wait for a sign, a symbol; a small, but firm, faint voice inside that will clue you into your next steps.
All the what ifs,
  all the could it be's,
    all the I don't knows...

You sit, you think, you sip, you watch, you munch, you talk, you write....and you wait for enlightenment.
You wait for a divine directive that is already within...that you're afraid to act upon.
You wait for new knowledge.
It's inside,
  deep within you know,
     there's nothing new under the sun...
        except the way the answers were crafted in your heart to fit your individual situation.

Enlightenment has come; it's been there all along.  You heard, but ignored it.  You felt, but quelled it.
Know it, feel it, own it, love it....live it.  Ignore the fear. Quiet the doubt.  Be who you were meant to be - wonderfully and fearfully made.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Be A Grown Up

I do not congratulate you for being a man or woman who does what you are suppose to do.  I do not give you kudos for being who you are suppose to be.  It is not considered special or different to be responsible and exhibit a smidgen of focus.  It isn't a wonderful thing to be a person who can follow directions.  You were put here for a reason...not to meander through life seeking praises and words of acknowledgement for your actions.

To move beyond the mundane, to perform outside of the boundaries of mediocrity, or to exceed the status quo...then you deserve congratulations, kudos, and words of acknowledgement.  However, the simple action is not enough.  You must carry out each action with sincerity and purpose.  Do something because it's in your heart; not because you seek praise.  Act out of purity of heart, love, and moral duty.

It is a communal obligation to lead by example.  It isn't always done during the present day; therefore, when most people perform in that manner accolades and acclaim are assigned.  A person with a rare quality doesn't make an action any more right than if every person displayed the same quality.  Societal absence of morale and character has lead some to believe that certain traits are no longer existent.  That's the farthest from the truth....they're just dormant due to their endangered status.

Be you.  Don't be afraid to share with the world who's inside.  Lead by example so our children will follow.  Give them a guide, a map, someone to emulate that walks the same streets.  Be a grown up.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Bigger

With a heart bigger than average, sometimes we do things beyond the limits of others' willingness.  Sometimes people see the goodness in you and try to grab and hold onto all they can...however they can.  At these times it's very important that you see the whole picture.  Is the situation best for you or them?  Is it something you want or something someone else wants?

Sometimes it's best to stand up and be the bigger person.  You may have to be the one to decide if it's time to walk away.  You may have to be the one to decide if it's time for a situation to change.  Don't be afraid of how it feels to make the decisions...someone has to do it.  Why not you?

Being the bigger person with the bigger heart doesn't always feel as if it will pay off in a bigger way...but it will.  Just be patient.  What is yours will be yours...it was created especially for you.  Whether it be a job, a car, a home, or a friendship.  The bigger the heart, the bigger the sacrifice...the bigger the blessing.  Hold on.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Now and Then

Things happen...you learn and move on.  Sometimes, things happen...you move on and forget.  Other times, things happen...you remember and get stuck.  Every now and then something lingers...keeps you attached to a specific moment, incident, or memory.  Then, it was okay to think about what was going on...now it's time to move forward.

Every occurrence in our lives isn't meant to be a positive one.  Nevertheless, overall (negative or positive) all things are meant for our good.  Some negative things come our way simply to reassure us of the strength and power we possess...at times we forget.  Some things come our way just to reaffirm or reassert our appreciation for our lives and what we have.  Even still...every now and then we just can not let go of what already took place.

Every now and then, you start a book that you don't finish.  You may eventually get around to finishing it, but you didn't go from cover-to-cover in one or a few sittings.  When you're reading your book, you place it face down to go grab a bite, answer the phone, use the bathroom, or even simply to take a little break from the words.  Sometimes that book may sit awhile longer before you get back to it.  That unfinished or abandoned book is your now...the distractions are your then.  

Don't become so preoccupied with your past that your present and future sit before you without you playing an active role in it.  Don't let life happen to you...live it.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

A Mile A Minute

Sometimes it moves faster than a speeding bullet;
racing, racing...but with nowhere to go.

Sometimes it's just as calm and serene;
like a lake on a sunny day.

Sometimes it keeps you up at night;
calculating, figuring, ticking...or whatever.

All I know is this...

When my mind gets hold of an idea or problem, I can't let it go.
It moves a mile a minute; like the mouths of an auditorium full of high school kids waiting for an assembly to begin.

When you have times like this, grab a pen or pencil and some paper...get to a computer.
Record your thoughts.

It helps to be able to look at your thinking on paper; to see where your mind is taking you.
Then pray...don't simply follow your thoughts.  Set them straight and eliminate doubt and fear.
...and keep moving forward

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Just Love

Things seem really bad sometimes...like nothing worse could happen.  Sometimes life comes at you hard and fast...and gets you down when you'd least expect it.  Just love.

There are times when it feels as if you're all alone in all that you do.  Sometimes you choose to keep your thoughts to yourself and only allow others to see what you deem as safe for them to see.  Just love.

At times, things become difficult to cope with...pain, loss, grief, great responsibilities.  Sometimes you have to give of yourself wholeheartedly...even though it may feel as if you have nothing left to give.  Just love.

Love despite the difficulty.  Love despite the pain.  Love despite adversity.  Love will lighten your load.  Love will make things a little easier to bear.  Love will allow you to smile, to laugh, and to continue to live.  Just love.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Word

Promises were made and meant to be kept...not broken.  Words are very powerful and can hurt or help a person or any given situation once spoken.  Once released into the atmosphere, you can't take them back.  Once believed in your heart, they can't be changed.  Once experienced through your living, they become part of your reality.

It's as easy as pie to brighten someone's day with a hello or good morning.  It's just as easy to dampen someone's day or mood with words that carry negativity and pessimism.  If you can't quite grasp it yet...learn, begin to understand, and know the weight that words carry.  A thought is the beginning of the process.  Spoken word sets the thought in motion and is always followed with an action or inaction.

Word...food for the mind.  Keep your words sweet and tender...for you may have to eat them one day.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Weirdo

Who are you to say what's weird?  So what...your dress, attitude, hairstyle, or taste may not be the same as the next person.  This difference doesn't make your opinion or style any better or worse than anyone else's.  We were created differently; yet similar...for a reason.

Our differences make us unique.  Our similarities help us relate to one another and unify us.  Our talents make us useful to one another...dependent upon each other.  Our varying perspectives help us learn from one another.  So who's the weirdo?

Yes, I'm different from you.  One day you or someone else may need the very characteristics, features, flaws - the tools - that make me different...to help in some way.  I may need your insight from living a rough life or your finesse to better deal with a situation.  You may need my bubbly personality to help you deal with hard times...to make you smile.  Someone may need my big heart to help them along the way.

Whatever the difference may be...don't be so ready and willing to label the next person.  You just may be the weirdo in the room!

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful!

Energy

Life is full and bursting with energy.  Sometimes it seems as if you don't have enough energy to last through the day.  At other times it feels like you don't have enough to do with all the energy surging through you!  In love, the energy is positive...otherwise, it's negative.

Positive energy promotes life, love, and well-being.  Negative energy tears down that which is built with positivity.  Positive energy smiles when negativity frowns upon you.  Positive energy speaks to your faith when negativity whispers to your fear.  Positivity opens doors and levels the playing field when negativity drops you in the middle of chaos.

Energy is all around you...everyday, every minute, and every second.  How will you use your energy?  Will you allow others' energy to tear you down?  Will you channel your energy into hurt or help?  Energy is ever-flowing and existing...you aren't. 

Live and choose wisely.  Be a conduit for positivity and empowerment.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Wanting

It's a wonderful thing to want to live and love.  It's lovely to receive blessings and to give them out in return.  It's fantastic to desire and have your desires fulfilled.  It's marvelous to live out your dreams.  It's just grand to know what you want...and know that you're going to get it.

At times, you don't know which way to go...left, right, or straight ahead.  Sometimes you don't know up from down.  Sometimes you have so many options/choices that may all seem good...and you don't know which one to choose.  Sometimes you have no clue what you want.  Sometimes you have no idea about the road before you...and it's ok.

It's perfectly normal to have ambitions...not knowing what to do first.  It's ok to have enormous ideas...knowing someone else needs to bring them to fruition.  It's ok to want...everything.  It's ok to see so much and to want it all.  Just know that all of it isn't for you.  What is for you...is for you.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Thinking

Thinking isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

Thinking can birth some of the best strategies and some of life's best road maps.  On the other hand, thinking can bring to light some of the craziest paranoia known to man.  When your thinking is at its best, you benefit the most from reflection and meditation.  When your thinking is in overtime you become a pawn in your own hand-crafted game...and don't even realize it.

At times, thinking will push you to believe and create things that don't exist in the way you've begun to perceive them.  It's like daydreaming and believing your daydream...in a not-so-happy way.  This can also happen to you in someone else's thoughts.  Just because someone doesn't know, doesn't mean he/she can't think.  You can become the subject of some one's thoughts just as easy as you can say your own name...

Don't trust merely your thoughts.  Seek truth in all things.  Never place your trust in people.  Trust only the truth that's placed in your heart.  When in doubt...pray.

Thinking isn't all it's cracked up to be; but trusting and believing in your heart is all you need. 

It's beautiful to be you...trusting, praying, believing...simply beautiful.

Pimpin'

A pimp is defined as one (usually a man) who solicits for a prostitute and lives on the earnings; one who procures sexual gratification for another; or one who exploits others for personal gain.  A pimp can be represented in many ways.  If you use any other person for your own personal gain - either against their will or without their knowledge - you're a pimp!  If you choose not to educate someone for the sole purpose of benefiting from their ignorance - you're a pimp!  If you only seemingly put others in the forefront so you can get the glory - you're a pimp! 

The saying is "Pimpin' ain't easy."  In the long run, it's easier to learn to stand on your own two feet than it is to pimp someone else for what you need...put in some real work.  I've seen children pimped daily because their parents choose not to stand up for them or themselves.  Children are the strongest and weakest part of our society.  They are beginning to grow weaker in mind due to ignorance.  Nevertheless, they continue to grow stronger in spirit due to someone or something that has given them hope.

Give hope, don't destroy it.  Be an example of strength, discipline, and tenacity...not weakness, waywardness, and indifference.  Don't misunderstand and think that only prostitutes and children get pimped...it happens to unlearned individuals all the time.   Educate yourself and those around you.  Achieve success and share it.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

I'd Love To

I'd love to cuddle with you late and wake to you early. 
I'd love to feel you kiss my cheek each morning before work.
I'd love to walk in the park with you at dusk.
I'd love to smell you as I go from place to place.
I'd love to see you coming my way...excited and giggling like a girl.

Winter, sweetheart, I am patiently awaiting your arrival.  Your sister Autumn will have me well prepared and ready to see you shortly!

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Not Sure About This

I'd love to say that everytime I help someone in some way that it feels good inside...and it does.  But I can not neglect the fact that seeing someone saddened because our time together has passed also saddens me.  I love to help others...when I can't, it bothers me.

It would be ideal to be able to ensure the safety and happiness of each and every friend or loved one; but it's impossible.  As happy as it might make the world...helping everybody isn't the way things go.  This doesn't mean in any way that happiness can't exist for everyone...you or I just can't create it for everyone.  Today, I helped to create happiness for someone.  As soon as our time together was over, saddness was soon to follow.  At this point I had to remember my boundaries and the reason they exist in the first place.

Did I like having to admit that I couldn't maintain the happy feelings I'd helped to create?  No.  Did I like seeing the happiness suddenly fade away?  No.  Did I understand why I needed to understand my boundaries?  I wasn't sure at first, but yes.  Boundaries help us maintain balance so we don't get burned out helping everyone.  Boundaries help us to remember that we can't do everything for everybody. 

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

So Happy?

Sometimes we can experience pain or discomfort for a short amount of time, yet it feels as if we've been hurting forever.  Likewise, we can be healed of wounds, pain, and discomfort; yet forget what the extent of the pain or discomfort was.  Each time healing occurs there's some relief...some happiness that the pain and discomfort is now gone.  However, if you get happy and go back to the same ole activity again before completely healing...the pain will undoubtedly return.  Don't get so happy so soon and forget your lesson.

Be wise in your actions...before, during, and after your pain.  There will be times of sadness, discomfort, and situations that try you.  Remember the not-so-good times.  Remember what happened before the the not-so-good times came along...your experiences once they begin to affect you and the results of what took place.  Never get so happy that you become oblivious to the trials of your life. 

Remember where you came from and the bumps along the way to get you where you are.  Don't become so happy that you walk right into the same bad situation simply because you didn't pay attention.  Live and learn...and remember.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Business

Business has a life and character all its own.  If you allow it to, it can and will overwhelm and consume you.  You must discover your own personal balance and what it takes to maintain it.  We all have some kind of business to tend to or conduct...and it's all important to each respective mogul.  Maintin control of yourself, be strategic and smart, yet sensible in your decision-making...  Handle your business, don't let your business handle you.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Mind

The mind is a very powerful tool.  When used properly, you can experience the highest levels of success.  You can strategize, organize, and manipulate the world around you to get the best possible result for your situation.  On the other hand, your mind does not support you experiencing the highest levels of love.  The mind is almost always at war with the part of you that fights for love...your heart.

Your mind operates based on tangibles...things you can touch, see, manipulate, and evaluate.  With the right evidence, your mind can be changed or swayed.  It's such a powerful tool that it can keep you from living out your dreams due to fear of the unknown and the lack of more information.  Thinking too much, being overly analytical, or not relying on your heart can cause great pain...although it may not always be physical.  It is imperative that the heart and mind become aligned and in tune with one another so that they might operate in harmony. 

A harmonious relationship between your heart and mind takes time, discipline, practice, transparency, and willingness.  You must learn and re-learn yourself, your fears, your weaknesses, your strengths, your desires, your reality...and be willing to work toward change within yourself.  This harmony can be achieved; however, it is something that must be achieved daily.  Therefore, there is always an ongoing struggle...  Are you up for it?

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Emotions

Your emotions are part of what lets you know you're alive.  They are part of your body's response system...you know - kind of like your nervous system.  When you react to something, what you feel inside is part of your emotions.  What you feel through your sense of touch is from your nervous system.  They both allow you to respond to stimuli - things that happen to or around you...both naturally.

Sometimes your emotions carry you in directions that aren't necessarily good for you.  You do things based on how you feel and your feelings may be the total opposite of what you need.  At these times it's best to use your time wisely and listen closely to your heart...not just your emotions or what you think might be right.  Your emotions will cause you to act spontaneously at the wrong times.  This could cause irreparable damage to your personal & working relationships and your image.

Never let your emotions lead you without first, listening to your heart and second, thinking with a clear mind.  If your heart is true and your mind is clear...ride the wave and enjoy the feelings.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Heart

Your heart is the strongest muscle in your body.  It pumps the life through you and allows the rest of your body to thrive daily.  Physically, your heart is the keeper of life for your body.  It can survive, even when your mind is far gone.  Your heart allows your body to live, despite the activity of your brain.

In other matters (of the heart), your heart is where your dreams live.  Your heart is where love lives.  Your heart is where possibilities never cease.  Your heart is where courage and faith reside.  Your heart is what connects to your spirit, your truth, and your Creator.

Your heart is what allows you to take big steps to do the things that people think are impossible.  Your heart is what gives you the spiritual fortitude and the physical ability to forgive, be humble, and love.  Love with all your might and share it...that's what you were made for.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful!

Your Heart, Your Emotions, and Your Mind

I recently had a "cyber" conversation with several people about how your heart and mind are always at war with one another.  I believe this to be true on so many levels.  However, it was brought to my attention just how sad life can turn out for so many people due to their way of thinking.  It's amazing to hear what people think of life and love...only to see them play out their on negative ideals through their own lives.

A young lady told me that as you get older, you gain knowledge and your feelings tend to fade.  I must say that I was quite surprised to hear and see her rebuttal.  However, I can totally understand her point of view.  It is true that as a child and young adult we sometimes let our feelings/emotions lead us in the wrong direction.  Nevertheless, your heart and your emotions are different.

Your heart's desire is always what's right and good for your life...naturally.  Your mind works on what it can see, touch, hear, evaluate, or think about...and can change at a moment's notice.  Likewise, your emotions operate on the same wavelength...but considering your heart and your mind.  Your emotions stand as the battleground upon which your heart and mind go to war.  Be weary of who or what you allow to lead you.

It's beautiful to be you!

Forget

Forget about the people who said you weren't good enough.  Forget about the people who said they'd be there, but never were.  Forget about the people who shared their opinions of you with hopes that negativity would bring you down.  Forget about the people who invited you into chaos and harm's way.  Forget about the people who have wronged you.

Forget the incidents, but remember the consequences.  Forget the person who caused the pain, but remember how it felt.  Forget the negative words, thoughts, and feelings that were spoken, but remember the results.  Forget the harmful intentions of others, but remember how their intentions did you no harm.  Forget all about the beginning of any bad thing, but hold onto the ending...the beginning of the good things.

All that you doubt about yourself...forget about it.  All that others doubt and don't support about your dreams...forget about it.  All the negativity that buzzes around you...forget about it.  Strap your dream, your hard work, your dedication, and your faith snug to your back and keep moving forward.  Forget how failure begins and work toward your ending of it in your life...the beginning of your success. 

Your success, your change, your positivity, your attitude, your promise, your greatness...begins in your mind.  Think happy.  Think well.  Think great.  Be happy, well, and greater!

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Remember

Think before you speak.  Think again before you act.  Observe before you make an assumption.  Choose wisely before you decide.  Remember, someone is always watching and listening.

What you do and say means the world to someone...even if you don't know who he/she may be.  You will always be someone's example...be it a good or bad.  Be cognizant of those around you and what they may glean from your presence, words, and actions.  Allow people to see the good in you...the kindness in you.  Your name may be forgotten, but you will be remembered for what you've said and done (or not)...good or bad.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Just Words

No comment you make is just words.  No opinion you give is just words.  No information you share is just words.  No discussion or argument is made of just words.  Nothing you say is just words.

Keep in mind that as you move throughout your day, having new experiences and encounters, nothing you say goes unnoticed.  Despite the fact that people may say words don't hurt me...they do.  Words have power...to destroy and to build.  What you speak will either hurt or help someone.  Be sure that your words are sweet and tender; for you may have to eat them one day.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Wonderful

It's wonderful to know that you've touched someone's life.  It's a wonderful feeling when you learn that you have taught someone how to forgive, how to love, and how to be themselves no matter what.  It's a wonderful feeling to know that you've enriched someone else's life.  It's wonderful to know that you've truly helped someone along this journey of life.  It's wonderful to know that you were truly used as vessel of knowledge, caring, understanding, patience, compassion, and love.

It's beautiful to be you...wondrously beautiful!

Wondering

I'm just wondering... What do you think about me when I'm there when things go wrong?  What do you think about me when I make you smile?  What do you think about me when I say what's on your mind...that you won't say?  What do you think about me when we share the same feelings and know what you're going through?  What do you think about me?

It's easy to be present in the time of someone else's trouble, turmoil, hard times, sadness, or need.  It's also easy for others not to be there for you during the same or similar situations.  No matter how much people say others' opinions of them don't matter...everyone has - at one time or another - thought about what someone thinks of them.  You may not have dwelt upon it or even had a lingering feeling, but you've thought about it at least once, for a fleeting second.  What do you think of me?

If you dare to ask your question aloud, be prepared for the good and the bad.  However, also prepare yourself to keep moving forward.  Every situation, scenario, conversation, or discussion is for your learning.  If you don't like the opinion...it's ok.  Reflect and keep moving, growing.  If you like the opinion, love it, appreciate it, and say it...then keep moving, growing.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Wash & Go

You know...you're something like a wash & go fabric.  You're designed to withstand a lot of disaster and stains.  You get thrown in the wash, you dry, and you're ready to go!  No iron needed.  No extra steps.

You take life on your sleeve...and sometimes into your heart.  When the day is done, jump in the wash and get rid of the stains of the day.  At night, cry, scream, release, REST...and dry out.  Wake up the next morning like a brand new you!  Refreshed and ready to go...get out there and try again!  No matter what happens, just know that at the end of the day you can jump in the wash again.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Spongy

Life is hard sometimes...believe me, I know.  Sometimes everything comes at you all at once and you have nowhere to go or seemingly no one who can help you.  Sometimes you're required to do things that you say you'd never do.  Sometimes life can make your pride, ego, and confidence disappear altogether.  You can get your confidence back...try being spongy.

Sponges have a unique ability...one I think is good for us to emulate.  A sponge has a natural shape that can only change through growth, despite the pressure it undergoes...like you and I.  It's put into all kinds of liquids; used to clean all kinds of spills and accidents...much like the things that happen in our lives.  No matter what a sponge soaks up, no matter what mess it encounters, it retains its natural shape.  When squeezed, all the mess is released, but the sponge doesn't change.
I know you're going through hell sometimes, but soak it all up.  Soak up the trials, problems, and issues...soak up all the mess you may go through.  When the pressure comes and you're squeezed like a sponge...take the pressure, but release the mess.  You may not know when it's coming, but when it does, let the pressure squeeze all of life's mess right out of you.  Let everything go...except what you've learned from the mess; retain your shape, and try again. 

It's beautiful to be you...let's be spongy together!

Bounce Back

It's hard sometimes to make a comeback from disappointment, heartbreak, failed endeavors, lost friendships...just plain old life.  You wonder at times what to do next.  Sometimes there is no perfect answer.  You just have to keep living.  You have to naturally bounce back.

There is no trick or gimmick for bouncing back.  You just have to know yourself enough to know when enough is enough.  When you've had enough of whatever life has thrown at you take some time to relax, reflect, and be rejuvenated by the hope of tomorrow.  That hope, your faith and belief, will give you the strength you need to bounce back.  It'll give you the extra push you might need to stand again.

Don't be so hard on yourself when things don't turn out the way you'd like them to.  It's ok.  You put your best foot forward.  You did the best you could...and if you didn't, you know what to do differently the next time around.  Use anything life throws at you as a learning tool.  Let it teach you how to change, how to be better, how to adapt and adjust...how to bounce back.  Use life's craziness as a tool for your success.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Open

I'm open for life. 

Open for change.
Open for growth.
Open for possibilities.
Open for opportunities.
Opening my mind for new perspectives.

I'm here.

Here for life.
Here for love.
Here for work.
Here for success.
Here for what I need.

Life can be wonderful chaos sometimes.  So beautiful to witness, so magnificent to behold; yet seem to have no order, rhyme, or reason at times.  What are you here for...the wonder or the chaos?  Open your eyes and see the good, the positive, the moments, and the chances.....take them!

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

I'm Learning

Stepping away from what I want is the hardest decision I think I've ever had to make...and I've made the decision numerous times for various reasons.  I know I'm stubborn and willful.  I want what I want when I want it.  I had to sit myself down and pray.  I got my answer...like it or not.

I've been trying so hard to do so much at the same time that I haven't taken the time to separate wants vs. needs, desires vs. destiny, or primary vs. secondary goals.  I know, and knew before today, the things I need to do (and the things I don't need to do) to continue down the path of my own success successfully.  I know that things aren't always what they seem, but sometimes it's up to us to make things into what we know they could be.  Slowly, but surely, I'm learning the prayer of serenity through practice...consistent, continuous practice.  It isn't what I want right now, but it's what I need.

Everything that is meant for me, I'll receive.  Everything that is meant for me to experience, I will in due time.  Everyone that I am meant to meet, or otherwise, I will when the time is right and I'm ready...even if I don't know when.  So, I'm breathing, practicing patience, celebrating myself, and waiting my turn.  I'm learning...you should try it.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Never Satisfied

Don't be satisfied with where you are.  Don't accept where you are as your last stop.  Keep going, keep growing, keep learning, keep achieving.  Never be satisfied only with what you're given.  Never settle.

Learn how to acquire your desires.  Achieve your goals.  Actualize your dreams.  Never be satisfied with stopping.  Strive to do more...always.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Little Things

Life happens in the little things.  The little things make the big things enjoyable.  You trust based on the little things.  Your heart is captured by the little things.  You smile, laugh, and cry when you think about the little things.

Never take the little things for granted...they're the things that make life worth living and loving.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Notice

You don't have to give notice for all that you do or plan to do.  People will notice what you do because they notice you.  Set your goal and act on it.  Those around you, near and far, will be very much aware of your endeavors and accomplishments.  Prepare for the mistakes and the failures, but keep moving forward.

Keep moving forward...without notice.  You don't have to announce that you aren't hurt or setback due to an untimely event or unfavorable outcome.  Make an alternate plan for your alternate plan...you'll always be ready.  Be ready for whatever comes, even when you may not know all that could come.  Know the lay of the land for which you plan to be engaged....and go.

You don't have to give notice of for your dreams, goals, and achievements.  Strategize and make small, quick moves...without notice.  Giving no notice allows no room for distraction.  Just do it.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Limitations

It's very important that you know yourself and your personal limitations.  You can achieve whatever you set in your heart and mind to achieve.  However, you can only be the best at whatever talents lie within you.  Know how far you can go and never overextend yourself.  Don't make commitments that you know, from the start, you can't fulfill.

Don't be saddened because you can't do it all.  Don't be disappointed because you need the talents of another to totally, successfully, reach your goal with excellence.  Never feel that you've let everyone down if you say "no".  Use the talents of others around you to learn from and help support you through your endeavors.  However, always be humble and honest with those that have consciously chosen to help or support you.

It's ok the need or ask for help.  You can't do everything alone.  There is no "I" in team...and you need a team of helpers and supporters to reach your goals.  Remember to reflect in all things...and know your limitations.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Treats

There isn't a single thing wrong with treating yourself.  I think you owe it to yourself sometimes.  There are times at which you must indulge and enjoy yourself...just don't overdo it.  When those times come around...you'll know.  It won't hurt, won't be questionable, won't get in the way of anything, won't upset your plans...it'll fit right in with how you feel. 

Treats are wonderful presents wrapped up in the colorful, sheer enjoyment of all that is right and good.  They're like your personal thank you to yourself.  They're like your own little spaces and moments of exhale...in the midst of whatever is going on around you.  They're the little things you do that you think about months later....and you smile to yourself.  Treats are fabulous...but only in small doses.

Treat yourself...well.  Make yourself feel good sometime.  Do for you what no one else can...delight yourself in the pleasurable gratification that comes only from within.  Do something nice for you...treat yourself.  You'll thank me later.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Celebrate

Celebrate life daily with a smile when you rise.  Each day is a gift that you don't have to be given.  Appreciate each gift by living your life well, despite the moments you'd care not to experience.  Whatever you do today, do it well.  Be happy, spread love, and be safe.  Share your light-hearted merriment...celebrate!

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Ouch!

It hurts sometimes when you're told something you don't want to hear.  It hurts sometimes when you don't get your way.  You don't like it and sometimes wish things would just go your way...not gonna happen!  You want to ask, and get, what you ask for...sometimes, even if it hurts.  There's always a price for what you want.

Yes, I know...sometimes it feels like you can't win.  When you ask for honesty, you get harsh, abrasive words that don't seem fitting for any action that you've performed.  When you ask for soft or sweet words, you get a load of crap that you know are 90% lies!  When you ask for wisdom, you get what someone thinks that is in no way wise or even beyond their narrow-minded view of the world.  Ouch...just the thought hurts a little.

When you have an ouch moment...just grab a handful of reflection, a cupful of humility, a pinch of patience, and just a smidgen of confidence.  Think about what you ask for.  Accept it with an open heart and mind...minus the pride.  Wait for what you want instead of chasing it and be confident in knowing that the sting of what you need begins to dull more and more as you gain a clearer understanding of yourself.

It's beautiful to be you...transformingly beautiful.

Wait For It

Waiting sometimes seems like the hardest thing you have to do.  Nevertheless, it must be done - either by choice or by force.  Nothing you want will come to you any faster if you make up in your mind that your mind that you won't be patient and wait.  You can't make time or life move anymore expediently than the pace at which it's designed to happen.  Just wait for it.

I know you want the finer things in life that you've worked so hard to achieve.  You want international trips at your leisure and dining out when you get the taste.  You want to help others when they need help, not just when you can.  You want to do nice things just because, not just on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.  You want to extend yourself to others in a way that will keep a perpetual smile on your face and in your heart.

At times, you think of having someone special to share your heart-smile with.  You'd love to be able to make someone else feel as special as you do when you help someone.  You want to put as much time and energy (or more) into loving someone special as you do your work and other endeavors.  You really want all your hard work to pay off...monetarily and fulfilling.  Just wait for it.

What you hope and dream for will come.  What's in your heart, you will receive.  Patience takes practice and practice makes perfect.  Just wait for it...you don't really have much choice.

It's beautiful to be you...patiently beautiful.

Puzzling

Sometimes it's hard to figure things out.  Sometimes situations are difficult to handle.  Sometimes it's easier to try to forget than to move forward.  Sometimes you want to abandon all reason and live leisurely without a care.  Sometimes everything just seems so puzzling.

You have thoughts, feelings, situations, responsibilities, wants, and needs.  How do you sort through it all?  Your emotions carry you like a wave carries lost wares to a beach...totally out of your control.  When to hold on, when to let go, when to give in, when to give up, when to trust, when to let go...how do you know???  It can be so puzzling!

It's all very simple...but not always easy to do.  Simply...be still.  Let things be.  Be patient and await your answers...you'll receive clarity soon enough.  Your puzzle will unravel before your eyes.  Believe me, I know it's hard...just wait.

It's beautiful to be you...enlighteningly beautiful.

Press

Never abandon the hope that you'll find love.  Don't think that someone isn't out there for you.  Don't assume that because everything doesn't happen in your time that nothing will happen.  Never look at the past to assume the future.  Press forward.

Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open for what's coming your way...it will come.  Live and love boldly...confidently.  Be yourself...be true to you.  Love yourself first and share that love with all who you encounter.  Love is in you and all around you.  As long as you give love, it will come back...eventually. 

It's beautiful to be you...pressing on for true love.

Sunshine

It's great to have it as part of your day.  It's so sad at times to see it leave.  It brightens everything around you and brings warmth to your life.  It gives you hot summers and warm spring days.  It makes almost everything seem beautiful.

Appreciate the sunny days, the good days.  Stormy nights may be amidst...not-so-good nights.  Practice patience, love unconditionally, and internalize all the sunshine goodness you can...while you can.  Use bits of the good days, sunny days...to get you through the bad days.  Use thoughts of laughter and good times to help you through the rough and sad times.  Don't forget to share your internal sunshine...smile every chance you get.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Take It Or Leave It

You are who you are and I am who I am.  Some promises won't be fulfilled and some expectations won't be met.  You must live today to shape your tomorrow.  Things will happen that you don't agree with.  Some people will come who you will not like.  Take it or leave it.

A love will break your heart.  Someone will gossip about you.  Someone will leave you...they may simply walk away.  There will be peaks and valleys...and you must go through them.  Things will happen...and you must deal with them.  Take it or leave it.

Daily you're given a choice.  You can accept what's given to you and what's done to you, you can react to what's given or done to you, or you can actively influence what happens to and around you.  Don't complain and just wait...choose and be proactive.  You ultimately have the choice to take it or leave it.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Do Something

So, you've awakened to a brand new day.  You can see the blue sky.  You can hear the birds, the people, and movement all around you...or maybe you just hear the quiet of the space you're in.  You can feel the kiss of the AC or the massage of the summer sun.  You can smell the spark of a weekend cookout.  You can even taste the snowball with all the fixins...before you're holding it.

It's summertime and you've awakened to be a part of it.  You can add your own special touch or flare to your surroundings.  You can choose to observe first, to see where you fit best.  You can choose to relax and just fit in with the landscape of the day.   Whatever you choose...do something.

This day is a gift to you...to do with it what you see fit.  Whatever your something may be, do it well.  Appreciate this day and all that comes along with it.  Add to it, take something from it, share it, remember it...do something with it.  It's your gift.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Love Note 7

Dear Love,

I promise to be there when you need me...to the best of my ability.  I promise not to give up on you...even when I'm disappointed or angry.  I promise to encourage you and support you...even when I feel discouraged.  I promise to smile...just so you can smile - it's contagious.  I promise to share...my thoughts, feelings, fears, and dreams.

I promise to accept you as you are...only working toward change with you and for the better.  I promise to listen, not just hear, when you talk to me and to give advice or wise words only as needed.  I promise to laugh and have fun with you.  I promise to focus on positivity to push negativity away.  I promise to do these things...even if you don't promise them to me.  I promise to be a friend.

Yours Truly,
My Heart

~It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Love Note 6

A woman's love is strong, resilient, and tough.  Her love sees when her eyes cannot.  Her heart pushes her to act when her mind would not.  Her heart can be crushed...then slowly put back together again.  A woman's love never ends.

Women get hurt...and yes, it's excruciating pain to feel.  Some bounce right back; while others need a bit more time and space.  Women love to love...and to be loved.  Women will do anything within their understanding and power to do...just for you.  Women will love until it hurts...just to see you happy and smiling.

She'll love when it hurts.  She'll love when it's dangerous.  She'll love when she's tired.  She'll love beyond belief.  A woman's love never ends...just take care of her love if/when she decides to give it to you.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Love Note 5

Every love is different, new.  With each new love comes new experiences, lessons.  With each new experience and lesson comes growth.  With growth, hopefully, comes wisdom.  With wisdom comes enlightenment.

Let love take you to new heights and new places.  Open your mind to learn in ways you never thought you could.  Use your new knowledge wisely...to reflect and improve or to help another.  Allow yourself, through love, to grow beyond the borders and boundaries that others have set for you.  Begin to see a clear path toward your consistent personal improvement.

Love life and it will love you back.  Give love and it will be given to you.  Show others how to love through loving them and you will become a living legacy.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Love Note 4

Love is an act, but it's also something you feel.  To love is a choice.  To fall in love is totally out of your control.  To be in love is like a breath of heaven.  To feel pain in love is agony.

Love, in and of itself, is like a fine wine...it gets better with time.  Don't fear it, embrace it.  Don't run from it, make strides toward it.  Don't close yourself off from it, receive it willingly.  Love and be loved.

Don't propose the worst...hope for the best.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Love Note 3

Yes, it's hard to believe.  I know it's too good to be true.  No one is so open, so honest.  No one gives everything and asks for nothing in return.  Everybody wants something.

All I want is something true and pure.  I want a friend I can have fun with.  I want a friend I can laugh with...who can make me smile even when we're not together.  I want a friend...someone I can trust.  I want a friend...someone with character.  I want a friend who cares...and shows it.  I want you.

The question is...do you want me?  I know, I know...it's hard to believe.  It's too good to be true.  No one is so open, so honest.  No one gives everything and asks for nothing in return.  Everybody wants something.  I want your heart.
It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Love Note 2

Wishing to be where you are, to share your space, to know that you're near.  My wishes are of friendship...my desires of love.  I couldn't fake it if I tried...and believe me, I've tried.

I've tried to let go, from fear of losing myself.  I've tried not to feel a thing, from fear of feeling pain.  I've tried to walk away, from fear of being left alone.  I've tried not to share, from fear of not having you to share with.  I've tried not to love, from fear of not being loved in return. 

Fear is crippling...so I let it go.  I no longer feel it.  I'm walking with my heart wide open.  I'm here...with friendship to offer and I'm sharing my world.  I'm loving you...freely.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Love Note 1

In such short time, you've become the fabric of my dreams, the cause for the butterflies in my stomach, the thought behind my smile, the moment for which I dance...more than I imagined you'd be.

You've not become my god...simply, amazingly, terribly, wonderfully, beautifully...my love.

It's beautiful to be you...simply beautiful.

Things Past

The past is just that...the past.  Anything that did or did not happen in the past cannot be re-done or repaired.  Past hurt, past pain, past love, past successes or failures...it's all in the past.  You can not undo things past.  Things past will affect you as much as your thinking allows.

Focus on today and how you can make your tomorrow better.  Focus on new love, new success, new ventures, new experiences, and new knowledge.  Exercise your faith and walk into your destiny...one step at a time.  Learn from things past, but don't allow them to hold you in the past.  Do what's right; what makes you happy.  You get one life to live...live it well.

It's beautiful to be you...despite things past.

Full Circle

Everything comes full circle. 

Throughout life we're given an opportunity (or two) to witness something great, something momentous, something spectacular...something rare.  That opportunity affords us with the insight, experience, and knowledge to teach someone else...to enlighten someone else of what could be.  With that knowledge, we are charged with the task of empowering and improving the quality of someone else's life.  Through that empowerment, we pass the torch of enlightenment on to the next person.  Once we've fulfilled our duty, we can then begin the process of being given the opportunity to once again witness something great.

Sometimes we're afforded the good fortune of seeing our self-fulfilled destiny manifested in the lives of others.  We get the chance to see someone else enjoy the fruits of our labor...and it feels good inside.  We reach a point at which we can smile and know that we've added to the well-lived life of another.  It becomes easier to open ourselves to risks...all the while seeing opportunities.  It becomes easier to give back.

Your goodness and gracious acts toward others do not go unnoticed.  You will receive your just reward in due time...be it a smile, a thank you, a kind word, or just seeing the improved lives of those whose lives you've touched.  Don't fret about not being in the spot light, not having your name called, or not having everyone know who you are.  The quality of who you are - your character - is all that matters.  Everything comes full circle.

It's beautiful to be you...learning and giving.

Get To Know

It's fun to learn new things about yourself.  However, learning about yourself can be quite enlightening and kind of touchy.  It doesn't always feel good to learn about a not-so-good trait you possess.  On the other hand, it's very helpful to aid you in your constant reflection and growth.

It can be funny to learn what others see in you that you do your best not to reveal or make public.  It's also good to know that you're transparent...even when you don't realize it.  It's great to learn that your honesty is innate...something that you don't have to try to do, but comes naturally.  It's great to get to know yourself all over again.  Take some time...get to know you again.  You're worth it.

It's beautiful to be you...getting to know you too.

Giving Up

It's not ok to give up...no matter how hard the road becomes.  It's not ok to quit...no matter who talks about you.  It's not ok to throw in the towel...even when it hurts.  It's never ok to sell yourself out because of the problems, people, or lack that surrounds you.

You chart your course and proceed to navigate around the danger and pitfalls that come your way.  Yes, sometimes you'll experience pain (physically & mentally), jealousy, problems that you can't solve, or even issues within yourself...keep going.  Be determined to reach your goal.  Even if it takes awhile...prayer, reflection, determination, and tenacity will take you a long way.

Weigh your options.  Pray.  Make your decision.  Chart your course.  Stick to it.

It's beautiful to be you...even when you think about giving up.

Is This Real?

You've felt it, smelled it, almost tasted it...is it real?  You smiled when you saw it and you almost jumped for joy as your heart started to beat faster.  Could this be it...is it really real?  You feel like you've been waiting all your life...is this real?  Is this...real...life...love...success?

That moment you've waited your whole life for; the pleasure you get from seeing that "new friend", that new office, new car (even if it's just new-to-you)...yes, it's real!  That smile that comes across your face when you walk out the door to your car...is real.  That flutter in your stomach and sense of euphoria you get when you talk to him/her (even when you don't tell anyone you've felt it)...is real.  The confidence and hope that you feel when you walk through the door of your next opportunity (whether it's a job, contract, appointment, or interview)...is real.

Each feeling, thought, idea, or sensation you've experienced from having a taste of true love or success is real.  However, if you stop along this road to success...this road of love - you'll also see how real the feelings of sadness and regret can be.  Don't stop, keep on pushing!  It's all real and there's more to come!

It's beautiful to be you...living and loving.

Quality

Quality isn't produced by happenstance...it's something that's achieved through constant practice and improvement.  Quality is deliberate, well planned, and thoughtfully executed.  You could almost say it's innate.

Quality is the best you can give...the value, style, excellence, worth, extravagance, and luxury you put into what you do.  It's part of who you are.  You knowingly, and sometimes unknowingly, strive to achieve it in every aspect of your life...if that's who you are.

Quality doesn't happen by mistake; it's a persistent thread in all that you do...if you're a person of character.  Are you?

It's beautiful to be you...you pleasant thing you!

Understanding

It's ok to not understand everything.  Knowledge is no secret.  Understanding is no mystery.  However, all things are not meant to be known and understood by everyone.

We've all seen and heard of some idiotic situations and people.  We've tried to understand how people could do/say certain things...wasting our energy.  We've attempted to know all the angles, every possible problem...to protect ourselves.  We've even, through our attempts to understand, tried to make things right or better.

Learn what you need to enhance yourself and those around you.  Understand what it means, and what it takes, to use what you've learned to reach your goals and build your success.  Distractions will always be there to soak up your attention...at the worst times; don't try to understand why.  Stay focused and keep moving forward.  Accept the true love and support that comes your way and climb your Mt. Everest until you reach the top.

It's beautiful to be you...with your determined self!

Fathom

I can't fathom losing every thing.
I can't fathom having every thing.
I can't fathom losing everyone.
I can't fathom having no one.

I can't fathom being totally lost.
I can't fathom living without vision.
I can't fathom not having a dream.
I can't fathom living in utter apathetic bliss...

I can't fathom you not being all you can be because your surroundings or circumstances say it's too hard, the odds are against you, or you don't have enough knowledge, experience, or support.  It's your heart, your desires, your path, your life...live it well.  Can you fathom not having it to live?

It's beautiful to be you...unraveling your success!

What's Your Problem?

So you think you have big problems?  You think your life is falling apart?  You think you haven't accomplished as much as you should have by this point in your life?  You feel like you're in a race that has no end in sight?  Do you start each day already thinking about the end?

What about people you see in the streets; homeless, dirty, nowhere to go...with smiles on their faces?  What about the children you see everyday; dealing with adult issues in school, in their homes, in their communities...with hope in their hearts?  What about the many people abroad that you read about or see on the news who have experienced tragedies beyond imagination?  Do you really think your problem is that bad?  Do you think your worries are that overwhelming?  What's your problem?!

Put life into perspective.  Look at what you have that some people don't.  Think about experiences you've gone through that allow you to smile or say that you've learned something.  Yes, we go through hard times...and sometimes our hard time can't compare to someone else's.  Don't you think that alone is a reason for hope, for faith, for determination...to smile?  Think, believe, and smile through your problems...they won't be around much longer.

It's beautiful to be you...hoping, believing, and smiling beyond your problems.

Letting Go

Letting go is hard to do.  Some times are easier than others...especially when experiences are accompanied by pain.  You seem to discover that nothing worth having is worth your continued pain.  You begin to think that there is a life worth living without having everything you want and begin focusing on the things you need.  You begin to focus your energy elsewhere...and slowly but surely you let go.

In some situations, letting go isn't so easy.  You see what you want everyday, but can't have it.  Sometimes, what you want is so close you can smell and almost taste it.  In some ways, you still chase the idea.  You haven't accepted the fact that what you want just isn't for you. 

Life gives you lemons so you can make lemonade.  You're thrown into the heat so you can appreciate the cold.  You're given dry days so you can appreciate the rain.  So, when life brings you something you want - shiny, pretty, and new - you have to practice discipline and exercise wisdom to know if that something is meant for you.  You may not truly know until that something becomes unattainable. 

Whatever it is that you want, but can't have because it isn't meant for you...let it go.  Something better suited for you will come along.  Something tailor-made for your personality, lifestyle, talents, and dreams will come into your life...and you'll love it.

It's beautiful to be you...even when it's hard to let go...it just takes time.

Fun

Let loose...live a little.  Hang out, take a trip, meet some people.  Have fun!

I know, I know...you have to work hard to reap a just reward.  Just remember : : all work and no play makes for a dull life.  Stop and smell the roses sometime...it doesn't have to be for long.  Just try to relax a little sometimes.  Let your hair down.  Have me time or time with someone you trust and enjoy spending time with.  Just try it...you'll love it! 

Fun times keep you smiling when things aren't going right.  You can remember and think about the fun times when times are really tough.  You can laugh about the fun times to get you through the rough patches.  When work seems like it isn't working and life seems mundane...think about your fun.  It's worth it.

It's beautiful to be you...you can have fun too!

It's Time

It's time to show 'em what you're made of.  All the talent, the ideas, the thoughts behind the actions, the days and nights of strategizing and organizing...it's time to bring it all together!

Hold your head high and present the world with your real-life dream...your hard-earned happiness.  It's ok to share what makes you smile, keeps you going, and makes you move.  Show the world what has kept your gears turning...what has kept you on your toes. 

Keep in mind...what you share doesn't have to be tangible!  Some will understand and some won't...just keep smiling and moving forward!

It's beautiful to be you...especially when it's your time!

Wait Your Turn

Everything you put out comes back to you...attitude, money, energy, love...it all comes back.  Are you ready to receive everything you've put out?  Are you prepared to receive everything regardless of how it comes back?  Are you now thinking about what you've done or said...things that you don't want to come back?

Regret nothing...do it right the first time.  Recognize that you don't know everything and that you make mistakes.  Apologize sincerely for your wrong doings and make right what you have the power to change.  Having a good heart and clear mind is the first step to being able to readily receive what's coming your way.  Don't be afraid...especially when you know you've done your best.

Don't do things with the idea that you'll be repaid in some way.  Do whatever you do sincerely and from the heart.  Expect nothing in return accept the feeling you get from knowing you've done well and good.  Keep doing well and good.  Your turn for overwhelming success is coming.  It may not come how you think it should, but it'll be just what you need.  Just wait your turn...it's coming.

It's beautiful to be you...just you wait and see.

Success

Sometimes your dreams seem wilder, out of the box, and unachievable...to those around you.  Nevermind them...keep your focus and do what you feel is right...what makes you happy.  Anything worth having is worth being thought of as crazy for awhile.  It takes a radical to change the world.  No one will think you're crazy anymore once you've achieved success.

Remember to stay focused.  Nevermind the critics...they've become apathetically complacent.  Nevermind the non-supporters and nay-sayers...your success isn't for them anyway.  Keep your head on straight...look ahead and keep moving forward.  It's your dream; your success...who else do you think is suppose to achieve it?

It's beautiful to be you...a success waiting to happen.

Heartbreak

You feel as if your heart is escaping through your eyes in tiny droplets that you can't control. 

Breathe, breathe.  Don't let the feeling consume you. 

You feel as if you may have lost a friend that, maybe, you never truly had. 

You feel as if you're out in the ocean waiting to be rescued after having fallen from a yacht.

You can swim but your legs are getting tired and you feel like giving up; letting yourself go under...letting the sea whisk you away.

This is heartbreak...this was me.  There is joy after the pain.  There is hope after the doubt.  There is laughter to aid in your healing.  There is still love.  The sun will shine just for you...after the rain washes away all the tears you've shed.  Keep your head up...someone needs to see your strength. 

It's beautiful to be you...keep smiling...someone needs you.

Lessons

It's amazing how experiences can change your life; good and bad.  Negativity can rear its ugly head in your outlook, approach, and daily actions...if you don't learn the lessons life has to teach you. 

Pay attention and look around you.  Every step, every moment, every action, every decision...happens for a reason.  The lesson is what you take away from each situation that helps you to grow and mature.

Be observant.  Be patient.  Be strategic.  Be wise.  Be open-minded.  Watch, learn, and grow.

It's beautiful to be you...learning everyday.

Love Remains

For every rainy day, there's a rainbow. 
For every cloudy day, there's sunshine. 
For every midnight, there's a morning.

For every cry, there's laughter. 
For every tear, there's a smile. 
For every broken heart, there's a hug. 

For every weary soul, there's rest. 
For every apology and mistake...there's still love.

It's beautiful to be you...live well.

It Just Is...

Your day will be long.  Your patience will wear thin.  You will get tired.  You will get angry.  You will hurt...and you will heal.  You will rest.  You will relax.  You will recuperate.  You will bounce back.

Time isn't renewable.  Life doesn't happen twice.  Opportunities are meant to be taken, not feared.  Each day is a gift, cherish it.  Life isn't complicated...it just is.  It's as simple as you make it.  It just is...try.

It's beautiful to be you...it just is.

It's Raining

For some, rain brings melancholy, gray skies, and loneliness.  For some, the rain is a sign that things are not right and that there needs to be a change.  For me, rain is a mental note to me that my life needs to slow down a bit and it's time to recuperate from the wear and tear of life. 

Sometimes it's mandatory to take a day to yourself to reflect and strategize.  Sometimes it's mandatory to take some time to just relax, breathe, and regroup.  Sometimes it's mandatory to just sit and laugh without thinking about the daily stressors of your life.  Sometimes it's mandatory to watch and listen...even if you never respond to a single thing.

Try looking at the upside of the rain...it nourishes the earth.  Rain slackens the pace of everything that we somehow believe can't be slowed down.  It's symbolic of cleansing and tranquility.  Take time for yourself to determine what the rain can do for you.  It isn't so bad to slow down a bit...it helps you to put all things into perspective.

It's beautiful to be you...slow down to see what the rain will wash out of your life.  It's a wonderfully beautiful process to witness!

Challenge

I challenge myself to live, despite the risk.
I challenge myself to love, despite the possibility of pain.
I challenge myself to laugh, despite the tears.

I challenge myself to be patient.
I challenge myself to be the best me.
I challenge myself to support you.
I challenge myself to encourage you.

I challenge myself beyond my abilities...it's the only way to grow
I challenge myself to rest and care for me.
I challenge myself not to over-think life.
I challenge myself to improve.
I challenge you to do the same...today!

It's beautiful to be you...trying, challenging, and changing...more beautiful by the minute.

Connection

Sometimes you feel it...almost overwhelmingly strong.  Sometimes you can barely tell it's there.  At other times it's like a persistent thread that runs through the fabric of everything you do.  It's like your link to the rest of the world around you...connection.

Everyone needs it.  You need it to feel wanted, loved, seen, needed, liked, or even acknowledged.  It is imperative that each person feels connected to something or someone in some way to feel that their life has meaning.  Anyone not connected to someone or something may slowly, but surely fade away.  It's a human need that we're connected.

Don't fool yourself into believing that you don't need anyone for anything.  If only for a mental connection, we need one another.  No matter what you may have been through...regardless of how difficult or how tough; it's always easier to get through troublesome times when you feel connected.  Pray, meditate, share with someone, care for a plant or animal, commit yourself to a project...get connected to something or someone.  As simple as it may sound; it helps you cope with daily stress.

It's beautiful to be you...connected and meaningful in all that you do.

Circumstances

Life happens everyday...good or bad.  Planned or unplanned, situations will come your way.  The circumstances surrounding every situation you encounter can and will bring out the best or worst in you.  As crazy as it may seem...the world has a way of relegating your worth to your circumstances.

What you do with the issues that surround you, how you respond to them; will determine how others view you - whether their perceptions are true or not.  Image is everything when people don't know you from the inside out.  No matter what, hold your head high, think things through, and do what's best for you in your situation.  The circumstances will change...eventually.

Don't let circumstance determine who you are.  Practice and display integrity, patience, determination, dedidcation, and kindness.  Who you are will shine through your circumstance as long as you remain consistent.  Life happens everyday...good or bad.  Circumstances will change...be the constant.

It's beautiful to be you...even when you don't know what's coming next .  Don't worry about what everyone thinks.  Do what's best for you. 

Baggage

We always seem to view baggage in a negative way.  I don't mean baggage in an airport luggage kind of way.  The baggage I'm referring to are the leftovers you've retained that have resulted from the not-so-nice experiences - heartbreak, mistrust, lack of vision, mistakes, or even failures - that have happened during your life.  Those indescribable feelings, those unspeakable thoughts, and the unexplained actions or preconceived ideas...are all leftovers.  The leftovers become baggage in your cargo bay - dead weight in your heart.

Why let the leftovers dictate what you'll have for dinner?  Simply take a trip to the grocery store, get fresh ingredients, and whip up an exciting, new meal!  Don't be confined to what you think is the only way, the only option, or the only outcome.  Open your heart, your mind, your ears, and your eyes...accept and embrace your new experiences.  Don't just run away because things may appear similar to something you've seen before.

Dumbells are heavy for a reason.  They'd be dead weight - just lying around - unless you use them.  Pick up your baggage and use it for some good.  Put it to use and learn from it...without allowing it to hold you back.  Don't allow it to weigh you down; use it to make you stronger. 

It's beautiful to be you...so strong and beautiful.

Corner

The corner is a special place.  You can see and not be seen...in the corner.  You can observe all the passers by...in the corner.  You can get ready for whatever is coming your way...in the corner.  The corner may make you feel under pressure, but you'll come out shining like a diamond.

Take your time observing, learning, and practicing.  Try again and again until your craft is perfected.  Don't give up now; you've come too far.  It doesn't hurt to be the unrefined material in the rarely traveled foothills of a mountain.  Be still and wait...in your corner.  Your patience is a virtue and will pay off in due time.  Nestle yourself in your corner of the world until the ever-persistent treasure hunter comes to claim you as his own.  It's alright to be chosen last...the best usually are.

It's beautiful to be you...such a gem you are!

Chances

Everyone takes a chance sometime.  Every time you make a choice you take a chance.  You take a chance that you'll act and your efforts will either succeed or fail.  If you don't take action, your decision gets stale. 

When you act on your decisions, you make a statement that you're willing to try.  Trying is taking a chance...a chance that things may not work.  Don't be afraid.  Pray, breathe, and take a chance.  Have faith and walk into the unknown knowing that everything will be alright.

Life is full of chances.  Each chance can be viewed as opportunities or risks...it all depends on your perspective.  A chance - an opportunity to gain new experiences and additional opportunities OR the risk of mistake or failure.  Remember, you can learn from a mistake and try again; but you won't get the same chance twice.  Step out, take a chance, life life without fear.  Live life loud.

It's beautiful to be you.  Stay lovely.

It's Time

I've been away dealing with life for awhile.  I learned a few things to bring back to you.  It's time to share.

1. Trust your friends.  They help you even when you can't help yourself.
2. Trust yourself.  If something feels right, even if you're afraid, go with it.  You only live once.
3. Appreciate the people who give you unconditional love and support...they and what they give you are hard to find.
4. Work hard, play harder.  Enjoy yourself while you can.  You work hard everyday for the things you want and need.  Take time to relax and recuperate your mind, body, and soul.
5. It's ok to love, even when you get hurt.  It's better to have loved than to not have loved at all.  Enjoy every second of bliss while it lasts.  True love never disappears anyway.  What remains will be what you need.  If it's friendship, you have a gem; if it's a lesson, you have a nugget; and if it's both you're truly blessed.
6. Appreciate the differences in others.  Everyone won't do things the way you do or the way you think they should...but that doesn't mean they're wrong or lacking integrity.  Appreciate the differences in yourself and others so that you can begin to see life from various perspectives...it broadens your horizons.
7. Know when to see the big picture.  Don't let a something small get in the way of what could be something great.  Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean you have to drop a dream, project, or new endeavor.
8. Know your limitations.  When you know you can't handle it: step back, take a breath, and get your mind together.  Then, come back refreshed and ready to go with new energy, new ideas, or just an open mind.
9. Don't be so afraid that you run away.  Face your fear head on.  Your friends and/or family are your support.  Divide and conquer your fear...with the help of your supporters you will defeat whatever has frightened you.
10. Live, laugh, and love...loud!  You have a life given to you by God...live it well.  Laughter will help to mend a broken heart...you will experience one eventually.  Love regardless of what you think the outcome may be...love will come back to you.

It's beautiful to be you...especially when you can share what you've learned.  You're wiser now.

Alright

I woke up with a song in my heart...not knowing that the message in the song was meant to prepare me for my day.  Having no idea what I was in store for, I made up my mind that everything would  be alright.  It's just like Him to give you a little inspiration to prepare you for the storm. 

Know yourself and your limitations.  Affect change when and where you can.  Do your best and don't worry about the rest.  Things that you can't change will work out in way that will be best for you...even if you don't like it.  Do what you can do and everything will be alright.

It's beautiful to be you...especially when you're ready for what's ahead.

Interesting...

It's interesting how one conversation with another can cause you to reflect on your own actions and inactions.  Helping someone to see themselves can help you to look at yourself.  Are you prepared to look at yourself, your choices, your actions, and your inactions....critically?  Have you?

I was asked a question today, "Have you ever made a decision or acted out of loneliness?".  Of all my moments of reflection and deep thought about my actions and inactions, I never truly did an inventory of my decisions that were prompted by loneliness.  This one question, and the conversation that followed, reaffirmed for me that despite all our strengths and talents...we still need each other more than you think.  It's amazing how being alone can cause the strongest, most clear-minded person to weaken and have clouded judgement.

Never underestimate your ability to see yourself walking along the path of someone else's journey...it may be your own.  Through your daily conversations and chit chat, think about what questions apply to you.  It's very interesting what you might find.  It's beautiful to be you...interesting too. 

Harmony

At some point, all things collide.  What have you done to ensure that all things don't collide in an accidental fashion?

Make healthy choices.  Act on good decisions.  View all situations with an open mind.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Have integrity...keep your word.  All things can work together for your good...if you're living harmoniously. 

Keep your thoughts clear and pure.  Stay focused on the task at hand, but always keep the bigger picture in mind.  Help someone along the way.  Don't lose sight of what really matters.  Have you done an inventory of yourself...do you know what really matters? 

Harmony is all about the balance of things in your life.  Mahatma Gandhi said "happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."  If you're balanced from the inside, you won't have difficulty maintaining balance around you.  This does not mean trials won't come or that turmoil won't raise its head.  However, when trials do come and chaotic situations do arise...you'll be more than capable of maintaining your composure and handling a given situation appropriately.

It's beautiful to be you.  Trust God and what He's put in you.  Trust yourself and grasp opportunities as they come.  It's so beautiful to be you...harmoniously.

Dreams: Part 2

Dreams are living thoughts... Paper isn't durable enough to hold them.  A conversation isn't big enough to convey them.  A day isn't long enough to achieve them.  A person's disbelief isn't powerful enough to stop them...unless it's you.

Dreams are dazzling and intense...  They capture your heart by painting a picture of your internal desires.  They grasp your heart and allow it to fly.  They present happiness like you've never known.  They arrest your actions of unhappiness and replace them with destiny.

Your dream won't evade you unless you choose not to make it happen.  Don't just chase your dream, strategically achieve it!  No one can make your dream impossible but you.  No matter how big or how small...your dream displays your happiness, your joy.  Don't let anything stand in your way.

It's beautiful to be you...with your brilliant mind.  You're a force to be reckoned with...prove it.

Dreams

Who dares to dream?  Why dream when you're faced with reality?  Reality says that your dreams are just that...dreams; not goals or aspirations.  This world shows you that you can't really do big things unless you totally, or almost totally, lose yourself in trying to make things different from how you see the world with your eyes open.  So, I say just close your eyes and take a mental picture.  Then, work hard to see in reality what you see when you dream.

Make a blueprint in your mind.  Then, just like a contractor builds a new home, use your plan on paper and in your mind to map out each phase and every step to build your dream.  Don't give up or refuse to try simply because your family or friends aren't the ideal company or supporters of your dream.  Let them fuel your energy and increase your intensity to achieve your goal.  Get focused and get moving.

It won't come easy and you can't give up easily.  Stay on the job...grind it out.  Put the work in and reward yourself with accomplishments.  Your supporters will be there along the way.  Your doubters will show themselves...and you'll laugh at them.

It's beautiful to be you.  When you're determined, dedicated, committed, and persistent...it's so beautiful to be you.  Take your picture and work toward making it your reality.  See you at your finish line!

Friends

They are there when you need them most...and when you want nothing to do with them.  In times of trouble and confusion; and in times of joy and exhilaration...friends are always there.  When you feel alone and cornered in a situation; friends remind you that you aren't.  When you feel depressed and saddened by the trials of life; friends encourage you.  When you feel that you don't care anymore; friends care for you.

To my friends...to you; thank you for reading.  Thank you for your support.  Thank you for kind and wise words.  Thank you for encouragement and love.  Thank you for your interest and care.  Thank you for your sincerity and genuine heart.  Thank you.

Thank your friends or friend.  Appreciate them while you can...say it and show it.  Accept the love and return it.  Relish the fun times and remember them.  If your paths should separate; revel in the aspects of life that you've shared.

For You: You've shown me who you are...again.  You've been more than I expected...again.  Thank you.  I appreciate and love you for who you are. 

It's beautiful to be you...continue to be you.  With your friends and all the love and support they give...it's all for you.

Breathe

In the midst of all that you go through...don't forget to breathe.  Life comes hard and fast, decisions must be made, and life must and will go on.  Think about how to approach a problem....and breathe.  Think about your next steps in a situation...and breathe.  Feel whatever you may be feeling, work through it...and breathe.

During the course of one day I've had several stressful situations thrown at me and I almost forgot to breathe.  I was so angry, disappointed, confused, and upset that I almost didn't handle things properly.  I said thank you, because the situation wasn't worse than it was.  I breathed.  I said thank you because I was alive to see it all.  I breathed.  I began to wrap my head around the situation at hand...and I breathed.

Despite your level of expertise in a given area; despite your many experiences dealing with pain, trauma, emergencies, and stress...when it happens, you must still remember to breathe.  Use the organs so delicately assembled within you to bring about the best result you can with the instruments you've been given...breathe.  It's beautiful to be you ....and me.  In the midst of turmoil and disarray...it's beautiful to be you...living and breathing.

Searching

Are you looking for something?  Did you lose something along the way or just feel a void of some kind?  What are you looking for?  May I help you?  Did you look inside first?

One of the first things most people do when they feel a void is look for stuff.  They participate in excessive amounts of activities and events.  Some host events as a way to constantly have company.  Some even do things they truly don't want to do to try to fill a void.  George Moore said, "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." 

Fix your home first...fix you.  Work on dealing with your void or loss.  What is the void/loss the product or result of?  Have you accepted it or are you in denial?  Pray, meditate, reflect, write...whatever works for you.  Don't go through life searching for something you'll never find because you don't know what you're looking for.  Education, knowledge, enlightenment, acceptance, understanding, strategy, and action.

It's beautiful to be you...even when you're introspective.  Take the time to look within so you don't waste time looking everywhere else.  Focus on you and your future...the rest will take care of itself.  Enjoy your day!

Change

Henry David Thoreau said: "Things do not change; we change."

We all want success and happiness, but most aren't willing to make the changes to achieve it.  Think about the people you consider weathly or rich.  They were either born into wealth or they've endured some major hardships and challenges to achieve their successes and reach their goals.  Either way, they have all at some point been taken out of their comfort zone to achieve certain feats.

Change is a very powerful thing and it's a choice.  However, you can choose to change or you will be forced to change.  If you don't change, eventually life will feel like a carousel...you'll just keep spinning around sitting in the same spot.  Don't you want a new experience?  If you want something different, do something different...CHANGE!

I want new experiences, so I'm making changes.  Life isn't going to wait on me or you...the carousel will just keep spinning.  Be the change you want to see.  Don't wait for it to come to you...go get it!  It's beautiful to be you...especially when you're going through a transformation.  I can see your growth...can you?

Sometimes

Sometimes you just want what you want.  Sometimes you want to be out mixing and mingling; while at other times you just want to relax and catch a movie or make it a Blockbuster night.  Sometimes you'd rather stick to protocol and routine; while at other times you'd just like to do whatever you feel...when you feel it.  Sometimes you feel giving and caring; while at other times you just feel plain ole selfish.  Sometimes you discover that you're more than just the person whose name is written on the paper.

It's ok to change.  It's ok to not be the same all the time.  It's ok to want to experience something new.  It's ok to pamper yourself.  It's ok to have "me" time.  It's ok to not want to entertain and be the life of the party.

Take the time and get to know yourself...well.  Understand that you're not acting strangely just because you don't ascribe to a daily routine.  Be spontaneous sometimes and relax sometimes.  There's nothing wrong with change...sometimes it's for the better.  It's beautiful to be you....all the time, in every way.