Backwash

You wouldn't let someone sip from your drink and give you their backwash...you'd protect your drink.  So why wouldn't you protect your life and heart the same way?

People have all kinds of troubling experiences.  Likewise, it takes time and effort to heal holistically.  When you try to move forward to have new experiences without healing wholly, you make a conscious choice to allow emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual backwash to enter your life. 

You are your own gatekeeper.  You are the bottle cap.  Not everyone deserves a sip.  Be weary of who you allow access to your life and dreams.  Work on your holistic healing...don't be the cause of anyone else's backwash.

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

A Risk

Sometimes love brings pain.  To love doesn't mean you have to hurt or that you will.  To love means you're willing to risk being hurt.  Just because there's a risk involved doesn't mean you shouldn't love.  Love is worth the risk of pain.

Love in spite of the possibility of pain.  Love because of the possibility of bliss...pure happiness.  Be strong.  Love always.

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

When To Go

Every once in awhile, you run across speed bumps a bit too fast.  They do their job by slowing you down.  You may scrape the bottom of your car...or crack your bumper, if you're going fast enough.  You may even hit the bump in a crazy way and have an accident.  All of this could happen...if you're going too fast.

We all have our proverbial speed bumps that call our attention to just how fast we're moving through life.  They make us take notice of the things we neglect, the things we consider priorities, and things that need to change.  When driving, we slow down as we approach a speed bump, slowly go over it, and pick up speed to continue our journey once crossing it.  That's life...approach situations with caution, slowly assess your surroundings and the particulars, and know when it's time to go.  Never hang around in any situation longer than your heart tells you to. 

If you don't move, you'll hold up traffic.  Others' lives also depend on your movement.  Be wise and be aware.

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

Larger

You have to be larger than your circumstances or problems.  You have to see yourself as having already achieved your desired outcome.  You have to know, from within, that you won't always deal with the same problem(s).  You must understand that, ultimately, everything will work out to your benefit.  You have to be optimistic...you must have faith.

The more you think negatively, the more you will speak negatively.  The more you speak negatively, the more you will act negatively.  Don't quit on yourself before you give yourself a fighting chance.  Don't give up on what could be if you just hang in there.  Stay focused.

Be strong and have faith.  The end is near and you'll be rewarded for your dedication.

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

Love Note 10

Dear Love,

I'm thankful for how you're always there.  I appreciate the warmth and tenderness I feel when you're around.  I love the butterflies that come when you're fresh and new.  I adore the way you make me feel like I'm the most beautiful and most special person in the world.  I truly don't know what I'd do without you.

Smiling,
My Heart

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

It's Not What You Think

Sometimes your past gets the best of you.  You judge people by it.  You gauge situations by it.  You develop a code or change your behavior according to it.  However, it's not what you think.

You begin to think that all the trials that come your way are meant to knock you down and kill your dreams.  You start to see negativity wherever you look.  You slowly become brainwashed into believing that everyone and everything is against you.  You are conditioned by your circumstances to adopt a pessimistic perspective of the world.  Nevertheless, it's not what you think.

There are those who seek to harm you.  There are those who aim to destroy the good in you.  There are some who'd like to see each of your dreams crushed.  What some mean for your demise, God uses to strengthen you. What seems like the worst, the hardest, the most frustrating and the most painful is never what you think...it's much more.

Your circumstances are not what you think...they are not who you are.  Your experiences are only preparing you for the greatness to come.  Every encounter is so much more than what you think.

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

The Purpose of Pain

Without pain, you'd never comprehend being hurt.  Without pain, you couldn't fathom healing.  Without pain, you'd forget some of life's priceless lessons.  Without pain you wouldn't appreciate comfort.  Without pain you couldn't truly experience life. Without pain you couldn't truly appreciate joy.

As much as we don't like pain and wish it didn't exist; it has a purpose.  When we learn, pain serves as a reminder of what we shouldn't do.  Pain tells us that there are consequences to our actions.  Pain pushes us to want better and to hope that despite how bad things get...they can and will get better.  Because of pain, we can appreciate healing.

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

What It Is

What is it when everything seems to be going okay, then all hell breaks loose?  What is it that causes you to believe nothing will turn out the way you plan it?  What is it when you have so much going on that you feel you can't handle it?  What is it that leads you to doubt rather than have faith?  What is it that causes you to stop pursuing your dreams?

What it is that keeps you from believing, keeps you doubting, and ceases the pursuit of your dreams....is fear.  Don't let it overtake you.  Things don't always go the way you plan.  People disappoint and hurt you.  That's life...and it happens everyday.

Deep down inside you have reserves of strength and faith that are only tapped into when you decide that your obstacle isn't bigger, better, or stronger than you.  What it is that can get you through when the going gets tough...is faith.  It's the opposite of fear and it's strengthened every time you use it.

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

It's About Time

It's about time you paid attention to who's in the mirror instead of the circumstances surrounding him/her.  You're far more important that any circumstances you're faced with.  You're far greater than any obstacle you encounter.  You're far stronger than any force pitted against you.  It's about time you realized that you're more than what happens to you.

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

More

The more you have, the more you want.  The less you have, the more you want.  At some point we all want more.  Some of us aspire to become more.  Some don't know how to achieve more.

More isn't always just a good or bad thing.  More is sometimes necessary.  At times, you must have excess in order to bless others with your overflow.  Other times, you can have very little and it be just enough to share with someone else.  Sometimes less is more.

Wanting more is good...just be very aware of what you desire more of.  More ways to help others, to teach others, and to share with others is good.  Being more is good.  Doing more is good.  Just be sure that in the process of your wanting and achieving your more, you also share, give, and teach more.

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

While You Were Sleeping

Someone fought for you.
Someone protected you.
Someone watched over you.
Someone worked for you.
Someone prayed for you.

Even if you are never totally aware of all that another person does for you, understand and appreciate that a lot took place while you were sleeping. You're blessed and will continue to be due to,in part, the work that others have done to ensure your future.

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

Another Side of Appreciation

Appreciation comes in many forms and can be presented in many ways. People show their appreciation through words, works, and sometimes gifts. Other times appreciation is shown through emulation...which to some is the highest form of appreciation.

You may not be appreciated for all that you are. You may not be appreciated for all that you do. You may not receive appreciation from whom you believe you should. You may not even receive appreciation in a way that you'd like to or feel you should. Nevertheless, a person can only appreciate you for who you are in their life.

All you can do is be thankful for the blessings placed in your life...time, love, friendship, fellowship, health, and family. You can hope that others will appreciate all that you are and all that you do, but never expect to see it. Expectations, at times, lead to hurt and disappointment. Appreciate and love yourself...first. In spite of what you may never receive from others...love yourself first and always.

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

Amazing

Watching the light bulb come on in a child's head is a beautiful event to behold. Smelling your favorite food or scent and it causing you to remember the best time you had with a loved one is a wonderful feeling. Feeling an infant heart beating on your chest as you rock him/her to sleep is magical. Tasting snow for the first time is exhilarating. Hearing your name called in recognition of an accomplishment that took years of dedication to achieve is overwhelming.

Being created for a purpose is astounding. Knowing your purpose is comforting. Fulfilling your purpose is mind-blowing. Positively affecting others through the fulfilling of your purpose is a blessing. Having the opportunity to witness the little miracles in life is quite amazing.

Appreciate the amazing things in life that you've been blessed to witness and be a part of.

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

Anew

This is your opportunity for a new beginning. This is your chance to start fresh. Today is your day to wipe the slate clean and write a new story. Now is your time to plant new seeds. This is your season to start anew.

Choose wisely what you say, what you do, and how you say and do things. Starting anew means leaving the past behind you. Forget the mistakes and hold onto the lessons you've learned from them. Let go of things and people that mean you no good. Cling to and surround yourself by those from whom you can continuously learn and grow with.

This is your time to plant seeds and start anew, fresh, begin again. This is your time to be you again...better than before. This is your time to be you...beautifully.

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