Who's To Say?

Sometimes too much hope rests on the misunderstood sayings of olden times. We must speak positively and affirmatively, but also realistically. Every sound-good or do-good saying doesn't, and won't, apply to every situation. We may never know the true context(s) of the era or situation during which a statement was made. It's important that we ponder on the meaning of what we say before we say it to have a full understanding.

All's well that ends well. Stay in your lane. Keep your head down, work hard, stay focused and you will achieve your goals. If you don't get something then it wasn't meant for you. Besides, all good things come to an end.

Right?

Who is to say that you know what's best for you at a given moment? What exactly is ending well? Sometimes things just end. Aren't you allowed to switch lanes? Who is to say that your goal is the one intended for you to achieve? Stay focused, but lift your head, smell the flowers and notice the world around you; don't let it pass you by. If something didn't happen for you, that doesn't mean it wasn't meant for you. It just wasn't meant for that time. Not all good things come to an end. Love endures.

Who's to say that one perspective fits your life or situation? You are allowed to learn, to grow and to change. Who's to say that you can't? Only you.

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

You Are

You are just who you should be at this moment in time. You are right where you need to be and doing just what you should be at this very moment. You are living every moment of your life...but how are you living?

Are you loving? Are you enjoying every breath? Are you maximizing your every moment? Are you teaching, learning and growing? Are you helping?

You are who you decide to be. You are who you reinvent yourself to be. You are who you believe you are. You are innovative. You are brilliant. You are beautiful. You are enough. You are more than enough.

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

Mindful

It's only fair that people have an opinion of you and what you do or say. Others' opinions of you are out of your control. Nevertheless, you must understand that what you do and say will alter the way people see you. Even the most altruistic person can be seen as mean or overbearing given the proper circumstances. The way someone sees you or what someone thinks of you does not change the person you are.

You cannot live to fit inside the box of someone else's mind. Living does not revolve around opinion. You decide what is right or wrong for your life.

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

Loving You

Loving you does not mean you can't love someone else. Loving you does not mean you are selfish. Loving you does not mean you can't be concerned for others' well being. Loving you doesn't mean you don't care. Loving you doesn't mean there is only you.

Loving you isn't ignoring myself for you. Loving you isn't allowing myself to be disrespected. Loving you isn't choosing to accept the pain you cause. Loving you isn't being okay with your ignorance or the aftermath of it. Loving you isn't accepting your apologies, only for you to do what you apologized for...yet again.

Loving you isn't settling. Loving you isn't being afraid. Loving you isn't weak. Loving you isn't getting angry when things don't work out. Loving you isn't giving up.

Loving you is an continuous action.
Loving you is noble and compassionate.
Loving you takes grace.
Loving you is understanding.
Loving you is knowing that you won't always agree with everyone. 
Loving you is moving forward in spite of the pain of the past
Loving you is knowing that you deserve the world and you're ready to receive it.
Loving you is a choice...one you must make every single day.

Love yourself and those you carry with you...daily.

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

Bye Gones

Let bygones be bygones. Time heals all wounds. That's what they say.

They say...forget about the past and let previous mistakes or pain fall to the wayside. Let old differences be reconciled. Well, I beg to differ.

Should you let the past stay in the past? Yes. But should you let those mistakes and past pains simply fall to the wayside? No.

Never focus on your past. Your focus should always be forward and upward...toward your growth, goals and future successes. However, I would be remiss if I didn't urge you to search and understand your past in order to move forward with confidence, having matured from past mistakes and pain. After you have done your due diligence and had some much needed reflection (as we all do at times), by all means, let bye-gones be bye-gones.

Say goodbye forever to the pain and mistakes that you have gone through in your life. Let them serve as a springboard to propel you into becoming a better you.

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

Intentions

The saying goes..."all is well that ends well". Is that true? Are things "well" because they end well? Do you take into account what happened at the beginning of a learning experience and in the middle of it, or do you only consider the comprehensive outcome?

You get out of any situation what you put in. Even if you don't own up to it, you always play a part in the outcome of any given situation you're a part of. You may have ignited, ignored, pushed along or even tried to stop certain things that led to a specific chain of events. What was your intention?

Do you simply float through your days with no set intention of affecting the lives around you? Do you pay attention to the role you play in life on a larger scale, aside from your own? Look at life for more than what you might gain from an action or inaction. Your intention is your goal, what you hope or aim to achieve. Your actions never affect just you.

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

Being You

You cannot live backwards. You cannot erase mistakes. Life doesn't come with an eraser for blunders along the way. You don't live in pencil. What is done, is done...inked in.

What you can do is live without regret. Learn from your mistakes. Embrace your blunders and learn from them instead of repeating them. Gain wisdom, not just experiences. Love yourself...mistakes and all.

Value yourself. Appreciate yourself. Know that you add value to those around you. But understand that simply because you love, value and appreciate yourself does not mean that everyone else you come in contact with will do the same. Continue to be yourself anyway...steadily growing in love, knowledge and understanding.

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

Love Note 11

Dear Love,

Thank you for being so warm and inviting, gentle and compassionate. Thank you for the abundant laughter and the smiles that make my cheeks hurt. Thank you for the memories that warm my heart and seem to make my capacity to love expand. Thank you for coming to me when I was ready and not a moment sooner. Thank you for not allowing me to forget that to receive love, I must first give love.

Thank You

Giving Up

You always hear people encouraging others to never give up. "Don't quit", they say. "Never lose faith", they tell you...or "keep pushing." People may say these things concerning a goal or believing in something you want. But what about you? What about not giving up on yourself?

All too often we apply mantras, sayings and trendy mottos to our lives to reach a goal. But how much do we really internalize? As lovely as it is to say that "good things come to those who wait", it is even greater to understand that you can apply that to yourself. You are a good thing and you will be even better with time and effort.

Don't just choose not to give up on your goals or your hopes and dreams. Never give up on YOU! Believe and know that you are more than enough. Understand that you have the perfect gifts and talents within to do or to be anything you want. Just because you failed once, twice or even 50 times doesn't mean you won't succeed. Failure is just a step in learning to succeed.

Never give up on yourself...ever. You're a gem!

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

Differences

There is a difference between being accommodating and being thoughtful.

You may make sure my needs are met. You may see that my desires are fulfilled. You may do my bidding. You may even ask if all things are to my liking. That is being accommodating.

You may think of me when you're out & about and purchase a trinket. You may give me my favorite dessert just to see me smile. You may rub my feet after a long day because you know they're tired. You may complete a tedious task I've been working on for months. That is being thoughtful.

When a person cares for you he/she will be sure to ask if you are alright. One might seek to give you things that you need. However, when a person cares for you and loves you, he/she may ask what you need but will fill in the gaps with things you may never verbally express or ask for. Accommodation works on the surface for basic needs or desires. Thoughtfulness requires a deeper sense of knowing and understanding a person.

Not everyone is merely accommodating. Likewise, not everyone is thoughtful. Don't confuse the two. Being accommodating is akin to being cordial. Being thoughtful conveys a deeper message...on purpose. Live with purpose.

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

Being Okay

Okay. I'm okay. I'll be okay. Everything is okay. These are answers to the question: How are you? No one ever really knows what "okay" means to the person saying it. Being okay isn't always what we think.

Sometimes okay means mediocre - not good, not bad, but somewhere in between. At other times okay is just a word to say instead of divulging just how bad or down a person may actually feel. You never know how someone may feel or what they may be going through.

Compassion and love are the best remedies you can offer. Never judge. Listen...truly listen. Don't give advice when it isn't really prompted or requested. Stay consistent in who you are to a person - as hard as it may be at times. Just an ear, a shoulder, a smile, a kind word or a caring spirit can help wonders when one is feeling down.

Never underestimate the power of your concern or care for another person.

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

Real Love

Everyone wants to know the meaning of love. They want to know how to find it or how to have it find them. Love isn't a thing to be chased or a goal to be reached.

Love is like a butterfly that settles onto a delicate flower. The flower doesn't try to be any more or less than the flower it is. The flower doesn't open its petals any more or spread its scent or colors any more to attract the butterfly. The flower simply exists as it was created to do. You are that flower.

Live life and appreciate your journey every step of the way...even when you may not necessarily like it. Even roses lose their petals until the season returns for them to bloom again. Love will land in your heart when you're ready for it and not a moment sooner. Be patient, flower...your butterfly is coming.

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

Daydreaming At night

Flashes of your face in sunlight.
Images of marital bliss.
Sensory overload.

Flooded with feelings I know aren't real, but are surely attached to my soul.
Feeling the comfort of a body next to mine.

Remembering the sound of love.
Reminiscing about fun times and intimate moments.

Wanting something with someone. Feeling close, yet far away.
Wanting to be awakened - only to realize...
...I was never asleep

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

Back

Sometimes looking back isn't so bad.

It isn't a bad thing to be able to look back and see someone there. It's good sometimes to be able to feel some push-back from an opposing view or decision. It's feels good to know that someone agrees with you. It's wonderful to be able to feel comfortable that you have some support. It's great to know that you have a springboard for your thoughts and ideas. Just being able to know that someone has your back is can, at times, be an indescribable feeling.

Never feel slighted, misled, stupid or anything of the like just because you take the time to look back. Sometimes it's necessary to look back so you don't forget where you came from or how far you've come. It can be extremely beneficial to look back and reflect on past hurt, pain or mistakes - even if only for your understanding of how not to make the same mistake twice. Looking back can help you to remain humble. It can help you re-focus and re-center yourself when you've lost your way in life.

Sometimes looking back isn't so bad.

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

Be Careful

We've all heard the saying "what goes around comes around". The problem is that people think this only applies to good energy or bad energy. It applies to both good and bad energy.

All of your words and actions are reflective of your heart. No matter how you may feel at a given moment, what you say or do at that moment speaks to how you feel. If you're angry and you speak out of anger, you will end up hurting someone - even if that someone is you. On the other hand, if you are full of love and you speak/act out of love you will encourage and build someone up - including yourself.

Be very careful of the energy you send out because you are responsible for it. Good or bad, it will come back to you - like it or not. Think before you act or speak. You may end up hurting or helping someone and that someone could be you.

It's beautiful to be you, simply beautiful.

New Friends

Sometimes you just have to make new friends.

There may come a time in your life when you feel stuck, stagnant or as if you are just going through the motions in life. You may be doing all you can and all you should, but for some reason the things and people around you remain the same. It's sort of like watching a scene in a movie where a set background scene is looped - for example, the outdoor scenery when a car is driving a long distance. Things around you begin to look the same and eventually become a blur.

If you feel this way and you're doing all that you should, then the problem isn't you. If you are experiencing growth and positive change in your life, but when you look around you get confused - it's time to make new friends.

When you've changed for the better and you're growing from within, that's when it's time to change outwardly. However, people, places and things in your life have weight just like the decisions you make. When that weight becomes so heavy that you can no longer enjoy the positivity within, it's time to explore your options for change. You wouldn't make the same decisions over and over despite the negative consequences every time, right? Likewise, your outward change should match your inward change.

Surround yourself with the people, places and things that support the positive change in your life. Surround yourself with bright, positive energy. When you look around and what you see doesn't line up with what you see when you look within...it's time to make new friends.

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

Your Eye

Having an artistic mind will cause you to see things differently from most people. You may see a field of grass and see it as nature's bed. Someone else will see the same field you saw and they will see it as a lot of overgrown weeds and unkempt land. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Such as the world is seen in the eye or mind of each person viewing it.

Have you ever wondered what others see when they look at you? What do you see when you look at yourself? What do you think matters more - what you see or what others see when they look at you? What others see can be used for constructive criticism and may aid you in self-improvement. However, what they see has no bearing on your happiness.

Live well. Do well unto yourself and unto others. Treat others how you wish to be treated. Never allow anyone else's view or thoughts of you infringe upon your happiness.

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

Invitations

An invitation to share a meal does not have to mean that you will be that meal. Be very aware of your surroundings - including the people, places, and the energy that may affect you. Everyone else's idea of an invitation may not be what you have in mind when you extend an invitation to someone.

Be aware and mindful of what you're being invited to - you may not want to attend.

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

Done From the Beginning

When all you can think about is what happened before, who was there before, how you felt before or how you were treated before...honey, you were done from the beginning.

In order to grasp your present and give it the chance and the power to create your future, you have to let go of your past. That in no way means that you should forget the lessons you've learned from your past. But you can't cling to your past and expect to move forward into your future. You have to make a choice. You have to decide what exactly you will hold onto.

You have to decide if you will be held hostage by past pain, past failures, past disappointments, past embarrassments or even loss. While some things are easier to let go of than others, letting go always begins with the choice and decision to do so. If you can't let go to go forward...you're already done from the beginning. Think about it.

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

Okay To Love

Snotty nose
Runny nose
Coughing
Sneezing
Fever
Aching
Itchy eyes
Watery eyes
It's okay...

Smiling
Laughing
Giggling
Blushing
Flirting
Touching
It's okay...

Hugging
Kissing
Caressing
Holding
Snuggling
Cuddling
It's okay...

Honesty
Loyalty
Respect
Kindness
Compassion
Support
It's okay...

Deceit
Jealousy
Envy
Pride
Embarrassment
It's okay...
...or is it?

It's okay to love. To love all the good and the bad, the ups and the downs - it's okay. It's okay to love all the perfect imperfections about a person...including yourself. No one is perfect. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you will be able to love yourself wholeheartedly. The sooner you love yourself wholeheartedly, the sooner someone else will be able to love you too.

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