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!