Do you believe?

 My blog posting was postponed this week due to an inner turmoil of my own, ......wondering if I can follow my own advise.   In thinking over the last week, I am reminded of the movie, Maid In Manhantan where a butler states:  "To serve people takes dignity and intelligence.  Although we serve people, we are not their servants.  What we do does not define what we are.  What defines us is how well we rise after falling." So..... I have contemplated over the situation and have decided to rise as high as I possibly can.... because when we believe in ourselves, we have the first secret of success.  I believe in what I do......  I believe in the people..... I believe! What about you?  Do you believe?

Inner Turmoil

This week I have encountered a few dear and close friends fighting a monster known as "Inner Turmoil".  The monster is difficult to calm as we feed it through helplessness, doubt, uncertainty, and guilt.  I sympathize because I have been there so many times, but I am not sure I have any words of wisdom to share.

When we have something in our life that is no longer,  (even if we do not like it)  it is a disapperance of something  that was once alive, vibrant, and unique. Now there is nothing but empty space which creates a cold void.  Our emotions are of a mix..... sad for the cold void, but not really missing the "thing" personally. It is like having an ugly chair in your living quarters.  You hate the chair but when you rid the demon from the room, you miss something in the space.  It has left a cold void in your room.  Sometime the inner turmoil will not leave until you orchestrate the closure of the empty space.....move furniture, buy a new chair, or realize the change of an empty space is perfect.

"Change is the fundamental building block of the human experience." (Rex Allen)

What fuels you?

One question most asked of me is, "How can you do what you do day after day?"  My answer is simple and one I will share before ending this blog.  First,  I worked for years in an occupation I was told by counselors that I would be successful in.  It did not occur to me that perhaps I was destined for other things.  Because I was brought up to be the best of whatever I chose, I worked hard to be a high producing and efficient employee.  However, I found my energy depleted, depression visited frequently, and negativity was my co-pilot.  There were days when I would sit in the parking lot physically ill just thinking about venturing inside.  

Thanks to someone who knew me better than I knew myself, I was given an opportunity to change careers. Valuable lessons were learned.  I found I could continue my education no matter what the age.  I found I could enjoy going to work each morning.  I found I was not a negative person but one of encouragement.   I learned that there are other choices for us which can improve quality of life by just being content and happy.  I learned I could be a balcony person.

So... the answer to the question is:
When a person loves what they do, that love naturally fuels the energy. That energy fuels a passion which in turn enables us to do what we do day after day and love it. 

What fuels you?

Years in Review

Yesterday while sorting through some items, I found my high school year book.  Of course, I had to take a break and read all the notes others had not so carefully written in the book. It surprised me to realize that people see me differently than I see myself, even many years later.  Those notes were amazing.  My plans were to  go West to California to be a beach bum and surf.   I do remember being quite impressed with the Beach Boys and envying their free life style.  However, apparently it never occurred to me that I did not swim nor like extreme heat.   I sat in "My Room"  for a while thinking about how fragile life was and how our plans can change in a fraction of a second. Some of my classmates have died, some have wasted away with drugs or alcohol, others who you least expected have become the masterminds of the world. As for me?  I am just me, and I did go west..... 8 whole miles.  In that 8 miles I .... revisited lessons taught,  explored new paths, strengthened relationships, met new acquaintances, raised a family, completed an education, sought adventures, experienced life's difficult times, and changed careers.  Although none of these were in my plan, they evidentally were in God's plan for me.  Life has proven to be rich in many ways, and I have no regrets.   So... For all those seeking hope, questioning a chosen path, or needing support, turn to your greater being who will always provide the answers.

Question of the day:  Who is the real me?  The me that other people see or the me I see?  How do you see yourself?