One Door Closes . . .

We have all had at least one of those experiences in life when you have your sights set so emphatically on one door to open for you. We sit daily, staring at that door, willing the knob to turn, the hinges to creak, the slightest bit of light to seep through as it swings open for us. Sometimes, though, that door is just not meant for us. It is a pathway that is best left closed - or perhaps there is another entrance to that path from another hallway.

We tend to get all muddled up in the fact that this door won't open. Why are we shut off? Why are we not allowed? What did we do? What didn't we do? Why can't I have the key?

Sometimes, however, the best possible thing we can do is to actually find the door that already stands ajar and walk that way. You never really know where that entrance may lead you. You may traverse an entirely new space and realize that THIS was where you were meant to be all along. You may find that this new open avenue leads you to a far more expansive opportunity. You may find that this course is not as bumpy, stressful, and anxiety-ridden as sitting and waiting for that first door to open.

Do not become so fixated on one closed door that you do not see the open one across the room. For that matter, try a window! You never really know which outlet will provide you with the most beneficial path. That first tentative step, in faith, may lead to magical things beyond your initial anticipation.

Believe and Inquire

Yesterday I started a new job. I was, admittedly, a little nervous.

When I started my last job in retail, I began on Black Friday. Nothing like throwing the newbie to the wolves, right?

Yesterday was not really too different. I was learning something I've never done before - on one of their busiest days of the week. With the minute exclusion of about 20 minutes to eat lunch, I was never without a customer. It was a little nutty. I had to ask questions, get help, was continually learning, and then . . . it was time to go home.

I made it!

I was anxious about setting foot on unchartered territory. I walked in, set myself up, and let 'er rip! I was either going to sink or swim. Well, I may not have been very Phelps-esque, but I certainly didn't end up all bloated in the bottom of the pool. I got a smathering of compliments from my co-workers and really kind of enjoyed myself. There is still much to learn and do, but I did not crumble under the weight of a new task, in a new place, alone.

The point?

It doesn't matter what you're faced with, where you are, or who you're with. What matters is that you humble yourself enough to learn, absorb what is being taught, and persist! This applies to absolutely EVERY thing!

EVERYTHING!!!

Your belief in yourself and the ability to inquire are two of the most important skills you will ever possess. Armed with those tools, you are captain of your ship. You may not always find calm waters, but you have the prowess to sail on.

The Art of Conversation

Over the years, I do believe I have grown as a communicator.

When we are young, we shout out our omnipotence to anyone within range. I think, mostly, simply because we can shout. Certainly NOT because we know everything!

As we age into adulthood, we realize that we actually have to communicate with people. We cannot just force our words into their ears. If we do not take the time to listen, or take the time to properly and carefully choose our words, folks will tune us out as easily as they do the fluff pieces in the news.

When we have children, they truly teach us to pay attention. Those little voices don't always know quite how to express their thoughts so not only do we have to focus, but we have to learn to decipher what it means. It's a wonderful experience.

I wish more folks would take the time to truly listen. My mom used to say, "You have two ears and one mouth. Think about it!" Of course, she is my favorite quoter, but I do believe this quote, from Stephen Covey, truly drives the point home.

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand;
they listen with the intent to reply."

This phrase completely encompasses today's society. You can have your own opinion, but if it does not correlate with the person you're talking to, they seem to only talk louder and you have lost track of everything they've said because you want to jump in and rebuke it all. What happened to talking to one another? What happened to being interested in one another? What happened to caring about one another?

With the threat of having funding cut to the arts, let's revive one that really doesn't cost anything . . .

The Art of Conversation.

Yoooooo Adrianne!

When I come across quotes like this, I always think of Sylvester Stallone and the "Rocky" movies. Maybe I am dating my old self, but at the time, Rocky was a very uplifting movie and served many purposes as a motivational movie. Don't you still want to run up a giant flight of concrete stairs when you hear that music?

I must thank Sharin for bringing this quote to the forefront for me! Thank you!

And here it is:

The TASK ahead of you, is never as great as the POWER within you.

Some folks will go their entire lives and never really 'get' this. I could serve as the poster child for this in the "Book of Quotes". I have learned this lesson over and over and over again. I try to impress this logic into the lives of as many folks as I possibly can. I think it is vitally importance for one's existence and survival.

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you can do great things, you can.
The choice is yours to make.
The power is always within you.

Have at it! Keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!

Square Peg. Round Hole.

How many times have you tried to shove a square peg in a round hole?

It just doesn't work.

The more we work and fret and force things to happen in OUR timely fashion, the longer the outcome usually takes and, more times than not, it is nothing like what we had hoped it to be.

We must learn to relax. We learn to travel, on faith, that if we listen to that little voice in our head (and in our heart), we will get where we are supposed to go, in the manner we're supposed to get there, in the time frame meant for reaching our desired destination.

Usually, when we attempt to "make" things happen, we dilute the process. We weaken the bridge we need to travel, and we alter the course altogether. Far too frequently, we neglect to walk in sync with what we know is right.

Do not become discouraged when things get messy. It is often when you are at your wit's end that you find the answers you are seeking. When you are so near to giving up that a simple, single ray of sunshine leads you where you ought to be. When you have all but given up hope, that a helping hand reaches into your murk and lifts you to your feet.

Don't be a square peg.

Ch-Angel 'round the corner

Most of us walk blindly through each day just trying to make it to bed time safely without any extraordinary events wreaking havoc before then. We arise, eat, work, eat, work, eat, play, relax, sleep, repeat. We try to do the right thing and make a little positive difference in our own little corner of this crazy world. It's a decent existence. Most are happy to spread a little cheer and provide a random act of kindness here and there. Rarely do we get a glimpse as to how we're seen by others.

I was blessed with this experience just a few days ago while visiting a wonderful friend and her scrumptious little baby boy. A Ch-Angel beyond explanation, this woman is absolutely outstanding. She has endured tremendous hardship and struggle and still beams with a smile that would brighten the darkest recesses on earth. Her faith and her frivolity with life astounds me to no end. She has allowed the blessing of her beautiful boy to uplift and buoy her through every little trial that comes her way. She is gracious and kind and beautiful . . . inside and out. She holds within her a fire that warms and comforts those who come within a room's distance. She remains strong and confident, even while questioning what she's doing. She's brilliant and I feel honored to merely be mentioned as her friend.

What was so befuddling to me, though, on this particular visit was her description of me. Like I said, most of us just bumble our way through our lives, trying to simply do the right thing and be a good example. She blabbered on and on about me being so strong and amazing. I was dumbfounded. Me? Surely, she must need glasses or therapy. But she continued on with positive statements and compliments. It was most humbling to realize that someone viewed me in this manner. I had no idea. I was just trying to reach bed time.

What her little speech did was to make me realize that maybe I have succeeded in making a difference. Maybe I, in some small way, have been able to emulate all the things I feel about her. Maybe, it is in surrounding myself with folks I want to be like, I have started to better myself.

Thanks, my Ch-Angel Jess! You are amazing! You inspire me! You delight me! You lift me up and push me to be more! Thanks for being you and for being here.

My Ch-Angel 'round the corner!

Go Bloom!

Sometimes you read things and there's that brilliant bright light bulb that literally goes off over your head, like you're a cartoon of some sort that was shown some amazing tidbit of enlightenment. Yesterday was a day like that and the quote below was what beamed at me.

No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself;
you are its custodian and entrance.
No one else can see the world the way you see it.
No one else can feel your life the way you feel it.
Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground.
When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy into your consciousness;
it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.

~ John O'Donohue

I don't think I like the negative ending, but everything before it so very true. I think I would rather end it with something like . . .

Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground.
Compare yourself to no one.
You are your own extraordinary garden.
Surround yourself with sunshine, good earth, and a little rain.
Bloom as only you can.
You are beautiful.

Yeah . . . I like that better!

Go Bloom!