Category: Inspiration

Life is Short, Focus on the Good

“Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish it.” – Unknown

Yesterday I couldn’t write. I have to admit I was a little nervous waiting to hear from my husband about the results of his medical tests. After 2 CT scans and an MRI to look at his appendix, we were playing the waiting game. The day before we has heard the sad news about Stuart Scott passing away from cancer which had started in his appendix. We really didn’t talk about it, we just waited, and I prayed. After news of colon cancer rocked our world last year, we take nothing for granted.

Very happily I can report that the tests all came back fine. An answer to prayer for sure. It is just another reminder though that life is short, and we need to cherish every minute of it.

I see so much negativity, drama, and hurt in the world. I make it a point to avoid it when I can and to be positive. Sometimes, though it is easy to get drawn in especially when someone hurts you or says something you disagree with. I have to be careful not to let it affect me. Recently, I have realized that a few things in my world do have the ability to take me down a path of bitterness if I am not aware of my reactions to what they have said or done, and my reaction to it.

We can choose how we react to a situation, and I am determined not to let the negativity of the world draw me in. Life is short, and I want to focus on the good.

All Things New

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day learning about my new job. It was a great meeting and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I know I should probably be a little nervous about the change and all of the giant goals ahead of me, but if I will be it has not hit me yet. There is so much to learn and so much to do. I am so excited about the direction of the organization and what the future holds.

Leaving your comfort zone can be difficult. I have loved the job I have had for nearly 8 years. Leaving the people and the environment I know is hard, but I also feel strongly that this was a season for all of us. I am also excited for the new director to come in and put her mark on Christian HELP.  Knowing that if God had a plan for me, He also had a plan for the organization has made it a little easier to let go.

Presentation1I keep seeing verse 43:19 from Isaiah. As I look to the future, the issues I will be working on with the team at the Commission and the community through collective impact are overwhelming. Homelessness is tragic and the wilderness needs to end for so many people who are suffering. As I drive to work each day, I pass by a homeless camp in the woods. I can see it from the road. I look forward to the day when we can offer the people who live in these tents a place to go that is more stable.

This is a new year with new challenges and new hope for the future. I am excited about what the future holds.

Letting Go…

It is not even noon and today has been a crazy day. Maybe it is because we ate chicken on New Year’s Day (a superstition), who knows.  My youngest got his driver’s license this morning, my middle child has strep- thank you Publix for free antibiotics, and my oldest is threatening to sleep in her car if her school does not fix her dorm situation. She ended up with the crazy, bully roommate who steals and breaks her stuff.

As a parent, I just want to fix everything. I want to make my daughter feel better. I want to shake someone at the school and ask them why they are acting helpless when they knew there was a big enough issue to put her in temporary housing until Dec 28. I want to be able to protect my son from crazy drivers out on the road. The lack of control I have in these situations makes me realize how much I need to let the control freak in me let go. I have actually made lots of progress on this over the years, but it still creeps up every now and then.

My husband has been a great mentor to me in this area. He has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and let me know that not every moment of my life has to have a plan, and I need to relax a bit and just let things happen on their own. As a parent, I have to let me kids succeed or fail on their own, and as a boss, I have to let my team learn and stretch so that they can grow. It is hard, but in the end it pays off.

So as a person who needs to “Let go, and let God”, the verse I am meditating on today is Proverbs 16:9 – “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

#Positive 2015

A new year has dawned on us and that symbolizes new beginnings. Like an imaginary line drawn in the sand, we are able to put old things behind us and look forward to what the future might hold.

This year for me means a new job and new challenges. I am not looking to put the old job behind me, but to build on who it has helped me to become. Rather than drawing that line in the sand, I want to cherish the good experiences and learn from the harder times. I believe it makes us better people, when we are constantly reflecting and improving.

This year my only resolution is to share more positivity. I am a positive person by nature and always strive to see the good in others and situations. This year I want to challenge myself (and you) to take it up a notch.

So for 2015, I encourage you:

To see others in a positive light- everyone has a story, try not to judge.
Be open minded- listen to someone you disagree with and try to understand their point of view.
Be present- listen intently, don’t be in a rush.
Go to places you love- for me, it is the beach.
Be with people you love- and be loving.
FORGIVE others.
Laugh more!
Give back.
Pay it forward.
Be kind to others, even when you don’t want to.

My favorite verse of scripture is Matthew 5:16- “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

This year, let your light shine a little brighter and be positive in 2015. It will help you in all of your relationship, including at work.

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