Tag Archives: positive influence

Never Give Up…

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…on your dreams

Winter Lights

Recently I heard, “You’re living the dream.” Somehow the statement didn’t ring true for me. Living the dream implies a perfect life with no problems or concerns; and I don’t live a perfect life. In fact, I know no one who does, and my experience has proven that talking about the negative aspects of life doesn’t do much to improve the situation. As I pondered the statement, I realized if I changed the proclamation to “I’m living my dreams” I resonated with this view. My current reality involves seeing many of my old dreams happening. This reality didn’t happen overnight, nor did it happen on my time-schedule. In fact, much of my reality holds dreams I’ve carried for decades upon decades; some are dreams I’d previously abandoned; put on the shelf or assumed I could never accomplish.

I’m astonished when I look back and remember the birth of these dreams and realize they are now part of my life. Those thoughts cause me to smile. Then I overhear people say they have stopped dreaming, and it makes my heart sad. I’ve learned some things require more time to percolate before they come to fruition; some things require more work or effort; and then there’re the elements which come together because of a blessing or gift being bestowed upon you. Those things that are passions within your heart and mind are frequently the things that make your heart beat quicker; they put a bounce in your step; a smile on your face; and are often the things that allow you to realize your life impacts others.

You may have been created to fulfill those aspirations. Hold tight to the ability to dream. Recognize you may need to refine some of your desires or think in a larger time frame. But don’t give up on having dreams.

Are you holding dreams in your heart? Do you have people in your life who encourage you to dream?

 

Work alone, but not really alone…

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Because we write alone, learning to share one’s work is a big step. Taking the risk, has big payoffs.
This was last night’s Carbondale Writer’s Group. Each one of us has a totally different writing style. One never knows who will be there. I find the encouragement, support and energy of the Carbondale Writer’s Group to be a huge blessing.20170814_200314

Think About It…

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I won’t be here forever.

None of us will.

When you reflect on that fact, what do you think about?

I know I’ll be in a better place, so I’m not worried about me.

However, I spend a fair amount of time thinking about what that will mean for others. Probably since I was in my 40’s I’ve tried to make it my goal to ‘make memories’ with others. Besides ‘stuff’, which may or may not be of value to anyone else, I feel memories are the only thing I can leave behind which will make a potential difference in one’s life.

I think about those I’ve lost in my life. The ones I think fondly of were those with whom I shared good memories. Others, well, I was able to perform the necessary functions required at the time, but their loss was not much of a loss to me.

There will always be ‘givers’ and ‘takers’ in life, but the creation of memories only happens when each party is contributing, shares in the other’s joys and sometimes sorrows; each party wants happiness for the other. These memories may not always be about happy times. With one you truly love and are invested in, there may be times when one of you is struggling with something. In a deep relationship, even during those times you make memories with the other person by being loving, supportive and caring for them.

I want my life to be about making memories! Memories that will leave people thinking fondly of me, either when we part for a time or when eternity arrives for one of us.

I struggle with how to pass this understanding on to my children. I want my time spent, whether talking with or being together, to be about building understanding for each other and making memories. I enjoy thinking of the successes they have shared with me. I pray for the concerns they have. I love it when we are planning a future get-together or event and each of us is involved in the process.

Instead, I sometimes find conversations that feel like obligations, words with no real connection. It hurts and leaves me feeling empty. Are those the memories they will have of me? If so, I fear I have failed at what is most important to me.

Could we make the world a better place…..

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Could we make the world a little better if we thought of others and spoke of them in the following way?

Today someone asked me if I liked you. I laughed, and I said, “Ha! That’s funny!! I absolutely LOVE that woman!! She’s funny, caring, crazy as heck, sweet, beautiful, she’s reading this right now & I love her!!”

Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says, “Oh Crap, She’s up!”

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” -C.S. Lewis

This is another message I have received from several sources. It made me feel good and smile. I share it, hoping the ideas might motivate you to think about how you speak of others.

 

Half full or half empty. You decide….

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glass_half

I saw this on our son’s refrigerator. I think it solves the debate of if the glass is half full or half empty. For me, I always thought my glass was half full. I appreciate this changed perspective! My glass is full! This leaves me free to simply keep filling my mind with positive, encouraging, loving thoughts — and leaves no room for the negative things that attempt to creep into our minds. I hope this will challenge you to think about your life and thoughts.

Time Flies, like sand through the hourglass…..

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I’ve been thinking a lot about time. I cannot believe how quickly it slips past us. I have a grandson graduating from high school, a granddaughter getting her temps, a daughter who turned 35 this month.  …and this year is almost half gone. Where does the time go? Earlier this week I joked and said, “I think the time flies so quickly here because of the higher altitude and reduced oxygen.”

I would like some excuse for how quickly time passes. Yet knowing the ‘sands of time’ are slipping through the hourglass remind me how important it is for me to make the most of each day I live. I want my life to be a positive influence on those I come in contact with and I don’t want to take anything or anyone for granted. Like most people, my list of things I want to do is long. I don’t want to think, someday I’ll do that. My hourglass at best, only has about half the sand left. I try to balance my time between the things I want to do. Some days I feel I handle that much better than other days.

How do you handle the things you desire to do with the knowledge you only have so much time?