Onward and Upward

 "After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." ~~~Nelson Mandela

 

So it's been quite a summer so far...full of changes, periods of transition, and uncertainty. 

I often find that during times like these, just when I start to feel like I have reached a point where I can rest and catch my breath, that's when I'm faced with another challenging situation.I've had enough experience to know that change is not a bad thing, but it is usually stressful. Change is one of those things that, by it's very nature, is designed to keep me on my toes.

It's frustrating to be presented with something that I thought had been dealt with, particularly when the situation is painful; I would much rather deal with it once, rather than having to revisit it at a later date.

One of those areas is what some may call "character defects"...those quirky, pesky little ways of reacting to a situation in a less than optimal way. 

For example, one of mine is taking things personally...things that, in reality, don't have anything to do with me. While I have gotten MUCH better in this area, every once in awhile, this little monster comes back unexpectedly to bite me...today was one of those days.

Several years ago, I would have used a situation like the one I found myself in today to berate myself; today I know that it was a crappy day and tomorrow will be better. I don't have to feel like a victim and instead, I can instead focus on all the things I have to be grateful for. Tomorrow is another day and I have another chance to do things differently. For now, I can remind myself that, fundamentally, all is well.

I think that this might be one of those lessons that will be revisited from time to time for many years to come...

just.keep.going!

That's life....

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
— Oscar Wilde

It has been awhile...sorry for my absence...I've missed you!

There have been some (good) changes in my life recently and it's taken time for me to get acclimated to less flexibility in my schedule.

Change affects people differently: some feel threatened, some feel scared, some thrive on the uncertainty of it all.

That's the thing about life...you just never know what's coming around the next corner.

Some people do everything in their power to feel "in control"...they are rarely successful. You're setting yourself up to fail...much like trying to push a boulder uphill.

Some people would rather stay in painful situations than face the unknown...this is what I imagine Wilde meant when he referred to those people who merely "exist".

I understand and empathize with both types of people, because that used to be me.

Here's what I have learned from that phase of my life:

*There are innumerable opportunities for joy and growth that you will miss if you are unwilling to venture out of your comfort zone.

*You never know what's in store for you....and you won't find out if you don't get off your rump and try something different.

*Life is not a dress rehearsal...you don't get to do a dry run to iron out all the kinks...you learn as you go and mistakes are part of the process.

*If at first you don't succeed...try something else!

*Sometimes you just have to hold your breath and jump!

My life has not been easy at times...but each painful experience was part of my journey and needed to happen to get me where I am NOW.

....and I like where I am now...it's pretty darn good.

And it's unlike anything I could have imagined when I was trying to "control" all the pieces of the puzzle.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store.....

Reborn...

"Every second chance begins with a first step." ~~~ Unknown

5.20.01...

...the day that I started my journey... although I didn't know it at the time. It's funny how one decision can change your life in unimaginable ways. I was sick and tired of the burden that my life had become and was desperate enough to try something new...to take  a step in a new direction...to shed the baggage that had been suffocating me.

As I have shared before, up until this point, I would have rather done just about anything other than make a change, but sometimes it's more painful to stay than to go and you become willing to try something different...to venture off the familiar path into the unknown...to step away from what you've always done.

5.19.01 was the day that I reached that point...and so, I took a chance and took the first step into the unknown. 

I have never regretted that decision.

Tomorrow, it will be ten years since I took that first tentative step. The last ten years have been...a ride unlike any I could have ever imagined. I am so very grateful to all the people who have guided and supported me along the way...I could never have made it to this day without you.

To all of my fellow travelers....THANK YOU!

5.20.11

Changes

"If you want your life to be a magnificent story 

Then begin by realizing that you are the author 

And everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page" 

— Mark Houlahan

It's been awhile....how are things in your world?

There are lots of (good) changes happening in my neck of the woods... sometimes when it rains, it pours. This is one of those times.

Not too long ago, I was incredibly resistant to change of any kind...even when I was in an uncomfortable or painful situation, my preference was to stay with what was familiar. In some odd way, it felt safer to me at the time.

That is no longer true.

While I can't say that I am a big fan of change now, I am willing to take the necessary steps to make improvements when I need to. What I have learned is that the sooner I become willing to release my grip on whatever I'm clinging to (job, relationship, behavior, belief) and make space for something new to enter my life, change becomes a much easier concept to embrace. That slight shift, however small it may be, is often enough to allow me to view my situation from a different perspective. It allows me to be flexible and flexibility usually leads to movement, which can often lead to change. 

At least that's how it has worked in my life.

The journey thus far has not always been smooth...in fact, it has been pretty rocky at times. But, it's remarkable what lies in store when you are willing to take risks and say "Yes!" to life...I had no idea how good it could be.

 

Dream a little dream...

"You'll see it when you believe it."
— Wayne W. Dyer

Remember when you were a child and someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? What did you say?

An astronaut?

A ballerina?

A football star?

The President?

Doctor, lawyer, scientist?

There were no limits to what you could imagine for yourself.

But childhood ends and with it, the gift of limitless possibility. We grow older, become more jaded, experience the pains of heartbreak and disappointment, and close off that lushly creative part of ourselves. We become "practical", "realistic" adults. What a shame...

Now, I'm not saying that blind innocence and naivete is a better option. What I am saying, however, is that we can miss an amazing opportunity to give ourselves permission to dream again, as we did when we were kids. How can you know if something is impossible if you don't try? How can you know what dream is "too big" if you don't go to your edge? How many times have you heard of someone who, against all odds, has done something that no one else believed was possible?

Here are just a few examples:

the Wright Brothers

Thomas Edison

Rosa Parks

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Leonardo da Vinci

Coco Chanel

Mahatma Gandhi

Madonna

Nelson Mandela

Louise Hay

Close your eyes...imagine your deepest desire...your wildest dream....got it?

Now, what's stopping you from making it come true?

Be.Here.Now.

"Nothing is worth more than this day." 
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I occasionally get stuck in my head, analyzing and obsessing on what could have been, what could be around the corner, and all the ways I could've done _______ differently (better).

I know I'm not alone in this behavior.

While I don't engage in this nearly as much as I used to (all the time), for the last few weeks, I've been indulging myself a little too much in these old habits. There are a few items on my obsession list right now; of course, I have absolutely NO control over any of them---I am well aware of that. However, that knowledge has not prevented me from obsessing about them; in fact, my pesky little brain has gotten quite creative in the way it returns to each one, after I have sworn off thinking about them. 

I know that I am letting my fears get the better of me. I am trying to maintain some control over future events that are beyond my control. Sounds crazy, huh? Yes, I know.

I was in a yoga class last week and the teacher suggested an amazingly appropriate intention for the class: staying in the moment. For a full hour, we were encouraged and reminded to stay present. Through each pose, through each breath, through each transition, our focus was to move from one individual moment to the next. 

At the end of the class, I felt incredible! I was  renewed, focused, peaceful, and best of all, had not obsessed for a full hour!

There are so many things that can make us feel overwhelmed, out of balance, or out of control; so many different manifestations of our fears can consume our thoughts and make life seem unmanageable. 
The only remedy that I have found to work consistently is to bring myself back to the present moment. Often easier said than done, but I know it works. From there, I can find gratitude, acceptance, and the ability to see the issue more realistically (not SUPER SIZE, like it seems to be when I'm obsessing).


So, here's my thought for the day: stay present. Appreciate THIS moment... then the next....and the next.
After all, THIS moment is really all there is...until the next one, right?
And in THIS moment, things are pretty darn good!

Choose again...

A belief is only a thought I keep thinking.

~~~Abraham-Hicks

Thoughts contain an amazing amount of power. There was a time when I felt that I was at the mercy of the negative, obsessive thoughts that plagued me, day in and day out. It was like being on a hamster wheel, with no escape route in sight. Held captive on this wheel, my thoughts would spin faster and faster in progressively tighter circles, until I was so wound up I thought I would burst! The irony of this situation was that the behavior had become so ingrained, that I couldn't see the insanity of it.

Thankfully, things have changed.

Now I know that the power to choose the thoughts I focus upon is mine. I learned that my perception affects everything: if I choose to focus on what's wrong or what's "lacking", then I will only be able to see the problems, not the solutions. If, on the other hand, I choose to look through the lens of gratitude and acceptance, I can appreciate the beauty, in all its forms, that surrounds me on a daily basis.

Bottom line...negative thoughts feel bad, positive ones feel good.

If I choose to dwell in negativity or pessimism, then my life looks pretty bleak and I'm no fun to be around (heck, I don't even want to be around myself!)

If I choose to look for the positive, good feeling things, life looks (and feels) pretty good.

Like attracts like.

Misery loves company.

Which do YOU choose?

Reach for a thought that feels better.

~~~Abraham-Hicks