Signals and signs grow fuzzy, it is time to refocus. I envision this great plan and a path that is clear but the noise overtakes my ability to concentrate. How do I stop the noise in my head? As the noise increases so do my stress and anxiety. How do I reset and focus on Jesus? All the noise is telling me this is my dream job; but as I refocus, my direction is clear. As I refocus on Jesus the pit in my stomach is clearly telling me, to be patient, this is not the one. If the pit…
I am referring to that voice inside us that tries to take us off track, tries to take us to a place of evil rather than joy. I have witnessed varying degrees of depression yet always feel like there is so much more to learn. What I have learned from many of my close friends and family is that it is a battle that is fought daily. It is a choice made daily to choose joy and to have hope. Working through those negative voices inside our heads reaching for something greater, blocking out the negativity. Reaching out in faith…
Few of us imagined that life would be like it is right now. Who would’ve thought we would be living in a world of social distancing, life without seeing facial expressions, greeting someone with no contact, and being quarantined from some of those we love? The element of change is always around us, but sometimes change is much more significant, more than we imagined. Years ago I remember a teacher nearing retirement telling me, “I feel so bad that you’re going into education now because it has changed so much. Student behavior is so much more difficult and…
I use prayer abundantly and rely on my faith: here is a glimpse into the humiliation and love I was exposed to recently. I found myself in a situation that was extremely awkward for myself, for those around me, and for the person who appeared to be losing self-esteem, self-confidence, and pride. It was one of those situations where I felt quite helpless regarding how to assist in the situation and yet so uneasy about the tone of what was going on around me. I arrived near the end of what transpired, so I can only imagine what…
As I watched the streaming of Hamilton, one particular line stood out to me. The line was “Talk less, smile more.” Although the perfect line for the play, what came to my mind was “Talk less, listen more.” Listen to gain an understanding I listen to others so I can understand what people are going through and so that I can learn from their experiences. Listening is simple, but not always easy. I enjoy learning about what is important to those around me and have a listening ear when one needs to vent. The challenging part comes with all the…
If I don’t believe what I can see, how do I believe what I can’t see? I observe people not believing in themselves, not believing that they are beautiful, not believing that they are smart, and not believing that they can accomplish great things. I see people who have lost weight look into the mirror and not see that they have lost anything despite the fact that the scale is evidence of success. I have witnessed gorgeous people of all shapes and sizes look into the mirror and not believe that they are beautiful. I know people who…
When I think about my unconditional friends, I am referring to people that under any circumstance I feel comfortable reaching out to them personally or by phone. There are no judgments made and no questions asked, simply someone who will listen. Not only do they listen, but they are confidential and offer constructive responses when appropriate. It always surprises me that these unconditional friends are not necessarily people that I am around daily or even that I think about on a regular basis. I can count on them at all costs. I have confidence in the person and their value…
My daughter was spontaneously asked to describe her family in one word; she chose the word “chill” which I will redefine as peaceful. What she doesn’t know is that I work at maintaining a life that allows us as a family to “chill.” That allows us in this busy world to take the time to recharge the body and mind. Rest is, of course, a component of our relaxing environment, but none of us require an excess of sleep. My children rarely took naps when they were young. For our family, our home is a place to recharge. Not…
In my opinion, one of the most difficult things to do is to let go of control. To let go of accomplishing my dreams, and my way, and allow myself to trust in faith that my intended path will take me to far greater places. I know that I have to be willing to let go of my specific wants and dreams to be blessed with far more than I ever could imagine. I don’t feel as though I have given up on my dreams. I altered my dreams, walked in faith down paths that I would not have…
A true friend is something to be cherished. To me, it is a friend who doesn’t require anything of you. A person who loves you for who you are not who they want you to become. Someone who is there for the celebrations and is happy for you, and is there for the disappointments and is willing to listen. My children have asked me, “Who’s your best friend?” The term best friend is hard for me to define. But I certainly know my true friends. It is my hope that my true friends know that friendship is reciprocal…