I recently read a social media post from an unknown source that read, “…Don’t let a building confine your faith because we will never change the world by just going to church, we need to be the church.” What inspires me about this quote, is that it encourages us to take action. For me, being the church means spreading spiritual love and kindness. It is living with a servant’s heart and being helpful. It is praying for opportunities to bless those around you. It is living by faith. Now here is the contradiction… My girls and I…
I can think of so many times when one person has made a major difference in my life. Times when someone gave me an opportunity or opened the door to something I would have never thought about or envisioned; igniting my drive to reach for something greater than I had imagined. I remember when an English teacher gave me an opportunity to advance to an honors class. I thought he was crazy, but I took the opportunity. The class was a huge challenge for me, but it taught me that with hard work, I was capable academically. Another teacher provided…
Remembering during this Independence Day holiday, how proud my husband was to be an American! Italian-born, proud of his heritage, but an American. Living in Boston, engrossed in the Italian culture and heritage, it was clear to me that although this group of Italians held a strong love for their home country, they were all very proud to be Americans. After immigrating to the United States, the Italians that I have come to know and love, are hard-working people who came to America for the opportunity. They came over not knowing the language, culture, or anything about the…
This weekend I was reminded of the importance of being patient and of not being too quick to judge. I need to remind myself daily about giving people the benefit of the doubt. I am most impatient when I believe someone is fully capable of handling a job more quickly and with more passion than they are working at the time. I find myself counting backward from 10 and praying that I am able to smile and ward off any negative judgments. The use of handicapped parking spaces is another situation where I have caught myself judging people without knowing…
For those that I hold closest to my heart, there is little left unsaid, no regrets. They know what they mean to me, they know that I love them, and they know that every moment I spend with them is important. I knew when my husband was in a coma that it was my opportunity to say any last words to him, bringing closure to our time together here on earth. Oddly, I also knew in my heart that he knew everything that I felt. He knew everything I knew. He knew how much I adored him, how he made…
Finding courage is difficult and simple all at the same time. It is difficult because stepping outside one’s comfort zone and having faith that things will all work out is ambiguous and undefined. There is no guarantee that one will not fail. I have failed at so many things so many times, but for me, the key is learning from those failures. Having the courage to step out again using the information learned from past mistakes. For me, not repeating the same mistake is key. Finding courage is simple, in that I rely on my faith, but it…
What some might view as a negative transition, I choose to look at as an opportunity. I have always had faith that when one door closes another one will open with more opportunity than the last. Through numerous job changes and company closings, I am fortunate, in hindsight, to see how each roadblock became an important part of my journey. My transitions did not always result in a higher salary or higher levels of management, but always a better fit for my lifestyle at that time. There are moments when I get discouraged during transitions in my life. I quickly…
I was reminded this past weekend of both the importance of community and the effects of lack of community. All around me, there were signs of how valuable the right community can be for people. Signs of appreciation regarding the community, signs of helpfulness within the community, and signs of togetherness throughout the community. Not only did I feel a sense of community, but others were talking and writing about it also. It was a week filled with people observing the strength of the community, the benefits, and the disappointments regarding the lack of community. As I walk through the…
Appreciation, when used appropriately, is a gift. It is something we can give that costs nothing but our personal awareness. It means that we are aware of what is going on around us and within us. It means we are grateful for the positive influences in our lives. Appreciation of others is something my parents instilled in me from the beginning of their teachings. Being aware of the feelings and opinions of others has always been a high priority for my parents, it is a high priority for me, and hopefully for my children. Making others feel important and special…
I try to surround myself with people who follow through with what they say they will do; people who keep their word. “Let’s get together this summer,” is one of those catchphrases that make me smile. When I hear myself speak those words I make a mental note that I best put something on our calendar regarding my suggestion. I find it refreshing when someone follows through with their intention; I also find it a bit out of the norm. Following through on your word shows commitment and dedication. Being true to your word is important in every aspect…