Who are you not to be?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

― Marianne Williamson, Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

 I absolutely love this quote that was featured in the inspirational film, "Akeelah and The Bee". And it is so true! I find that I never expect people to appreciate me, to like me, to enjoy being in my presence. So when they make some small gesture that shows that they DO appreciate me, I'm rather shocked. 

The other night I was at a soccer game when a familiar face looked in my direction and waved. Assuming the wave was for someone else, I ignored them. But I soon realized that the wave was intended for me, and waved back, both ashamed and amazed. But why should I have to feel impressed when someone acknowledges me? I'm a great person! Of course they should be acknowledging me! This week, every time I find myself asking, "Who am I to be appreciated?" I'm going to say aloud ten times, "Who am I NOT to be?"

 The other part of this quote that I find profound is the final line: "And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."  Not only is this quote reminding us to be confident in ourselves, it tells us that by personally expressing confidence we are encouraging others in their own self confidence. 

So this week be sure to remember how truly special you are. Know with confidence that you are loved, cherished, treasured, appreciated, and adored. Stand up tall, put a grin on your face, and bask in the warmth of God's love.

Read life like a book

Inspired Thought...
One of my favorite past times has always been reading. I've read thousands of books: mysteries, fantasies, adventures, biographies, historical fiction, realistic fiction, nonfiction; I've read thick books, thin books, tall books, short books, red books, blue books( that one's for you Dr. Seuss!); I even enjoy the look, the feel, and the smell of books! As a writer, I even go so far as to write down excerpts of books that I like to give me ideas for my own writing. So why all this talk about books? Well, if there's one thing I've learned about reading, it is the beautiful fact that a book is the only place in the world where you can escape your life for a few minutes and share in the emotions and experiences found within the story. If you're like me, you would probably do or say something in the realm of a book that you would NEVER do in real life. That's part of the reason why I enjoy reading so much. But my challenge for you today is this: What would happen if you handled your life with the same confidence that you experience in the realm of a book? For example, in books the good guy always gets the bad guy. Well, if you know you're the "good guy", you better get started on defeating that "bad guy". Or if the princess always finds the prince of her dreams in books, maybe we can be more hopeful for our own dreams to come true. Read life like a book and become a knight in shining armor or a beautiful princess!

Inspired Action...
Remember doing roleplay as a young child? Try handling life's problems in the same way by determining who is the "good guy", who is the "bad guy", how does a situation like this usually play out in stories, and how you can defeat the "bad guy". For example, if you are suddenly diagnosed with cancer or some other illness, you would determine yourself as the "good guy" and the cancer as the "bad guy". You can be comforted by the fact that in stories, it is usually the good guy who defeats the bad guy. Ways of defeating the "bad guy" might include: chemotherapy or another treatment, getting lots of exercise, eating healthy, having strong relationships, a good faith life, etc.

Inspired Living...
By having the confidence and courage of a knight in shining armor, you are benefitting not only yourself, but others as well. If it weren't for the confidence and courage of those fighting for their country, America would not be as safe. If it weren't for the confidence and courage of those who start projects that support the poor and the homeless, many more people in the world would be suffering from poverty. Now I'm not implying that you should quit your job and join the military or start a multi-million dollar project, I'm just encouraging you to step out of your comfort zone and do a good deed for someone else. Take a deep breath and invite your newest co-worker to lunch. Roll those shoulders back and write a sympathy card to a neighbor. Yes, we owe a debt of gratitude to those who sacrifice their lives for our country, but I believe that those who perform simple, loving tasks for the benefit of others deserve our gratitude just as much.

Remembering 9/11

I just wanted to take a moment and remember all of those who died in the tragedy of 9/11. Although I don't remember much about what happened that day, I was so little, my heart grieves for those whose lives ended in the midst of what might have been an average day. I am very grateful to the firemen, police officers, and others who sacrificed themselves in rescuing other victims. I pray for the families of all of these people, that they might know God's love and feel His comforting presence surrounding them.

A "green thumb's" up for "The Odd Life of Timothy Green"

"The Odd Life of Timothy Green" is not just a children's movie. People of all ages can learn something from it and be touched by the truly magical life of Timothy Green. "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" is the story of a couple who can't have children but whose desire is so strong that their dream indeed does come true... just not in the way you'd expect. Their son came from a hole in the garden and has leaves(yes, leaves!) growing out of his ankles. Overjoyed, but somewhat mystified, the Greens welcome Timothy into their home and get him involved with school, soccer, and life as a ten-year-old. And yet, it's not just the leaves that make Timothy unique, it is the way he touches the lives of everyone he meets. Making a dying man laugh, a cranky old woman beautiful, and a very unusual girl feel confident in herself are his specialty. I highly recommend seeing this thought-provoking, moving film made for the whole family.

Create balance

Inspired Thought...
Ahh... fall. The wonderful time of year when the carefree days of summer are over and it's back to the grindstone. (In fact, it is the craziness of the season that has me neglecting to write my blog for over a month! Yikes!) But this year, I'm going to do things a little differently. I'm going to work on creating balance in my life between what needs to be done and what could wait... between what's only passing and what is constant... between what does and doesn't matter most.  I like this quote by Jessye Norman: "Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself."  This fall, I will try to focus on spending more time with my family and friends, making time if I have to, and being sure to take a moment and do something for myself each day. Also, at any time when life feels out of control, try to find the balance that does exist. For example, if I am beginning to feel impatient while waiting in line at the supermarket, I oftentimes look for a young child to observe. Seeing their peace and joy at the simplest things makes me feel as though the world is always at rest somewhere, even when I'm not.

Inspired Action...
I am a big believer in to-do lists, but it is the context of the list that gets me stressed. Why not make a to-do list that is full of positive, energizing, healthy activities that benefit you, and not your boss?!?! Give it a try! This is what my to-do list might look like for today:

• Give a loved one a bear hug and smooch
• Eat just one more chocolate-chip cookie... (Okay, maybe this isn't so healthy, but I believe in cheating every so often!)
• Take a walk and enjoy the beauty of nature
• Be a couch potato and watch a feel-good Disney movie (Not so healthy either, but I just took a walk to burn off that cookie!)
• Write in my journal
• Pray and read scripture

Inspired Living...
Be sure to encourage others around you to slow down and just live in the moment. If you see a co-worker struggling with a report, invite them to take a quick stroll with you or share in a cup of joe. If you are driving with someone who is frustrated with the traffic, gently remind them that the traffic provides a few more minutes for the two of you to chat.