From this day forward

We tend to find the time to tell ourselves we’ve messed up, told ourselves we’re not doing things good enough, even that we’ve failed. We think telling ourselves this will help us to become better people from this day forward.

The truth is that we can only do our best in every day, every moment we’ve got. There are no guarantees, none. We make choices based on our needs and desires. Sometimes we hope for something better, seeking it out diligently.

I looked at my life recently and wondered about what I didn’t accomplish. I am still working for the corporation and not for myself. That’s something I’ve been seeking for about 20 years. This thought of just now far I haven’t gotten used to upset me from time to time; however, the thought of regret or whatever else goes along with looking back won’t change where I am today.

I am still in the converted school bus and not in a conventional house. This bothered me even more because I’ve been working full time for the past several years and figured I’d be much more “social status advanced” for my age.

I can’t fix these things in the current situation any more than I’ve tried. I can’t make things better by getting upset that they aren’t better. I can only work with what I have in today. I can only be creative and brave in what I’ve got today.

I am still working on these things and believe they will become awesome, blessing manifestations in my life at some point, yes. Will I look back and say anything was wasted, foolish, misguided? No. I will not. These things and others are ones I am hopeful to happen in my life. I trust that. I will anticipate it happening in divine timing. I will even pray for the divine timing of them. I will sit in peace and grace.

I will also do my best in every day, from this day forward, and leave the guilt vibes where they lay.

Life is not 100% going right

I don’t see where anyone’s life is 100% going right. We’re supposed to work on ourselves, help each other, and learn things while we’re here.

We are supposed to grow as individual human beings, yet also be a contributor to society or the environment in some way. Some of us look at life as if having more money would make things better. On some level, sure, it will, but will you be the same person as before? Will you suddenly have relatives needing your time, attention, and money? Would you give to others? Would you set yourself up nicely and say your payday has come?

I am not trying to sway you or myself from money. I’d love more of it, just like many of you. I am saying that blessings come in many forms, worries come in many forms, and that fabulous house you see in that exclusive neighborhood is filled with people having problems just like you.

The problems may not be the same. They are definitely paying their light bill every month and their roofs probably don’t leak, but maybe they don’t really have deep, loving relationships with the other people in the household.

This is why I suggest you look at your life and find the blessings already in it. There are fabulous things going on and your world is shining brighter in some areas than other people’s.

I can tell you I have great relationships with my children. It’s something I’ve actively tried to create. My husband loves me and is my biggest cheerleader. My relationships with other people is varied.

People look at my life, family members even, and think I am not helping myself because I live in a converted school bus and not a proper house. So, I can tell you, I clearly don’t have all of my ducks in a row and it shows.

I know people who live in proper houses, beautiful ones, who struggle with personal relationships with their spouse/children. I know people who are perfectly healthy, yet are extremely rude. I know people who are unwell, yet always polite.

Check in with your life, see what you have that’s shining and awesome, be proud of that. Work on the other things too, sure, but don’t let them bog you down.

I love using analogies to explain in ways that don’t really involve people. This is because, I think, people don’t have to feel defensive or attack…they just have to catch the relation.

So, here’s my analogy, cooking! Some people are expert bakers. Some can cook the main course with ease, some can only make frozen cookie dough cookies, some can’t do anything in the kitchen. Does that make what you can do any less than what someone else can? No. Does that make your talent better than another person’s talent in the kitchen? No. What it shows is that we’re all different and if you have the right people with the right strengths in that kitchen, you can have a fine meal! The person who couldn’t cook at all, maybe they’re setting the table or giving you encouragement/comfort about something you’re going through.

Everyone is working on something and if they’re not, then I am almost positive they’re lacking in some way that they’d like improvement on, but they’re ignoring it. What are you feeling like you’d like to work on? What is going on in your life that’s fabulous? Always look at your positives, they are your assets and the benefits are usually win-wins.

Time….

Time is an interesting and important part of life. People ask you, “How are you spending your time?” You tell them how you’re taking care of the household chores, the children, your partner, and working to make a living. That’s a fair response and one most people say, even I do.

That’s just the surface routine of time. It’s how you fill your days, weeks, months, years. So, what am I wanting to say about time that’s different? I want you to understand the value of time. It’s something I’ve come to see in my own life over the past couple of years and it’s vitally important.

Do you deeply feel the moment you’re in? I may have posted about this before. I really do feel strongly about it though.

I’ve come to appreciate my youngest child’s laughter. I feel my husband’s presence while sitting beside him. I appreciate the perfect weather days. I feel the depth of my blessings.

Okay, so, what does that have to do with time? Well, the depth of your feelings will give you a richer life. By feeling your life in this way, you create much more than a passing connection. When “time” shifts something, say a child moving into their own place, a parent or partner passing away, a baby born to a short life, or any other experiences that speak of connecting…when time shifts something, you can say you valued the time you were given. You valued. You lived it in depth. You felt the blessing and goodness and love you are/were given. That’s powerful.

As you go through the routine of your day, notice who you’re with…their presence, their love, their added value to your life. Notice it with a depth down to your soul. It will truly make a difference in the kind of life you’re living.

Time doesn’t say, “You can have him/her for just one more week. Cram all of what you want to feel, love, and say within that week.” Sometimes time warns you about the limits you’re about to have, most often not. Time asks you to appreciate the moment you’re in at this very breath you’re taking. Time says, “Did you hear that laughter? Did you hug that person with a big hug? Did you speak about how you truly feel? Were you brave enough to go after your dreams? Did you value YOURSELF as a key person making a difference by living your life?” Time says, “Live and feel in the NOW.”

Affirmations and Gratitude

I’m in a woman’s business networking group. It’s always interesting to see what comes out over there and allows me to use my creative thinking abilities. The other day a lady asked about what we’d like in a planner. Several ideas were tossed around and the idea of a daily affirmation and a daily blessing were ones I really like.

I’ve tried to journal several times over the years…to get closer to God, to write down specifics in what I want in my life, to get out my frustrations. Sometimes it’s helpful and sometimes I don’t touch that paper for months. Obviously, consistency here isn’t my best point.

I do like the idea of the daily affirmation and daily blessing though. It would work for a journal, a planner, or maybe even a dry-erase board displayed nearby. By feeding the mind daily of something good in your life, and blessings do come in all sizes, you keep your vibe elevated a little higher than just going through the routine of the day and feeling like you’ve accomplished nothing or you didn’t fully embrace the blessing you were in. These little bits remind us of the awesome parts of our days. I believe every day is an awesome day in some way.

Prayers, what do you pray for?

Sometimes I pray for a nice day. I’m not asking for anything, being needy, or think my world would be so much better “if only”. Sometimes it’s good to be thankful, to ask God for a day of “okay” and appreciate it.

We, a lot of times, overthink our “neediness”. I’m one to do that sometimes. However, by doing so, we frustrate ourselves in the blessings of today. I know I’m like, “God, please…I need this or that and there has to be a solution immediately.” I frustrate myself when I pray like that. It causes me to not enjoy the moment I’m in or maybe appreciate a blessing that’s happening right as I’m working myself into a frenzy of impatience.

Maybe you’ll tell me, but April, “There’s lots in my life that needs fixing.” I will tell you, “There’s lots in my life that needs fixing too. No one’s life will ever be completely 100% right. It isn’t about that. It’s about enjoying what you’re blessed with and living in the moment you’re in.” I assure you, some things that aren’t right will be made right in time, in God’s time. Trust that. Live as though all of your needs are being met, because they are.

Are you thankful for blessings you may not even see?

Last night I was praying my usual bits and it came to mind to be thankful for the blessings I may not see. This is something I do realize from time to time and wanted to pass along to you.

I know timing is everything and sometimes we’re at the right place at the right time without even realizing beforehand of the blessing that would arrive. You may come across a friend you needed to speak to while looking for something at a particular shopping store. You may have seen and spoken to one of your favorite cashiers while buying milk at the local grocery.

You could get an unexpected visit from someone you love later on in a day you thought was routine and ordinary. This happens from time to time to us. Yesterday we got a phone call and a visit. It was a blessing we didn’t anticipate.

Maybe you decide to go a different way to somewhere to do something out of your normal routine. Because you did that, you may have found something for sale you’d been looking for. Maybe you’ve avoided traffic. Doing something different, even being intuitively nudged to do so, doesn’t always show you the blessing you’re getting in there. This can be a little tricky if you’re a person that must always, always know the why.

I’ve listed some suggestions here, but there are probably lots more ways we don’t see what we’re being given. On that reminder, I will now add thanks for blessings I don’t see.

Notice and feel even the small blessings!

I was writing to a friend this morning, mentioning to her a blessing/breakthrough I’d had for something we’d discussed. I wanted her to know a good turn had happened for my family and to celebrate that.

The blessing wasn’t huge in how people probably view huge blessings, but it really was huge for us. Things aligned in such a way as to create a bit of ease where there wasn’t any. I did have a feeling we were on a better track this time, but it was also not the most confident of tracks for us based on past versions.

That’s interesting. While this post is about noticing the small blessings and really feeling them for what they are, it also, just now, reminded me how nervous I was about going down a rickety track again…even with new circumstances. The signs were there of something different, but I was nervous about it all the same. There was nothing to do but go forward though and this time through it became a good turn blessing.

I guess you get a two-fold post today. Notice the small blessings and really feel them just as awesome as they are, all the way down to your soul. 🙂 Also, try going down a track you still need a solution for again. Yes, you may have doubts and feel unsettled about even trying, but if the signs are there in a clear way, go forth…trusting it’s now the divine time to give you a blessing in that regard. Then, go back to the previous statement, “Notice the small blessings….” 😀 Cheers!

“What goes around, comes around.”

I was doing a small two color reading today and those words came to mind as part of it. As I typed those words, it came to mind that we’re usually telling others that. We usually say something like, “Well, what goes around comes around.”, when speaking about another person. What if those words also meant how we speak about ourselves and our own lives?

What if the notion of speaking of yourself in any way is how you are creating your life? I know I talk about these things, but what about this aspect? We sometimes think we’re not worthy, tell ourselves we messed up, or find some other excuse not to move forward with bravery for our desires/dreams/manifesting in our own lives or some other way of not speaking ourselves in a forward vibe.

Somehow this phrase struck me in a deep way about myself. I must really stop those moments when I think I’m not going to get anywhere in my life or those thoughts that I can’t find the right road or those thoughts that limit my own self by some appearance flaw or shortcoming like thinking my hearing impairment will be a factor in me not getting anywhere. Any of these thoughts…others of the same caliber…however you tell yourself is the reason for not getting forward.

What if you stopped saying that and started saying something different. What if you said, “God can show me how to make a difference in my life and others’ lives being as I am…flaws and all.” Or saying, “There is always potential in every day for opportunities and the upleveling of my life.” Or, “Everyone struggles with something. I won’t speak to myself of what troubles me, but rather to speak of the blessings and possibilities that are at hand at any given moment.”

On this whole planet of people, you’re unique in so many ways, it’s amazing! Own that! Shine in that! Cheers!!

Blessings come in many sizes

People pray for big solutions for their problems. I’m one of them. Some solutions happen bit-by-bit though, in small ways. Some solutions do happen in big moments and those are great of course. Even so, I don’t want you to miss out on any size blessing.

I need the remainder of my teeth pulled. It’s time and I was wondering when I was going to get brave enough to call somewhere. lol The other day I get a letter in the mail saying I can get services done at an office I used many years ago and actually like. It was just a random publicity letter from that company, but for me personally, it was a sign. I will call.

There were times we’d taken steps to renovate a house on this land. One blessing in the midst of that was flowers growing along a path in the yard where they had never grown before. It was just one year, but it happened right at the moment of that particular small change in that area of the property. I consider it a huge blessing and sign.

I have to get out of the house for some things, like many of us do, and am not always excited about it. I figure I’ll just go do it and come right back to my house sanctuary. While I am actually out and about, several times, I have come across some dear friend of mine. These are women who are always good for an uplifting word. It is a pleasure to see each of them and I hope the same of seeing me. This small coinciding of people may seem like a random thing, but I consider it a touch of blessing as each connecting moment raised my vibe and sometimes I needed my vibe raising.

A new person coming into your life who really gets you and speaks up on your behalf. I realized yesterday just how awesome this particular blessing is to me. I have long been considered the “odd sheep” who just doesn’t have my life together and is “doing it all wrong” per the family “requirements”. Maybe you’ve experienced this? Maybe you know someone else in your family who has experienced this? Maybe you simply understand? It is really nice to SEE this blessing that isn’t really mine in the sense that I’m not the reason she’s in the fold, but it’s nice to experience the ripple effect of this blessing I guess I can say, and have a cheerleader on my side within the family. Powerful. Awesome. A blessing indeed, many times over apparently.