Don't let the moment be over before it's over...

I've spent the last 2 1/2 years going through an internal transformational phase "working on myself".  I've finally come to a realization that much of what I allowed in my life was nonessential.  Now, today, December 13, 2014 there is still much I have to learn but what I have learned and am in the process of learning I will share with you.

Opera's book "What I Know For Sure" starts with a story about how she wanted to tour with Tina Turner and when she had the opportunity she was a little insecure about dancing on stage.  It took her a second to realize that the moment was about to be over and so she enjoyed what was left of it completely.  Soon after she received a gift from Maya Angelou - a CD of a song by Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance.  When I read that I could hardly contain my tears because 8 years ago my aunt Vicky mailed me a book based on this exact song when I was going through my 2nd battle against Cancer.

I am until this day learning how to dance everyday of my life.  I have come to a realization that at the end of our days the memories that we made with our loved ones are the ones that will matter.  I am learning to look at myself in the mirror fully not just on the outside but on the inside.  Our inside is what counts but the tricky part is not just looking, but accepting and be willing to change what we know is wrong. 

I am not near perfect but I refuse to give up.  I refuse to give up because I know that I want to be able to stare at death in the face and say "bring it on" because I've lived a full life, I've helped people around the world, I've raised my children, I've inspired, I've laughed until my face hurt, I've cried out of pure joy, I've danced every day of my life.  And for those moments I will not give up.

There is much to do my friends.  Come, make every moment count... Join us in this wonderful thing called LIFE.

From my heart to yours,
LRP

Life Happens

Ever heard the expression "life happens"? 
 

As your life is "happening" stop and ask yourself this question,  AM I HAPPY?   If you know in your heart of hearts that there is more out there, if you feel it in your gut... stop and recognize that it's your purpose yelling at you to wake the heck up!
 

John Maxwell says that often it's the little things that we allow to consume our lives.   We get so "busy" that we become busy bodies.   Ever heard of that?   You're basically going through life being efficiently busy.   You might think that efficient is good,  don't get me wrong because it is, however  what good is it to be efficient when you're not effective?

Here's my point, LIFE IS GRAND. I'd like for you to give it a try.   I'd like for you to stop with the routine.   I'd like for you to stop hiding.   I'd like for you to start developing your purpose.

It's ok to start simple.   Do some brainstorming first.   Sit down and create a spider outline of the things that make you happy.   From there break each one down.   Don't be generic!  Reach down into the depths of your soul and think about the happiest moments of your life.  Then make a separate spider outline with the things that move you.   The things in this world that make you boil inside.   The things that you wish you could change.   The things that ignite your fire.  Then look at the two lists and connect them.   Chances are that your purpose,  your calling, will jump out at you instantly.  
 

Here's the thing,  you already know what your purpose is,  you just forgot.   So remind yourself and start doing what it takes to get closer to living out your purpose!

Going through the motions of life without living with purpose is like saving tons of money to enjoy a the trip of a life time, packing your bags,  being on a plane for 18 hours, just to arrive to never leave the airport because you immediately catch the next plane back home.

Enjoy that $100,000 vacation you planned!   Keep going,  don't stop and more certainly DON'T EVER GIVE UP!
 

 

 

From my heart to yours,

LRP

Mediocrity

 

Do IT

Waste

What a waste to have been gifted with a talent and refuse to use it.

What a waste to have knowledge and refuse to share it.

What a waste to have something that someone needs and refuse to offer it.

What a waste to have been blessed but refuse to be a blessing for others.

What a waste to receive love but refuse to love in return.

What a waste when your heart tugs at you to perform a good deed and we ignore it.

What a waste when the whole day passes without doing something selfless.

What a waste when we don’t smile.

What a waste when we don’t speak up.

What a waste when we allow ourselves to live by fear.

What a waste when we refuse to look at the good side of life.

What a waste when we surround ourselves with negativity.

What a waste when we refuse to pick up a book.

What a waste when we don’t slow down and enjoy the beauty around us.

 

Stop wasting your life away, we only have a certain amount of tomorrows.

A Nurse I Know

I humbly post this beautiful story written by a dear friend of mine whom I look up to and have a deep respect for.  Sometimes we don't realize the impact we have on others and this story proved that for me.  LRP

 

 

A Nurse I know:

I know of a “Nurse” that works in an environment that is stressful, painful and sad. At least that’s what most people’s sentiments are. This is no ordinary nurse, she has strength, courage & confidence beyond the norm and has the ability to cure those seeking and needing to be cured. What makes this Nurse extraordinary is that she did not receive her education in nursing nor in trade school.

This Nurse has been given her gifts and talents from a different source, a higher source, a higher power, a higher education. What makes this true story more inspiring is this Nurse does not work in a hospital or clinic. She works for the CEO of CEO’s, the Boss of Boss’s, the King of Kings, she is doing God’s providential work by her Purpose.

Lorena a two-time cancer survivor and a young mom of three adorable kids, could have chosen to rest and recover from her treatment, stay home, do nothing and deservingly so. Lorena,  instead of laying soaking or worrying,  puts on her Warrior suit, her “Nurse’s” outfit, her Facilitator of Hope Armor and starts a support group, a group for cancer patients, for those going through a similar fight that she went through, the biggest bought there is, the fight for your life. Lorena could have stopped there and being the Purposeful blessing she is, would leave her Armor and Outfits on. Again, Lorena could have chosen to stay home, however her providential quest was CALLING. Not letting her restricted finances get in her way, Lorena would conduct toy drives. Toy drives for the little souls that would not have received toys for Christmas otherwise.

You see, Lorena is a healer of pain, lifter of stress, enlightener of sadness, and a facilitator of hope. Lorena relieved some of the pain of those undergoing treatment and letting them know there is hope, hope for a brighter future. Lorena relieved the sadness of those little kids not knowing if they would get a visit from Santa Claus, however Lorena is one for their cause.

Lorena’s work you see is not in a Hospital, her work is in the place we call Life. Thanks to her, we can say this world is a little better.

7 years later, a healthy Lorena continues to help and support others.

Not Cancer, Not Again...

Soaking wet in my tiny one person shower I exclaimed to Him and begged him to guide me.  I was diagnosed once again with a more aggressive cancer and I frankly didn’t have time to deal with this sickness.  My son was in 1^st grade, my daughter in pre-kinder and my youngest at home with me.  What in the world was I going to do?  And why had it come back?  I thought I had beaten this thing two years ago!  I began to exclaim…

“Dear Lord, I beg you to please show me what it is that you need from me!  Please God!  There is obviously something I didn’t learn the first time.  Oh gosh, I can’t do this… You know I will not dare ask you why because I believe that you have your reasons but really…. Please! I am only 27 years old what do I need to learn from this?” 

 I begged and begged for an answer.  I instinctively knew that this wasn’t going to kill me however; I had already dealt with this and was feeling so lost, scared and confused.  I realized that I hadn’t learned whatever I was supposed to learn the first time and so I begged for an answer, a sign… something. 

 As gentle as an evening breeze, as warm as the sun on a cold day, in the softest of voices He whispered in my ear, “Ven a mi y yo te librare” (Come to me and I will liberate you).  I immediately pulled the shower curtain open thinking my husband had heard me crying out to Him and was playing a joke on me, no one was there.  I opened the door where my husband stood only a few feet away and I accusingly asked if he had just been in the restroom to which he replied “No, what’s wrong!?”  I had grown pale and weak and was in shock.  I had just been blessed with a direct visit from our Creator of which I was not worthy.

 For the next couple weeks, I cried in the shower, I cried in the car, I cried every moment I was alone and I silently cried myself to sleep every night.  I was horrified trying to figure out how I was going to be treated since our medical insurance had denied me coverage due to a preexisting condition and I didn’t qualify for government assistance either.  In front of my friends and family I was all smiles and secretly, I was falling apart inside.

Emily ~ 3 years old

 One day soon after the shower experience I was in the bath tub with my daughter Emily who was 3 years old at the time.  I lay there and watched this little angle play with the bubbles she had to have in her bath every time.  Lost in thought I was caught off guard when she looked up at me with her huge brown eyes and said, “Mommy, say God Rules”  I was surprised as I am ashamed to say even though we believe in God, we hadn’t installed a belief in her innocent mind yet.  I replied in a quiet tone while she continued to play nonchalantly with her bubbles “God Rules” then she said “Mommy, say God Cares”…. Uh, “God cares…” and she then looked up at me and pierced me with her eyes, firmly demanding “Now say, God is HERE”.  Until this day I don’t remember if I ever responded to her last request because I was in such shock and I knew right there and then that everything that I had been stressing about and what I had been telling people about how everything was fine and that I felt great, was going to come true.  I knew that this disease was not going to kill me and that I had way too much to take care of to go home at such a young age. 

 So, I put my warrior armor on and I begun to fight this disease once again, head on and at full force.  Little did I know this was only the beginning of a long battle yet to come…

From my heart to yours,
LRP