Be an Optimist!

The Wall

I am an emotional and sentimental creature and because of that I’ve fallen in love hard.  Because of that I am very protective of the beings that I love and I keep my friends close.  I’ve given myself completely and I live passionately.  I would do anything and everything for others and as a mother I would lay my life for my children in a second.  I am there for my friends when they need encouragement, I cry with my sister when she is sad, I am the glue that keeps my family together.

In spite of all that, in the past I would sometimes sit and wallow in darkness.  I thought I was a worthless being with nothing to offer the world.  I couldn’t stand looking at myself in the mirror because of my size.  I felt alone and afraid.  I considered myself a “nobody”.  The insane thing was that I wasn’t a “nobody” and if you asked my family and friends they would share how “happy go lucky” “always smiling” “sweet” person I was, not a single one of them knew about the torment I would put myself through. 

We all have different reasons for ending up in this world of darkness.  This world of darkness can prove to be a difficult to come out of, but anything worth having is worth the fight, and coming out of that darkness is well worth every ounce of fight that is in you!

Believe me, I am the queen of circumstances… Circumstances have caused me enough pain to put up a wall as big as The Great Wall of China.  But one day, I realized that this wall wasn’t just “protecting” me of outsiders, it was actually keeping out the goodness of life out as well.  I realized my walls were drowning me and I was the cause of my sadness.  One day, I had to wake up and take responsibility.  I had to wake up and do something about it.  I had to allow myself to be vulnerable and I had to learn that vulnerability didn’t equal weakness.  I allowed myself to go into to deepest room of my dark place and face my demons. 

I won’t promise you that it will be easy and I won’t promise you that it will be quick, but I do promise you one thing… This side of the wall is absolutely beautiful.  This side has beaches with warm sand, and greenest grass you will ever see.  This side has opportunity and truth.  This side has family and friends.  This side has love.  This side is SAFE.

Give YOURSELF a chance.  BELIEVE IN YOU.  YOU are stronger then you can ever imagine.  YOU are smarter than you think.  YOU are creative and YOU are just… PERFECT.  You are capable of anything and everything that you set your mind to.  IT’S TIME.  It’s time to let go of your fears and insecurities.  It’s time to stop beating yourself up.  It’s time.

It’s time to start living as the creature that you have been created precisely to be.   You don’t believe me? Consider this…

Women, do you know that we have the power to cure a broken heart with a hug and a scrape with a kiss?  Did you know that ironically your soft skin has proven over and over to be as tough as steel?  Do you realize that you are a creature that loves unconditionally and that you can express anything from sadness, grief, pain, to happiness, laughter and pure joy with tears?  Do you realize that you give yourself for others constantly?  You fight when you see injustice and do whatever it takes to help your family succeed? 

Men, do you know that it is your strength that leads your family?  Do you know that because of you, your wife and children are able to sleep soundly? Do you know that because of your loyalty, honor, pride and courage everyone in America can wake up daily with the freedom of choice?

Consider this….. (fill in the blank)

 

From my heart to yours,

LRP

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.