In Others' Words: Difficulty

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"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" ~George Eliot, pen name of English novelist Mary Ann Evans

How have you made someone else's life less difficult today?

In Others' Words: Perspective

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"If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." ~Anita Roddick, human rights activist

Who, me? Make a difference? I don't think so.

But then I think of the time my husband and I vacationed on the coast of Turkey. A nice hotel on the Mediterranean. A lovely time away from our kiddos--until we turned out the lights and found out we weren't the only ones in our room. My husband spent most of the night doing "The Dance of the Mosquitos." You know it: Jump. Slap. Jump. Slap. Not a whole lot of sleeping--or anything else--going on that night.

Those pesky mosquitoes were a whole lot smaller than me and my husband. But guess who ruled the night?

What about you? Afraid you're not influential? Think again, my friend. Think again.

In My Words: Life

This post was inspired by a friend's blog post. Gloria blogs over at Change the World. One thing's for sure: Knowing Gloria has changed my world, my life. Gloria makes me think. Makes me act on what I believe.

This video blog was prompted by Gloria's post "How to face the challenge before you." In it she states:

Face what lies before you this way:

Approach the problem like you are totally and completely loved.

Whether it is a plan to lose weight or to change your vocation, whether it is to find a mate or relinquish someone you loved and trusted, shape your strategy as a person who thinks and acts out of a secure place of knowing they are completely and unconditionally loved.

Because you are.

And any other approach will be flawed.

I hope you take time to watch the video. Ponder the question.

But, most of all, remember that you are loved.

Wrestling with Fear

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"Anything I've ever done that was ultimately worthwhile ... initially scared me to death."

~Betty Bender, motivational speaker

Fear and me--we used to be good friends. I spent much too much time hanging out with fear. I let fear speak up for me on too many occasions.

Did I want to play volleyball with my friends? Umm, that would be a no because I was afraid I'd look like an uncoordinated klutz.

Did I want to try scuba diving? Pass.

Rock climbing? No, thanks.

I finally had to wrestle fear to the ground until it cried "Uncle" and gave up. You're still not going to catch me skydiving. I've no desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane--at least not yet. But I've gone para-sailing. And snorkeling. And rappelling--even if I did laugh the whole way down the rock face and my instructor knew I didn't hear a word he said.

So, what about you? What scares you to death? What fear have you conquered--and was it worth your while?

Rules: To Follow or Not?

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“If I’d observed all the rules, I’d never have got anywhere.”

― Marilyn Monroe

I tend to be a bit of a rule-keeper. Tell me the rules, please, and I'll do my best to abide by them. Sometimes I win. Sometimes I lose. It's a nice, safe way to live my life.

And then there are the times I dare to risk . . . to go past the boundaries of rules and try something not illegal, so much as daring. Something not in the rule book. Something that demands more of me than the norm. It's scary.

Sometimes I win.

Sometimes I lose.

But I always learn something more than I would have if I'd played by the rules.

What about you?

Do you observe the rules? Bend 'em a little? Dare to break them and achieve your dreams in the process?

In My Words: Dreams

What dreams are your pursuing? Have any dreams come true?

Lesson from the Trashcan

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"The things people discard tell more about them than the things they keep."

— Hilda Lawrence, author

I have a difficult time getting rid of certain things. Magazines. Papers. Birthday cards. Photos? Forget it. Drafts of articles and chapters? Doesn't matter how many times I've rewritten something--or even if said article or book is published--I keep everything from the first lousy draft to the polished finished work.

I have no problem throwing out leftovers--I don't like leftovers. If I see food once, I don't want to see it again. No problem tossing junk mail. Or worn out clothes. Or other people's hand-me-downs, especially when I know they handed it down to me rather than throw it away.

So what does this say about me? Not too attached to food I've eaten once--or other people's stuff.

What does what you toss say about you?

People versus Stuff: Which Wins?

"Treasure your relationships, not your possessions." — Anthony J. D'Angelo, Collegiate Empowerment I admit it: I have too much stuff. But even more important: I have some of the most wonderful relationships a gal could ever have. People who know me and accept me and challenge me to pursue life and faith with a passion that matches theirs. Those two people on the carousel? That's my daughter and her future husband--the wedding is in July. It's fun to see these two people together because, for them, life's sure not about stuff. It's about each other--and embracing the future God has planned for them together. So, what about you? Got too much stuff? What one thing could you toss today and not miss? And what one person are you thankful for?

In My Words: Laughter

Laughter is my favorite sound.

What makes you laugh?

Who is the Author of Your Story?

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“So, if I love God, and I mean really love God with abandon, then I must come to love myself, my life. I need to love my story at the heart level. That’s what I believe life is for all of us. A story being written by God. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. When I start to love my story, with all its messed up twists and turns, then I can love other people who are living out their own stories with all their messed up twists and turns.”

~ Eli in Coming Attractions by Robin Jones Gunn

As a writer, sometimes I don't like how my work-in-progress is, well, progressing. The story is muddled. The characters are misbehaving, not following my oh-so-carefully planned out plot. But since I'm the author of the story, I have control. I get to rewrite--and rewrite and rewrite--until the story is the way I want it.

I've learned there's no rewriting my past. There's no delete button for the mistakes I've made. Believe me, I've looked for one! But there is this a-ma-zing thing called God's grace. I'm learning to see my life--all the messed up twists and turns--through God's eyes. And I'm learning to love my life as is. No rewrites needed.

What about you? Have you embraced your life story?

Learning the Posture of Prayer

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Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.

~Victor Hugo, French poet

That whole praying without ceasing thing? (1 Thessalonians 5:17) I'm getting it down. Sometimes it's a sheer act of desperation--not much more than a, "Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy," mantra that bows my soul to the ground. Sometimes it's a "Wow-oh-wow-oh-wow" kind of thank you to God that causes my soul to lift its hands to the sky. And at all times, I'm amazed that God says his ears are opened to our prayers. (2 Chronicles 7:15)

So what's your soul's prayer posture?

What Do You See?

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"As we grow old, the beauty steals inward."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet & essayist

I love the contrast in this photo: age and youth, both enthralled with the other. And who is to say what holds the greater beauty? The wide-eyed innocence of new life or the experiences and wisdom hidden behind wrinkles and gray hair?

Did Emerson get it right? When you see yourself getting older, do you think, "How beautiful?"

How old are you?

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"Everyone is the age of their heart." ~Guatemalan Proverb

On my list of all-time favorite quotes, this one ranks in the top 10. Hidden in those seven words is a nugget of truth: Years don't define how old we are--our heart does. Our passion. What we love. What we live for.

So, how old are you?