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Sidewalk Cracks

17 Apr

As we’re walking briskly along, we might see a tiny flower poking through a sidewalk crack. It’s amazing to imagine how anything could ever take root in the middle of a concrete path but there it is – a tiny, perfect flower – raising its head to the sunshine determined to survive. Sometimes our lives feel like that. We’re surrounded by others busily going about their duties and fulfilling their various roles and responsibilities, and we may feel we’re pushing up through an endless concrete road trying to survive. We may seem insignificant and overlooked compared to the seemingly obvious accomplishments of others, and it can be hard to feel important and valued. If others are louder than we are or garner more attention than we do we may fade into the background, unsure of ourselves. But we are here and we are important. We have so much to offer, and everything we do changes the world around us in some way. There is no way to know how much impact our decisions have over others and as we go through our days, choosing well, we bring light and goodness. We are worth more than we can imagine and our influence brightens every situation. Like that tiny flower pushing up through the sidewalk, our very presence can bring joy and delight. Nobody else can give the gifts we have to offer. The world is a huge place with billions of people, but there isn’t anyone else like us anywhere. Our influence is critical and we fill an important role. We can be confident that we’re essential and valuable, and nobody can ever take our place.

When we’re baking cookies, there are a lot of different ingredients we need to add to get the results we desire. If we leave even one item out of the mix, the cookies won’t come out the way we want them to. The recipe may call for a tiny amount of salt and we may think it’s so small we can just ignore it. But then when we taste the cookies, we discover that even though the amount of salt was small, omitting it has changed the entire flavor and the cookie isn’t as good. We don’t have to be the main focus to be important. Even if our voice is small, it’s valuable. Our influence makes everything better, and brings variety and richness to the world around us.

There are so many big, amazing things happening around the world all the time. There are great discoveries being made, great accomplishments being completed, and it’s easy to feel we don’t mean much to the overall scheme of things. But if we weren’t here, all the relationships we have with others and all the good influence we bring would disappear. The world would be left with a void where we offered our help and encouragement. Our influence is imperative to the success of everything around us. We are valuable and worthwhile, and bring positive energy and light to the whole world.

Today if you feel insignificant and irrelevant, remember there isn’t anyone else like you anywhere. You have gifts and blessings to offer nobody else can give. You are priceless, and bring a light to everything around you. Be confident. We need your presence, and the whole world is blessed because you are here.

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Done and Moving On

5 Apr

Done

While we’re going through our days accomplishing tasks, tending to responsibilities, and reaching our goals, our desires are constantly changing. What we wanted last year that held us captive but may not even be in our focus anymore. We change as we go and each step teaches us more about what we want and where we want to go. As we mature and evolve, things that previously seemed important may fade and we might decide to completely change direction. Our lives are always ours to design and no matter what’s happening, we can always redirect our course toward a new path. Sometimes while we’re pursuing a goal, complications arise that cannot be overcome and we have to stop and do something else. Other times as we get nearer to our destination, we may see it’s not exactly like we thought it would be and decide not to continue. If we’re suddenly done with the road we’ve been traveling, we can step off and begin on something new. Life is always changing and we never know what tomorrow will bring. We can be flexible and turn our direction at any time. Every dream is possible but some dreams look different the closer we get. We don’t have to hold onto something simply because we’ve had it for a while. We can let go and start again. There are endless roads and possibilities awaiting us, and nothing is out of reach. We can have the lives we want by staying true to what is most important. Every destination is possible and with clarity, focus and determination, we can choose the best path going forward.

There are a lot of people coming and going, in and out of our lives all the time. We build relationships with them and if they’re very close they may have some impact on the decisions we make. If we decide on a change in our lives, and they either don’t agree with us or don’t understand what we’re doing, they may try to dissuade us from proceeding. We can listen to any advice we like and certainly take suggestions about the road ahead, but we don’t need permission to go anywhere. We’re wise enough to know what we want, and smart enough to achieve it.

It’s nice to do things with others and when everyone is going one way, we can certainly join in. But the direction our lives take is completely up to us. If we don’t want to continue with the group, we can step away and take another road. Sometimes the goal we want can only be accomplished by ourselves. We’re strong enough to do anything and can go anywhere we desire. We can step forward with determination and wisdom, and be confident we will succeed.

Today if you’ve decided the road you’re on is taking you somewhere you no longer want to go, change direction. You can do anything and changing your mind doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Every road is open and ready for you. Decide what you want the most and start again. Be confident. You are strong and wise, and can accomplish anything you desire. Nothing is out of reach and you can have the life you dream of.

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Just a Moment

1 Apr

There’s a lot going on in our lives all the time. We have responsibilities to attend to, things that need to be done, people asking for our help, appointments we need to make and the list is never ending. We have a lot of priorities we want to get done, and as we rush around and accomplish so much, our personal needs may get pushed aside. The time we need to recharge may get shorter and shorter, and before we know it, we may be burned out and exhausted. Once we deplete all our resources, we can do no more. There will always be more than we can accomplish all at once. No matter how hard we work or how fast we go, there will always be another task waiting. Before we rush headlong into the fray, we can look at everything before us and make a reasonable plan for completion. Whatever we don’t accomplish today can be done tomorrow. Pushing ourselves beyond our limits and setting unrealistic goals will only lead to fatigue and defeat. There is plenty of time to do what is most important. The rest can be managed later. As we move through our list of projects, it’s important to allow time to take a break and refresh ourselves. Just a short walk, or a few minutes of quiet reflection can help us navigate a busy and demanding day more effectively. Allowing ourselves a moment of rest to look around and enjoy our day will rejuvenate us and give us the energy we need to succeed. Every day is a blessing. We can accomplish much and still find time to reflect on what’s most important. We are strong and capable, and can do anything we desire. Remembering to value our personal time as much as our tasks will help us find balance and happiness. We know what we want and what we need. We can take care of business and still take care of ourselves.

There are a lot of people coming in and out of our lives all the time. They may be family members, co-workers, friends, acquaintances and some we’ll interact with once and never see again. They may ask us for help with something and we may certainly agree. Our time is ours to manage, and we can give them as much as we like. If we’re mindful of all our responsibilities and our personal needs, we will be able to serve effectively and still have the time we need to take care of ourselves. Constantly replenishing our well will ensure we always have enough to keep going and still share with others.

Caring for ourselves is our responsibility. We can’t expect anyone else to know what we need or how much rest we require. Making sure we’re at our best will help us accomplish everything before us. It’s impossible to be as effective as possible if we’re sleep deprived, hungry or overwhelmed. If the beginning isn’t working, we will never reach the ending. We can take what we need and be strong and effective. Every blessing is possible and with planning and care we can reach every destination.

Today if you’ve been rushing around and neglecting yourself, remember you are the most important person in your equation. Give yourself what you need and you’ll be strong and effective. You can do anything if you plan effectively and take care of yourself. Every destination is possible and you will prevail.

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Out of the Way

21 Mar

As we go through our lives, we interact with all kinds of different people who have all kinds of different ideas about everything. Some are pleasant and easy to deal with, others not so much. We may even have to interact with people who are rude and ruthless. There is a huge spectrum of personalities and perspectives. When someone is very self-interested and pushing forward on their own path without regard to others around them, they may push us out of the way as they press ahead. We be may be only obstacles in their path as they shove their way around us and continue on. We’re all entitled to our own interpretations and if we want to be selfish, we can choose to focus only on our own interests and disregard anyone else. We might get to the goal faster, but we’ll surely be alone in the victory, and we’ll miss any benefits building relationships along the way may bring. Nobody knows everything and everyone has something valuable to share. If we close ourselves off and keep ourselves apart, pushing everyone else away, we will miss the chance to gain information others may be willing to give us. Our goals are important and we all want to achieve success. We can move forward concentrating on the road ahead, and still build valuable relationships along the way. Each person we allow into our lives will give us something new to take with us. Our lives will be enriched by the many expressions and interpretations around us and we’ll gain further knowledge that will help us reach our goals. We’re all here together. Learning to let others into our lives and embracing everything they bring will teach us more about each other and our world. No success is out of reach and by joining together we will reach every destination.

A long road trip with days and days of endless highway can quickly become tedious and boring. Being alone by ourselves for a while can be restful and refreshing, but if the time stretches beyond what is comfortable, we may yearn for someone to talk to and share our experiences with. We can allow others to share the journey with us and gain the benefit of different opinions and viewpoints. Everyone has a different perspective and each idea has value. We can share our lives and our dreams with those around us and gain insight and ideas to help us move forward.

Each day we make decisions that take us further down the road as we continue our journey forward. If we get stopped or lose our way, it’s helpful to have someone else’s perspective to find the way forward again. What’s unclear to us may be obvious to someone else. Every bit of knowledge we gain helps us move forward and we can be open to asking for advice and listening to suggestions. We can share our lives and our dreams, and reach every destination we choose.

Today if you’ve been pushing others out of the way in a rush to reach your goals, remember you can’t know everything. Others have much to share and you can let them in. If you do, the road will be easier and the journey will be more satisfying. Every success is there for you. Be wise and confident, and nothing will keep you from your dreams.

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Wide Open

14 Mar

As we go through our lives, we meet many different kinds of people. Our impressions and interpretations color the way we see the world and those around us, and may lead us to believe something before we have the facts. If we’ve heard many things about someone before we meet them, we may form an idea of who they are and what they’re like before we even say hello. When we do finally meet them, those initial impressions may persist even if they aren’t true. If they’re convincing enough, we may believe they’re entirely different than they are, and attribute positive aspects they don’t possess. The right words and a winning smile can be very influential, and may fool us into believing someone is different than they really are. If we want to believe them it may be difficult to find the truth. We may live in the land of fiction and make excuses when they don’t follow through or look the other way when something doesn’t fit, and we can do that for as long as we like. But truth is powerful and always rises. Even if we’ve been fooled and are completely convinced of something that isn’t real, the truth will show itself. When it does, we’ll have the chance to look openly at the situation and see everything clearly. Truth is always there and when we’re ready we can see everything as it is and determine our next steps forward. If we’ve made a mistake in judgement, we can correct it. If we’ve gone the wrong way, we can turn and redirect the way ahead. A detour isn’t the end of the road, and gives us the chance to adjust our direction to get to the goal. We know where we want to go and what we want to do. Nothing can confuse us or hold us in place indefinitely. We can reach any destination we desire and find success.

Some people struggle with honesty. They may lie because they want something, because the truth is too difficult to face, or because they lack confidence in their decisions. The reasons for dishonesty don’t matter. Nothing can change the truth of any situation and even if a lie prevents it from being clear at the beginning, nothing will keep it from showing itself in the end. Life is filled with complications and sometimes the temptation to get through dishonestly may entice us. Who we are is defined by our choices. We can be firm in our integrity, even when it’s difficult, and make decisions that will enhance our credibility and move us forward with confidence.

If we’ve been fooled or lied to by someone we care about, it may be difficult to face what’s happened. We may try to justify what they’ve done and imagine they didn’t mean to hurt us, but there is no way to defend dishonesty. We can accept what’s happened and learn all that’s possible from the experience and take it forward with us. We deserve the very best of everything and with integrity and wisdom can do what is needed to gain it.

Today if you’ve been lied to and hurt by someone else’s choices, stand firm and go forward with honesty and strength. You are worth every blessing you desire and nothing can keep you from success. Be true to your standards and trust yourself. You know what is right and good, and will reach every destination you desire.

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