Tag Archives: Snow

Swimming Laps in the Pool

25 Jan

A lot of people learn how to swim as kids. Maybe we went to the local YMCA for lessons, or our uncle just threw us in the water and told us to figure it out. However, we did it, we gained a valuable skill. Learning to swim is like riding a bike. Once you know how to do it, you don’t forget. If we know how to swim, we may be confident we could easily swim laps in a pool with no problem. The first day we go and jump in we may think it’ll be a snap – we’ll just start and be able to do several laps before we quit. But knowing how to do something and becoming proficient in it are two different things. Our first time in the water we may be surprised that although we know how to swim, actually getting to the other side of the pool is harder than it looks. It takes a lot of effort, and we may be gasping for air after going just a few feet. We may be stunned by what we can’t do. If we are determined and continue to spend time working on it, we will improve and be able to accomplish the goals we’ve set, but that won’t happen over night or in one week. It may take a lot of time before we feel comfortable and confident. The same is true with most goals we set. We may already possess many of the requirements to reach success, but they will still take time and effort to achieve. We can do anything we want and nothing is out of reach, but we must be willing to do what is necessary to make them ours. We are strong and powerful, and we know what we want. By planning carefully, and then doing the work, we can reach any destination.

It isn’t hard to climb a mountain. You just have to put one foot in front of the other until you reach the top. Sounds simple right? But there lots of factors that make it harder than it seems. Although we’re essentially just walking, it’s all uphill which is far harder than walking on a flat surface. Then there are weather factors. If it’s a very high mountain, it will likely be cold and involve snow and ice. There may even be breathing issues due to high altitude. Although it seems simple in theory, actually climbing a mountain is not easy. When we begin toward any goal, there is no way to know what complications will get in our way. By keeping our eyes focused ahead and unraveling each problem that arises, if we’re determined, we will succeed.

Everyone admires successful people. They seem to have everything figured out and know what to do. What we don’t see is all the time and trouble they went through to get to success. Nobody pays attention when we’re just starting out, or when the bank turns down our loan, and we are just making ends meet. Nobody sees all the problems, and complications, and headaches that come because we refuse to give up. Success isn’t always easy, but if we keep our eyes on the prize, no matter what gets in the way, we will reach the top and find great satisfaction.

Today if there is a goal you want that’s more difficult than you imagined, decide how you want to proceed. You are smarter and stronger than you think you are, and if you want success, you can have it. Look at the road ahead and plan your next steps. There isn’t anything too difficult for you to overcome or too hard for you to understand. Be confident and trust yourself. The whole world is there for you and every success awaits.

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Green Always Wins

16 Mar

We experience many different things as we go through our lives. We may have wonderful periods where everything goes well, and nothing stands in our way. Every day we sail through whatever comes and get to our destinations without worry. But nothing stays the same forever, and times of trial will come. We may face terrible, disastrous events that turn our lives and make us question if we can survive. Life is uncertain and we never know what will happen next. Trying to be prepared is important but until the crisis comes, there is no way to know exactly what to prepare for. Trouble finds us all, and if we’re facing something extreme that is pushing us beyond what we think we can bear, we may think we will never get through, and this will be the end of us. But we are far stronger than we think we are, and no matter where we are or what’s happening, we can take one more step. The worst winter on record with the most destructive ice, deepest snow, and coldest temperatures must surrender to spring. The weather will warm, everything will defrost, and green will always win. No winter storm is more powerful than the dawn of springtime. The same is true in our lives. We may go through terrible, difficult, trying days and feel overwhelmed with grief and despair, but spring will come. We may be down, but there isn’t anything powerful enough to hold us down forever. The load will lift, the sun will shine, and we will find our way. By trusting ourselves and having faith in the future, we will conquer every challenge. There is greatness in all of us. We will be tested but we will not break. We are more powerful than we realize and already have everything needed to overcome anything we must. Every destination is still there for us, and with persistence and determination, we will reach every goal.

If we’ve been extraordinarily hurt by loss or death, or something that has taken us by surprise and turned our lives upside down, we may suffer greatly. We may try to move past the pain, but grief is a powerful emotion with its own timetable. It will take as long as it takes. While we’re struggling to get through, we may feel exhausted, and there may be moments of hopelessness. But nothing is permanent – not even the worst experiences of our lives. Things will change, we will get stronger and in time, find happiness again.

A long, painful journey may test our endurance and push us hard. We may experience things we do not dream we could overcome, but we will prevail. Trials will come and they will strengthen us, trouble will teach us, and we will reach the distant shore. We have all the courage, wisdom, and strength we need to get through anything that happens. Nothing can keep us from success, and we will reach every destination we desire.

Today if you’re in a very difficult situation and feel overwhelmed, trust yourself. You have already conquered many difficult days and you will prevail. Nothing is strong enough to keep you from success. Be confident, and step forward with courage and certainty. Every dream is still there for you, and you will make them yours.

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Endurance Test

29 Oct

It would be great if every objective or project we had to complete worked out easily.  It would be wonderful if every time we had to do something, no matter what it was, that all the doors would open automatically, everyone would be helpful, and there would be nothing in our way.  That would be perfect, but sadly, those situations tend to be the exception and not the rule.  Most of the time we’ll have to push through something in our way or process a complication or issue preventing us from advancing.  Continual problems may make us consider giving up even if what we want to do is important to us.  Of course, we can change direction any time we want to and let anything go whenever we choose.  But if we want to continue instead of giving up, we can work on our ability to endure a little longer.  Endurance is simply our ability to withstand whatever we’re going through and is a skill we can improve and make stronger.  When we learn to endure well and hold on despite strong winds blowing against us, we have a better chance of achieving our goals.  Some things are hard to accomplish.  They take serious effort, lots of time and energy, and may test our ability to tolerate the challenges they present.  But anything worth achieving is worth our best efforts.  There isn’t anything strong enough to keep us from a destination if we’re willing to navigate whatever is in the way.  We’re stronger than any complication, and smarter than any problem.  We can find our way through and reach our goals.

When we’re on a road trip, if snow begins to fall and accumulate on the highway, our situation may become treacherous.  We can slow down in an effort to continue safely and push forward toward our goal.  Slowing down gives us the chance to carefully see everything in front of us and determine how to navigate forward.  Our progress will be affected but not stopped.  In our personal lives when things get complicated, sometimes we need to slow down to review all our options.  We can keep moving forward with caution until we’re sure the road ahead is exactly where we want to go and can see the destination before us.

There may be times when our situation changes and we must stop our plans completely and re-evaluate where we’re headed.  Perhaps there’s something preventing us from moving forward on the road we’ve been traveling.  The goal may still be possible but we need to redirect how we get there.  We can achieve anything if we’re determined but we might need to change direction to succeed.  It doesn’t matter how many times we correct our course or how may tries it takes to get moving again.  If we’re persistent we will find the way.  Nothing is out of reach and with patience and planning we can reach every goal we set.

Today if you’re facing lots of complications and the road ahead is blocked, remember there are many roads to every destination.  Look around and see all the options possible.  You can go anywhere you choose.  Be strong, endure well and press forward.  Every dream can come true.  You are wise and capable, and nothing is too far to reach.

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Avalanche

6 Feb

As we travel our journey through life there are countless turns, switchbacks, detours and times when we must re-route our way forward. There are rarely moments when the road ahead is paved, perfectly straight and without problems. We learn to navigate by adjusting our course as needed, and try to be as flexible as possible in order to get to the goal. Even if we do everything to plan well, sometimes things go awry and all our ideas get stopped in their tracks. It can feel like a huge avalanche has fallen on the road ahead and there is no way around it. We may stop and wait until the road is cleared but there are always other options available. We can sit and watch while others sort out the mess before us, and be patient while a solution is determined, or we can act on our own to move forward. Huge complications that stop our progress take time to untangle and while we’re working on them new options become available. It’s hard to see other roads when we’re focused on moving forward. When we’re stopped we can look around and all other possibilities become clear. There is never only one road to any destination we desire. There are countless ways to travel and endless options to try. We can review all the potential roads ahead and choose the one that works. There is no destination out of reach or impossible to find. We can alter our course and find the way around any avalanche in our path.

Everyone has their own ideas about what can and cannot be done. Some people are confident in their purposes until something goes wrong, at which time they throw up their hands and walk away. If we stop our journey forward every time we hit a snag we’ll end up staying exactly where we are. There will always be problems, there will always be things in the way, and we will often need to change course. Our goals are important and we certainly have everything we need to achieve them. There is no problem we can’t solve, or change we can’t accommodate. We are strong and powerful and can do anything we desire.

We may think we want an easy life, filled with comfort and success that requires us to do little. However, when things are easy we don’t learn anything new and don’t have the opportunity to become strong. Strength is built through trial, not ease. When things go wrong and we have to try harder, or when our plans fail and we have to start over, we gain wisdom and power. We learn to trust ourselves and understand more deeply what we’re made of and how the world works. Everything we need is already inside us. We can reach and find all the courage and insight necessary to go forward toward success and have the lives we want. It’s all there for us. We need only move forward and claim it.

Today if all your plans have been stopped in their tracks and you can’t move forward, look around at the options available. There are many roads that will take you where you want to go. Make a new plan and chart a new course. You will reach your destination. You are powerful and wise, and nothing will keep you from your dreams.

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Gathering Light

4 Apr

We have all kinds of opportunities to influence others throughout our lives.  We can be an example of kindness, charity, and love, or something else.  We can do anything we like, but we can’t share something we don’t have.  If we want to share goodness and light, we first have to attain those things for ourselves.  We are born innocent and without guile, but life brings hardship and disappointment, as well as blessings, and as we grow we change.  Although we’re taught as children to play fair, we learn quickly that life sometimes isn’t fair with us.  Those experiences can harden us and turn our innocent trust into suspicion and doubt.  But there is light all around us and we can obtain it to help us become the people we really want to be.  Every time we help someone else, we gain a little light.  Every time we comfort, we gather a little more.  With each selfless act we accumulate tiny rays of light and they become ours.  It’s like a snowball rolling down a hill.  It starts small but as it rolls forth it picks up more and more snow until at the end it’s far larger than when it began.  We gather light as we live valiantly and courageously.  And when we do our blessings increase, and our influence on the world magnifies.

It’s impossible to live on earth and not impact others.  No matter what we think our influence is, sometimes it’s more prevalent than we imagine.  People watch us.  They see our choices, they see what we say, and they see how we behave.  If we are noble and kind, they may emulate us.  And if we are hurtful and mean, they may avoid us.  We don’t live in a vacuum and even when we think nobody is watching, odds are someone is noticing.  Whether we mean to or not, whatever we do we are sharing with those around us.  There is enough wickedness, abuse, betrayal, and hurt in the world already, and we don’t need to add more.  But if we do, it makes us part of the pain we all endure.  It’s far better for us to choose something higher and nobler.  We can choose to be kind, caring, thoughtful, and respectful.  We can help and listen, and be a voice of comfort.

We will never reach a point in our lives where we have enough kindness, enough charity, or enough patience.  We will never have so much light we don’t need to reach for more.  There will always be room for growth.  Dark trials come to all of us and when we feel hopeless and lost, we pray and hope for light.  We yearn for someone to help us and comfort us.  It is far better to become a beacon to others than to ignore their pain and leave nothing behind.  As we become the very best we can be, we can be a bright star in the darkness.  We can be there and bring comfort because we care.  We can be a positive influence in this life.  And when we are, we can change the world.

Today there will be ways for you to help, or listen, or comfort.  Offer a kind word or a helping hand.  You will gather light and as you do those around you will be lifted because you care.  There is light all around you.  Find it.  Gather it and let it shine.  Be an example for good.  The world will be a better place because you did.

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