Wednesday, March 14, 2012

On My Mind

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

I agree, Mr. Churchill. Here are five things I've learned:

ONE:

Sometimes life throws things in our way for which we are not prepared. Other times we create our own hurdles. What matters is how you navigate these problems. There is no fault with taking time to consider your problems...it is fine if you need time to nurse yourself back to health: spiritual, mental, or physical. Just don't wait too long... Tackle those mountains before you, whether they are ones created by nature or you. Keep climbing upward and marching forward.

TWO:
Be Safe - no I don't mean "play it safe" but I mean find a retreat. Locate that place that calms your soul - a special chair with a nice reading lamp, the park bench near a fountain, a corner table in a coffee shop with great java and muffin tops, a table in your public library, the front row of your zumba class...we all have spots that make us feel cocooned or alive. Find your haven while you heal; nurture yourself.

THREE
:
Money isn't everything, but it helps. If you have it, share it. Donate to worthy charities, surprise someone deserving, and help a child in need.  When you are bereft, take a closer look at your choices. Trim your life, seek new opportunities, volunteer, and take a chance.

FOUR:
Real friends stick with you, no matter what. They may offer encouragement from afar via email and texts. Real friends ask you to dinner, stop by at work to say hi, invite you for coffee when they know you are down. Trust me, there are plenty of people out there with big enough hearts to add a new friend or two. Keep your heart and your eyes open, there are real friends all around you.

FIVE:

Peace can be yours, learn to be still. Find your center...what is important to you? Use healing time to find your joy...photography, drawing, dancing, yoga? For me, it was my writing. Let the world around you go on with its noisy self, you learn to love yourself, your talents, your potential. Honor your past, yes, but then let it go..then move forward.....see number one! :-)

Climb, nurture, share, cherish, center...you can do it. I know you can.


Thanks to @DanSoto for sharing this picture on G+