A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

I read this today on my Timehop app, it is from two years ago tweeted ,"Never confuse what you do for a living with your reason for living." My wise Mother raised me on Volunteering. It was her calling. To be there for the people that society might not have a place for was her gig. As a young child; I cannot remember life without this in our home. I remember so many things but one example was when I was in Middle School. My Mother worked hand in hand with The Ladies Salvation Army Home. It was something watching her that made her so very beautiful to me at that awkward age. This organization would call my Mother when women and their children would arrive with a list of items they might need. I mean the barest of necessities indeed sometimes. What a powerful example of her own lifestyle that was for me when I was becoming the greedy, want syndrome child; expecting the entitlement of the world to be handed to me.  Alas, My Wise Mother could see it starting in me, I am quite convinced. She is far too wise to ever divulge her secrets even to me at this age I find her, but luckily I know her pretty well, better than the words spoken.  She would take me with her to buy for these people, strangers. But she made it personal, like they were close friends or even family. She would recruit me with shopping for  the children, we were given ages and sizes and what was needed. I STILL to this day, remember shopping for a girl right about my age, and the realization of her lifestyle I was forever changed. I said, Mom, what about when they want to have spend the night company? What about their bedrooms? What powerful lessons that Wise Woman was teaching me without saying a word.... She would always sternly but lovingly tell me, never allow your Volunteering to take the place of your obligations. Whether your job, your family, etc. Make sure you have done all you were to do, then; and only then, do this. Otherwise it has all been in vain. 

I was raised that if I was down, or sad; maybe upset about something that happened in my day, my Mother would love on me with a hug or kiss and tell me to "give, give, give." She would whisper in my ear, "get up, up, up" and go "give, give, give." Anyone that knows my Mother, knows she has the voice of an Angel. Nothing like mine I must say. However, she could motivate the most stubborn (namely myself) with her words so sweet as if honey were dropping off her lips. I would be so entranced by her unction that I wouldn't even sometimes realize I was doing something for someone else til it was over! She was and Still is right. The moment you take the attention of your own woe's or negative situation, and place your attention on someone else and give to them out of your own need, Wahbam! You are instantly lifted. Your day has turned around and somehow the, it all will work out rises from what was defeat or hopelessness.  What a Wonderment of Life...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXBKaOkmQhw


You might be wondering why I posted the picture at the top of this page. Funny thing, I really do not know, it is just a part of me. I took this picture when I was volunteering at a local Nursing Home and when I passed this certain hallway and saw these two at the end of it, I was stopped dead in my tracks. I have never been able to erase that moment within me.  It has gone with me everywhere over the years, I would say I have had this 20 plus years. It was pinned up in my cube at work for years, it has been in various spots - just there. It is my destiny. No idea what their story is, but it burns inside of me. Do they both live there or just one visiting? What are they talking about? What IS their story??? Here they find themselves in their later years of life, what do you think they are savoring the most? Most importantly for me, what do I want to be savoring? What stories are being retold of the Passion I led MY life? There's my blueprint for now; is what I have thought. I have had and continue to have, the opportunity for all these years, since this picture,  to go after life with unapologetic Lucille Ball wit, yet vigilance to pursue and capture where my heart leads. Not all have been success stories mind you.  However, I am trying  to live out Mother Theresa's wisdom, "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." Zig Zigler posted on Facebook yesterday, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." C.S. Lewis. So here I go, today, NOW setting new goals and allowing new dreams to flood in to overtake my soul. I hope this, today, does the same for you and invigorates you and your Passion of and for Life.

I hope this picture stirs up your heart and you allow yourself to give, to give of yourself, in the most trying of moments to those who cross your path. They are everywhere. I bet you will hear ole Lynda whispering in your ear if you listen closely, "give, give, give." You might be surprised how the direct effects of honoring another over yourself just might catapult you to your own destiny. Isn't life Intoxicating? It just amazes me on every turn and makes me giggle. I invite you to Bask and Illuminate in The Wonderment of Life.

The Waiting Game

I have this picture framed, it is one of my most favorites...ever. It was days before having my first child and when I look at this picture, I go back instantly with every emotion felt back then, they  flood my heart and bring a tear to my eye and a smile upon my lips. Not just because I thought I was about to meet this miracle that had captured my heart, but a dream and desire of mine was finally coming true about thirty-something years later. What came to my mind yesterday when I saw this was; all of us have dreams, goals, desires that burn so deep within us that if we don't reach them we just might smother out our truest self. Not all take the allotted time, but some do. And sometimes those my friend are the sweetest. When you hear me go on and on about being a Mother, trust me I am not over obsessed with this role mind you, ok maybe I am. However, when you realize what I had to go through to get here, and the times I felt like it just won't possibly EVER come true, it did. For those of you who know me, know how terribly ill I was pregnant. Oh my, it was ugly. If I didn't take that Zofran  to help combat the sickness, I was a mess. I would still get ill, just not as severe. Couldn't leave the house. It would just be routine, me getting sick before coming in to a restaurant I would tell whoever was with me, I would see them in a moment. You would think I was the most miserable person ever, and I was on one hand, but it would just be a moment, then BOOM, that smiled popped on my face and I knew that I was willing to go through whatever to see this dream come about and I wasn't gonna miss one moment. I would still be carrying her to this day if I could. I enjoyed my pregnancy more than you could possibly imagine. Why? Because, I was living the dream. My dream. I was in a moment that besides all the sickness, every day, all day, for nine months;  I was embarking on the most surreal moments of my life and I savored it all. Oh, how if we could look at our own lives with dreams and goals we are trying to reach we could set our eyes not on the moment that isn't so fabulous, but on where we are intending to be or go. It would make it more worth while and enjoyable if we could. Perhaps, that is the truest part of the dreams coming to reality. What I mean is, let's say  you are in school to receive this certain degree. Yet for this amount of years, it is intimidating that you might ever graduate. Sometimes you are counting down the years, weeks, days but your goal is in sight none the less. But these steps to graduation are necessary. 

We all should always have goals, dreams, expectations in life I feel or where is the excitement? Where is the flair that makes your life worth anything more than bland? I feel like sometimes I am Lucille Ball, just a silly woman with no real plan to others.  But how much fun (and trouble) did that red headed woman have? I realize it was a television show, however, if you truly paid attention, she always had a plan. She was after something.... hmmmm something to ponder. 

I am just using my dream of Motherhood as one example in my life. But what stands out to me is, the nine months is there for a reason. Sometimes it is more like years or a lifetime but do not give up. There is a reason for what we think is a delay. One of my reasons for my delay I just have to share! I am "Mammy" to six children that changed the course of my life forever. Now they are impacting my daughter's life. I just know I couldn't have had what I have had with each of them had I had been a Mother myself all that time. Here is my Christmas present from them this past Christmas. Incredibly Special to me and I would like to share with you...

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4445784d5455304e54453d0d0a&blogview=true

See? I am okay with the timing of becoming a Mother...now, as I look back. My daughter loves to hear this story, especially at bedtime. After having her, I would send her to the nursery to allow me to sleep at night, then they would call me, "Mrs. Cox?" "Yes?" I would reply." Your daughter is hungry, would you like to sleep and have us feed her or bring her to you?"  My response was "bring her to me! Please!" After I hung up the phone, I would sit up, fix my pillows, fluff my hair and get ready for my girl. I can still hear this now, that cart being pushed down the hallway, the thumps as it hit the certain parts in the floor. It was getting closer and the excitement within me, oh,  I just couldn't contain. As that cart came near, the beat of my heart sped up until I had her in my arms. It was like Christmas Morning as a child. Do not give up on those dreams. This story one day will be told to me, in that same fashion, with the same emphasis on just those certain words by her when I am old.  I just know that although a lot will be forgotten to me then, that feeling will permeate my being. We read a book that was given to Camille by one of our Junior Miss daughters, Marianna and it is titled, "Love you Forever" by Munsch/McGraw. I urge every parent of a small child to go purchase this book. We sing the song to one another almost nightly, and one day she will sing to me as I am old, then she will share with her child one day. This is a must have for everyone! 

This certain dream of mine will be taken with me til my last moments here on Earth and although there are other dreams that will fall away to the wayside as they should. I am still striving to obtain other dreams in my life that will perhaps take their place. Do not be afraid of our delays, remember, the nine months is there for a purpose. Try to enjoy the moments of that dream(s) becoming reality.

This is the Wonderment of Life....

Only YOU

I read that "You only have ONE life to live. Don't coast through it, make waves! I love this!! I am a rebel wanna be. If there were rules to follow, somehow I would mix up the variables and I implemented what I wanted to exist as well. Such as my sense of fashion, or therein the lack of. I feel like looking back on my life in so many situations I was swimming up stream all alone with my opinion, outlook, or moral belief tucked in close to me. I am most happy when doing this I have found. At the point in which I find myself today living, it appears that the majority are mimicking others around them. A little is good. I find it to be the seasoning as in cooking. By implementing something seen or heard by someone else is the way to spice up our own versions of ourselves; however, too many are over seasoning and they are losing themselves. If we lose ourselves, we have lost that spice that was intended to season someone else. 

As a Mother of a fast growing nine year old daughter, I want her to embrace who she is. Imperfections and all. I want her to enjoy picking up things from others she likes but I want to always see HER overall. So many of us have been so blessed to have the admiration poured into us to be that person we were destined to be. But its not to late for all of those who didn't have that. It is never too late. I want each of us to realize what is unique and different about ourselves, it may even be something we don't like too much ourselves... but let us not snuff out what was that spice that others were needing to help enhance their own lives. We ALL have something to flavor others lives. We live in a world that has us spinning; sometimes out of control, trying to be the next best thing or being like everyone else. We need to be like Muhammad Ali and capitalize on our unique qualities. Once we believe it, everyone else will soon too. 

http://youtu.be/V6xLYt265ZM

I believe that if we cultivate more of ourselves we will find that we are making the difference, and in turn; others will be spicing up themselves with what you possess. In almost everyone I encounter I see that "umph" that they possess and whether I wish I were more like them and less of myself, I relish in their uniqueness, and somehow it makes me better... Let us make that our quest, in becoming the World's Greatest YOU, understand and acknowledge that the others we encounter are inevitably launching us to come out as Ourselves in the truest form. You will never influence this world by trying to be like it. This is one of the Sweetest Wonderments of Life I think, thank you to all who have affected my life and are continuing to be the compass to steer me in the right direction... Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." 

http://youtu.be/WgcovIu3k9o?list=PLWkzay3ra3UFrWoa5gOcw6cGkINoyMlx0