Today I have been inspired. It has been a long time, since I have written. I have to remind myself to be grateful for what I have. My passion is writing. This is something that I always felt comfortable doing. Sharing it on a blog is another story.
My former co-worker passed away last week. Also, a friend’s brother passed away. He was only 45 years old. It hits close to home. I grieve for their losses, but also am reminded that life is fleeting. Live baby, Live is a refrain in my head. I put a sticky note on my bulletin board at work “This one is for you!” They are no longer able to take a breath, write a letter, or run. I decided to make the best of the day. I did not take anyone for granted.
We take what we have been given and sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have. Sometimes we squander our time and talents. There is an ache in the pit of my stomach. What have I accomplished? Have I done the best that I could do in everything? Do the people I know, know that I care about them? These are all questions that come to mind.
This morning, I saw a question on my Facebook page. What are you committed to completing before the end of the year? I thought about posting more than one item in response to the post. Do I have to pick just one item? There is so much I want to accomplish.
Yesterday, I listened to a speaker, John Assaraf, talk about the latest brain science and overcoming fears. A lot of us have fears. There is no such thing as good and bad fear on pleasant and unpleasant fears. These fears keep us from accomplishing tasks we know we want to do and must do. Fear keeps us from succeeding. I could go on about fears. I used to have a fear of public speaking. Now, I am a Toastmasters Club President.
Some have a fear of death. I think the only fear contained in this is not doing the feats you set out to do and having deep regrets.
What really matters to you? If there were no barriers, what would you do?
What do you take for granted?
There are plenty of actions you can take to show your gratitude. Compliments are free. A smile, writing a hand written thank you note, writing a blog to encourage others, and sharing some heartfelt thoughts are all ways to show you care. It does not have to be some grand gesture. Sometimes it is a few words. There is power in simplicity.
There are no guarantees for your tomorrows. Cherish the time, people, and memories you have. Live baby, live.
Some ideas to help you overcome your fears. We can step outside ourselves to help others. Believe me, you are capable. Tell yourself, I am C.A.P.A.B.L.E.
C – Character. Do what you say you are going to do. I said I was going to get back to writing this blog, after taking a three month hiatus. I don’t care what other people think of this. There is a promise I made to myself. Keep your promises. Especially one you made to yourself. Being mindful of your promises is key.
A – Adaptable. Sure, there will always be obstacles in the way. If you want to accomplish something, try to focus on solutions. You don’t have to be rigid and stick to one idea. Find a new approach. I had to accomplish something, today. I was not willing to make excuses or put it off until tomorrow. You have to take action every day to achieve your goals. It may not be at the same time, every day. Be flexible. Issues will come up.
P – Patience. Don’t let frustration beat you down. There is a solution to every problem. Sometimes a resolution will not happen in your time frame. I try to have tolerance for other people and situations. Give them Grace.
A – Aptitude. You can eclipse your own performance. If you don’t know what to do, find someone to help you. Find the right person. I have tons of resources in formal and informal mentors. Plenty of CD’s, podcasts, and books to inspire me. I am a personal development “junkie.” Do the people you follow have results? Are they aspiring to get better? I know I love to write. There is room for improvement. I am willing to do what it takes.
B – Be present. In the moment. The person you are with deserves your full attention. Be mindful.
L – Lead. There are several interpretations of what it means to lead. I am using this to mean it, as in making a difference right where you are. This is my philosophy. Maybe, you don’t think your story matters. You may feel like you can’t make a difference. Well, think about where you want to go and help others get there.
E – Excellence. Do your best. It may not be perfect. So what! Trying to make every aspect of your project perfect can cause paralysis.
Fight for what you want. You may have to fight your inner thoughts. I know I had a lot of misgivings about writing about some of my deepest thoughts. I have got a long list of what I want to accomplish.
If you are reading this. Thank you. You matter to me. I hope this post inspired you. Is there some small act of kindness that you can do today? Don’t underestimate the power of your willingness to step outside of yourself help others in need and Live baby, Live.