I had two lovebirds for almost 13 years until one bird died last year. The one remaining bird sits in the cage and sings when he hears the outside birds when the windows and the doors are open. The cage is the only thing he has ever known. I share this because the other day on my walk, I passed an injured bird that looked like it was gasping it’s last breathe. Despite the dangers and the uncertainties that life offers there is a sense of freedom that life offers when we choose to fly. Some of us are living life safe and sound in a cage like the lovebird. If the cage door was opened, would you be willing to leave it?
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Instead of hiding from the Jehovah’s Witness that started coming to my home a few weeks ago, I invited the two women in to discuss “The Good News”. It’s been an amazing learning experience not in the sense of religion or spirituality but as in learning who I have become over the past few years. I think the Bible study sessions have become a form of checks and balances in my beliefs. As for me, I have no desire to convert but I enjoy discussing a hot button topic and do not feel diminished when we do not come to the same conclusion. I know in order for anyone to grow and expand into the best version of themselves, one must not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone. I must admit, I don’t know why or how long we will continue to meet, but I do know that what ever is happening is only for my good, and that’s great news.
Sometimes in life we have to have those difficult conversations that have the potential to not stay on the “mature level”. The true sign of your maturity is your response to those types of conversations. Just because the conversation is taking a turn for the worst, does not mean you have to participate. It’s like playing in the sandbox, just because you’re invited in to play and throw sand does not mean you have to. You always have the right to choose even if it means walking away.
There have been many times that I have gotten my car stuck in the mud and there are valuable lessons I have learned from this experience that I can apply in life. One of the most important things to remember is: Don’t panic. When things are not going your way, the worst thing you can do is just and switch into something without having some type of game plan or destination in mind. When you feel panicky or anxious when things are not working out the way you plan, try and compose yourself first, take a step back, take time to think and assess the situation and then decide what to do. You don’t want to got from one mud hole to the next.
Your greatest gift is your adaptability. When you can learn to let go of your need to control, life opens up and flows. I am still a work in progress, but I am not so hell bent on having things go “my way”. Life has become more enjoyable and my relationships have significantly improved. I no longer feel as if I have to defend my opinions but rather expand my sense of understanding. Each and every one of us were created with a purpose that this world so desperately needs. As Zig Ziglar so eloquently stated: Man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness. Know that you are not diminished by anyone else’s opinion.
Everyday we have to choice to focus on the positive or dwell on the negative. To everything there are two sides. The switch from negative to positive outlook is not easy but it is possible and it begins with your self-talk. Start here and fill in the blank…What’s the __ thing that can happen today? If your answered with BEST, congratulations!
In life there is a dynamic duo by the name of Now and Later. To be successful, we have to learn to appreciate now in order to navigate or influence want we want later. Take for instance, whatever you are going through right now in life can provide the tools and the wisdom you need to manage future difficulties later, if you look for it. Take what you learn now and apply it towards what you will face later. It becomes compounded wisdom.
Quite often we put a hold on our dreams based on the conversation that someone may have said to you that “you can’t do that.” When you hear that phrase “you can’t” it actually means “they can’t” and that is true. Only you can do you with the gifts and talents that are within you. Develop those talents and gifts in order to live the best possible life for you on your terms, not by someone else’s.
There are times in life when there will be two things that we may want but are not be able to decide which one is the one we should hold onto and which one do we let go of. When I was watching my granddaughter the other a day, she had her pacifier in her mouth when she tried to put the bottle in her mouth at the same time. She would not take the pacifier out of her mouth. I laughed and asked her, which one baby? “You can’t have the bottle and keep the pacifier in your mouth.” So often life offers up choices to us. When it comes to choosing things that will help us grow in life remember, we can’t gain new insight holding onto old thinking. To grow and thrive, we can’t eat with a pacifier in our mouth.
Sweet N Social 
