ATTEMPTED COURAGE

TODAY'S QUOTE:
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Vincent Van Gogh

The answer to that is a no-brainer, if nothing is ever attempted then nothing is ever gained. Losses would be final. By the time adulthood was reached we'd all be hopelessly entombed in lives little better than walking death. Progress on the planet and inside ourselves would be unheard of, and pointless would be the best that could be said about living. Satisfaction with the status-quo guarantees nothing will ever change; not only locking the door on any opportunity for growth, but nailing it tight against any random key that may exist. Orbiting inside of a one-size-fits-all atmosphere should never even be an option, let alone a normal way to travel. A mountain should be viewed as a challenge, not a wall. Doesn't your life deserves the same distinction? Aren't we all worthy of more than more of the same ole' shit? 

Thank God that life isn't like that unless we demand nothing of ourselves. Hey, if you truly crave a portion of that stale pie, you can have my helping as well; being satisfied with the least I can get has always been my biggest fear. Without the climb you'll miss out on a view that'll makes all your pain bearable. Trying is the only key, and each of us owns one. Change isn't for the weak at heart or the weak kneed. There are ever present risks involved, but rewards also litter the landscape. Fear of failure shouldn't be in control or success will always elude your grasp. Always keep in mind that anything can be overcome if you refuse to be overwhelmed. Not easily... some things take back-breaking effort. Not quickly... rush jobs always need repair, so take the time it needs to do it right. Not blindly... without paying attention to where you're headed you'll likely end up somewhere you never wanted to go.

Courage doesn't mean the absence of fear. You can be trembling like a leaf in the breeze and still be courageous. It takes a ton of it to act in spite of the fear you feel. Each and every terror I've ever faced has been less frightening face-to-face than the way it was imagined beforehand. And the ones I ran from only chased me until I turned and finally dealt with them. The ones I ignored attacked me while I slumbered. The ones I stood toe-to-toe with always shrunk in equal measure to my rising up. A determined mindset, or lack thereof is what dictates how they appear. Be courageous enough to stop magnifying their dimensions and watch them shrink to a manageable size.

Bravery is not as hard as it seems when you realize that what you fear is unequal to the human spirit. Whatever happens it's always better to attempt courage and try to get past the bogeyman. He won't just vanish because you wish him away, but he'll cut and run most times when you call his cowardly bluff.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

A WELL-TAMED MIND

TODAY'S QUOTE:
Hard to hold down,
nimble,
alighting wherever it likes:
the mind.
Its taming is good.
The mind well-tamed brings ease.
Dhammapada

The taming of the mind is a never ending endeavor that gets easier with practice and time. Every obstacle we encounter inspires negative thoughts. When they go unchallenged we're held hostage and terrorized at their leisure. Learning how to silence them and bounce them out of your brain isn't all that hard once you stop playing the victims' role to idle notions inspired by blind panic. Stop telling yourself bull-shit, so the stink can disappear. Escort the negatives to the gutter where they belong, and invite the positives to the penthouse!

Some thoughts soar like birds, and while other's slither like snakes. I hate snakes, so negative thoughts have that image, making it impossible for us to co-exist. If I wouldn't open my front door and invite a serpent into my house, why would I welcome one into my mind? A snake inside my home would be easy to get away from, simply go out and shut the door. A snake in the brain is unavoidable if you give it time to find a place of refuge.

When you least expect it, there it'll sit hissing at you. I don't wait until its tail passes by then grab it and sling it out the nearest exit. I feel its approach and aim a cannon in its direction. First glance and its mince meat, and all the gore is blown back out into the darkness from which it came. Birds need lots of space to soar and safe places to land. A snake free zone is a perfect place of ease. And that's a fact you won't be able to deny if you simply give it a try!!!

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

JUST BE HAPPY

TODAY'S QUOTE: Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. Guillaume Apollinaire, 1880-1918, French Poet and Writer

The search for happiness is often so frantic that we rush by the very things that would guarantee its rightful place in our lives. Some of us imagine it has something to do with the stockpiling of money, or possessions. Those things do add a level of comfort and opportunity that a poorer individual doesn't share. But we all posses the same status when it comes to the pursuit of happiness. The playing field is level; we just fumble the ball a bit differently according to our net worth. Things would be much simpler if everyone just adjusted their mindset to reflect these three important principles. 1- Money is man made and so are the things it can buy. 2- Happiness is priceless, but its free. 3- Our ability to find it doesn't depend on traveling even an inch, so stop looking all around and start looking up inside! 

It's a state of mind, not something you can find in a store, or deposit in a bank account. You can't order it from a catalog. It can't be stolen from someone else and worn by you. In fact, trying that will cost you more dearly than the imagination can conceive. Happiness can't be trapped like it's some kind of exotic animal. The fastest among us don't win it like a trophy and the slowest don't lose it by default. Wasting of time and energy won't do a damn thing except wear you out and break your spirit. No matter what you invest in your quest, if you're looking in the wrong place you'll never even get a glimpse of its splendor. The solution is simple; look in the right location! Ask your soul for directions! Once you reach your destination, defending its boarders is necessary. Some damn fool is always ready to wipe a smile off your face... don't let them or what's the point! They'll leave you with costly repairs, but they'll do nothing to assist in damage control. Fact is, they can't help; the buck truly stops with you.

When you come to fully realize just how determined invaders can be to wreck havoc, it's quite easy to summon up the will to defend yourself. No violence is necessary to guarantee their defeat. Simply don't engage. A bully won't fight alone for long. They want to look strong, not foolish. Stand your ground, and save your smile. The situations of your life and the people who inhabit it can't take, unless you allow it. And nobody else can give it to you in any kind of lasting fashion. Moments of joy aren't the same as real happiness, which comes from inside and radiates outward. The simplest things teach us the most important lessons about real happiness. The best way to achieve it is to give it away moment by precious moment.

The spring is an internal one, fed by the soul in a never ending flow. Once discovered it never dries up, although it does slow down during times of worry and stress. Look inside, it's there just waiting for you to tap its resources. It won't come find you, but if you want it badly enough it'll certainly meet you more than half way.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

JOYOUS TASK

TODAY'S QUOTE: Set me a task in which I can put something of my very self, and it is a task no longer; it is joy; it is art. Bliss Carman (1861-1929) Poet

This IS my joyous task and it always has been. I began for my own sake, but continue it for the sake of others. I think deeply, at some point every day, so I could gain almost as much for myself by being silent. I'm driven to write  by a voice that I silence by simply doing as it asks. My soul demands that I use my voice to say "you're not alone." Once upon a time I struggled by myself inside of a mighty vacuum and I can still hear the echo of my footsteps in that lonely place. I began journaling then so I wouldn't lose my way. I began blogging to help other's find theirs... and I've walked beside more than a few since my journey first began. It's been an honor and a privilege that's given my life a much deeper meaning.

My soul's demand quickly became my hearts desire, and that made me a better person in the process. It's made me hyper-mindful of our ability to add to or subtract from the lives of the people we touch. Our influence is often much deeper than we realize. The fact that I'm aware of that fact only intensifies my determination to use a gentle hand. Because I know the power of words to wound or soothe I aim mine at the wounded warriors in an attempt to soothe wherever possible. And in this way my own scar-tissue shrinks, and my own pain has a worthy purpose that makes some sense out of my past suffering at the hands of people in the name of love.

My life is made richer by the time I spend here, although not in wealth you can deposit in any bank. The riches come from friendships forged and comfort given that's returned to me in ways that make my soul rejoice. Each simple yet priceless treasure has value more dear than all the money ever minted. Daily reminders of a positive nature are needed so badly nowadays. I may write them, but I also read and benefit from them. I'd go batty at breakneck speed if I didn't start my days off gently. It takes a solid base to hold up under pressure, so I do my best to create something solid enough to help us all through the day.

Do I consider it art? Well, yes in its own way I suppose it is; at least I'd like to think of it in that fashion. Each soul has something of beauty to share with the world, and this is my slice of soul laid bare for public consumption. I pray that all portions served are satisfying... I thank you for being my honored guest... and I ask God's blessing for us all. He loves us no matter what and wants us to love each other in the same way. What a wonderful thing love is... it makes the world go around, but we seem to be off balance from the lack of it at the moment. Following the crowd was never one of my shortcomings, so believe me when I say, "I REALLY LOVE YOU, AND YOU'RE TRULY NOT ALONE!!!"

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

SENSIBLE OPTIONS

TODAY'S QUOTE: Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. M. Kathleen Casey

Life is overflowing with things to agonize over, but the amount of time spent willingly banging your poor head against an immovable object is your choice. Shit happens, people change, players use and abuse, parents fail, children screw up, friends prove false; the list of reasons to be melancholy seems endless. Giving into the negative emotions that any heartache inspires is all too easily accomplished by meekly following a thought pattern, as if you're a hostage. But remember that the bully inside isn't planning on driving you anywhere worth going; its agenda violently discourages any sort of independent travel, mostly by inspiring overwhelming fear or intense melancholy. All too quickly you become breathless under the weight of negative thoughts and emotions, making getting out of bed seem a trip of a million miles.  

Too near the edge isn't a safe place to abandon yourself to the push of doom. Free-falling into disaster isn't any way to live, but some of us do it all the time. Things with the power to wound keep on doing so as long as we give them free rein. Learning then moving on puts the power where it belongs. Old hurts will only stay fresh if we constantly pick at them with our thoughts. It may be harder in the short term to wrestle the negative into silence, but it saves the long term for really living. Don't make the frog prince a king by renting him space in your mind. Don't let a less than perfect childhood keep doing damage your whole life long. Don't let a liar make you blind to truth, or a false love make you doubt a true one exists.

You can't live a pain free life, but your suffering is mind made after a certain point. What sense is it to let yourself bleed forever for something that someone else did to you, when all too quickly they'll hardly remember your name. I forgive myself for being human enough to be easily wounded, then I forgive the one who hurt me. I don't forget the pain or its source, but I do refuse to let anyone make me bitter or jaded toward life. With some forethought and a bit of luck one pain will help me avoid another. Hurt whenever you must, but suffer as little as possible.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

THE SOURCE OF THINGS

TODAY'S QUOTE: Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. Thich Nhat Hanh

What came first the chicken or the egg? In the long and short of it, the order of conception doesn't really matter. When you're smacking your lips over an omelet the last thing that comes to mind is the source of the egg. Eww! When a smile graces your face before it's passed on, the order in which it appeared isn't a consideration either; it just feels too damn good to ponder on it that way. You just do it without thinking it to death. And that's a good thing!I know that performing any act will transform it into fact in the blink of an eye. If you use your time wisely and adjust your mindset accordingly there isn't any reason to set yourself up to fail, when success is an option. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there.  It takes time to figure out what to look for; learning where to look takes determination, and uniting the two takes God's help.

Don't waste time just pondering over a reality that brings nothing but pain, when changing it is well within your ability. Stop producing deep lines in your face and deeper ones in your soul by constantly focusing on a problem without considering any possible solution. Pressure ages us so quickly. By willing adding tonnage to your own burdens you only assist in the aging process. Don't be so worried about your purpose that you forget to be grateful you even exist. Remember that if there's a will, there's a way; if you can't find your way then you're simply not exercising enough willpower. Whenever your choice is between up and down always opt to rise. And that includes using your will to master the corners of your mouth into either a negative or positive direction.  

I often smile when I'd rather frown, because giving into the negative would make a mess of my equilibrium in no time flat. Negatives use up too much valuable space, while earning you no precious grace. But positives expand as they go, giving you ample room in which to grow. Smiling when you would rather frown just confuses the hell out of any lurking scowls. All too soon the grin will be soul deep and not simply pasted on. Overpower the darkness with your inner light; if wiggling the switch seems tiresome just think about how exhausting it is trying to navigate in total darkness.

The first person who smiles back will give you a real reason to be doing so. It seems simple because it is; frankly speaking, most things in life are less complicated then we like to think. All too often people imagine tasks more difficult so they have a valid excuse not to attempt them. There's simply no excuse good enough for not smiling as often as possible. Dodging a bullet takes fast action, and sidestepping negative thoughts and reactions requires timely intervention. Turn your frown upside down asap or be satisfied with aiding and abetting in a smiles total destruction. In all ways that matter you're the source of all things that exit you, making control of whatever enters a much more weighty consideration. The only one truly capable of making a lasting positive change in the alteration of your daily circumstances or your realistic acceptance of them is you.  *SMILES!!!

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

STILLNESS

TODAY'S QUOTE:
In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you. Deepak Chopra

Silence of the soul is a treasure beyond compare. Once found it's like a force field, surrounding you and keeping the worst of the pain away. Money cannot buy it, poverty cannot destroy it, and trouble cannot do more than slightly dent its surface. It comes from knowing yourself and accepting your faults. It comes from seeing your imperfections, smoothing the ones you can and coming to terms with the rest. It comes from valuing your own personal space and respecting everyone else's space as well.

Deeply held silence gives a quiet place to reflect upon things without the echo of any voice except your own. A higher hand can reach there without any effort, but a heavy hand doesn't have a chance of entering the secret garden of your soul once you set up the boundaries that keep it sound proof. Avoid giving into panic inspired by listening to anyone else. Once you set your mind right and put a precious value on the health of your soul what anyone says won't hold the same power over you. The more you ignore them the easier it is to hear yourself. Build inch-by-inch if necessary and eventually you'll possess a place of inner peace worthy of housing a soul worth protecting.

When a heartache or worry is given to me, deserved or not, I take it to that quiet place and deal fairly with it as soon as possible. I either accept or reject blame without shame knowing that I never set out to hurt others. I either devise a plan for solving a problem, or decide there is no solution and accept it as reality. I deal with what's going on inside of me inspired by external things out of my control. All my best lessons are learned inside of that peaceful place; the most brutal truths faced, the good and the bad are given equal space and consideration.

I'm FAR from perfect, but then I've never claimed perfection. I just know that I believed for too long the voices that told me I wasn't worth much. I accept whatever portion of the blame I deserve for my own abuse, and the abuse of my children. I should've left, but didn't; fear was a factor... not an excuse I'm willing to hide behind. By default alone, I own some blame, and by choice I accept it as the price of finding peace. I've come to terms with that part of my life and have moved on. I'm not the person I once was. The beginning of my odyssey toward acceptance was finding the silent space and using it as wisely as possible. It's served me very well through both brutal days and brighter ones.

It's not a place that you should only visit when life has you by the short hairs. To simply use it as a spot to dump your sorrows would all too soon make it a place of dread. Joys should be invited too. Everything examined inside its boundaries has a clarity that cannot be achieved anywhere else. All things of import should pass through its gates for processing, so that the most good can be gotten out of everything that touches you. I make time to visit every day, if only for a short time. It's not a shadowy place in which to hide; it's a sacred soul-space that teaches you how to thrive.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

DEEP LISTENING

TODAY'S QUOTE: Deep listening is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand. Sue Patton Thoele

The true art of listening involves more than just the ears; eyes, mind, heart, and soul are mandatory to mastering the ability to truly absorb all that's said and at least some of what isn't vocal. There's nothing that'll make me go instantly silent faster than to see a listeners eyes grow dim, signaling inattention as surely as if they put out a neon sign. On the other side of the scale there's nothing that'll inspire my urge to say something worth hearing faster than the light of true interest in their gaze. The best ears reside in a face that welcomes an honest exchange enough to stay positively engaged even when the subject matter isn't agreeable. Some things are for the common good... it can't always be about YOU... being a team player benefits everyone in the long run. GO US!!!

Deep-listening blesses both the speaker and the listener.

The one hearing doesn't need to say a word to perform pure magic. Comfort is instant and soul-deep. Listening well, but gently, means you suspend all judgment. Each of us needs at least one person that we can speak to without editing every word. Unconditional ears are such a rare and beautiful treasure to have at our disposal. When you're very lucky, the same person returns the favor and trusts you enough to say the things that are hidden deep inside of them without worry of any censure. GO US!!!

Every lasting relationship, of any sort, has deep-listening at its core. Trust and love are great building blocks, but without the sound structure of true communication the richness and depth of the whole structure suffers. I thank God for the deep listeners I know, loving and being loved by them enriches my life in ways that are priceless beyond description. You know who you are and why I love you. If I mean half as much to you as you mean to me, I'm very lucky indeed. WE ROCK!!! GO US!!!

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE...THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

A MAGICAL JOURNEY

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering."
Saint Augustine

The first fifty years of my life were spent in a mostly stationary location, although I've traveled many miles since that time, for that I'm grateful. The trips I've taken are important, but without the one I took at forty none of them would've occurred. The most profound journey of my lifetime began on my fortieth birthday, and I don't expect it to end anytime before I do. It's led me to profound discoveries about life in general and about myself in particular.

I'd passed myself by, lost myself entirely, and sold myself short for all those years before my awakening. Every day since I've tried to stay alert to what's going on inside of my secret garden, not for simple curiosities sake, but for the sake of the survival of self. I don't travel in any perfect fashion; mistakes are a common human condition, and I'm all too human. I journey with determination to get the most good out of every step, and that's the best I can do.

Travel by all means, if you've got the chance, but visit the most important place on earth once and a while too. The secrets you reveal, the treasures you'll find make for a much richer life, no matter what your circumstances. Lighten your baggage whenever possible. Slow your steps to absorb the scenery inside then alter what offends your eye. Walk with pride where it's safe to be whomever you really are then ease that person into the real world. Listen to the drummer deep inside, balance lightly on the balls of your feet then dance to the tune only you can hear.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE...THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

KNOWING

TODAY'S QUOTE: Next to knowing when to seize an opportunity, the most important thing in life is to know when to forego an advantage. Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), The Infernal Marriage (1834)

 

Learning how to behave at any given moment in any situation requires knowledge that we often don't even bother obtaining. If we don't learn to view the big picture from a depth inside ourselves that we don't even know exists how can we possibly pretend to know enough? By standing too long and hard upon a, "I know it all" platform a mind never has the chance to expand, since any notion not already possessed is made somehow counterfeit. Chances get missed... hope gets misplaced... bad choices lock us up into prisons of our own construction, and keep us there under false pretenses. It's impossible to learn that we possess the only key to our true quality of life when nobody or nothing can teach us shit!

 

Some of us are most unwilling students once we imagine that the finish line has been crossed. And each of us seem to have a different point where we're instantly transformed from student to mastermind. Once the ego inspired among us aren't required by law or pressured by parents they enter the rat race and consider themselves fully grown and in charge. Dreams of grandeur are an ego's blueprint to a lifestyle most never achieve. Their heads stay stuck in the glory days and they truly expect the stasis quo to automatically continue. An ego's sense of entitlement can be gigantic; without the drive to do the work to become true master of any dream all we're left with is a nightmare that haunts night and day. We must be willing to unpucker our ego if we want to truly view and retain the treasures of wisdom that are our successes and failures true rewards. We have to continue learning about life inside and out or we miss the point altogether.

 

Higher education, of a certain sort, isn't enclosed inside of brick buildings. Every spot you stand is of equal importance. Formal education may be in the past, but the informal one continues day-by-day, year-by-year as long as we're in our right mind. We stop paying tuition to schools, but knowledge isn't free even if no money ever changes hands. We pay attention... we invest time and effort... we struggle to understand our fellow travelers, while struggling even harder to understand ourselves. We may be of age, with a job, family, and home, complete with a dog and two cats. On the surface it appears perfect, but without real depth it becomes little more than a comfy narrow rut. Building a surface life isn't always easy, but digging deeper never is; one requires a heartbeat, while the other demands a hearts true desire. Whenever we stop pursuing knowledge we abandon growth and admit that being stuck on stupid is good enough. Doing the very least of what can be done then redoing it daily will sustain life, but it truly discourages any really living. The more we know... the further we go!

 

Being true to our nature is a spiritual responsibility of monumental proportion, yet many spend a lifetime ignoring its very existence. Truly, if we can't even decide what we're really made of we aren't fit to decide much else. Many bitch about the ruts they're stuck in, yet never attempt escape. Freedom is possible for everyone; determination is the only key. We gaze at the surface and believe that's all there is, when just a peek behind the façade will reveal so much more than the obvious. We rush too much, like this is a race, and miss so much in the mad dash to the finish line.

 

Making every day a little life helps adjust our vision, so the little things of great import don't get so easily overlooked. Sight is relative; the direction we point our attention is where we see the most of whatever scenery surrounds the thing centered inside our gaze. The length of time we focus and the intensity of the attention paid either earns knowledge or robs us of it, according to our determination to really see and understand the landscape.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

Blissful Blunders

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come."... Og Mandino

When you fall take a minute to catch your breath... take a minute to attend to any injury... take a minute to regain your footing... take a minute to identify what tripped you up... take a minute to clear it from the path... take a minute to dust yourself off... take a minute to stretch out the kinks... take a minute to get your bearings... take a minute to give thanks for possessing the strength rise again... take a minute to gather impressions and notions to ponder as you travel forward... then continue your journey.

Ten minutes will seem to be way too short a time to some and much too long to others. Some will spring back up and attempt a sprint, only to trip again over the very same obstacle. Some will sit feeling sorrow for so long that a puddle of pity will form, adding a burden they didn't possess until they produced it for themselves. Some will try to skip a step or more in an attempt to streamline the process. Some will add steps galore until the number alone overwhelms any notion of moving on. And some precious few will follow the pattern set and stroll away with a straight back, lifted chin, and eyes that sparkle with anticipation.

Some will waste time trying to make their journey easier. When they finally move... if they move at all... they simply shuffle along, head down searching madly for any danger ahead. Some will start building a monument to their misfortune. Once it's complete they'll worship at its base and give up on any notion of moving on. They'll erect a squatters shelter and spend the rest of their existence telling their sad story to any and all who pass by. Few ever join them in worship there. Most of us recognize the error of allowing any short term fumble to become a life long ending. Most of us move forward and quickly pass both the squatter and the shufflers up ahead.

Some of us may slow down enough to give encouragement as we pass. Some of us may call names, even though we shouldn't. Some of us will leave a trail of some sort, just in case the one's left behind come to their senses and decide to give up on giving up. We'll all react in one fashion or another, but stopping won't ever be a choice of the sensible. The determined among the walking wounded will be driven forward at a steady pace. They won't take the risk of becoming infected by any negatives. They may leave a map. They may leave a clue. But they won't nurse an unwilling patient or try to alter a mindset determined to be hopeless.

They fall as hard as anyone else, but they rise with a grace all of their own. They may want to travel with a companion, but they know to choose wisely who they match their steps beside. They'll eventually find someone who clearly knows where they're heading if they avoid the ones who focus only on where they've been. They'll see some so determined to look at the past that they walk backwards. They may warn of the dangers of cliffs and sink holes up ahead, but they won't stay to save someone so determined to fail. The walking wounded who see themselves as warriors will keep traveling and learning from their failures. And hope of an eternal sort will be their constant companion even if their journey is destined to be solitary.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

Every Word

TODAY'S QUOTE: Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams you want to realize. Behind every word flows energy... Sonia Choquette

Every word you utter has more influence and power than most of us really understand. I think we can agree that negative speech causes damage to our fellowman. I imagine we also realize that using the same formula when we're silently addressing ourselves inspires a similar outcome. You can't build anything solid with negatives; tearing down, stealing joy, and subtracting confidence are specialties of any negativity that recognizes no borders and respects no boundaries. Putting your words to better use doesn't happen automatically. The struggle is real. But if it's worthy of fighting for it's certainly worth the effort.

Self-awareness is the best tool to use in reshaping a faulty mindset. And the best place to begin altering how you use your voice is to pay careful attention to how you speak to yourself. Being your own worst critic doesn't inspire growth. Weeds should never be lovingly tended... if ignored they'll quickly overtake any vacant space... killing them before they multiply may be a mighty struggle, but with practice you'll soon be a master gardener. Stop putting yourself down and start lifting yourself up. Negative thoughts won't nibble where you don't leave any bait!

A brick composed of negatives will easily crumble. Nothing built will survive even the gentlest of storms. Once you free your mind of all those pesky weeds turn your attention to policing your mouth. Words said plant seeds. Ears listen to their echo and take them to heart then harvest their message. Be mindful of what you're planting inside your fellowman, or you'll be the fault of many a weed field. Use your words to create beauty. Use your voice as a peace-maker, not as a shit-stirrer. Use your influence to build bridges. Discourage gossip by never lending it an ear and always denying it the use of your lips.

Once you're readjusted inside and out it's time to make valuable use of handpicked thoughts and well chosen words to breath life into a dream. An uncluttered mind gives your heart an empty canvass on which to create a masterpiece. A soul that isn't being strangled by negative emotions can soar to unimaginable heights and give priceless encouragement to your deepest desires. And anyone touched with even the lightest of pressure will be infected with hope and you'll leave them better off from simply watching your flight. Fact is their waves of hope will leave you better off as well, adding major lift to your journey.

Our differences should always be less important than our ability to overcome them. Reasons to disagree always outnumber the ways we see eye-to-eye. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but how we react when we're at odds with one another certainly can become a tragedy. The use of words as weapons is always wrong. Being right is never as important as being civilized enough to allow others to own their own opinion without fear of attack. Debate can be healthy. By using violence and volume as a way to convince someone to agree with your beliefs sets the battlefield in motion.

I don't understand why people of late act as if the differing beliefs of our countrymen has to inspire something that so resembles civil war where words are flung to-and-fro instead of bullets. Why is it so hard to understand that when everyone is screaming then nobody is really listening. You simply can't hope to change minds and touch hearts by being the loudest. A bit of respect from both sides would do more to unite us as a nation and give equal space for reasonable debate. The world is watching and waiting for an implosion that our actions imply. Why not use our words wisely and debate in a less destructive fashion? We're a fine family and this is our beautiful home; showing our ass to the neighbors won't further anyone's agenda.

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER
      



    

 

Opportune Enemy Cultivation

TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you can cultivate the right attitude, your enemies are your best spiritual teachers because their presence provides you with the opportunity to enhance and develop tolerance, patience and understanding"... His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

It really isn't a matter of if you can... of course you can. But will you? Now that's a different matter altogether. If you're willing to amend a mindset until you own your attitude and it stops owning you then you'll succeed. If you continue slamming the door on any internal alterations then you won't do the work and you won't gain the reward. Either way is it's powered by personal choice alone. A mind is open or closed according to our instructions. And a bad attitude is a guest invited, not a ruler by the grace of God.

To cultivate means preparation for whatever crop we plan on producing. And oftentimes we don't have a clue about what we're planting. We sling seeds then don't tend our garden so when we reap weeds how can we be shocked? We should figure out what's worthy of planting inside of our mind before we begin. We should give it all the attention it deserves so the harvest will leave us soul satisfied. Change is hard, but growing roots where we stand dooms us to a very narrow existence.

It's all about adapting to our environment then becoming more discriminative in taste and judgement. It takes real determination to alter a mindset, but it's well within our power. We possess the tools; it's just a matter of using them wisely. A shovel can dig a hole. A hose can transport water from place to place. A car can travel many miles on a tank of gas. But none of these tools can do anything unless we utilize them. Using the tools we have wisely is the only path to true wisdom.

Dealing kindly with bothersome people is much easier if viewed as a measurement of our own personal growth. When we don't agree with someone it's criminal to respond with hateful words or violent aggression. Nobody's mind ever got changed in that fashion... nobody's heart was ever softened by hard treatment. No sane person would willingly be changed in a positive way by negative means. I know it's out of fashion, but we really need to try a little more kindness nowadays. A lot more would be even better, but a bit of good is much better than none at all. God bless the USA!!!!

THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

© GLENDA ALEXANDER

OUR IMMORTAL ECHO

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality."... John Quincy Adams

The power of persuasion is a sacred tool with a range of motion that imposes no limits upon its reach. Our touch can be absorbed, digested, and passed on over and over, leaving an echo behind us that may eventually be heard once again up ahead. I'm depending upon my words to produce an echo strong enough to give comfort long after I'm nothing more than dust in the wind.

If we truly seek to leave behind more than we take away then this tool is always used in the most positive of fashions. When our hunger far exceeds our need it gets misused to influence the greedy by negative means. The tools are identical when they're first put to use, but one is quickly made misshapen by its ill-use. The difference between leaving the world better or bitterer rests completely in how you choose to use your precious power of persuasion.

Careful examination of our agenda should help curb some instances of misuse that lead to abuse. We should always know what we're selling and why. No matter what we own at the end it'll surely be picked over by the ones who inherit our worldly goods. If what we are is defined by what we own then once we own nothing our life amounts to nothing of any importance. And that is a shame and a sin.

The only real legacy we can leave behind to benefit our fellowman is an echo profound enough to deserve immortality; even if it never achieves that state, the effort is still worthy of making it a priority. I've used my pain for gain. I don't profit in any way from what I do, although I don't doubt for one minute that my talent has real worth. I spend every waking moment helping others...  through my writing and through the tender care I give my husband 24/7. I consider the first a duty and the second an honor. My echo will be here long after I'm gone, and I'm satisfied it'll continue to give more than it takes.

Use your words for healing and your actions for comfort. Inspire understanding between people when you're able. Never make anyone feel stupid because they're of a differing opinion than your own. Never allow violence to be used in the name of a cause you endorse, because when the shit hits the fan it sprays in every direction. Never show in your actions or words such negative thoughts and emotions that your enemy's delight in your confusion and see it as weakness. Give every man a chance to do good before you condemn him for evil intentions. If we look hard enough we can find bad in everyone, but we can also find goodness... it all depends on the tilt of your soul. PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT... LET IT RIDE... THEN YOU DECIDE!!!

      

A SUCCESSION OF LIVES

TODAY'S QUOTE:
A woman's life can really be a succession of lives, each revolving around some emotionally compelling situation or challenge, and each marked off by some intense experience...
Wallis Simpson

These words were certainly true for the woman who said them; a king abdicated his crown for love of her. Her life was dramatic enough to wobble a kingdom. She became instantly world famous as well as infamous and their life together inspired countless books and movies. For Wallis Simpson this quote was a bit of an understatement, but it's true in some lesser measure for most of humanity.

I think the only thing I may disagree with is the limiting of it to the female gender. Males suffer in life too... maybe not in the same fashion or for the same reason; women don't possess a monopoly there. We simply show our true colors more often and most alterations are done center stage. Men are less likely to turn themselves inside out in public... that doesn't mean they're not very well acquainted with life's challenges.

With that respectful tip of my hat I return my focus to the female portion of, "how to unpucker, untwist, and unwad with grace." Life unfolds, one layer at a time when we're young; gain a bit of age and the speed increases dramatically. Before too long the layers begin to overlap. One role is followed by the next at a speed guaranteed to confuse. That dizzy pattern continues until we learn to unite all layers to create a single masterpiece.

Awareness is the key. As the distance between roles shrinks who we were tangles with who we are and attempts to overpower who we're truly meant to be. It's overwhelming to a ridiculous degree and the more we struggle the deeper we sink. When quicksand becomes our platform it's never voluntary, but letting it all end there certainly is. No matter the number of layers applied to our form our soul is our salvation. No matter how the landscape shifts... no matter how many hats we're forced to wear... no matter what our feet rest upon, our soul can keep us headed in the right direction. But we've got to give it a voice in the selection process.

Roles change as we travel along. Coming of age broadens our choices, while becoming aged shrinks the playing field. It's the in-between years that define our roles, but often so little planning is done that we find ourselves in costumes that never fit who we are inside. Just drifting with the flow and playing a part thrust upon us makes us little more than puppets. If we're not the one pulling the strings and we do nothing to alter our role as puppet we really have no reason for complaint. But we have every reason for revolt, even if we never lift a hand to free ourselves.

Too many decisions are made using shallow facts. Roles come in conflict with one another so there's often an internal war between heart and mind. Our labels overlap to such a degree that we're forced to fight for our very breath. We grow weary and give up... accepting crumbs when we deserve the banquet. Try deep breathing... try deep digging... try letting the deepest part of our being lead the way. Our souls are eternal while a heart will cease beating and a brain will fail us as well. If all choices were made with our souls at the bargaining table then all our roles would be tailor made and fit like a glove. Our layers would reinforce one another and the complete package would be a masterpiece of priceless worth and magnificent beauty. All quicksand would disappear and we'd find ourselves safely standing upon solid rock. Think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!   

IN THE END

TODAY'S QUOTE: In the end the only faults we will be asked to answer for will be our own; any others are not ours to either censure or correct. GLENDA ALEXANDER

Missteps and screw-ups litter every landscape we ever stumble through... ignoring them doesn't make for ease of travel. Making excuses won't alter the terrain. Pointed fingers always lead the way to senseless drama, but even the most sensible among us has either given directions or taken them. Wagging tongues make for such ugly faces; natural beauty melts like candle wax when gossip, true or not, comes spilling out over ruby red lips. 

It may seem easier to focus on someone else's shortcomings than to work on limiting your own, but what do you gain? A judgmental tongue in an honest person will tell facts as they see them and give unsolicited advice as if it were law. A judgmental tongue in a dishonest person will add layers of fiction to a bit of fact and spread it like icing on whoever feeds on dirty linen. The ones who fashion and repeat are quickly surrounded by people more than eager to listen, add their own flair, and retell never caring who gets hurt or what they destroy.    

Too much in our society has traveled lightning years past the, "if you can't say something nice, simply say nothing at all" portion of our evolution. Social media gives unlimited space in which to complain and criticize. At times it seems that we glory in the ugly side of life, while the beauty barely gets a glance. All negatives are noticed, reported, relished, and digested, leaving any positives in the dust to be trampled underfoot. I don't condone, support, or add an ounce of credit to what I find to be one of the most counter-productive practices that too many waste their precious time on... and you shouldn't either.

Tend to your own biscuits before you go trying to tell someone else how to make their own... or everyone is apt to end up with a filthy kitchen and an empty bread box. Let God do His job and you do yours. Maybe if we stop judging each other there'll be more visible reasons to love them. The sea gets rough enough without having others randomly adding rocks to your pockets so your drowning is certain. Think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!!          

THE HUNT FOR HAPPINESS

JUST A THOUGHT: Things of real and lasting value do not cost green paper produced in a factory. Real happiness cannot be manufactured, but it can be grown. The only way to find what we seek is to reach our core... tend it gently... and harvest its bounty. GLENDA ALEXANDER

Donating your free-will for the price of love is always a heart-breaking, soul-shrinking rip off. Handing over something truly precious to gain what is falsely portrayed as priceless is a brutal life-lesson. Don't get me wrong... I know true love exists.  I also know that real love will never shrink you until you fit snuggly up under someone else's thumb. If you're made less in any fashion then think a bit deeper before you sign on the dotted line. If you use less heart and more brain you'll have a more than fair chance of avoiding being left emotionally bankrupt no matter what happens.

The beginning is where the tone is set for all that follows afterward. Dropping the ball during the dating negotiations is easy enough to do.  You forget one plus one makes two. In the haze of rosy delight all you notice is the answer and the equation is totally disregarded. Love is in the air... hearts and flowers blind us into believing that giving our all will finally guarantee our happiness. I speak from dire past experience when I say that's a fairytale of the most dangerous sort.

Lasting happiness doesn't come from the outside; we don't absorb it from the atmosphere. There isn't a patch we can wear... no injection to get... or any pill we can swallow will reproduce what our soul hungers for. There are people who bring joy to our lives, but they can't
make us whole if we're broken. And all of us are flawed in one fashion or another. Putting the responsibility of our happiness on anyone else's shoulders simply guarantees failure on two fronts. Of course they'll fail no matter how hard they try and after a time they'll simply stop trying. And our disappointment will inspire resentment so that all too soon our unhappiness becomes their fault. The end is never far behind. But that's not altogether a bad thing.

Some endings transform quickly into precious gifts, even though at the time they seem tragic. Sometimes it takes a bit of space to grieve for what is lost before you can see what's been found. Endings push you into change and force your focus inward. And more times than not that is a most wondrous thing. Finding yourself suddenly alone is overwhelming if you've spent a long time gifting someone else with all that you own. They may have taken your precious gift and twisted it beyond repair then tossed it back to you in a condition you don't even recognize. If so simply begin anew;   
 
Truly owning your three feet of personal space never comes cheap, but it's always worth any effort necessary to keep or regain possession of what's rightfully yours. Never allow self-doubt to render you helpless when the only way to achieve success is to simply act until it becomes  fact. Fight until you win, then protect what you own as if your very life depended upon it... because the quality of your life most certainly does. You won't cease to exist, but you'll ONLY exist. You'll simply be a warm body with a lukewarm life.

There's not a chance in hell, of freedom or happiness unless you're first willing and then able to risk it all to possess it all. I've been at both ends of this mindset or lack thereof; if I wasn't certain that it's possible to find peace and silence of the soul I wouldn't bother saying it so many times, in so many different ways. But you have to look in the right place or all your efforts will be as useless as looking for dry land at the bottom of the ocean. All the tools are core deep and if you haven't found them yet it's because you haven't dug deep enough. Think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide!!!