Good Morning Sunshine!

I will share a belief I have here. I have wandered away from it only to return to it, again, and then again___life catches us all up, however, it’s up to us to find our paths again and not give up on finding it. If we can’t find the old one then we need to find a new one! This belief works the best for me when I remember it, and follow it. I have given myself a word to remember as well and that word is (being) “consistent”. It is being consistent even if it is but 1 or 2 things, no matter how small or how big these accomplishments are, or the struggle to do them is____. Notice how these things avalanche into being more! Notice what you have done, think about it rather than what you have not accomplished. Really open your eyes and look! Only you can zero in on the prize you want. The closer you get to that prize_____. And it’s about the journey you have made, not just the prize at the end. It’s the things you have affected____touched and the differences you have made. Now, what I believe:

“The will to change things for the better must be very strong. half-hearted desires have never supplied the necessary strength to make anything work. The intention must be strong, the action determined, or else the result will be one of disappointment.” But if your stumble here, get up and start again at the point you things have worked. Don’t give up!

“When the first wave of zeal passes, our courage wavers. It is then we must fortify our will to succeed. We do so by a firm and quiet directions to our thoughts that we are going to accomplish what we have set out to do. Living by this rule will crumble the small obstacles and enable us to stride over the big ones.” There is something to be said about, “When one door closes, another opens!” “When that dog doesn’t hunt no more____get another!” One-liners are quick reminders. What is your one-liner? I told my kids when they did something that wasn’t so great___”There is always tomorrow! Try, try again!”

“The will to live and to live well is our decision. Coupled with faith, the will to go forward makes all things possible.” The easy one-liner here is, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” And so there is.

For those grieving a loss. We can still hang onto these thoughts, and applying them is a way forward. Getting into the stream of living life is important. The boulder in the road is big, but there are ways around it. You will see them in time, it happens when you are willing to take the blinders off. God knows how much I love Thomas. However, our relationship was one about being two people who acted as one unit. That is my saving grace. That has made the difference. Being independently who we were and loving each other for who we are. Having that approach has given me strength and encouragement. I had to take a year to examine my feelings to conclude this and unravel myself to put this into words.

I think we knew that to be as we were, so entangled we needed to remember that we were individuals. That one day it could mean untangling from the other. I do not think Thomas felt he could untangle, so his dying first was better I think. As for me, I was so well-loved. There is strength in that! Being loved hurts as much as it is amazingly beautiful! This is why we hear in poems and songs, “How can I go on without you?” lyrics. Because it isn’t easy to miss someone you love. But life does go on.

I love the following song’s lyrics, I find things I identify in it.

All of Me

John Legend

What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in and you kicking me out?
Got my head spinning, no kidding
I can’t pin you down
What’s going on in that beautiful mind?
I’m on your magical mystery ride
And I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me
But I’ll be alright

My head’s underwater
But I’m breathing fine
You’re crazy and I’m outta my mind

Cause all of me loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you
You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I’m winning
Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
(Give me all of you, oh)

Cards on the table
We’re both showing hearts
Risking it all though it’s hard

Cause all of me loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you
You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I’m winning
Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all, all of you

I give you all of me
And you give me all, all of you, oh

(My son-in-law Dave plays this over and over. I find that beautiful. It is obvious he feels a kinship with my daughter.) He would have a few, and then tell her how beautiful she was! LOL