The Path of Change

“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”

― Jon Krakauer

        Don’t be afraid of change because it is so easy to become complacent and comfortable in our lives. We may be miserable but something holds us back from getting up and making change happen. Whether it be a fear of the unknown or of failure. But at some point, you must wake up and realize that life isn’t about feeling safe, secure and comfortable all the time. Sometimes you have to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and take a leap of faith to truly learn what it means to fly. So, today stop making excuses for your unhappy circumstances and take your first step down the untrodden path of change.

Change the Channel

Life has no remote….get up and change it yourself!”

― Mark A. Cooper

      If at any point in life, you get tired of the the show playing…then get up and change the channel. No one else can do it for you. You have to decide when you’re tired of watching reruns and repeat episodes that make up your life and then make some changes.

We Must Carry On

“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

         In a world filled with such hatred and intolerance, it is hard to believe in better days to come. With nothing but darkness enveloping a nation that has turned against those it is sworn to protect, it is hard to fathom the Sun will ever shine again. When man has turned against fellow man, it is hard to believe that one day our brothers will no longer have to fear when they walk out the door they will not come home that night. When all hope and faith has been leeched from our weary souls, we must stop and remember those who have come before us. Our brothers and sisters who gave up their lives to advocate for tolerance, justice and equality-the very same struggle we are facing yet again today. And it is on their shoulders that we must stand and say, “I still have a dream” and we will not go quietly into the night.

Your Future has Yet to be Written

“A bad beginning does not keep you from a good ending.”

― Matshona Dhliwayo

          You know the old adage that when it rains it pours. It often feels like things are doomed before they really start. But it is at these times you have to remind yourself that although you cannot change what has already been written, you can change what has yet to come….at any moment in time you have the power to decide this IS NOT how your story will end.

Out of the Darkness

“A ship doesn’t sink because it is in the ocean in the midst of a storm. It only sinks when the hull is breached, and the ocean gets inside it.”

― Arthur Jackson Jr., Out of the Darkness

        The storms we encounter throughout life do not in and of themselves destroy us.  It is when we allow the rains and heavy winds to seep inside our very soul that our spirits take a beating.  Never forget that we may not be able to choose what storms we face in life, but we do control whether we allow ourselves to succumb to the darkness.

We Must Hold On To Hope

I know you think the world is too dark to even dream in color,  but I’ve seen flowers bloom at midnight.  I’ve seen kites fly in gray skies and they were real close to looking like the sunrise, and sometimes it takes the most wounded wings, the most broken things to notice how strong the breeze is, how precious the flight.

~ Andrea Gibson

         Today, I am truly at a loss for words.  My heart and prayers go out to the victims of the mass shooting in Florida and their families, friends and communities.  May we all hug our loved ones a little tighter tonight.  In a world full of such hate, intolerance and senseless violence, we must hold on to hope for a better tomorrow.

Wonder

Wonder

by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi

Wonder,
A garden among the flames!
My heart can take on any form:
A meadow for gazelles,
A cloister for monks,
For the idols, sacred ground,
Ka’ba for the circling pilgrim,
The tables of the Torah,
The scrolls of the Quran.
My creed is Love;
Wherever its caravan turns along the way,
That is my belief,
My faith.

          As we begin another week, remember it is a time of new beginnings – a time to start anew and lay down the burdens of yesterday.  When you first open your eyes, allow wonder and love to fill your soul.  In your moment of solitude, allow yourself to really see and feel the beauty that surrounds you.

The Steps We Take

The Steps We Take

Poem by LeKeisha Suggs

In life, things rarely go as planned
And it seems like one disappointment after another
You soon realize that maybe reality isn’t so grand
But you must accept, life is a unique journey like no other

And with this comes many ups and downs
So, stop overthinking every step you take
And focus on enjoying the sights and sounds
For you will learn, the privilege of life is worth every ache

         Here is a poem I wrote after a tough couple of days.  I hope each of you are able to connect with my words and my message.  I invite you to comment and share your thoughts!

Infinite Hope

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

            On the surface, this quote may seem deceptively simple.  However, when you really take a moment to think about each word, the true power of Dr. King’s statement resonates with your very being.  In this life, each of us will face unimaginable disappointments and setbacks.  But, you cannot allow for these obstacles to destroy your hope that things can and will get better.  In these times of great difficulty, you must rely more than ever on your faith in humanity, in people, in this world and in God that no matter how long the night, the dawn will break.

What is Hope

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

Poem by Emily Dickinson

‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—

I’ve heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.

         You should begin each week with renewed hope for what has yet to come. When you open your heart and fill it with hope and infinite possibilities, you invite positivity into your life. And when you surround yourself with uplifting messages and positive people, you pave the way for good things to come your way. So, instead of dreading the Monday ahead, choose to embrace the hidden treasures of tomorrow that have yet to be discovered.