Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts

Sunday, July 31, 2016

YOU can be anything!




You better believe me
This is very true.  
If you don't believe me,
ask my daughters about 
my son Kyle.

Prouder than the biggest lioness
Everyday he inspires me
by setting the example on 
how to be the better person
or the best version of yourself.

As a mother, it goes back to that
9 month relationship with that
baby in your womb.



Falling in love
When do you start talking to it?
How did you feel from 
the movements?

A womb
A gentle glide,
maybe back and forth.
Watch out for somersaults
because they can be the worse.

Motherhood childhood
If you are the mother of a child
you can probably understand and relate
if you are a child of a mother
there are many things to learn from her.
She didn't go to school for the job,
she wasn't told what it would entail, the
highs, the lows, the championships, the falls.
She knows it all
Yet she still is your biggest fan
single loudest cheerleader
Instant defender, protector, teacher, scolder, nagger.



Now
When was the time
when you stopped listening
and just started doing?
Somewhere between adolescence and
motherhood afterhood.  


Is faith belief?
When did you start losing faith?
When faith has been steering you all along.
Not in the way that you'd design it
or be all glitzy and for show.


Inner committee
Is it because you stopped believing
your own press?
Or do you believe that old press
was a mistake?

Know
Where you lose some of that inner glow
where enthusiasm and ideas blow
knocking anyone over in its path, 
or the fury if it didn't pass



Stop
The kick in the pants
self discovery talk
Was that with self or
glorious being?
An angel guide  on eagle wings,
takes you away from that place.

Glow
Maybe it is an inner mantra
that at first seems quiet
reflective
observant
learning
feeling
the
flow.

Flow
Ebbing towards a much calmer sea
from the beach
or the breaches of my mind.



Release
optimism, gratitude, creativity tide.
Allowing your instincts 
to be your guide.

Wisdom and growth
Maybe with more wisdom
grows the appreciation of the great things
that happen behind the spotlight
of a social media glow.

Gratitude is
creating an appreciation
like never before.
For the very best things 
that you can enjoy.
For free, out there, helpful, 
creative and pure.

Love of a dove
Spread those wisdom wings
and wrap those so dear
whom you love
with all your soul
like a beautiful dove.


Far reaching
High outtabounds
limitless, boundless
energy abounds.
Through the coming
of one
with your soul.



Awakening
Beginning to uncover
the real you.
Who was likely covered,
burdened, trodden so the
spirit may have fallen low.

Singing to others
by writing, tweeting, posting hello
to those who help make her grow.
Surrounded by talented by three
thousand times the speed of sound.



Faceless
Her audience, her readers and growing fans
don't quite know what to make of this
lady so grand.
With style, with grace,
with wisdom to share.

Ageless
Because of her age,
merely a number,
but because of it 
gathers many asunder.

Beauty
For beauty wherever and whatever form
is in tuned with the beat of what most want to feel
A champion for others, 
finding inspirational
clauses.



Beacon of light
To inspire, lighten a spirit, lift a mood.
To restore optimism to others
is a duty born
To stomp out hate, violence and/or fear.
To return to the important
things to hold dear.

Wisdom
Not money, not wealth, not even fame.
Can drown out the inspiration
many will claim.
As their right, their worth, and
wisdom reborn.

Fly
Let's spread our wings 
and let those gifts soar.
We can make a safer,
even more beautiful world.
We reach out beginning with one
and grow in affection and support.



Dream
among dreamers
because they eventually
become visionaries.
The ones that are 
easily discounted.

Ascend
Yet rise above the clamour and noise
where radios and televisions on mute or off.
The people's choices emerge,
sending messages out as a blurb.

Narrate
Telling a story
of grow and learning.
To instigate allegiance
to this yearning.



Unite
Of gathering
the still
yet like minded.
Forming a voice
that cannot be contended.

Fire and heat
The thermometer and furnaces
of hate, racial bias, violence and corruption
are burning bright
with heat to those who draw too near.

Taking steps
while they're stepping back
from the dreaded topics
of poverty and despair.
Like turning one's head
at a roadside wreckage.



Look
How can we be mere
onlookers?
Luckily, there are others 
who make us look and reconsider
our role in humanity, our planet, 
our young and our elders.


One thing I know as a mother is how gifted my son Kyle is with people.  Over 27 years, I have wondered how can I capture the ingredients and sell it for a whole lot of people who need to have a better attitude on life.  Be more thankful.  Appreciate others more.  Judge less.  

His sister called me to tell me the coolest thing.  It reminded me of a phenomena that is uniquely Kyle:  once you meet him, you can never possibly forget him.  Apparently, still so.

This sis of his called to say she applied to this hipster hangout for the trendiest of youngest group of Millennial explosion (22 or something close to that).
They instantly hired her on the spot, without not even 1/2 of a 1/2 of a percent of Bernie Saunders math, pause.  She was merely told, if you're the sister of Kyle, you are on our team without hesitation.

How's Kyle?
I forgot how often after school, or in summer months, I would meet some of his teachers, in the community, grocery shopping, doing stuff.  It wasn't uncommon for someone to walk up to me to ask me how Kyle was doing?

With an imaginative soul.
Can you imagine that?  It was amazing, yet as you drift along in this tide, you don't get a chance to really stop and take in that it is probably even a bigger and more unique gift than any politician could commit more than a decade in learning how to smile at people just right, giggle, chuckle or full body laugh.  



Kyle
just has it.
The "it"
YES, that IT
the thing we
all want

To be liked,
for being a really good person.
To be loved,
because he makes us want to be better.

We watch, we learn
He shows us that it isn't 
the toughest, the richest, the most obvious
who are the most talented.
It is usually someone who is gifted.  
Sometimes, even more less, 
discovered as a true treasure 
for our world.  

Lighting the way
Like a Nelson Mandela, 
not merely an Oprah Winfrey.  
The difference is obvious.
One dwells in the limelight
while the other is far away
from the spotlight.
A legacy of our times.
Like the Dali Lama who is still among us.
Or for some like me, fairly unknown, yet mysterious.

A lot of little somethings
So maybe that is something
worth delving into.
What makes one person so great
that others remember

Intention
Who wants that chance
to be the best of who they are NOT
diving deep into the talent
yet undiscovered.

Commitment
With quiet humility and dedication
one can only hope to make a dent.
Help one person out of despair.
Failing hope.
Growing disbelief.
Not looking back because
the wreckage is in front of them.

Inspire
How do you repair, restore faith,
uncover talent?
By cheerleading the unheard,
the unfamous, 
not infamous.

Explore
Exploring lands and cultures
without touching new soil.
That's what in front of us,
if you just focus on the most
beautiful, peaceful and hopeful
images, readings, teachings
stirring within new belief.

Believe
in yourself
in what you are capable
of doing.
Not yesterday, NOW.
Not tomorrow, NOW.



Images are all courtesy of Google from a GOOGLE SEARCH.  I would like to thank all the creators and give them tribute as one, easily found.

The tribute to Harry Potter is by design for two reasons:

1) The main character in "Goldfinch" the book that I am heavily engrossed in right now, is nicknamed "Potter" by his best friend.

2) There is a lot of excitement surrounding the release of yet another Harry Potter, to international instant acclaim, by J.K. Rowling:  a true inspiration for women everyWHERE as this century's #bestofeverything #womenofinspiration 






Monday, July 25, 2016

Wisdom cultivated by age





As I sit back and take stock of what advice I 

consistently tell my kids, believe to be true, and 

are mantras to living the best life possible, I 

thought I would share them.  I have discovered

them to be true.



1) You are the company you keep


I'm fortunate to

have a wonderful

group of talented

people surrounding me. 


They push me harder to strive to be better.

I continue to work at being the best they believe 

in me to be.



2) Make others proud of you


I often think 

that my father

is looking down

from heaven and

cheering me on.


My father could offer advice, he could hold 

me accountable, but he never failed to show 

his unwavering support of me.  He would not

tell me what I wanted to hear when life was a

struggle, he would listen.  Then he would say: 

"what's the pay off?"





3) Life IS about choices


The choices we make are not always the best, 

and we can end up scarred or with a few bruises

but we have to believe that our reasoning for 

doing what we did, was because we thought it 

the best option at the time.



4) What did we learn?


By sticking to our path, doing what we think is 

right for us at the time we do it, we make mis- 

takes.  But from those mistakes do we reflect 

upon the life lesson? Do we avoid it the next 

around?  Does our vibe send a warning signal?



5) Failure happens 


How we react to failure becomes our legacy.  

Did we extrapolate from it the lessons that we

needed to learn?  Would we do it again exactly 

the same or would we do it differently.





6) Listen to others


Did we have the chance to get advice from 

others wiser and choose to ignore it? Why even 

bother to ask for an opinion if we're just going to

do what we want anyhow?



7) Bees and honey


You attract more bees with honey than vinegar: 

should resonate among my children's minds 

often.  I have said it so many times, they can 

finish it before I finish with "bees".  People will 

react more favorably when you frame it with 

niceness, politeness and manners.



8) Show gratitude


Never fail to find an opportunity to thank some-

one.  If you show appreciation, you will be 

rewarded as often as you express gratitude.



9) You are the company you keep


Be wary of those that want to tarnish your talents

or destroy your confidence or put you in harms 

way.  Misery may love company but you don't.






9) Please your soul


Play some music, paint or draw or write or cook 

a fabulous creation.  For it is something you 

enjoy. You aren't doing it to please others.  Do 

whatever sings to your heart and heals your 

inner self.



10) Trust your instincts


They could be telling you something that you did

not necessarily see but felt was wrong.  






11) Optimistic and positive


It isn't always possible to stay upbeat, positive

and optimistic.  Life has a way of pushing you 

when you step outside the boundaries.  It is

just that sometimes you need a reality check. 

Get over it.  Take a hot bath.  Reflect more on

what you should be thankful for.



12)  Recovery


How you recover from failure or disappoint-

ment or from being off track will determine how 

far you can  reach.  Did you fall to the bottom, or

did you catch yourself before you did a complete 

tumble?  Were their others there to help catch 

you?  Did you stop yourself or ask for help when

you needed to avoid self-destruction?





13) Goals and dreams


Goals are dreams with deadlines.  Do you have

a vision on where you would like to end up that

is not fueled by greed, envy or power?  Your

success will likely be determined by the value

it represents.





14) Believe in yourself


Often it is only oneself who can decide if we are

on the right path.



15) Discover your purpose


Allow that purpose to drive your passion, path,

and continual learning.  It is then you will likely 

discover what it is that you love to do.


I hope my kids read this and remember the 

times we had discussions around any of the

wisdom shared and reflect upon the situation

that caused it.  They know they have my 

permission to hold me accountable.  The worst

part of it is that I didn't always listen to myself.

The best part is when they toss my words back

at me.




















Saturday, June 18, 2016

be a father you can count on

Fatherhood

I wrote about fatherhood a year ago as a tribute to my father who passed away five years ago and how much I miss him.  This year, I want to comment about the fatherly influences that don't get acknowledged on this day.




Stepfathers
My hubby, Rob, is a fantastic father figure to my son, Kyle.  Rob makes the effort to connect and relate to Kyle whether it be about sports or video games.  Kyle also knows that if he were ever in trouble, he could count on Rob.




Brothers
My older brother, Greg, was in charge of our home when we got home from school and before our parents arrived home from work.  He would round all four of us kids up, delegate chores, and lead the way.  He didn't ask any one of us to do more than he was prepared to do.  He is someone I've always looked up to and he leads a life that is exemplary.  He is a hard worker, family man who obviously loves his wife and daughter tremendously.  He holds only himself accountable for his actions.

My son, Kyle, is an amazing brother to both his sisters and his stepsister.  He and the soon-to-be-son-in-law are firm friends and have formed a nucleus of family that will be steadfast beyond the years that we've been given.  It is nice to know that he will always champion his sisters, be there for them with acts of kindness and be known for his positive spirit.

Uncles
My kids are really lucky.  They have uncles that they can turn to and would and will always be there for them.  Their Uncle Tom, who was the eldest of there own father's tribe, was kind, reflective and dolls out wisdom when asked, never forced.  My brother, Greg, is an anchor for my daughter who ventured away from her home city, to seek her adulthood with the safety net of her uncle if needed.  Handy with a screwdriver, he would put furniture together, move her out and then back in again.  He is soft spoken and doesn't opinionate unless asked.

Friends
From that day when the high school adventure started, my son Kyle had firmly found a friend who has been there for him through what could have been turbulent years, to today, embracing him as one of the best friends to have and to be.  His name is Kyle too.  I like to think he sets the bar high for possibilities for Kyle to look up to showing that you can have it all - marriage, love, family, fatherhood.



Mothers
Don't think it is odd that I have included mothers in this commentary.  After all, there are so many single mothers out in the world, due to multiple circumstances, who have the role of both mother AND father.  They are the anchor in the home and if you ever wonder about the success of this environment, just watch the 60 Minutes Sports on Marshawn Lynch.  A wonderful example of a mother's influence upon her son and the success that can unfold humbly yet fruitfully.



If you do one thing this weekend, check out "Beast Mode"  @Beast Mode to support the charitable efforts of Marshawn Lynch through his "Family First Foundation".  You will end up with some really cool threads at the same time, or it will be the gift that keeps on giving.


"If you are in your everyday life, and you feel like you just accomplished something big that you had going on, then that's Beast Mode. It's an accomplishment, that you put yourself through something to get something better out of it. I feel that that's Beast Mode. "

~Marshawn Lynch