I'm sure hoping you had a blessed week. I certainly did.
Do you realize that we are still here to fulfill our mission in this life? Wow!!! What an awesome activity in life - a mission that has been given us to fulfill. Some people are still trying to figure out what that mission might be, while others are basking in the glow of fulfillment.
I truly believe that we are here until our mission is complete. I do not believe we leave this earth one minute before we are supposed to go. Some missions are short, others take a while. Not knowing when the mission is complete is reason enough for me to hold on tightly.
I have a friend who has breast cancer. Those are such ugly words to us. I saw her Friday and was about to tell her how wonderful she is looking (she really is) and she told me that her doctor informed her of another cancerous area in her lymph nodes. I just wanted to fall down! But, I looked at her face and although she said she felt good but just wanted to feel sappy (or something to that effect) I realized that she was holding on tightly to life. She is such an encouragement to me. I admire her strength as a woman and an administrator. She has knowledge that surpasses the best of them, yet she is very humble about who she is, where she comes from and what she has accomplished. How in the world could this have happened to her? She walks around all the time with a smile on her face, trying to make everyone else feel good. She does not complain.
I see her hold on tightly to her children and the joy they bring her. I see her holding on tightly to the work assigned to her and doing it when she might not feel like doing it. I see her setting up conferences for others at a time when she might just want to take a minute out for herself. I see her holding on tightly because it is somehow bringing her joy.
She makes me want to hold on tightly to all that is precious in this life. She makes me want to hold on tightly when it gets rough during the day and night. She makes me want to hold on tightly when it seems that I am all alone, that no one cares whether I feel good or bad. She makes me want to hold on tightly when the sun shines and when it does not. She makes me want to hold on tightly when I fell like I just cannot get up out of the bed.
Thank you, Sue, for blessing me to see where I need to grown and hold on tightly. Thank you, Sue, for being in my life and fulfilling one of your missions that deals with me. Thank you, Sue, for just being yourself and appreciating everyday and every opportunity. Thank you for not keeping yourself a secret. Thank you for leading by example and showing me how to hold on tightly.
As the song says, "You're simply the best. Better than all the rest". I love you, my friend.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Did You Celebrate?
Well, how did you do? Did you celebrate? Did you wake up in a celebratory mode the following day? I did and it was great. All day long, I celebrated the good things. If a negative thought tried to enter my head, I would not allow it. It was sooooooooooooooo good!
I attended training to be a hospice volunteer three days last week (24 hours). It was fantastic. This training taught me so much more than I ever knew or thought I knew. Hospice was never an area in which I wanted to work. I always said it took a certain group of special people to be able to work anywhere in the hospice arena. If anyone would have told me that I would want to be a hospice volunteer, I would have said they were crazy. Now, I'm sorry I waited so long.
During this training, towards the end of the last day, our guest presenter who works with the bereavement portion of hospice, had each of us do an exercise. She gave us a small envelop which contained twenty strips of paper, four different colors and each color group had five strips of paper to it. She had us indicate on one color, the five most important material things we have or own. Next, we had to, on a different color, list the five most enjoyable things we do. Then, in another group, we listed the five most important people in our lives, followed by the five things we know for sure in life. Then, we had to take three cleansing breaths. The lights were turned down low and she put on a very slow, relaxing CD and played it while she talked with us. We had to close our eyes as she talked and we allowed to open them only when she told us to.
She took us on a journey of life's end for us. In her statements, she told us that we had discovered a lump on our leg, went to the doctor, had it biopsied and were called back to the doctor's office to talik with the doctor. Of course, this was all done in a much slower, methodical fashion than I am describing here. At intervals, she, our presenter, would tell us when we had to open our eyes and make our selection to remove strips we had written on and how many. She never told us the pile from which we had to make an selections; that was strictly up to us, but we had to make selections. During this journey, we were not given a long period of time to think about what we would throw away; we just had to get it done because she was continuing, just like life. Sometimes we would throw out one, two or three pieces of paper. This was beginning to be harder each time. This exercise was to teach us what it is like for someone who has been placed into hospice and their life is getting closer to ending. There were times when I had discussions with myself and was somewhat confused on what to discard because, afterall, she had told us to write down what was important to us and now she was making me discard some of them. The feelings were overwhelming. Some people in the class cried, some did not. But all of us felt the frustration and some of us remembered loved ones who had died and now felt what they must have been feeling.
This exercise taught me to continue celebrating each and every moment I have in life. I am going to reprioritize things in my life. I going to be learning how to let go of some things (and maybe some people) that I should not be holding onto.
I think everyone ought to be able to go through this exercise in a private setting. To do it online on this blog would take away so much of what is needed. However, I believe we can all do some re-thinking about our lives because the day might come when this will not be an exercise from a class but real life.
At the end of this exercise, we all would up with five strips of paper left. I was amazed when I looked down and all those sheets were gone because I had to get rid of some things quickly. I had a lump in my whole body as I looked at them. Then, I moved my eyes to the right and saw the five strips I had left. My strips left were my faith in God and four people who are the most important to me: my sister, my best friend and my two granddaughters. I promise to continue to celebrate having them in my life everyday. I am so grateful that I know a loving God Who takes care of me and loves me unconditionally. I will celebrate my faith in Him daily.
What would you put on your twenty strips of paper? What would you discard, if you had to get rid of one, two or three strips quickly? What or who would you keep? Remember to celebrate that which is precious to you because you never know when it will either not be around or have to be discarded. CELEBRATE!!
I attended training to be a hospice volunteer three days last week (24 hours). It was fantastic. This training taught me so much more than I ever knew or thought I knew. Hospice was never an area in which I wanted to work. I always said it took a certain group of special people to be able to work anywhere in the hospice arena. If anyone would have told me that I would want to be a hospice volunteer, I would have said they were crazy. Now, I'm sorry I waited so long.
During this training, towards the end of the last day, our guest presenter who works with the bereavement portion of hospice, had each of us do an exercise. She gave us a small envelop which contained twenty strips of paper, four different colors and each color group had five strips of paper to it. She had us indicate on one color, the five most important material things we have or own. Next, we had to, on a different color, list the five most enjoyable things we do. Then, in another group, we listed the five most important people in our lives, followed by the five things we know for sure in life. Then, we had to take three cleansing breaths. The lights were turned down low and she put on a very slow, relaxing CD and played it while she talked with us. We had to close our eyes as she talked and we allowed to open them only when she told us to.
She took us on a journey of life's end for us. In her statements, she told us that we had discovered a lump on our leg, went to the doctor, had it biopsied and were called back to the doctor's office to talik with the doctor. Of course, this was all done in a much slower, methodical fashion than I am describing here. At intervals, she, our presenter, would tell us when we had to open our eyes and make our selection to remove strips we had written on and how many. She never told us the pile from which we had to make an selections; that was strictly up to us, but we had to make selections. During this journey, we were not given a long period of time to think about what we would throw away; we just had to get it done because she was continuing, just like life. Sometimes we would throw out one, two or three pieces of paper. This was beginning to be harder each time. This exercise was to teach us what it is like for someone who has been placed into hospice and their life is getting closer to ending. There were times when I had discussions with myself and was somewhat confused on what to discard because, afterall, she had told us to write down what was important to us and now she was making me discard some of them. The feelings were overwhelming. Some people in the class cried, some did not. But all of us felt the frustration and some of us remembered loved ones who had died and now felt what they must have been feeling.
This exercise taught me to continue celebrating each and every moment I have in life. I am going to reprioritize things in my life. I going to be learning how to let go of some things (and maybe some people) that I should not be holding onto.
I think everyone ought to be able to go through this exercise in a private setting. To do it online on this blog would take away so much of what is needed. However, I believe we can all do some re-thinking about our lives because the day might come when this will not be an exercise from a class but real life.
At the end of this exercise, we all would up with five strips of paper left. I was amazed when I looked down and all those sheets were gone because I had to get rid of some things quickly. I had a lump in my whole body as I looked at them. Then, I moved my eyes to the right and saw the five strips I had left. My strips left were my faith in God and four people who are the most important to me: my sister, my best friend and my two granddaughters. I promise to continue to celebrate having them in my life everyday. I am so grateful that I know a loving God Who takes care of me and loves me unconditionally. I will celebrate my faith in Him daily.
What would you put on your twenty strips of paper? What would you discard, if you had to get rid of one, two or three strips quickly? What or who would you keep? Remember to celebrate that which is precious to you because you never know when it will either not be around or have to be discarded. CELEBRATE!!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Celebrating All That is Good
To say that when I look around, I'm blessed is like a cliche' that is sometimes overstated. However, in these trying times, I can truly say that when I look around, I'm blessed. I have decided, today, to celebate all those blessings, rather than ask for anything or complain. What a blessing it is to have been able to see just one more day in my life. What a blessing it is to have been able to bathe myself, comb my hair, walk, talk, think, feed myself and see all day long. Though these may seem like such trivial things to celebrate, I am often reminded of the alternatives.
After years of working in hospitals in the ICUs and see how life can change in an instant, I have known the value of celebrating the appreciation of all that is good! Life still has things we would like to be better or changed but the fact remains that if we are awake now, we need to celebrate that good thing! We certainly did not have to be allowed to see one more day. I know I certainly did not have to be allowed to be able to bathe myself.
Celebrating means that happiness is invovled. Celebrating means that smiles are part of the way appreciation is displayed. Celebrating can be done individually or with others. Today, I choose to be somewhat selfish and celebate alone (you can actually join in with your own celebation). I am so excited to be alive. I'm so excited to be able to have witnessed another day in my life. I am amazed that I have been allowed, by the Lord, to live this long. He did not have to give me these year, but He did and I celebate that. What a powerful, precious gift. How good it is. Celebrate life; celebrate its goodness. Don't dwell on what is missing, out of order, misplaced, broken or gone. Just celebrate what is good for you today. Just celebrate that your good outweighs everything else. Celebrate that you are able, in your mind, recount what is good and celebrate it. What more could you ask for? What more could I ask for? There is absolutely nothing else that could be done that would top the fact that I made it through this day, am still here and still celebrating.
Fill your mind with this positive way of thinking for the rest of your day. Celebrate good things. Only focus on the blessings you are enjoying right now. When you lay down to sleep, before dozing off, remember ALL the good and CELEBRATE IT!
And, most of all, if you are blessed to wake up tomorrow, CELEBRATE ANOTHER GOOD THING!
I pray celebration for you. I pray your thoughts will focus on the God Who is granting these things for you to celebrate. I pray for the most peaceful sleep you have every enjoyed tonight. I pray for another day for you. I pray that your first thought when you wake up tomorrow will be that you have another reason to celebrate. One more good thing has been granted to you - LIFE!!!!
After years of working in hospitals in the ICUs and see how life can change in an instant, I have known the value of celebrating the appreciation of all that is good! Life still has things we would like to be better or changed but the fact remains that if we are awake now, we need to celebrate that good thing! We certainly did not have to be allowed to see one more day. I know I certainly did not have to be allowed to be able to bathe myself.
Celebrating means that happiness is invovled. Celebrating means that smiles are part of the way appreciation is displayed. Celebrating can be done individually or with others. Today, I choose to be somewhat selfish and celebate alone (you can actually join in with your own celebation). I am so excited to be alive. I'm so excited to be able to have witnessed another day in my life. I am amazed that I have been allowed, by the Lord, to live this long. He did not have to give me these year, but He did and I celebate that. What a powerful, precious gift. How good it is. Celebrate life; celebrate its goodness. Don't dwell on what is missing, out of order, misplaced, broken or gone. Just celebrate what is good for you today. Just celebrate that your good outweighs everything else. Celebrate that you are able, in your mind, recount what is good and celebrate it. What more could you ask for? What more could I ask for? There is absolutely nothing else that could be done that would top the fact that I made it through this day, am still here and still celebrating.
Fill your mind with this positive way of thinking for the rest of your day. Celebrate good things. Only focus on the blessings you are enjoying right now. When you lay down to sleep, before dozing off, remember ALL the good and CELEBRATE IT!
And, most of all, if you are blessed to wake up tomorrow, CELEBRATE ANOTHER GOOD THING!
I pray celebration for you. I pray your thoughts will focus on the God Who is granting these things for you to celebrate. I pray for the most peaceful sleep you have every enjoyed tonight. I pray for another day for you. I pray that your first thought when you wake up tomorrow will be that you have another reason to celebrate. One more good thing has been granted to you - LIFE!!!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Can You Fix It?
A friend who lives in Chicago and I were just talking on the telephone. We talk with each other about every two weeks. Usually I call him to check and see how he is feeling and then other times, he will call me if he knows he is in trouble for not calling me back to let me know how he is doing.
During our conversation, we were both saying how our respective health is doing. His eye has been giving him problems, my weight, due to medicine I take, has been bothering me. We both concluded that these are things we will have to accept. He told me his eye will not improve but his vision has not been impacted. In fact, he believes his vision is better. I told him my doctor told me that since I'm taking the medicine I'm taking, my weight will be up and down. I told him that I have come to accept that fact since I cannot change it. He told me he accepts what is going on with his eye because he cannot change that either.
There are some things in life, as you know, that we just cannot fix. We can try to make changes that we hope will affect the outcome but sometimes, that will not even help.
As I get older, I am noticing some changes. Often, change is good. I accept what does change and is good as well as I accept what I cannot change. I have decided that it is more important to enjoy my life. I have made some promises to myself to help me through my days.
I promise to love myself unconditionally.
I promise to take better care of my health.
I promise to always allow quiettime for me each day.
I promise that I will say positive things to myself, even if no one else does.
I promise that I will be true to myself.
I promise that I will not allow anyone to define who I am or what they want me to be.
I promise to be happy within me.
I promise that I will always show up as me and will sometimes show up as the new and improved me.
I promise to work hard and not slack off work.
I promise to always reach for what I dream of doing.
I promise to work towards my goals
I promise to see myself achieving my goals
I promise to always be sure I let others know that I care about them.
I promise to not worry about what I do not have but be excited about what I do have.
I promise to grow daily mentally, emotionally, relationally.
I promise not to worry about the financial happenings of the world but to accept that some things are what they are.
I promise to learn something new everyday.
I promise to be excited about life!
What have you promised yourself? What are you doing to make this life better for you? What are you doing about your happiness? Do you really have to work that hard? Are you chasing the money or are you enjoying life? Things will happen in this life but if you take a moment and have some tea in the afternoon and think only of yourself, you will find that inner peace that dwells within seeking to be able to come out and help you as you go through your days. Let's all try to make more promises to ourselves and take care of self. After all, you only have ONE SELF! God bless you today.
During our conversation, we were both saying how our respective health is doing. His eye has been giving him problems, my weight, due to medicine I take, has been bothering me. We both concluded that these are things we will have to accept. He told me his eye will not improve but his vision has not been impacted. In fact, he believes his vision is better. I told him my doctor told me that since I'm taking the medicine I'm taking, my weight will be up and down. I told him that I have come to accept that fact since I cannot change it. He told me he accepts what is going on with his eye because he cannot change that either.
There are some things in life, as you know, that we just cannot fix. We can try to make changes that we hope will affect the outcome but sometimes, that will not even help.
As I get older, I am noticing some changes. Often, change is good. I accept what does change and is good as well as I accept what I cannot change. I have decided that it is more important to enjoy my life. I have made some promises to myself to help me through my days.
I promise to love myself unconditionally.
I promise to take better care of my health.
I promise to always allow quiettime for me each day.
I promise that I will say positive things to myself, even if no one else does.
I promise that I will be true to myself.
I promise that I will not allow anyone to define who I am or what they want me to be.
I promise to be happy within me.
I promise that I will always show up as me and will sometimes show up as the new and improved me.
I promise to work hard and not slack off work.
I promise to always reach for what I dream of doing.
I promise to work towards my goals
I promise to see myself achieving my goals
I promise to always be sure I let others know that I care about them.
I promise to not worry about what I do not have but be excited about what I do have.
I promise to grow daily mentally, emotionally, relationally.
I promise not to worry about the financial happenings of the world but to accept that some things are what they are.
I promise to learn something new everyday.
I promise to be excited about life!
What have you promised yourself? What are you doing to make this life better for you? What are you doing about your happiness? Do you really have to work that hard? Are you chasing the money or are you enjoying life? Things will happen in this life but if you take a moment and have some tea in the afternoon and think only of yourself, you will find that inner peace that dwells within seeking to be able to come out and help you as you go through your days. Let's all try to make more promises to ourselves and take care of self. After all, you only have ONE SELF! God bless you today.
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