Friday, November 20, 2009

The Gift I Would Give

Imagine a child riding his or hear bike for the first time, training wheels and all. Imagine the expressions on their faces. Proud, happy and excited. “Mommy! Look at me!” They might say. On the flipside, imagine a child sitting in the streets. His skin covered in dirt, clothes torn. Digging in the trash for food. What expression would be on his face? I guarantee that happiness doesn’t even cover it. How about the “Irrecoverable Children” in the Romanian orphanages? Can you imagine what it would be like to pick up a child, who has never been held before, who craves the attachment, but it’s too much for them, so they lash out? I have a dream, a dream that I am determined to make a reality. I have a gift, the gift to inspire.

If I write about inspiration, would I be able to get my message across powerfully? Effectively? People understand that there is a great deal of need out there. What do they lack? I feel very strongly that people are lacking a need to be compelled. They need inspiration, someone to look up to, who will motivate them to take time out of their lives to help a child on the street, or a helpless orphan who’s been doomed to a terrible and miserable fate. If I were to give my gift, I would educate them on what being inspired is truly about.

First, there comes a time where you’ll have to stand alone. There are countless amounts of people out there trying to take a stand everyday because of their beliefs and/or values. A lot of times, people get criticized for it. However, as part of my gift there are "must's and have to's". You have to be willing to sacrifice. Now I’m not talking about sacrificing so much as giving up all of your worldly possessions, or family, but rather sacrificing your time, your social status and popularity. You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams. You must be willing to make sacrifices. You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved. Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged. There are other times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities. Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by. Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life. Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.

Those are some of the pointers I would make to those who lack motivation to help those children, or people in the streets. Become a leader. Become someone who wants to make a difference. When you take care of yourself, and find out who you are, you are able to inspire others. Helping others, helps build the ability to inspire because you've been there to see it personally. You have seen first hand the misery, the misunderstanding of knowledge, the pain, involved in those places who need someone to stand up for them and care for them. When the opportunity arises, then, and only then, will you be able to use my gift to you, and inspire others to want a better life.

Mother Teresa once said, “Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better or happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile; kindness in your warm greeting."
The gift of inspiration begins with knowing what's within yourself, knowing how to illuminate that glow. The glow of kindness, love, and service.

Are you willing to stand up to the challenge to rise up and help mankind? Are you willing to want to make a difference? The world needs leaders, the world needs motivation to help others in need. The world needs someone to take the time to sit down for a half hour and have a conversation about life, and struggles. Will you sacrifice in order to inspire? Find a person, or a group of people, take the time to understand them. Use your life experiences and knowledge to help them and to inspire them. I invite you to join me.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Gift Of Inspiration

Imagine a child riding his or hear bike for the first time, training wheels and all. Imagine the expressions on their faces. Proud, happy and excited. “Mommy! Look at me!” They might say. On the flipside, imagine a child sitting in the streets. His skin covered in dirt, clothes torn. Digging in the trash for food. What expression would be on his face? I guarantee that happiness doesn’t even cover it. How about the “Irrecoverable Children” in the Romanian orphanages? Can you imagine what it would be like to pick up a child, who has never been held before, who craves the attachment, but it’s too much for them, so they lash out? I have a dream, a dream that I am determined to make a reality. I have a gift, the gift to inspire.

If I write about inspiration, would I be able to get my message across powerfully? Effectively? People understand that there is a great deal of need out there. What do they lack? I feel very strongly that people are lacking a need to be compelled. They need inspiration, someone to look up to, who will motivate them to take time out of their lives to help a child on the street, or a helpless orphan who’s been doomed to a terrible and miserable fate. If I were to give my gift, I would educate them on what being inspired is truly about.

First, there comes a time where you’ll have to stand alone. There are countless amounts of people out there trying to take a stand everyday because of their beliefs and/or values. A lot of times, people get criticized for it. However, as part of my gift there are "must's and have to's". You have to be willing to sacrifice. Now I’m not talking about sacrificing so much as giving up all of your worldly possessions, or family, but rather sacrificing your time, your social status and popularity. You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams. You must be willing to make sacrifices. You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved. Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged. There are other times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities. Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by. Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life. Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.

Those are some of the pointers I would make to those who lack motivation to help those children, or people in the streets. Become a leader. Become someone who wants to make a difference. When you take care of yourself, and find out who you are, you are able to inspire others. Helping others, helps build the ability to inspire because you've been there to see it personally. You have seen first hand the misery, the misunderstanding of knowledge, the pain, involved in those places who need someone to stand up for them and care for them. When the opportunity arises, then, and only then, will you be able to use my gift to you, and inspire others to want a better life.

Mother Teresa once said, “Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better or happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile; kindness in your warm greeting."
The gift of inspiration begins with knowing what's within yourself, knowing how to illuminate that glow. The glow of kindness, love, and service.

Monday, November 2, 2009

You Exist

So often when I am embracing you,
It seems that you exist in this world
only because of me and I exist because of you.

It's not easy to wander in this world
and not lose one's way,
but the greatest happiness of all
is in giving joy to one's beloved.

And if the king can have his throne,
and if the bird can have his Spring nest,
and God can have his heaven,
then I, my sweetheart, I can have you!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Success Is The Only Option

I succeed
Failure is not an option
It is a learning experience that is painful
I have had the painful experiences
Not failures.

I succeed
Winning point by point
Or acing a test
But when I flunk
It is an obstacle to overcome
Not a failure.

I am guarded
Too afriad to let anyone get close to me
That resembles weakness
That's unacceptable and unbearable
But I am social, and not because I have to
Rather because I need to.

I am not shy
I am not afraid to be me
From having a neglected childhood
To divorced parents
Having psychotic relationships, and overcoming them
I accept nothing less than success.

I raised my little sisters
When I was still a kid, myself
I was not resentful
Nor was I the one to argue
"Just shut up and get 'er done"
That is what I would think.

Did Micheal Jordan give up
When he was cut from the high school team?
Did Lucille Ball quit acting
When critics said she was too afraid?
Did Abraham Lincoln shut down after he lost 8 elections?
No.


Here I am
Unafraid, guarded, outstanding
The pain suffered was but a small moment in history
I overcome
I overdo
I know how to love and be kind
But better yet,
I know
I succeed.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

I Remember

I remember dancing with you in the street.
I remember the stars shone bright, and no care in the world seemed to matter.
I remember the notes we shared.
I remember how we took a million pictures.
I remember the Porsche, and how much we were obsessed with it.
I remember your house, with the indoor basketball gym in the basement.
I remember watching movies, but not really watching.
I remember hunting, singing, hiking.
I remember going out to eat, and you just staring at me.
I remember how we met, although, it wasn't romantic at first.
I remember our first kiss.
I remember the time where you were all I thought about.
I remember feeling like the luckiest person in the world.
I remember getting caked in mud from a mud fight with you.
I remember prom, and the food.
I remember how it rained all day during prom.
I remember us going outside in the rain, hand in hand.
I remember slow dancing the night away in the rain.
I remember our prom clothes getting ruined, and I still laugh.
I remember the signs.
I remember you getting distant.
I remember how you broke my heart.
I remember how I turned my heart from something so nice, to stone.
I remember how you came back to me.
I remember telling you how I could care less how sorry you were.
I remember missing you.
I remember feeling sorry for myself, when I should have moved on.
I remember you being ashamed.
I remember you cheating on me.
Then I remember that I wasn't so sorry anymore.

The Woman In The Black Dress #13

I walk aimlessly towards the beach. For someone who has had as big of a misfortune as me, they would understand. No. Not misfortune, more like a hard life. It never seemed to end or slow down. I start to think that God is punishing me. But for what? The sand beneath my feet is scoldingly hot, the grains squish inbetween my toes. Focus. One thought at a time. With each step, a tear flows off my swollen cheek as the memories of my husband and I roll over my thoughts.

I step into the water. The coolness of it cools down my burning feet. The feeling was a calming sensation, however, my hatred still burned from within. My heart, engulfed in misery.

"Oh, God! Why have you done this to me?" "I know you love me, but do you really care?" "Why, God?" I sobbed, falling into the water on my knees. My hands sifted through the wet sand underneath the salty water. I grabbed a handfull and brought it to the surface. A precious sea shell appeared through the sand. Its shape, and colors were breath taking. It was like the shell my husband brought back when he went to Hawaii.

My husband just died of cancer. It was a long process for him, and extremely painful. He was suffering, and I couldn't do anything to save him. I watched him slowly die. The cancer basically sucked him dry of all life, and for that, and for many unanswered prayers, I was angry at God. I stood there, in my elegant, black dress. Crying. Pleading with God to give him back to me. I knew this wasn't going to happen. So, I turned towards the beach and started walking away. A thought came to me. I had no direction. I was lost...

"What am I suppost to do now, God?!" I yelled out to sea.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Impulse 2

Brad: "World's Best Cup of Coffee". Sounds like a scam.
Jamie: It's just coffee, not a bomb to blow up all of Juno.
Brad: (deep in thought) What if it is a bomb? (he says in hushed tones)
Jamie: Brad, don't be stupid. It's not a bomb alright?
Brad: (uneasy) What if it's poisonous?
Jamie: Why don't you order one and shut up.

(Jamie tells the waitress that she wants Hot Chocolate and Chicken Tortilla Soup. The waitress turns to Brad)

Waitress: Can I get you anything, sir?
Brad: Can I ask what's in your "World's Best Cup of Coffee"?
Jamie: You have got to be kidding me!
Brad: You can never be too sure these days.
Waitress: Uh... Coffee, sir.
Brad: Don't get smart with me! Just get me a Dr. Pepper then.
Waitress: Anything to eat?
Brad: I'm risking my life as it is ordering the drink! What are you trying to do? Poison me?
Jamie: I'm so sorry. He's not right in the head right now. He thinks that everyone is trying to kill him.

(the waitress just stares, then slowly slips away. Jamie is glaring at Brad now)

Brad: What?
Jamie: You're an idot.