Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

Squelching the Spirit

Tuesday, April 12th, 2016

influence

Being a people-pleaser can be rough. Those of us who lean on the side of making everyone around us happy carry a huge load of worry. We worry if what we say or do hurts or helps the people in our life and because we can’t help ourselves… we worry for worrying about it.

For weeks, I’ve let my blog sit silent.

I walked away.

Didn’t even log on or look at it.

I might have even told myself (inside my own head) that I was done with blogging. Never touching WordPress again.

And, I may be still.

bad influey

I love writing and I get excited when I hear from readers that something I wrote down moved them or hit the spot regarding an issue in their own life. It reminds me just how simple life really is and how closely connected we all are in some weird way.

I struggle. You struggle. I lose. You lose. I celebrate. You celebrate. I laugh. You laugh. I fall down. You fall down.

We are all human.

let it go influence

What if you could just be you? Say whatever it is you wanted to say?

Would you do it?

Your life and mine has the power to influence those around us. Do we live it filtering every thought or idea?

As a Christian, I’ve almost trained myself to be JUST SO.

Just so, nice.

Just so, proper.

Just so, Jesus-y.

Just so, self-less.

Just so, righteous.

And by doing so, so? I’ve let my ME be someone very guarded and sensitive. I’ve allowed what other’s think or say about what I write to be a guardrail of sorts to hold me in place.

I hate it.

Maybe it’s because of the way I grew up. Always being pushed around and told how to feel, think and be. My opinion didn’t count, so I zipped it.

It’s like squelching the spirit. Or beating down real feelings. Sort of like being squished into a mold that doesn’t fit.

be above

What can I say to inspire others (and MYSELF) to keep forging on when little discouragements come along?

Get up! Keep going! You’ve got this! Don’t listen to them!

BE YOU! EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN!

God,
Help me to remember that I answer to You and not anyone else. Let my words be pleasing to you. Use me to love, encourage and bless others… Help me to speak truth TO MYSELF and to those who read what I write.
Amen

Cootie Alert

Friday, August 17th, 2012

I think I'm getting in the groove of school after a week-and-a-half….except, I woke up this morning with a screaming sore throat and sinus gunk.  Hello, school cooties!  I feel miserable and the worst part?

IT'S FRIDAY, dangit!

Friday's during the school year are sacred.  Set apart just for those of us banging out the work week like the troopers we are.  So waking up sick as the weekend is just getting started stinks like a skunk hit on the highway.  Not good!

I threw back an antibiotic and took off for work.  So, here's to hoping I'm not sick all weekend.  The days of freedom.

Before I go and make this the most amazing weekend ever….I wanted to share this  writing tip that I read this morning.  I love the idea behind it and I believe that each of us can incorporate it into our lives no matter what it is we're trying to accomplish.

"You have to find a way of working that makes it dead easy to take full advantage of your inspired moments."  Hugh MacLeod

You see the thing about inspiration is it tends to come when it's least convenient.  Like for me…I can think of a thousand book ideas or blog posts when I'm in traffic or sitting reading a story with a class.  So, I'm learning that when the mood hits….scribble the idea down and go back to it later.  Eureka moments will continue to happen when you're too busy to deal with them.  It's up to us to take advantage of them the best way we can.  So…no matter what you're trying to make happen in your life take complete advantage of your inspired moments.

Enjoy your weekend, friends.

 

Finding Inspiration

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

If you’re anything like me…..you love encouragement! Kind words push me forward. Just think about a time when you felt inspired to do great things. Didn’t it feel awesome? Being encouraged to do big things is how I’m feeling today.

I’m psyched!

I don’t want to lose my enthusiasm. If I sit on what I’ve discovered too long though…..I’ll leave it for good. That’s just how I am. Lame, huh?

I’ve had this one dream for so long, that I’d reached a point of believing maybe I had it all wrong. Now, I’m feeling pulled to give that old dream a shot. What will it hurt?

If I don’t TRY…..I’ll never know.

She Swims

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

I feel it’s way over due to share about the baby in my family and her latest passion. I say latest like she’s flittering from one thing to another. But that’s not the case. She very carefully chooses what activities she participates in. They just usually consist of singing, acting or planning something like pep rallies. She’s not what you would call an athlete.

Neither of my girls are…..athletic. They are artsy tartsy, drama type girls. Very talented ones at that.

It all started way back in September. I thought the 5am wake-up calls for morning training would wrap the whole SWIMMING idea up in a jiffy. When it didn’t, I admit….I got a little nervous. Then it went to afternoon’s as well. Over Christmas break….they practiced early mornings and afternoons, EVERYDAY!! They did take Christmas day off (Yippee!).

Who does that?

SWIMMERS, I guess!

All I can say is that I’m so proud of her. She took on a really tough sport. Joining a competitive swim team in your sophomore year could be a tad intimidating….but Gates has persevered! She had zero experience and didn’t know any of the strokes. I guess that’s why all the practice is required. Duh! To learn.

She has been an inspiration to me (yes, I’m lazy). Each day she continues on and I know….she’s exhausted! Even knowing she’s not as fast as her seasoned teammates, she keeps on working! I love her passion and I can’t help but smile at her pushing towards a goal that I could never attain. It’s been a life changing experience for her.

As a mom, I marvel at her courage to step out of her comfort zone and take on a competitive sport. That takes guts! And it sure makes for a healthy slim body too. She looks great! Maybe I need to start swim training!

I love you….. G A T E S