Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Best You...

After what for some has been a stressful and challanging week, I'm hoping that this finds all of you in a better frame of mind and ready to move forward. There's been far too much hate and discontent of late...and not just with the election stuff.

As adults, most of us have had to learn how to deal with thwarted goals, delayed plans and things that (from our perspective) have just been difficult to accept. It's part of life. Fair is a word that generally only applies in sporting events...in life, you win or you learn. For me, there has never been a lose.

Difficulties? Yep. Set backs? Gawd...too many to count! But you know what? I'm still here. Still. here. That's what really matters my friends...because the reality is one day, no matter what... we won't be.

Each of us experiences heartache, pain and loss. How we deal with these things is a matter of attitude. Pure and simple... it's one of the reasons that we must cultivate and cherish those folks that inspire and ecourage us. We all need a hand getting up once in a while.

As individuals, I also believe that you must learn to keep an open mind (and heart) to those whom disagree with you. I'm not talking about the caustic and the hateful here...I'm not advocating wasting precious time on those that cannot discuss without name calling and finger pointing BUT I am saying to give yourself permission to LISTEN and decide on what's best for you.

It's ok to say no. To agree to disagree and move on. If this past few years has taught me nothing else, it has shown me that I need not agree with you to respect you. The world would be a truly boring place if we all thought exactly the same...we need that diversity...that diferent perspective. Some of my closest friends have widely different world views than I. Our lives journeys have been unparralled and so we see things from altered viewpoints.

It can be maddening...but it's also usually refreshing. Teachable moments are something we should treasure and pass along. Not all knowledge is in books and matters of the heart mean little if not shared. If you have friends...true ones...not likes...not those folks that you nod at in passing, tell them what they mean to you, include them and make time for them because you never know what tomorrow may bring.

Like you all, I've lost friends and family. Some came home, draped beneath our nations flag...for those, I remember my oath.

This is our time...what we choose to do with it is up to us. SO...I thank each of you for your support...your time and effort to help others. What I challenge ALL of you to do (including myself!) is to be a brighter beacon. Work towards and FOR those things that inspire you or that you desire to see a change in! Be it fitness, health or social and political change...DO SOMETHING POSITIVE to make it a reality.

Be responsible and accountable...blaming others is always the easiest path and when looked at truthfully, it's usually the falsest one as well. Some things are beyond our control...like my honey's cancer...I hate it.

 I can't change it and that makes me hate it even more...but if I refuse to accept it will it change the reality? No...not one damn bit. What I can do...what I strive to do...is to make each day as full and as rewarding as possible for both of us. Be positive. Be involved. Honey shares this experience with others that are struggling to cope. It's hard...sometimes overwhelmingly so...she does it anyway.

Do I agree? Hell no...but I am inspired...and sometimes a little daunted.

I hope this finds each of you enjoying the weekend and your friends and families. We're all pulled in mutilple directions every day...remember to make time to work on being the best version of YOU that you can be!