Looking Back in Order to Look Forward

It's interesting to look back on something I wrote 2 years ago, and to know that we did something to remedy the time debt we were in, and we are a happier, more fulfilled little family because of it! Interesting too, however, that I feel so much the same now as I did then...that not enough attention is being paid to the moment, to being happy in the right now instead of getting caught up in all the negativity around us, or getting so caught up in an unknown future. If you aren't happy with something in your life, you can make a choice to change it. What you choose to do right now will not only impact this moment, but will impact your future moments, and you have the power to impact them positively. Drown out the negativity in the world around us with your light; let go of things that are draining you financially; let go of people that are draining you emotionally. Decide what you want, not what others want for you, and take action to make it happen. We wanted more time as a family, we took action to bring Doug home from his time-draining retail job. Has it been easy? No. Will it last forever? Probably not. Has it been the right and best thing for our family at this season in our life? Yes. Is it the right thing for other families? Not necessarily. Would we do anything differently? Nope. Less can mean more; less money meant more time for our family, less things (that we incidentally do not get to take to heaven with us when our earthly time is over) meant more meaningful moments spent as a family (of which the memories will last in our hearts and minds far longer than the 'stuff' will last). We weren't happy with our circumstances and did not want to be in the same place five years later...so we made a choice to make a change, and now two years later we continue to be glad we took action! The action we took is not an option for every family, everybody's situation looks differently and what works for some will not work for all. Do not be discouraged by that! Just do what is right for you, and take everything you try as an opportunity to learn and grow, and know that each experience shapes your path of life. Most importantly, live in the moment.

http://www.sufficientgrace7.blogspot.com/…/05/time-debt.html

It's Okay To Be You!

Who are you, really? At your core, in your heart? What do you believe in? What will you stand up for? What do you want to do with your life? What talents do you have that you can share with others? Are you passionate about something? Are you happy? Do you think you are happy, but it seems like everything that the vast media around you is telling you makes it so you feel like it’s not okay to be happy with yourself?

  

Every time I log on to my social media accounts, or peruse the lovely world wide web, or pick up a magazine, or turn on the news…I am bombarded with other people’s thoughts, ideas, quotes, pictures, links to this article or that website, postings that are forwards of what somebody else has posted. Often times, there is a nugget of inspiration in those thoughts, ideas, quotes, articles. Often times, something lifts my blah mood, makes me laugh or smile, helps remind me that there is more going on in the world than what I see in my little bubble of daily life. However, just as often, there are negative things filling my screen, other people’s moments of unhappiness, discontent, and bitterness that can threaten my positive mood, turn my smile into a frown. Quotes and articles that have no foundation, no real value, they are simply another rant about this-that-or-the-other thing that is wrong with society today.  And I find myself wondering…does the person that I am friends with who posted this, really believe in it? Do they realize the negative connotation of what the article says, or the vulgarity of the video, or the complete uselessness of the quote? 

So often “friends” (because really, in this world of social media, are we truly friends with all these followers of us and those we follow?) post items that they believe in, because it speaks to a piece of who they are, or where they are at in their path of life; because it has some sort of impact on them. But the more I read these items, the more I let those things sink into my own consciousness, the more I find myself wanting to tell my “friends” to just stop. Stop reposting everyone else’s thoughts, and start figuring out what your own thoughts are. Stop letting other people dictate what you believe in, or what you want to do with your life, or how you want to share your talents. Stop. Be still. Let go of everyone around you for a minute, and look into your own heart, your own soul, your own mind. 

What do YOU believe in, regardless if your peers share the belief? What will YOU stand up for, regardless if your peers will stand beside you? What do YOU want to do with your life, regardless if your peers tell you it’s wrong or not prosperous enough, or you can do better with what they are doing? What talents do YOU have to share with those around you, regardless if anybody else has that same talent? What are YOU passionate about, regardless if anybody else is passionate about it? Are YOU happy, regardless if your peers are happy and society in general is throwing all kinds of crapola at us that tells us we really shouldn’t be happy, because then we are comfortable, and if we are comfortable, then we aren’t doing enough?

I love to read, when a friend shares a link to an article or blog, chances are pretty good that I'll click on it to check it out. There is a lot of good stuff out there to be shared. A lot of food for thought. I have read a lot of stuff lately about being "authentic". About being your best you; reaching your full potential, creating a legacy of greatness, breaking down barriers, going beyond your comfort zone to do more and be more. But honestly, being authentic is about being genuine. 

Are you being authentic if you're just sharing what someone else has said, or written, or done? It's great to share something that made an impact on you, so share it and also share why it meant something to you. Share a piece of yourself along with the piece of someone else you are forwarding. Are you being genuine if you're just going with the flow of what someone else is doing, because it's working for them? Being genuinely YOU; having your own thoughts, your own ideas, making your own decisions and being content with your choices, is the only way you can truly be authentic. Being happy, being comfortable; because honestly? You need to be comfortable in this crazy, chaotic life. You don’t need to duplicate what somebody else is doing, just because it is their answer to being happy. You don’t need to feel like you are lacking something in your life because you thrive in your comfort, because you’re happy living in your little bubble of daily life, spending time with those you love, doing the things you enjoy. Why is that a bad thing? Why are we being bombarded with things telling us that it’s not okay to life a simple life, doing what you enjoy, providing for your family, being content? Living, loving, laughing, every day. Every moment, because the only guarantee you have is the moment you are living right now.  So live this moment, being authentically YOU, being genuine to who YOU are, letting go of expectations that have been placed on you by others, or that you have placed on yourself, or feel have been placed on you by society, by the concept that it takes more to be happy. It doesn’t. It just takes being YOU; making your mistakes, stumbling but picking yourself back up, being happy, being comfortable, enjoying each moment.

And once in a while, when you see an image that inspires you, or gets your thoughts going, or simply makes you smile, share it, because often times, it will help somebody else. It will get their thoughts going, open up conversations they need to be having, inspire them, or simply make them smile when nothing else can.