The Plunge

The Plunge

"I want to open a Pastry shop", she said. 

"Are you crazy?? That's all of your meager savings and you want to put it in something that you are not even sure will work??", questioned her friend. 

"Yeah, I do because I really, really love baking! It makes me happy!", she replied eagerly. Then added, "I'm gonna do it. I'll take the Plunge. At least I know I tried and didn't give up on my dreams..."

"In that case, I'm there all the way for you, my crazy friend", replied her friend with a smile...

Sound familiar??

We all know of dreams like the one above. Every dream is different. No dream is big or small. What matters is that You have one! And You believe in it with all your heart. Yeah, You may be the only one believing in it, but hey, that's great, for You are Your BIGGEST Supporter! And that's enough positive vibe to send out to the Universe in realizing your dream. I know, You think I'm crazy :-) But you've got to be a little crazy in a positive way in order to achieve what you've set your heart on.

I wanted to be home for my kids and I was told I was crazy to give up my job. I did it anyway because that's what I believed in. Looking back, those were the BEST, meaningful 10 years of my Life. I was told going to a new country was crazy. I'd never make it and be lonely and unhappy. I went anyway and here I am, 16 years later, calling this place my home and meeting some of the finest individuals who are dear to me than my own life. Yeah, I'm crazy, but a crazy one with no regrets. ;-)

I have Dreams and oftentimes I'm the only one who believes in them :-) It's scary, trust me, every time I'm faced with the decision to take "the plunge". I have no clue how or what I have to do to realize them....except for the strong, comforting flutter in my heart that says, "Go for it. You can do it". So, I take the plunge and the FIRST STEP reveals itself! That's all you really need. THE FIRST STEP! And the best part? YOU can be that Step for YOURSELF even when no one else shares your Dream! :-)

If you've ever hiked up a mountain trail, you know you can't always see the summit! It's a VISION in your head, one where you'd like to reach. You take your first step on the trail and keep going. Before long, you've reached the Summit and breathe in the spectacular vista and then look down and realize how far you've come!! It's an AMAZING feeling! 

If  you had looked at the peak and gave up right there thinking its way too high for you, you'd have never reached it, WHEN YOU ABSOLUTELY COULD HAVE!! 

Nothing in Life is certain. Nothing comes our way with an Instruction Manual or Plan or Steps. We figure them out as we go along. We may choose to share those "steps" or "actions" with others to make it easier for them but ultimately it is up to EACH ONE OF US to take that step in making it happen.

Don't be afraid to take that step towards your Dream. The Fear is only in your head, not "Out There" and it hasn't even happened and it may never either! You WILL most definitely encounter the "I told you so" people when you have a setback. So what? :-) They aren't the ones living your dream or walking in your shoes. They ARE NOT the ones who know what YOU are CAPABLE OF!

YOU ARE!!

So go ahead, LIVE a little. 

Take THE PLUNGE :-)

Nothin' but LOVE

And so begins another phase in my Life....

And my heart is filled to capacity with Gratitude for the way things have unfolded. It is one thing to read about the Calm one experiences and yet completely different to KNOW what it really is :-)

I will miss visiting my beloved park in the early morning hours but I guess I could always sneak some time in if my Soul totally craved it. Never say never, right? ;-)

I can never thank my Maker enough for the Glorious Moments of Solitude that were given to me,  that took me DEEPER Inside. To Let Go and watch Life unfold around You with You in it, is just so 'Freeing', for lack of a better enlightening word :-D I can't think of a better Stress Relief Therapy :-P

I will certainly try and keep up with my "iphoneOgraphing" and capture Nature as best as I can and share it with y'all, my Friends and ardent supporters - some of whom I know only virtually but who are just spectacularly amazing, just the way You are. Some of us strive for Perfection but here in lies the Beauty. Perfection lies not outside of us but really deep within each one of us. To quote Katsumoto from the 'The Last Samurai', "They are All PERFECT" :-) Just give yourselves a chance to SEE it ;-)

As I sit on the park bench soaking up the Spring Sunshine this morning, I feel overwhelmingly happy and can even smile back at the crazy Goose that wanted to chase me but decided to change direction in the final seconds :-D:-D

Life is BEAUTIFUL, people. You are not your circumstances, your decisions, opinions, judgements...not even that when you think you are at your lowest in Life. YOU are so much more than All that. You are PURE PERFECTION, yeah, even that grumpy neighbor who dumps his leaves in your yard :-D Just look beyond the Veil of Illusion and One day, You'll be Amazed at what You see. You will ;-)

So until next time, (and there surely will be one, don't you fret :-P), RELAX, LET GO and know that You are absolutely Cared for by that HIGHEST POWER. 

From my heart to y'all, 

I got nothin' but LOVE ❤️

(Picture courtesy of GooglePics)

What does not Kill You, makes You Stronger

Everyday each one of us goes through what can only be termed as Challenges or Situations. I refuse to associate an adjective of 'good' or 'bad' to them because really they are just Situations or Challenges. Something we need to face, learn and grow from. Now granted, given the diversity of each one of us, the Situations can be just as 'colorful', if I may use that term. :-P 

Life would be pretty boring without the regular Ups and Downs. It's what molds us into who we are. Some days it is easier to face them, other days, not so much. There are times when I don't feel like Soldiering on. I want to wallow in my pity pot and blame the whole entire Universe. But I dig a little deeper when that happens. Who's My audience? The whole entire Universe that I just got done blaming?? I don't think so :-) All this Drama and Dog and Pony Show and no one's even watching?! Kinda sucks, doesn't it? That's when Objectivity sets in. I look at it, 'it' being the Situation, for what it is. 

Can I Change it?

Can I Remove myself from it?

Can I Accept it? 

It's always going to fall under one of these 3. Always. 

There's my Solution then to deal with the Situation. See, I believe my Maker didn't Create me without also giving me the Tools to handle said Challenges. But you need to put in some effort to use them. Where's the Sense of Accomplishment or Pride if the Tool was just handed to You??

Ever try feeding an active, curious 6 month old baby? Every time you bring the little cheerio or banana mush in a spoon to her mouth, she swats your hand away as only babies can and tries to go for it herself :-) You can attempt it countless times, that doesn't stop her. Then when you let her feed herself and watch as the little cheerio is picked up and put inside that tiny mouth, her eyes widen in pure Joy and there's accomplishment there! It's almost like she's saying, "Look Ma, I did it!!! Did you see what I just did?? I'm going to do it again!" And she does! :-) It's beautiful watching that. 

Babies already know they have to persevere and make an effort to use the Tools they have been given. Why do we 'grow up' and turn into wimps then....? Yeah, beats me too :-P

Waking up every day to Be there, doing what needs to be done whether it's recovering the use of a limb after surgery through physical therapy or driving an hour or more to work and giving it your best because You have a job while there are many who don't or caring for your child not knowing all the answers but making a sincere attempt each day so you can do your best....all of these are Challenges. No reason to compare your Life with that of another (when has THAT ever helped?!) You get up, You face the Day, You persevere, You accomplish....You repeat. Every. Single. Day. Of this wonderful Life you've been bestowed with. 

Your Struggles, Challenges, Situations, call them what you will, CANNOT kill You. You were NEVER created that flimsy :-) (although you might kick the bucket if a Soup can landed on your head at just the right angle! Such is Life :-D)

One day at a time. One present moment at a time. That's all You need to focus on. That idle chatter that goes on in your head, well, tell it to take a hike, because You got this One Moment. If you feel like you can't, at that Moment, that's OK. Cry. Have a meltdown. Scream into a pillow. Punch a bag. Do what you've got to do. Give yourself permission to FEEL what You Feel. 'Cause when You are done, when You are cleansed, You are STILL ALIVE, Stronger than before and READY to kick butt, to do what it takes to face Your Challenge, Your Situation :-)

Feels True then, doesn't it? 

What DOES NOT KILL YOU, only makes YOU STRONGER!!