Tag: Motivational

WHAT PANDEMIC? THESE CHILDREN THRIVE IN THEIR CONSTANT ISOLATION!

CHILDREN WHO ARE MORE SPECIAL THAN MOST

Blessed are all parents, but none more so than those who care for children who come with extra challenges and tests.

I am the child who cannot talk.

You wonder how much I am aware of … I see that as well. I am aware of much; I see whether you are happy and content or sad and fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you are able to do.

You cannot conceive my isolation; it’s so complete at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and then repeated to others. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, share my needs, or comment about the world about me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world’s standards… great strides in my development with which you can credit yourself; I do not give you understanding, as you know it.

What I give you is so much more valuable… I give you instead opportunities. Opportunities to discover the depth of your own character, not mine; the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities; the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, always working harder, and seeking answers to your many questions with no answers. Yes, I am the child who cannot talk.

I am the child who cannot walk.

The world seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. There is much you take for granted. I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, and I’ve dropped my fork, again. I am dependant on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes, people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I feel not so much envy as desire. A desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, and to be independent. I give you awareness. Yes, I am the child who cannot walk.

I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I don’t learn easily, if you judge me by the world’s measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the challenges and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity. Yes, I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I am the disabled child; I am your teacher.

If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life.

I will give you and teach you unconditional love.

I gift you with my innocent trust , my dependency upon you.

I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.

I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.

I teach you endless giving.

Most of all, I teach you Hope and Faith.

I am not disabled; I am special!

Sue Brown ©

Let Our New Found Strength be our own PERSONAL PANDEMIC.

   Each day, we all have the chance to start over. That’s a powerful thought!  Many days, we let that opportunity slip by.  However, during this imposed quarantine period (be it self-ordered or out of necessity), we have lots ol time to reflect, improve, and move forward into a new direction.

   Imagine the freedom of actually wiping the slate clean of all the negatives in our lives, Past and Present,  and instead… focus only on the “positives.”  We all have positives… even if initially we don’t look at them that way.   This opportunity is offered to all men …everywhere.  It makes us connected in a very basic way.  WE sometimes are connected in negative ways, such as the current Pandemic,  but more often we can be connected in Positive ways i.e. donating: time, money, or services,  praying for all, or helping others in very simple ways.   Sometimes, this concept is forgotten or dismissed. Yet, it might be the most meaningful thing we are given in Life.

It is often difficult to unwrap a new beginning and start each day fresh because it brings memories and situations that might be painful and scary.  Maybe a loved one has recently died or has been diagnosed with an illness. We might even be the one who is ill and we feel frightened and alone.  Perhaps, we have lost a job or our home and we are uncertain of our family’s security.   Or… occasionally, our burden is a wrong that was done to us over the last few years or perhaps, it’s something we did to another person and we are now shouldering the guilt of our actions.  Real situations: real life. It is called “Past” for a reason.

Here’s the amazing part.  It is virtually impossible not to find something good in even the most challenging of situations.  It’s difficult to see sometimes, but it’s always there. My own personal belief is that we can not control what is done to us, our individual tests and challenges by others, Nature, and our God, but we always have a choice in how we react to those tests and challenges.  The current Pandemic is our current challenge.

It appears as basic as accepting the things we can not change combined with a quiet determination to rise above our adversities as a stronger and wiser person.  It is also our opportunity to act both honorably and responsibly not only for ourselves, but for others while we find our way.  Very simply, it’s Integrity or doing the right thing regardless of the outcome.  Sometimes it is difficult, but it can be accomplished.

 Choice is what separates humans from other mammals; that’s empowering. 

Even if we personally fail in one test or challenge…a new one will come along in which we get to choose all over again.  Maybe, it’s so we finally get it correct.  LIFE, as given, isn’t easy.  Often, we do not like the apparent choices as they are presented to us and sometimes, they seem unfair, but they are choices nonetheless.

With each and every positive choice we make for ourselves and towards others we further define who we are as Human Beings and make the world a better place. Every day we are given this opportunity to perfect ourselves. It is an absolutely liberating thought and practice. We are not defined by what has been done to us in the past, but instead we are what we have chosen to do for ourselves… both now and in the future.  We can all choose that on any given day. One need not have an expensive or lengthy list… to experience life’s amazing gifts.

Maybe we can just slow down and recognize LIFE for the precious gift that it is…  all on its own. A good place to start would be if we all recognized the small things of our day that touch our soul. We so often overlook these because we are too busy or we yearn for something greater and grander. Actually, just embracing each day to the fullest is pretty amazing all on its own!  The sun as it is setting in the west on a glorious evening, the extra hour of sleep curled up next to the one we love on our day off, a walk in nature, or helping a total stranger- are wonders that can be enjoyed by all.

It’s pretty safe to say that all of us lost something this past year.  If we lost family members or friends, it is important to honor their memory by becoming strong within ourselves. What a wonderful tribute to them if we actually become better people in spite of our grief over their passing. Reaching out to others in need: financially, emotionally, or spiritually can be done in their name. We further define their life by our own positive choices.  Also, there is great healing in personal growth of our own.

Not everyone suffers a financial loss but we are tested in other areas. This is a given; no one has it all.  All too often tests and challenges are in the area of relationships.  Perhaps, a relationship at work or within the family didn’t go exactly the direction it should have in the past.  Words were said to each other and actions directed at another person that might seem irreversible. There’s that old joke about… nothing is certain but death and taxes.  Actually, it is a good lesson. Negative actions towards each other can cease and hurtful words can be corrected by heartfelt apologies.  It appears that nothing worthwhile is ever easy and this will be no exception.

What is amazing about our time here on Earth is that with each positive action we choose, we have the opportunity to leave our own Human Footprint in time.  Let this be the time that our lives aren’t so much about what we have…or what we’ve lost, but rather what we’ve given and therefore found.  Take that Pandemic!

SPRING FORWARD to a NEW LIFE! 2020

   Each day, we all have the chance to start over. That’s a powerful thought!  Many days, we let that opportunity slip by.  However, during this imposed quarantine period (be it self-ordered or out of necessity), we have lots ol time to reflect, improve, and move forward into a new direction.

   Imagine the freedom of actually wiping the slate clean of all the negatives in our lives, Past and Present,  and instead… focus only on the “positives.”  We all have positives… even if initially we don’t look at them that way.   This opportunity is offered to all men …everywhere.  It makes us connected in a very basic way.  WE sometimes are connected in negative ways, such as the current Pandemic,  but more often we can be connected in Positive ways i.e. donating: time, money, or services,  praying for all, or helping others in very simple ways.   Sometimes, this concept is forgotten or dismissed. Yet, it might be the most meaningful thing we are given in Life.

It is often difficult to unwrap a new beginning and start each day fresh because it brings memories and situations that might be painful and scary.  Maybe a loved one has recently died or has been diagnosed with an illness. We might even be the one who is ill and we feel frightened and alone.  Perhaps, we have lost a job or our home and we are uncertain of our family’s security.   Or… occasionally, our burden is a wrong that was done to us over the last few years or perhaps, it’s something we did to another person and we are now shouldering the guilt of our actions.  Real situations: real life. It is called “Past” for a reason.

Here’s the amazing part.  It is virtually impossible not to find something good in even the most challenging of situations.  It’s difficult to see sometimes, but it’s always there. My own personal belief is that we can not control what is done to us, our individual tests and challenges by others, Nature, and our God, but we always have a choice in how we react to those tests and challenges.  The current Pandemic is our current challenge.

It appears as basic as accepting the things we can not change combined with a quiet determination to rise above our adversities as a stronger and wiser person.  It is also our opportunity to act both honorably and responsibly not only for ourselves, but for others while we find our way.  Very simply, it’s Integrity or doing the right thing regardless of the outcome.  Sometimes it is difficult, but it can be accomplished.

 Choice is what separates humans from other mammals; that’s empowering. 

Even if we personally fail in one test or challenge…a new one will come along in which we get to choose all over again.  Maybe, it’s so we finally get it correct.  LIFE, as given, isn’t easy.  Often, we do not like the apparent choices as they are presented to us and sometimes, they seem unfair, but they are choices nonetheless.

With each and every positive choice we make for ourselves and towards others we further define who we are as Human Beings and make the world a better place. Every day we are given this opportunity to perfect ourselves. It is an absolutely liberating thought and practice. We are not defined by what has been done to us in the past, but instead we are what we have chosen to do for ourselves… both now and in the future.  We can all choose that on any given day. One need not have an expensive or lengthy list… to experience life’s amazing gifts.

Maybe we can just slow down and recognize LIFE for the precious gift that it is…  all on its own. A good place to start would be if we all recognized the small things of our day that touch our soul. We so often overlook these because we are too busy or we yearn for something greater and grander. Actually, just embracing each day to the fullest is pretty amazing all on its own!  The sun as it is setting in the west on a glorious evening, the extra hour of sleep curled up next to the one we love on our day off, a walk in nature, or helping a total stranger- are wonders that can be enjoyed by all.

It’s pretty safe to say that all of us lost something this past year.  If we lost family members or friends, it is important to honor their memory by becoming strong within ourselves. What a wonderful tribute to them if we actually become better people in spite of our grief over their passing. Reaching out to others in need: financially, emotionally, or spiritually can be done in their name. We further define their life by our own positive choices.  Also, there is great healing in personal growth of our own.

Not everyone suffers a financial loss but we are tested in other areas. This is a given; no one has it all.  All too often tests and challenges are in the area of relationships.  Perhaps, a relationship at work or within the family didn’t go exactly the direction it should have in the past.  Words were said to each other and actions directed at another person that might seem irreversible. There’s that old joke about… nothing is certain but death and taxes.  Actually, it is a good lesson. Negative actions towards each other can cease and hurtful words can be corrected by heartfelt apologies.  It appears that nothing worthwhile is ever easy and this will be no exception.

What is amazing about our time here on Earth is that with each positive action we choose, we have the opportunity to leave our own Human Footprint in time.  Let this be the time that our lives aren’t so much about what we have…or what we’ve lost, but rather what we’ve given and therefore found.  

OUR SOULS ARE VIRUS FREE!

New post on Spirit Unbroken; living life to the fullest!

IMINATING NEGATIVITY IN LIFE works with all TESTS!

by Sue Brown

     The shelves are bare; but our souls are bear!  This current world health shake-up will ultimately make us stronger as we heal from this test.  I believe it will make us stronger as countries that will (and can) interact to solve this Pandemic. It will make us stronger as people as we have been created in the image and likeness of God.  After all, we are in the season of Lent and as America braces for the full thrust… we as Christians et. al. just can’t ignore the coincidence of this time of year.  The whole reason for any experience in our lives, is to call forth a remembrance of who we really are as an object of infinite potential. We are created as… All That Is and All That Is Not. This is a proven fact and it is why we are Human Beings.

If we stop trying to control, move past, go beyond, cast out, go above, or run from the possibilities of ‘negative’ experiences… then there is no reason for them to control us anymore. It’s usually the negative ones that we dwell on the most.  In other words, the instant we realize and accept that everything in our life is equal, then we recognize that we cannot go beyond or move past negative situations. They are part of our life!

I have to work really hard at this. The negative situations are equal to us, since we are infinitely everything. That’s an empowering thought.  Hence, we need to become accepting to just let go (OR, “Let Go; Let God,)  and allow the idea that the possibility of a ‘negative’ situation has the potential to happen at anytime!   You can become perfectly content with that idea, since you soon realize that every ‘negative’ situation is created, sometimes by ourselves, and allows us to grow! Now, that idea I like.
Think of Reality  (or this Pandemic) as a mirror, then we must change ourselves, and the World around us, in order to see the change in the mirror.  A famous quote says, “Be the change you want to see in the world” this is exactly what that quote means. When you take responsibility for all of your reality, then you give yourself the power to change anything within your reality. Cool, huh?

We can adopt this perspective into reality, by first looking around at everything we see and hear in our reality right now.  When you “close your eyes” in the moment, you are telling your mind to refresh your viewpoint. Now, open your eyes and look around you again, except this time see everything as if we are looking into a mirror.   What are we supposed to learn from this?

Everything you are now seeing or hearing is a reflection of the mirror within you.  Everything starts from within and is reflected outwardly. If we don’t like what we see… in any aspect of our life… the reality and negative situation is ours to alter.

I’m a believer!  Be Careful, Be Safe, Be Confident that, “This too shall pass.”