Ditto

Here is a quote from a friend.....but it Echoes my thoughts.

After a week of social isolation in order to deal with some difficult things, a thought struck me today. It felt like another piece of a puzzle snapping into place, a puzzle that I am constantly trying to arrange. I ponder on a regular basis who I am and where is my place in this life. This evening I was reminded of an inherent trait that I exhibit on a regular basis. Sometimes it is to my detriment, but more often than not it paves the way and readies a path with sure footing. I am deliberative. If I say or do something, it almost always has good reason (to me) behind it. Whether or not I can communicate that is a whole other issue. If you ask me why, be prepared to LISTEN for a LONG time and ASK clarifying questions when I don't make sense to you. (Maybe I'm wrong. I am always up for learning.) I realize that this often makes me hard to deal with as I over think and over plan, but it also makes me a great asset and someone who carries much MEANING and PASSION, especially in my love for others. It also leaves me being serious, boarded up, and private. I open up, but to a select few.  These are the people whom I TRUST and LOVE dearly. These are the people who can hurt me the most. That is why I choose them carefully. I would hope that these same people have come to VALUE my complexity and depth instead of find it an error. 

Believing in Me because I am His

         Why, why does blogging make me feel  So vulnerable. To most bloggers, it makes them feel better, happier and even self-satisfied.  Not me.  I'm still a introvert, crybaby social-phobic. And,  sharing thoughts from my mind & soul has never been an easy thing for me to do.  I know beyond a doubt that growth happens "outside of our comfort zone" so here goes :) 

        For a few years now my personal mantra has been to...Believe.  Believe in... the future, happiness, promises, my family, success, service, love and even...Me.  Somedays it takes a great deal of  positive self-talk to truly believe.  Through the years I have learned that the reason I am able to believe in me is because I am His.  
          God is my strength. He is my mentor and my friend.  I am the daughter of a King.  I think that even makes me a princess?  After 18+ years of teaching the Young Women in our church that they are a princess, the daughter of a king, I finally Believe.  I Believe in Me.  I have always known that those young women were more precious to our Heavenly Father than they could ever imagine.  I Believed in their stature of royalty, valuable and priceless. They are Divine.  and.....I miss them.
          After years of sharing the young women's theme out loud each week in our Young Women's meetings, it has finally dawned on me that...  I...me...I am daughter of my Heavenly Father, who loves me, and I love Him.  I Believe in Me because I am His.


Ps.  Thank you Brooklyn for the Beautiful blog set-up you have given me as a gift.  I treasure it everyday, even if I can't make myself share my thoughts in writing as much as I should.  I love this blog!

Yea, I know that I am nothing: as to my strength I am weak: therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things.

Alma 26:12

Embrace Change

The root word for "motivation" is "move." Motivation is change.  So I ask myself, am I moving forward, or am I standing still?  Do I have a career that I love or am I on my way to that career?  Am I pleased with the relationship I have with family?  Do I have a healthy lifestyle?  Is my attitude where it should be?  Is my relationship with God the best it can be?

Truthful answers to these questions can tell me whether I want or need change.

           "Sometimes in the winds of change, we find our true direction"

The answer to change and the key to successful change is discipline and reprogramming beliefs.  I believe we need to listen to our heart.  Filter out the old static and tune in to something new as the new year rolls in. We need to get motivated to break away from that notorious "comfort zone." Comfort zones can put padlocks on the doors to growth, discovery, and adventure in life.  Three keys that will unlock those doors are discipline, hard work, and faith. 

 Inch by inch...Life is a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard. 

 We need to unlock one door at a time, enjoy small successes, and soon we will have confronted our fears, and achieved our goals.

One thing I have learned is that change can be a wonderful blessing. It can recharge your emotional battery and nourish your soul.  So, I choose change and challenge for this years motto.  2013 will be a year of making change to create a positive difference in my life.

P.S.  Change #1, I posted  the funny face picture instead of the "flawless, smiling, happy family portrait"

    Go Me :)