Family - Friend

Family is the foundation of our life. As kids we know and automatically trust our family. When we become adults we begin to see our family members true character.

All family members are not friends. Allow family involvement in your life according to the character of that person and not their family relationship. I have learned recently you can love your family member because they are family but not like them for their character. I want to be close to those who have shown themselves to be friends whether related or not.

It is what it is and that's the way it is for me.

Courage

I have recently learned a valuable lesson about courage. If someone commits a cruel act against a loved one and refuses to face that person to admit guilt that is a cowardly act. You may be afraid of what that person will say to you or how others will look at you but you must, in spite of those fears, have the courage to confront those fears. There can be no resolution or repentance with the absence of courage.

Courage is required to do what is right and if you lack that courage your character is greatly flawed. You risk your salvation and you will reap what you have sown.

Courage is an important virtue.

Hope

Hope is very powerful. Hope can lighten your heart. Hope can give you strength to fight a battle or complete a task. Hope will help you sleep at night. Hope will catapult you into action.

Having hope does not guarantee things will turn out like you want but you'll feel a whole lot better as you move forward. Hope can help you heal both spiritually and physically. True hope will transform your world.

Always have hope because, again I say, hope is very powerful.

The Flow of Life

As we live our life and changes occur we have to adjust to the flow of our life. You find your stride and make the adjustment. I recently learned that if you are not physically and mentally strong at the time of adjustment it takes longer to adjust. The adjustment may not be what you want it to be, but, it becomes your reality.

So keep yourself strong so you can adjust to the flow of your life as it changes. It will change because everything must change.

Expectations

We all expect to be treated fairly and with kindness as we want to be treated. Sometimes we have to raise our expectations in order for us to receive this level of treatment. If you have a loved one receiving treatment in a medical setting and you get an uneasy feeling due to the lack of action and compassion from those delivering the care don't just accept what they say.

Today medical professionals told my loved one they were releasing him from the hospital and to go home and get his affairs in order. I didn't just accept that but I requested a second opinion. This really shocked them because they expected us to just give up. No way. We now have options and hope. So I know raised expectations yield greater positive results.

Raise your expectations

Life

Live your live as if everything is a blessing. The positive aspects are obvious blessings. The negative aspects are also blessings with lessons.

Live your life by working heartily as you would if God is watching you.

Live your life today because things can change in the blink of an eye.

Today I prayed and maintained my faith in God through a storm. The wave has calmed for now but I know it can change again tomorrow.

Live your life today. Love your life today.

Character

I have learned that your character depicts how successful you are as a person. I want to make sure my character reflects a person of my word and consideration for others. When you have questionable character no one wants to be around you. Your actions will show your character whether you want them to or not. Remember, good character equals good seeds sown and you definitely reap what you sow.

Trust

I recently learned a hard lesson about trust. It's important to have a support system in life. A support system is family and friends who truly love you.

If you betray a member of your support system with a heartless act the whole system will fall apart. You don't want this to happen so my lesson is:

If someone trusts you be trust worthy.

Values

When you know the prioritization of your values your actions will line up accordingly. I think about that in my business and it guides my diligence and dedication to my clients. Personally, I place a very high value on my relationships and take no one for granted. No one has to be kind to me or do anything for me so I value those who do. My responsive action is to reciprocate the kindness. So I've learned to let me actions reflect the value I place on all of my relationships.

Battles

Think about this:

I have asked myself why I have recurring similar adversities in my life. It seems like the same problems or obstacles are in my path. I now know that these may be the same battles, sometimes with disguises, but each outcome can be different. Sometimes we have to fight the same battles over and over again to win the war. It seems repetitive, but, think about it, we learn something from each battle. When we fight the same battle we sharpen our tools, perfect our strategy and increase our strength.

Pre-Christmas Thoughts

We are two weeks away from Christmas and many people are stressed trying to get the right toy or gift for their loved one. I've learned not to get caught up in that unnecessary stress. The Christmas season is about miracles, love, caring, sharing and hope. I find good health for my loved ones and me as a top priority right now. Just to be able to enjoy the company of my family at Christmas time is good enough for me.

As a Caregiver, I ask God to give me strength and keep me standing because if I go down my house will fall. These thoughts have crossed my mind these past few days as I battle a bad cold.

So realize what's up and don't stress about things that aren't important. I'd rather have good health any day, even Christmas Day.

Hills and Valleys

Every hill has its valley. Sometimes it may seem like you are on a roller coaster in life but I have learned that fluctuations create more depth, interest and character. Think about it... lessons are learned while in the valley. Strength is gained while in the valley. Skills are sharpened while in the valley. Thank God for my valleys. 

So accept, analyze and improve while in the valleys and you will shine on your hills.

This I have learned in my life.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving Day I give thanks to God for bringing me thus far. The last couple of months have been heartbreaking and my appreciation for life is greater. I thank Him for my cousin and my big brother. My generation is older and we have been shown that time is winding down. I wake each morning and literally thank Him for waking me up. Once I’m up I strive throughout my day to make a positive difference in someone’s life.

As I greet people in passing I smile and will stop to talk. I was talking to a lady the other day in Kentucky Fried Chicken. I didn’t go through the drive-thru for some reason. She was talking about how hungry she was and was on her way to work. She placed her order and searched for her money or debit card. She discovered she didn’t have either and couldn’t get her food. I told the cashier to add her order to mine because we could all be in that situation. She thanked me and said she was online paying some bills before she left home and left her debit. She is trying to get her credit together to buy a home. I told her I am a Realtor and she took my card and is preparing to buy a home.

Had I stayed in the drive-thru or not talked with her or not shown compassion I would not have been able to bless her and would have missed my blessing.

Thank you Lord for all You’ve done for me

Relationships

My personal relationships are very important to me. I have found that relationships with others out of convenience are not desirable. I choose my relationships carefully because they can either enhance or inhibit my life. 

Every relationship has to be defined and categorized. Close relationships must be supportive of your goals and direction. If someone is not for you, they are against you. It’s just that simple.

I distance myself from those who show animosity and negative actions. Life is too short to associate with those who don’t support you. Even if you have fewer people in your life, those few will contribute more to your happiness and success than the many so-called friends you could have around you.

One true friend is worth more than ten haters. Evaluate your personal relationships and go forth accordingly.

Individuality

I have always been told I am different; that I just have to stand out; I just have to go against the flow. I don’t strive to be different or stand out or go against the flow. I strive to be me.

Individuality takes courage. Some people want acceptance so they conform to make others happy and comfortable. I am considerate of others but not at the cost of jeopardizing who I am. I don’t allow others to infuse me with negativity and doubt about who I am.

Individuality makes you unique. This allows you to lead rather than follow. 

So I will continue to be me and dress like me and wear my hair like me, an individual.

Knowledge

Knowledge is power. In my life, I seek to learn each day and tend to share with others what I know to be true. This thirst for knowledge has driven me most of my life. As a result, I have worked and played in many different arenas. The cumulative effect of my diversity is powerful.

Learn all you can about all you can. Knowledge can redirect your life’s path. Knowledge can increase your self-confidence. Knowledge can protect your loved ones. Knowledge can give you peace. Knowledge can facilitate forgiveness. Knowledge can sustain you. Knowledge can help you grow.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Emotions

Emotions can be very powerful catalysts in determining results. I have recently experienced this in my personal and business life. We have disappointments at home, we lose those we love and we have happy events occur. All of these events can control our emotions, as they should.

You have to develop emotional resilience in your business life.

My life lesson in this experience is to know your business, which gives you confidence in your position or opinion. Then, if confronted with negative emotions, let it be known you are not engaging in that and will remain positive. You will then be successful in most of your business relationships because you can clearly think about what moves to make.

Be patient, be attentive, be confident, be a listener, be successful

Multiple Roads

We make a choice to engage in our life’s work and relationships based on what we believe our best or available option at that time. Sometimes we are confronted with obstacles or unexpected consequences. Things just don’t turn out like we thought and we feel defeated, disheartened and sad.

Remember, you have multiple roads to take in life and never be afraid or hesitant to change your road and travel on a different path. I have advised my son and grandson to change roads when needed and not feel as though you have failed because of this change. A failure will not change and continue on the road filled with obstacles and roadblocks and, as a result, never reach their destination or full potential.

I have lived my life full of life direction changes and this has made me a well-rounded, experienced person, a success at living my life. I always ask God to reveal to me His will for my life and patiently wait for Him to reveal that direction.

So don’t fear changing roads in your life. Gather knowledge from each path and travel the new road with confidence. I know we all have multiple roads we can travel so roll on and don’t look back.

Never be afraid to change. Change is growth, and growth is necessary to realize all that God has for you.

My Big Brother

My big brother has always been a star in my family. When he walked into a room all eyes are on him. He was voted Most Handsome in his high school senior class. He dated a majorette and she was one of the most beautiful women I had seen. They had beautiful children and love was shared throughout our family.

Over the years my big brother and I have not seen each other as much because we have moved to different cities but when we see each other we hug so hard and long and feel the love. Oh how I love my big brother.

My big brother passed from this life on Monday of this week and I will never get to see him and hug him again. I keep thinking about things unsaid and how we should have talked more often but that will never happen now.

Hug your loved ones now, say what you need to say now, forgive now, and say I love you now.

Oh how I wish I could see my big brother now

God's Plan

You never know what God’s plan is for your life. You have to make each day filled with showing love, providing help, making others smile and praising Him. As parents, we prepare ourselves to make this journey and one day leave this world for the next and leave our kids behind. Sometimes it doesn’t happen that way; sometimes our kids leave us. That’s harder to accept because it’s not the natural order of expectations.

God’s plans are unknown to us and He is the great Architect of life. You can be sick and feel the end is near and all of a sudden another person you don’t expect to leave is suddenly gone. You ask how this happened and why. It’s God’s plan.

I am faced with much sadness today because this has now happened in my family. Someone I always looked at as strong and in control has left this world. His mother is left with a void in her heart because this is not the natural order of things.

Show love and spend time with your parents and loved ones today because tomorrow may be too late.

We never know for sure God’s Plan