On 5/26/17 Kev Writes, I Type:
Most of us spend our entire lives trying to run from who we truly are...we need to realize that the only opinion that matters is the one we have of ourselves. Pointing fingers can feel like swords, but when we are able to accept who we truly are inside-we arm ourselves with a shield that is impervious against outside judgement.
I know what it feels like to be judged by people...as a recovering addict you end up dealing with the stigma associated with that label. On top of being a recovering addict, I also face the stigma with being labeled a convicted felon. What I understand now is that a label is only able to control us when we choose to believe that label defines us....If we end up believing in what others want us to think of ourselves, we end up trying to hide who we truly know ourselves to be...
Don't be afraid to show your scars. Vulnerability is really a beautiful thing. It allows people to relate with you. We should not fear being judged for what mistakes we have made in out lives. We should be able to understand that in order to overcome these setbacks, we must first be able to embrace them.
The rest of the world will appreciate someone who is able to grow from their mistakes more than the person who chooses to wallow in their own self-destruction.
I would rather be naked than invisible...I accept where I've been, and I realize that without those moments I may never have ended up discovering who I truly am inside.
So, here I am. You can choose to take me or leave me, just know that in the end I am completely OK with either/or. Don't be afraid of who you truly are. Our ability to share ourselves with the rest of humanity will always be our greatest weapon in changing the course of history...
Be proud not only your accomplishments...be proud of your failures as well because without them you would not be the person you are today...
Today's positive affirmation: I will not be afraid to shine, because I know that all light shines brighter in a little darkness!
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Saturday, May 20, 2017
The Will To Truly Live
On 5/17/17, Kev writes and I type:
Have you ever wanted to accomplish something so badly that you would do anything to make it happen? I truly believe that most of our wildest dreams are only impossible when we stop believing that they are...We make our own heaven or hell right here on earth...The possibilities of what we can achieve only has limits when we make a conscious decision to draw a line.
Our consciousness connects us to a hallway of infinite doors...We hold the keys to each entrance. That thing you want most in life becomes possible when you truly decide to make it possible. I believe we all have the power to will the life we want to live into existence. If you really think about it, our minds hold the answers to everything we truly want. We know what to do but the hardest part is to place one foot in front of the other to reach that destination. The extent of our belief in what we can achieve will define the overall existence we make for ourselves..
If you want something in life, then truly believe and love it. Love is about being able to give yourself to that one person , thing or idea. With real love we are able to create anything...with love we are able to will an entire world into existence....True love is how Jesus Christ was able to perform miracles..With a love for all things we begin to understand that anything is possible. That love must first come from within, because we can't give something back if we first do not have it within ourselves.
Don't turn your back on your hopes and dreams. Love them and nurture them with all that you are..Believe in that love and you will begin to watch those dreams become a tangible reality. Don't be afraid of the path it takes to get you where you want..put one foot in front of the other and let love be your guide..even when things may seem impossible and when at times you see no end in sight, realize that love will conquer all, and that as long as your heart still beats...you will always have the will to truly live...
Today's Positive Affirmation: I will define my existence through a love for all life.
"Where there's life there's hope" - Terrence
Have you ever wanted to accomplish something so badly that you would do anything to make it happen? I truly believe that most of our wildest dreams are only impossible when we stop believing that they are...We make our own heaven or hell right here on earth...The possibilities of what we can achieve only has limits when we make a conscious decision to draw a line.
Our consciousness connects us to a hallway of infinite doors...We hold the keys to each entrance. That thing you want most in life becomes possible when you truly decide to make it possible. I believe we all have the power to will the life we want to live into existence. If you really think about it, our minds hold the answers to everything we truly want. We know what to do but the hardest part is to place one foot in front of the other to reach that destination. The extent of our belief in what we can achieve will define the overall existence we make for ourselves..
If you want something in life, then truly believe and love it. Love is about being able to give yourself to that one person , thing or idea. With real love we are able to create anything...with love we are able to will an entire world into existence....True love is how Jesus Christ was able to perform miracles..With a love for all things we begin to understand that anything is possible. That love must first come from within, because we can't give something back if we first do not have it within ourselves.
Don't turn your back on your hopes and dreams. Love them and nurture them with all that you are..Believe in that love and you will begin to watch those dreams become a tangible reality. Don't be afraid of the path it takes to get you where you want..put one foot in front of the other and let love be your guide..even when things may seem impossible and when at times you see no end in sight, realize that love will conquer all, and that as long as your heart still beats...you will always have the will to truly live...
Today's Positive Affirmation: I will define my existence through a love for all life.
"Where there's life there's hope" - Terrence
#Victory Favors The Brave
On 5/11/17 Kev writes, I type:
What does it mean to be truly brave? I feel like our victories in life can be determined by how brave we are in the face of our greatest adversity. The success we achieve throughout the course of our lives is accomplished through having the courage to be who we truly are...Victory favors the brave, because only those who are dauntless have the strength to fight for what they want. We get nowhere by succumbing to defeat or by giving up before the miracle happens...Sometimes, in the darkest moments of our lives -by being brave- we can find that one light that guides us towards the happiest moment we may ever find....
There's a famous quote that says "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Standing on that ledge called change can be a scary place to find yourself. Change itself goes against our very nature as human beings..., but having the courage to take that leap of faith can sometimes be the deciding factor between victory and failure...Face yourself in order to find yourself, and your whole world will change. Bravery is about being able to fight for what you know is right...Sometimes the only difference between winning a battle is being able to know how to lose first in order to find the strength to win the war..Victory favors the brave and the brave use their hearts as weapons, not their hands . With love we win all wars, with unconditional love, we arrest the possibility of war and find victory over hate..Bravery is LOVE and victory favors the brave.
Today's Positive Affirmation: I have the courage to not only face myself, but the courage to change the world with love, because I know victory favors the brave!
What does it mean to be truly brave? I feel like our victories in life can be determined by how brave we are in the face of our greatest adversity. The success we achieve throughout the course of our lives is accomplished through having the courage to be who we truly are...Victory favors the brave, because only those who are dauntless have the strength to fight for what they want. We get nowhere by succumbing to defeat or by giving up before the miracle happens...Sometimes, in the darkest moments of our lives -by being brave- we can find that one light that guides us towards the happiest moment we may ever find....
There's a famous quote that says "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Standing on that ledge called change can be a scary place to find yourself. Change itself goes against our very nature as human beings..., but having the courage to take that leap of faith can sometimes be the deciding factor between victory and failure...Face yourself in order to find yourself, and your whole world will change. Bravery is about being able to fight for what you know is right...Sometimes the only difference between winning a battle is being able to know how to lose first in order to find the strength to win the war..Victory favors the brave and the brave use their hearts as weapons, not their hands . With love we win all wars, with unconditional love, we arrest the possibility of war and find victory over hate..Bravery is LOVE and victory favors the brave.
Today's Positive Affirmation: I have the courage to not only face myself, but the courage to change the world with love, because I know victory favors the brave!
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Damage Control
On 5/2/17 Kev writes, I type:
I believe we are all damaged in some way, shape or form-no matter how big or how small that scar may be. Suffering is a major part of life, and our very existence depends on our reactions towards the adversity we face. We cannot let the dents and bruises upon our spirit become a fatal malady that holds us back from living our lives to the fullest. Part of being alive is about learning how to stand back up when we fall down hard. If we choose the live life in resentment,,we may never escape those moments that attempt to hold us down.
When we get into a minor fender bender, we accept the situation, confront the other person, trade insurance information and attempt to find the best way to repair our damage. I feel this is very similar to how life works. We face experiences that may test our daily life.. we can either choose to accept each situation as it comes, and learn from that experience or we can allow ourselves to remain trapped in that one moment. When we allow our world to be dictated by the very things that destroy us from the inside, we end up not only hurting ourselves continuously but we end up hurting those that are close to us.
I've had to learn to accept myself in order to let go of my past. I've found that through practicing maintenance or as I like to call it "damage control" on a daily basis, I'm able to live life on life's terms and gain a more sincere insight into myself. My heart, mind and soul are no longer trapped in separate cages and I've been able to find a new sense of freedom and growth through my own self examination. I'm able to accept myself and in return accept others for who they are...
Today's Positive Affirmation: "Love? What is it? Most natural painkiller there is. LOVE." ..William S Burroughs
I believe we are all damaged in some way, shape or form-no matter how big or how small that scar may be. Suffering is a major part of life, and our very existence depends on our reactions towards the adversity we face. We cannot let the dents and bruises upon our spirit become a fatal malady that holds us back from living our lives to the fullest. Part of being alive is about learning how to stand back up when we fall down hard. If we choose the live life in resentment,,we may never escape those moments that attempt to hold us down.
When we get into a minor fender bender, we accept the situation, confront the other person, trade insurance information and attempt to find the best way to repair our damage. I feel this is very similar to how life works. We face experiences that may test our daily life.. we can either choose to accept each situation as it comes, and learn from that experience or we can allow ourselves to remain trapped in that one moment. When we allow our world to be dictated by the very things that destroy us from the inside, we end up not only hurting ourselves continuously but we end up hurting those that are close to us.
I've had to learn to accept myself in order to let go of my past. I've found that through practicing maintenance or as I like to call it "damage control" on a daily basis, I'm able to live life on life's terms and gain a more sincere insight into myself. My heart, mind and soul are no longer trapped in separate cages and I've been able to find a new sense of freedom and growth through my own self examination. I'm able to accept myself and in return accept others for who they are...
Today's Positive Affirmation: "Love? What is it? Most natural painkiller there is. LOVE." ..William S Burroughs
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Transplanting A New Way OF Life
On 4/27/17 Kev writes, I type:
We all feed off each other..One of the most amazing things I see happen in recovery based meetings is the new way of life that is found through the shared experiences of one addict helping another...When I thoroughly worked the twelve steps with a sponsor... I have learned by living the steps on a daily basis that I would be able to transplant the new way of life that I had found into the next person struggling. The death of our old habits can offer life to the next person in need... gaining the understanding that we are no better or worse than the person next to us - will help us to become an asset for each other.. We can always learn from one another. Even when someone displays a negative thinking pattern or chooses to live their life in a destructive way..we can still learn from watching their experiences and using them to gain a greater insight into what we must do in our own lives to eliminate that same scenario from happening to us...Our shared experiences are what makes this crazy world go round...we don't have to agree on the choices people make, but we can use what we learn not only from our own negative choices, but from the negative choices of others to better our lives and in return help better the lives of others who are in similar situations....
When a surgeon transplants a new heart....he would never choose to transplant a defective organ into someone in need of a healthy replacement. This same concept holds true to life in general. In order to convey the right message we have to first practice what we preach. Plus, how could we convey an experience we have not yet lived? By demonstrating the benefit of being a good person, we in turn create an image that others can learn from...we plant the seeds of a new life much the same way a surgeon transplants a healthy organ into a person needing that new organ. We can transplant a new way of life and give the world a better heart and a better beat to follow...
Today's Positive Affirmation: I will be the healthy example that breathes new life into those in need..
We all feed off each other..One of the most amazing things I see happen in recovery based meetings is the new way of life that is found through the shared experiences of one addict helping another...When I thoroughly worked the twelve steps with a sponsor... I have learned by living the steps on a daily basis that I would be able to transplant the new way of life that I had found into the next person struggling. The death of our old habits can offer life to the next person in need... gaining the understanding that we are no better or worse than the person next to us - will help us to become an asset for each other.. We can always learn from one another. Even when someone displays a negative thinking pattern or chooses to live their life in a destructive way..we can still learn from watching their experiences and using them to gain a greater insight into what we must do in our own lives to eliminate that same scenario from happening to us...Our shared experiences are what makes this crazy world go round...we don't have to agree on the choices people make, but we can use what we learn not only from our own negative choices, but from the negative choices of others to better our lives and in return help better the lives of others who are in similar situations....
When a surgeon transplants a new heart....he would never choose to transplant a defective organ into someone in need of a healthy replacement. This same concept holds true to life in general. In order to convey the right message we have to first practice what we preach. Plus, how could we convey an experience we have not yet lived? By demonstrating the benefit of being a good person, we in turn create an image that others can learn from...we plant the seeds of a new life much the same way a surgeon transplants a healthy organ into a person needing that new organ. We can transplant a new way of life and give the world a better heart and a better beat to follow...
Today's Positive Affirmation: I will be the healthy example that breathes new life into those in need..
Taking The High Road
On 4/23/17 Kev writes, I type:
On of the biggest things I've learned to practice on a daily basis is the concept of acceptance.I feel like most people in today's world struggle with this concept, and in return it becomes the reason why we are constantly at war with one another. All the hate, aggression and violence usually seems to stem from our inability to accept each other's differences..in return no common ground is found.and nothing seems to change. We end up spending more time tearing each other down instead of working together to make our world a better place. Until people are able to look past blatant ignorance and realize that no matter what our cultural differences may be , no matter what the color of our skin may be, no matter what our spiritual preferences may be and no matter what gender we end up choosing to love. we are all human beings,,,
I'm not saying that we have to surrender our own opinions. or that we stand down in the face of oppression; what I'm saying is that when we end up leaving our minds closed to the possible things we can learn from one another...we end up losing ourselves in the process. I've learned that sometimes to win the fight we must be able to take the high road..That road is found through acceptance.
You can't reason with rage, you can't reason with hate..So, instead of choosing to give into what rage and hate creates which is violence, we show our strength through acceptance. Love is the only thing that is truly able to defeat hate. rage and violence. By being the best human beings we can be, and keeping an open mind,...we become able to gain greater understanding for the capacity and power of love. Love is the cornerstone of peace, and through peace we can begin to learn how to exist together.
Let our shared experiences become the driving force that leads us through the darkness and into a brighter world. My journey us defined by progress rather than perfection..I choose to live each day with an understanding for all those who enter my life, even when our minds may clash. I try to learn from each person I meet. I don't understand all the mysteries that this world holds, but one thing I do understand is that love conquers all....
Today's Positive Affirmation: I choose to understand that my journey may be different than the person standing next to me. but I know there will always be a lesson to be learned from each person that I meet,,,We build a temple within ourselves, and lay each stone with love.
On of the biggest things I've learned to practice on a daily basis is the concept of acceptance.I feel like most people in today's world struggle with this concept, and in return it becomes the reason why we are constantly at war with one another. All the hate, aggression and violence usually seems to stem from our inability to accept each other's differences..in return no common ground is found.and nothing seems to change. We end up spending more time tearing each other down instead of working together to make our world a better place. Until people are able to look past blatant ignorance and realize that no matter what our cultural differences may be , no matter what the color of our skin may be, no matter what our spiritual preferences may be and no matter what gender we end up choosing to love. we are all human beings,,,
I'm not saying that we have to surrender our own opinions. or that we stand down in the face of oppression; what I'm saying is that when we end up leaving our minds closed to the possible things we can learn from one another...we end up losing ourselves in the process. I've learned that sometimes to win the fight we must be able to take the high road..That road is found through acceptance.
You can't reason with rage, you can't reason with hate..So, instead of choosing to give into what rage and hate creates which is violence, we show our strength through acceptance. Love is the only thing that is truly able to defeat hate. rage and violence. By being the best human beings we can be, and keeping an open mind,...we become able to gain greater understanding for the capacity and power of love. Love is the cornerstone of peace, and through peace we can begin to learn how to exist together.
Let our shared experiences become the driving force that leads us through the darkness and into a brighter world. My journey us defined by progress rather than perfection..I choose to live each day with an understanding for all those who enter my life, even when our minds may clash. I try to learn from each person I meet. I don't understand all the mysteries that this world holds, but one thing I do understand is that love conquers all....
Today's Positive Affirmation: I choose to understand that my journey may be different than the person standing next to me. but I know there will always be a lesson to be learned from each person that I meet,,,We build a temple within ourselves, and lay each stone with love.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Rise
On 4/16/17 Kev writes, I type.....
Sometimes the pain we endure throughout our lives can leave us feeling completely defeated...pain makes us feel loneliness even when we are surrounded by the ones who truly love us..pain makes us hate the world around us..pain makes it hard to live life on life's terms. The trials and tribulations of our lives are merely an aberration. They are moments that pass like changing seasons but when we allow our heart, mind and soul to become trapped in separate cages...we become fractured versions of ourselves floating is a state of suspended hopelessness. We must not allow our spiritual wreckage to become a wasteland of crowded distortions defined by our inability to accept life on life's terms.
We spend so much time fighting to acquire control over what is mostly uncontrollable...Life. We will never be able to control the force that drives the rain through the leaves, or ever truly know what comes after we close our eyes for good until we meet death. Life is the gift we are given, and the time between our birth and that last breath is a blank canvas waiting to be painted...When we decide that we are unable to lift that brush any longer, and we stop creating beautiful moments..we cease to live life and our picture remains unfinished. So, when that moment comes when we truly do meet death, we end up leaving the ones who love us wondering what we could have become...our half-finished picture hangs in their minds...
I'm not asking you to ignore the pain life brings...I'm only asking you to not allow that pain to defeat you. Learn to understand that even in death nothing will truly die...We rise from the ashes through the memories we leave behind, because not even the illusion of time can contain the essence of our existence...
Today's Positive Affirmation: The greatest love is defined through the compassion and understanding of those who have yet to understand...
Sometimes the pain we endure throughout our lives can leave us feeling completely defeated...pain makes us feel loneliness even when we are surrounded by the ones who truly love us..pain makes us hate the world around us..pain makes it hard to live life on life's terms. The trials and tribulations of our lives are merely an aberration. They are moments that pass like changing seasons but when we allow our heart, mind and soul to become trapped in separate cages...we become fractured versions of ourselves floating is a state of suspended hopelessness. We must not allow our spiritual wreckage to become a wasteland of crowded distortions defined by our inability to accept life on life's terms.
We spend so much time fighting to acquire control over what is mostly uncontrollable...Life. We will never be able to control the force that drives the rain through the leaves, or ever truly know what comes after we close our eyes for good until we meet death. Life is the gift we are given, and the time between our birth and that last breath is a blank canvas waiting to be painted...When we decide that we are unable to lift that brush any longer, and we stop creating beautiful moments..we cease to live life and our picture remains unfinished. So, when that moment comes when we truly do meet death, we end up leaving the ones who love us wondering what we could have become...our half-finished picture hangs in their minds...
I'm not asking you to ignore the pain life brings...I'm only asking you to not allow that pain to defeat you. Learn to understand that even in death nothing will truly die...We rise from the ashes through the memories we leave behind, because not even the illusion of time can contain the essence of our existence...
Today's Positive Affirmation: The greatest love is defined through the compassion and understanding of those who have yet to understand...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)