Photo by Lens & Legacy

Going Beyond

It is spring! After what seems like a very long winter, I am sure that everyone in Alberta would agree that it feels great to see the sun shinning and the snow gone! I love the seasons, but there is something special about spring. Everything that looks dead comes alive with the warm weather. It is a season of hope, spring-cleaning (get rid of the old), and new beginnings. For me, it’s a time to go beyond the barrenness of winter and consider where I want to be a year from now. I think about my goals, my purpose, and my heart’s longings. Am I being true to myself, or am I more concerned with stuff than life? (I must say that it isn’t easy ignoring the demands of stuff in our culture.) Nonetheless, my passions always seem to bring me back to my heart’s desires. What are you passionate about? Where do you want to be in a year, five years, or ten years from now? Do you have any heart dreams that are still waiting to be accessed?
___________________

Photo by Lens & Legacy

Life is tough!

Life is tough! Anyone agree? I am an optimist, yet I have realized that there are times when a person’s optimism just isn’t enough. When a child is hurting, there is no money to pay the bills, or a friend or family member is dying from cancer: optimism just isn’t enough. Life is challenging, and when I feel overwhelmed with these challenges, I need more; I need hope! And I need more than extrinsic hope (hope in outside circumstances, a quick feel good, or support from others); I need intrinsic hope – an inner peace that will not be moved when everything around me feels unbeatable!
___________________

Photo by Lens & Legacy

Do you believe in yourself?

Believing in yourself is paramount to a vibrant, rewarding, and fulfilling life. The happiness that we all desire is contingent on our willingness to believe in our self. If we do not believe in ourself, others won’t either. We write what we believe on our heart, and others read it through our actions. When we believe in ourself, we live confidently, and others see and respond according to our confidence.
___________________

Photo courtesy of Bonnie van Kessel

Are you a strong woman?

If I were to ask you unexpectedly, how would you answer?

For some women, the answer is automatic: “Of course, I am strong.” For others, the answer is “no” or “I am not sure.” The truth is that how you answer the question is not what determines whether you are strong or weak. Many women who have been labeled as weak (which is common in our culture) – are incredibly strong.

So why have women been considered “weak”?
___________________

Photo by Lens & Legacy

Be thankful…

October is a month to be thankful for so many things . . .

Being thankful is definitely the right attitude, but is there anyone out there who feels more like complaining at times than being thankful?

For example, on a recent trip to Calgary, a truck suddenly pulled out to pass an on-coming car by squeezing in-between the car on my left and myself. The truck missed our vehicles by mere centimeters. There was no time to pull over since the truck literally pulled out at the very last minute. I was shocked, furious, and somewhat frightened. Why would anyone risk so many lives to save a few seconds on the highway? Feeling terrified and angry, I called a friend to complain. I felt entitled to complain – the move was ridiculously stupid – why shouldn’t I complain? Has anyone else experienced something like this?
___________________