Explore, Dream, Discover

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore, Dream, Discover. – Mark Twain

Smooches  ♥♥

ALL THAT YOU NEED

God wasn’t having a bad day when He created you. If you needed more talent, God would have given you more talent. If you needed more friends, you would have more friends. Take what you have and make the most of it. It’s what you need for right now. - Joel Osteen

Remember, "Don't bite off more than what you can chew".

Smooches ♥♥

“Never be afraid to do something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the titanic.” ~Anonymous

“It’s not who you think you are that holds you back; it’s who you think you’re not.” ~ Unknown

Smooches ♥♥

We are more alike than you think!

Many times we think “we” are the only ones who are feeling what we feel, think what we think. But truth is YOU are not alone!

If you are anything like me who suffers, cries and comforts in silence then “we are more alike than you think”. The problem here is that “we” think that “we” are the only ones going through what we are going through.

Have you ever taken the time to ask someone what was wrong, and when they began to talk, you realized “OMG” me too, yeah, yeah, then… the comparisons and the sharing begins, again “we are more alike than you think” and my point is we “all” have our share of problems, however it is how we deal with them that really matters.

Sometimes by sharing our stories we heal our wounds, hearts and our scars. As hard and hurtful as it may be to share one or some of our stories I think it is “therapeutic” and necessary at times.

With that I will share a very personal story with you.

Raised by very strict Latino parents I was not allowed to go away to College. My choice was to stay home and wait until I got married. So I met this man at age 18 and 4 months later he asked me to marry him and I said yes. NO judgments allowed!

2 weeks into the marriage he laid his hands on me and beat me senseless. That was the beginning of what I endured for 12.5 years. Verbally, mentally and physically abused continuously I stayed and pretended to be happy, all because I didn’t want to be known as a “Statistic”, obviously looking back now it was the wrong thing to do. However, keep in mind I was only 18 and I already explained a little of my parent’s mentality.

I was and still am to a certain extent very naïve. I wanted and still want to believe the best in people. I know this is a cruel, cruel world we live in, but deep

inside my heart I truly believe that people are monstrous because something made them that way not because they were born that way.

Anyway I share this part of my life with you to prove that “we are more alike than you think”, how many of you can admit going through the same thing or something similar? I know for a fact that a handful of folks are ashamed, hurt and have not and will not share their stories. I should know I was one of them. It took me literally 11 years to speak up and seek help! And let me be the first to say it’s never too late!

If I did it, so can you! No one can stop you but yourself. Only you can change the pattern and make the difference.

I stand before each and every one of you STRONGER, HEALTHIER & PROUDER than ever! All because I took a stand and made the change. I seeked the help I needed and I didn’t care what others thought about me anymore. I chose to be a stronger, healthier and fabulous person than worry about being a statistic.  And so can you! “We are more alike than you think” take a leap of faith and talk to someone else and see what they’ve been through.

Never judge a book by its cover, take the time to read through the pages before you dismiss anyone! Someone may just surprise you and give you the strength and courage you need to make that change.

Big or small doesn’t matter “we are more alike than you think”.

Smooches  ♥♥

Negativity

I just read something on someone’s page and it said: “People tend to focus on all the negative in life and forget of all the positive and the many blessings. #blessed #thankful.”

Response:

I have to agree with this beautiful young lady. As human beings we tend to allow others to dictate on our Happiness, our Moods, our Attitudes our thoughts and at times our lives. NO ONE should have that much control over any one of us!

Why do people react to “Negative” quicker than they do to “Positive”? Have you ever tried taking a “negative” and turning it into “positive”? It’s not as hard as you may think.

I am so fortunate to have someone teach me that little magic trick.

When you find yourself getting angry or annoyed, stop and rethink the situation. Stop and say to yourself “For every action there is a reaction” SO DON’T REACT! Remember that’s what MOST people want us to do. REACT.

99.9% of the time when we react is always going to be negatively. That’s your moment to reflect and change your pattern. It’s takes a little practice but trust me it can be done! It starts and ends with YOU!

Let’s be grateful for the blessings we do have; our health, our children, our parents, our families our friends our homes, our jobs, food etc. How many others do not have ½ of what we have?

A few years ago I traveled to Tijuana, Mexico and visited with a family. I was in their “hood” sort of speaking and this family was not only kind, friendly & outgoing but they blew my mind with their generosity and humbleness. They barely had anything in their home. Concrete floors no sofas, one floor model television, and a little raggedy 4 piece dining set, but that did not stop them from welcoming us to their home and making us the BEST Mexican food I’ve even eaten. The two younger kids around 6 & 8 had 2 little matchbox racing cards each for toys that was all they owned. Towards the end of our visit and we were saying our thank you’s and goodbye’s the little boys came to us and gave us 1 car each to bring to our kids.

If I’ve never been humble in my entire life this was the moment to become humble. I could not believe that these two little selfless little boys were willing to give away from the little they had. This was the beginning of how I changed the way I saw things and the many blessings that surrounded me.  

WE are so fortunate with the things we have, the people that surround us and the opportunities allotted for us that we don’t allow ourselves to see it, because we are so caught up with the negativity. The only person in this world that can make a change in your life is YOURSELF. Out with the negative and think positive!

Do you realize it takes 37 muscles to frown and only 22 to smile?

Stay focus stay Positive!

Smooches ♥♥

Dream

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. - C.S. Lewis

You just have to believe in yourself and anything is possible. Never give up!  

IF you think you can then you shall... Never underestimate the strength and desire you have.

Smooches ♥♥

Attitude

“A Great attitude becomes a great day which become a great month which becomes a great year which becomes a Great LIFE.”

So start your day off with a GREAT attitude and let the GREATNESS begin!

Smooches ♥♥

Pay it Forward

Next time you are stuck in traffic do not be angry, allow another vehicle to go before you. If your waiting in line at the grocery store let someone else go before you, or if you can help them with their groceries. If you’re getting a cup of coffee surprise someone else with a cup. Or simply smile and greet a person on your daily travels. Any gesture big or small is an Act of Kindness; it can also be considered as  “Paying it Forward”.

Have you ever done anything nice for someone else, with NO expectations? Do you remember that feeling of “Greatness” of “Happiness” that feeling of “Accomplishment” that you helped another human being? Well why not have those same feeling All Day, Everyday?

We as human beings get caught up with the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we at times get caught up with all the drama and negativity it brings us. We forget to say simple polite things such as “Good Morning”, “Please”, “Excuse me” and most especially “Thank you”!

Have you tried a random act of kindness lately? Give it a try, start today!

“Together we can change the world, one good deed at a time.”

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”  - Ghandi

Pay it Forward

Smooches ♥♥

Never put a question mark where God has put a period.

When something is over and done, let it go and move on to the next chapter of your life.

- Joel Osteen 

Smooches ♥♥

If you are anything like me, where at times I have absolutely NO patience, then keep reading because you are not alone!

Have you ever prayed for something so hard and you want it and want it now? But for some reason it doesn’t happen and it makes you even angrier? You start to wonder and even “doubt” if God is listening or even “exists”? Then another stream of questions begin without you realizing that you are asking: “Why God why”, “Why me”? “Why now”, “What did I do to deserve this”, “I can’t handle anymore”.

If any of these questions or thoughts have ever crossed your mind then boy oh boy let me just say I’ve been there, asked those questions and felt those feelings. So stick around and read some more.

My life has not been an easy one by all means of the imagination however; I would not change it for anyone else’s.  Just like many others I have endured enough pain to last me a “LIFE TIME” trust me on that one. However, I have had to learn the HARD WAY to let the Lord take control.

Now if you even knew me 1% you would know that allowing someone else “take control” especially someone I can’t see or touch would prove to be the most challenging thing I’ve ever had to do.

Which brings me to “Faith”; “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

Being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see. How can you be sure what to hope for and certain when we don’t see?

This is a very powerful statement for people like me who could not come to grip with allowing someone else “take control”.

As our journey of life continues and our knowledge becomes greater we begin to open our hearts and allow ourselves to walk “in faith” (baby steps).

You begin to realize that you can’t handle everything despite your “Wonder Woman” shield.  So you slowly bring it before the Lord and hand it over to him, and when you do it must be on his timing now yours.

I am more than positive that everyone at some point have heard or read a story how they were so lucky to have “lived” or that “things happened for a reason”.  God’s timing people it’s God’s timing!

I know that I cry and pray and ask God daily to help me, to give me the strength to continue, to give me courage to change the things I can, serenity for the things I cannot.  To guide and protect my kids, to make his way into their lives, to protect and guide them and show them the light. Bless all my family and friends those who are close to me and those who are far away. Amongst a whole other request of things that I ask the Lord for, I also ask for forgiveness and another chance to do right to the ones I’ve wronged.

As impatient as I can be I have learned to give the Lord my problems, my thoughts my worries. This has not been an easy journey but one in which I’ve learned to have “Faith”.

Accept God's Timing

God gives us hopes and dreams for certain things to happen in our lives, but He doesn't always allow us to see the exact timing of His plan. Although frustrating, not knowing the exact timing is often what keeps us in the program. There are times when we might give up if we knew how long it was going to take, but when we accept God's timing, we can learn to live in hope and enjoy our lives while God is working on our problems. We know that God's plan for our lives is good, and when we entrust ourselves to Him, we can experience total peace and happiness.

God is always with us even when we think he is not. When we are feeling the most vulnerable or loneliest is when he is closer than ever to us. God is right by our side. He knows what we think and what is in our hearts. You just have to have “faith” and when the time is right the Lord will reveal them to you.

Remember God’s Timing not “ours”.

Smooches ♥♥