Who doesn’t go through difficult times in life? It could last a moment, hours, days, years or a lifetime. I always look for ways by which I can hold on to hope during those moments. Sweet reminders of better times always uplift the spirit and sustain the heart’s longing for happiness. Tapping into our good memories help us move along life while we wait for circumstances to begin to work their way out of our present difficulties.
Difficult times are nothing more than times where we have the chance to exercise some of our virtues; patience and temperance among others. The more we lack certain virtues the more opportunities we get to develop them. When we have No Patience it seems like out of the woods come circumstances to put it to the test. Life is a big lesson, the sooner we learn the quicker we move along our personal path to accomplish our earthly mission.
Waiting can be one of the most difficult things we have to do in our life. Just like when Jesus was born, the people today are awaiting a savior, a better day, a loved one, a healing, a call, a letter, a visit. I know that in my own life I can grow impatient when I really want something. I long to go, to see, to feel. It’s human nature I suppose.
I know today many will be happy but perhaps many others will be sad. Those who are far away from their families, those who are sick and lonely, those who doesn’t even know God exists. I hope this is a happy day for you but if it’s not, just know that you are not alone. Whatever your trials are, know that you are never out of God’s hands; he wants to be with you, console and give you the strength you need to go on. I feel alone sometimes during trials but I noticed that it’s when I’m focusing on me and my feelings forgetting to look outside myself and unto others. When I lift my eyes and concerns from me, I see the goodness around me in the people who surrounds me and share this wonderful world with me. When I’m concerned about others instead of me, I find solutions to my own situations and hope in a new day.
May the awaiting time for whatever it is your are waiting for is not too long and may you rejoice today as you are reminded of the greatest blessing of all, Jesus.
Today more than ever I need to be reminded of what’s really important in life. We might be impotent to all the problems and circumstances in our life but we do have the power to react to whatever creates our disbalance. A lot of times witholding the true essence of who we are is enough to create a cloud of insecurity and discontent. Wanting deep in our heart something other than what we have or settle for. These are important things in life we need to discuss with our children as they begin to create their own life and happiness. I believe we have the power to create to a certain extent that which can provide our soul’s delight but believe we don’t. Giving in to the powerless thoughts is what drag us to make the wrong decisions in life.
So back to the thought of what’s really important; to me is claiming what I need and holding on to who I am no matter what my life circumstances are. It’s to be free to express what’s in my heart without the fear of being judged by anyone. It’s standing firm on my convictions and values. Is learning to love myself just the way I am.
I listened to this message at least ten times and continue to analyze what it means to me personally. Love has been theme of interest to me for a very long time, I’m still learning how to love.
Watch Paulo Coelho’s take on love and then read my take on the same subject.
Clary’s take:
I find a lot of wisdom in everything Paulo Coelho has to say about life in general. He expresses so well what matters to all of us. I listened to the whole series of this presentation on YouTube and got a lot from it. On this part he speaks about love. I know that they are a lot of you struggling with this issue and questioning what’s all about, should we hope to find it or look for it, should we give it up after a bad experience or forever dream about it without letting it rule our life.
Love is a powerful feeling, it builds up and completely destroys us. It’s sublime and is hell. It’s giving and taking. It’s free and sacrificed. It’s all hopeful and forgiving. All of these and much more.
Paulo speaks about others being happy with our happiness ( and I would add: even if it doesn’t include them) that’s love. He also speaks about us not sacrificing our love for those of others. I’ve been taught that love is sacrifice, so how do we correlate both and still experience love and happiness in our life? That’s the difficult question. How far do you go in your sacrifice?
I don’t have all the answers yet, I’m navigating my life and doing the best I can to live my life in an authentic way. Whatever I’ve learned so far I love to share it with others and I’m always listening to those who are older and wiser than I am. Love is a mystery to me and I guess it is for all of us who truly want to experience what it is and how to better express it. There are many levels according to our state in life and there are different kinds of love as well. I guess we can study, experience, meditate, analyze all we want and we will never know the fullness of it but I’m sure we are entitled to have some of it if we remain opened and receptive to it.
There comes a time when we stop and think about what’s life all about. Are we are were we are because our destiny is already written or because our actions and decisions took us there? Is destiny and mission the same thing? I don’t believe so, but the two are closely related.
Destiny is a hot topic these days, it’s in the minds of those who are looking deeply into what their lives are made of, and I’m afraid it goes from one side of the spectrum to the opposite side. We either believe that your destiny is already written and that we can do nothing about it or you believe it’s all in our hands and we have complete control over it. I am in the middle of the road with this one.
We come to many fork roads in our life and it is in those moments in which our life takes shape and form. I remember pivotal moments in my life that defined the life I’m living right now, like everyone else I’ve not made all the right decisions but somehow managed to survive. Armed with our experiences we can then start to build toward the desire results. Is it possible to regain the direction in which we were supposed to go or do we create a whole new spectrum of what our life has become according to our actions and decisions along the way?
To me personally is not an easy question to answer but I believe we can ultimately attain the goals or accomplish the mission assigned to us even if we make the wrong decisions along the way. There are always ways to reach our destinations; just like there is not only one way to reach a physical location, there are more ways than one to reach our personal destination.
Death, it’s not by any means something anyone want to think or talk about. Most of the time what we want to do is completely forget about it, but how useful could it be to live with our death in mind.
Those of you who come here frequently knows that my mother was diagnose with a Lymphoma on 2005, it was a hard hit for all of us, especially her. It was one of the illnesses she feared the most since she saw one of her best friend die of breast cancer years ago. She saw Josefina’s fight, struggle and deterioration as the cancer consumed her, now it was her turn. She started her chemo last week and three days later she felt awful; body aches down to her bones. She had to stay in bed for couple of days and couldn’t stand anything over her shoulder because it hurt her. It hurts me I can’t be there with her. I’m thankful that on her 71st birthday, September 27 she was feeling good and had the time to spend with her sisters to celebrate it.
Today I scan the news on Yahoo! and a video of professor Randy Pausch flashed on the screen. I watched it and I cried. I’ve know that people in these kind of situations are the ones who teach us what life is all about, I wrote it on my book “Simplicity - Richness of Life” . On chapter 4 titled What’s Holding You Back I wrote: “Sick and terminally ill people tend to look at life under a brighter light than we do. What amazes me the most is how some of them give thanks to God for their sickness because their prognosis made them stop, look around and see things in a way they’d never seen or appreciated before. All of a sudden, life holds meaning, and every minute is treasured like a precious jewel dug from their own “plot of land.” When I wrote this I had no idea I will be dealing with death so closely and yet God in some way was preparing me with the possibility. The reality is that we are all going to die one day, we are terminally ill, but most of us have no idea when that time is going to come.
I wanted to share with you Randy’s first part of his Last Lecture just in case you haven’t seen it. If you want to see what else he has spoken about you can find a list here. I know some of you are dealing with difficult times in your life -we all do sooner or later- but one thing I don’t want you to forget is to look for the good in everything that comes your way. Don’t forget that we are equipped with whatever we need to face the challenges in our life just be open to the possibilities and don’t close yourself up to others who want to help you. Watch the video and tell me what you think about life and death.
Comments: (from another blog)
**DOR… ITS TRUE. WHEN YOU ARE IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION YOUR LIFE CHANGE. IT’S LIKE YOU ARE NOW AWARE OF YOUR OWN MORTALITY.
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 07:33am (CDT)
Lynne… My previous blog, “Remembering Her” is much like what you are talking about. Hugz. You need them…both of you.
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 08:16am (PDT)
Angel… your right…we put the thought of death aside, because we dont want to lose our loved ones…and sure we dont want to give up our own life.
I have benn thinking about this subject now fro a while…it is always painful to lose a loved person..and if we know our life is coming to a end
its very hard to deal with.I know what it feels like to lose a loved person.My brotherinlaw passt away some years ago…at first I thought why him? a such good person and was mad at evryone and evrything…i also almost lost my faith in god…but as i grew older ..i know know..evrything that happens in our lives has a reason…its our paths to walk and learn……..even if it hurts so much..
I wish the best for you and your mom….love , hugs and kisses
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 09:20am (PDT)
Angel… How will I know?
Distances over mountains so high, are difficult for me to climb.
Sky’s so wide and never-ending are impossible for me to fly.
Fields so far I can’t walk to be with you.
Forests so dark and great are hard to pass.
Oceans so deep and blue never to swim are keeping good friends apart.
If I cant climb the mountains so high,
Fly the sky’s so wide, walk the fields so far,
Pass the forests and swim the oceans so deep.
My friend how will I know?
If our messages stop climbing the mountains so high,
Flying the never ending sky’s,
Walking the fields so far,
Passing the forest so dark and
Swimming the oceans so deep and blue.
My friend how will I know?
I will never know, because the mountains are too high for me to reach.
I will never know, because I lost my wings and can’t fly.
I will never know, because my feet will bleed.
I will never know, because the forests are to dark for me to see through.
I will never know, because I am a fallen Angel and can’t swim.
Distances keeping friends apart.
Dear mother god, make me taller then the highest mountains so I can step over them,
Lend me your wings and let me fly the never ending sky’s,
Borrow me your walking shoes so my feet won’t bleed when I walk the fields so far,
Let your light guide me through the darkest and greatest forests,
As I pass them,
Change me in to a mermaid so I can swim the oceans deep and blue
If not Dear Mother God, I will never know when I lose my Best friend.
Angelsky
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 09:23am (PDT)
GG - … I wrote this not knowing that my mom is in the hospital today. She has very strong stomach pain. Please pray that they find out the reason this is happening to her.
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 12:59pm (EDT)
Photo… GG…this blog of yours and watching the video took me back a few years and brought me back to where I am today with my life. I’ll try to keep this short.
First of all, I want to say, I think of your Mom often and I know it’s hard for you too. We are all a bridge here for you. Stand on this bridge, look out into the valley of wildflowers, embrace their fragrance and let God kiss your cheeks with the warmth of his sunrays.
Life to me is a continuing struggle of a learning process; I say struggle because, like he says in the video there has to be the basics of learning before we step into the game and become overwhelmed with pride of ourselves. Forgetting that the tools we have the gifts God gives us to share with others on a daily basis.
Every one of us has a gift, my gift is Photography, not knowing one day I would be addicted to writing poems and that within my poems being another hidden gift I did not know I had, the poem being an image of my thoughts a photograph put into writing. I still don’t know where my poems come from but they are there and it is a “Reflection of my soul” just like my photography.
Where am I going with this, I’m not sure “Laughing out loud” we all have dreams and dreams I think is a way God prepares us for death. All parts of our walk in life is 360 processes from birth through what ever age we are at the present, up until the time of our death.
It’s not how many years we live or what we accomplish in a full year, day one to the last day to reach another year, another year older. It’s what we do with our time he gives us. Within our daily walk through out the year until he brings us home, we grow like the rings in the trunk of a tree, showing us how old they are when in reality they are only rings of seasons. Producing fruits with our gifts he gives us.
One night closing our eyes, waking up looking into Gods eyes and hearing him say Clary, Job well done! Faithful one.
Don’t know if this makes sense…But at this time in my life this is my answer to your blog…Great Blog.
Art
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 10:02am (PDT)
DOC (… Clary… I’ll watch the video later, (cant at work) but right now, I wanted to share with you… My Mom dies of cancer 2-1/2 years ago. My brother, sister and I were not all together with her for about 19 years… but we were able to do it about 5 days before she passed. We all thought about it and came to the conclusion she held out til we were able to! It was a special time we will never forget… even if it was for just a half hour or so… HUGS to you, yes, you WILL remember all the good, feel all the good… and take from it… all the good! Luv ya my friend!
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 01:40pm (EDT)
GG - … Thanks for your words of comfort Art, Angelsky and Doc. Doc, I’m glad you had that time with your mom. I’ll treasure the four months I spent with my mom while she lived with me. I’m always thinking of the good times.
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 01:58pm (EDT)
Ray Z Strange how a couple of days ago I put in my Blast “I have decided to live forever - or die trying. . .” and now your blog brings me to the same topic I have been dealing with (luckily) longer then I expected to.
Before I wrote the above, I had in there “Death is Fatal”. For the past four years I have had major health problems to where two years ago my family practitioner told me to “Make peace with God”. I figured my life was pretty much coming to an end.
Last year my doctors performed a “Hail Mary” “Shot in the dark” procedure in an attempt to slow a very aggressive coronary disease.
I pretty much figured it was over and I should just sit back and go peacefully. My coronary arteries were closing up at an alarming rate. I never made it past eight months without intervention, and at times as short as one month. Well this “Shot in the dark” got me past the eight month mark, and I smelled a bit of hope in the air. An entire year goes by and it dawns on me that I basically wasted 12 months just waiting to die. So I picked myself up and started doing projects at home and it felt great. A total of 14 months after the “Hail Mary” I end up with the worse blockage I have ever experienced. (And I had some really bad ones).
This was just three weeks ago. They put in the 16th Stent (holds the artery wall open) and had to reopen two others.
So I am faced with the choice of crawling back into a hole and wait for the dirt to be filled in, or just continue to live life as it was meant to be - enjoying what you have and not worry about death, until after it comes.
I hope for the best for your mother. Both of you will be in my thoughts.
Peace . . .
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 11:39am (PDT)
GG - … Ray, I’m sorry you are going through so much. Health problems force us to make a little bit of changes in what we used to do regularly but never crawl into a hole and wait for death to come, it’s not here yet and in the meantime live it as much as you can. Peace and blessings.
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 03:03pm (EDT)
Steve… First, I understand what you’re going through with your mother…my father had lymphoma and I witnessed how devastating not only the illness is, but also how the ‘cure’ can challenging as well. I wish you well in this process of patience and understanding. Spend as much time with her as you can.
I think each of us should live everyday as if it were our last. More forgiveness, more kindness, more observing of God’s beauty in creation. And, most importantly, live a life without fear.
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 03:04pm (CDT)
Photo… GG.I had to come back here. Been thinking about your blog all morning and afternoon and thinking of Mom. Gang, GG’s Mom is not my Mom. I just call her Mom.
I just finished another poem that was inspired by my thoughts of you blog. Just wanted to share it here with you and everyone. Love all you guys.
“Life and all its glory “
One step closer to God
Breathing life
Into us as a gift to another
~
Born into the arms of a mother
Nourished by the love of her soul
Mother and child
Bonding together
Like a rose rising high
Above her garden
~
Petals of color
Vibrantly showing
Fragrance of
Another universe
A universe nourished
By the love of God
Through the gift and love
Of
Mother Nature
~
What has come into existence?
The pearl of life
The bridge we stand on
Looking upon the valley of love
Fields of wildflower
Swaying in Gods wind
He moves in all directions
~
What bridge
Will we be standing on?
When we meet him
Will he show himself?
Through the gifts, he bestows upon us
Will I manage his fruits?
In a tasteful manner
Or will I cause him to shed a tear
Lord I’m throwing in a prayer here for GG (Clary’s)Mom. You know what she is dealing with and and if its you will, I’m asking a favor of you that you take a little time, extra time out of you busy schedule and give them both the strength they need to cope with this hurdle, struggle in their lives. Be with her Mom daily embrace her with your love and heal her if its your will. In your sons holy name…Amen
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 02:35pm (PDT)
Initi… I have seen near death and deterioration for much too long. I could go on with regards to it. But I will give you an example. The men that go through the most in battle (for example WW2 veterans)…the ones that saw too much reframe from going there as they don’t aspire to remember or recall they wish to place it in a area that is not stops them within life.
Sometimes and most often silence is the key in this area for me. Not saying I have went through more than any other….I just know what is best for me in the moment. BTW thank you for the reminder writing Clary you are an angel!
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 03:01pm (PDT)
Wilma… I’m catholic and in some ways an ortodox catholic, that’s why I think dead is just going back HOME to our Father in Heaven. I also think that people terminally ill are in a process to purify themselves, a last chance to re-think their lifes and repent if they have to. I actually consider a sudden death one of the most unfair things in this world, not that I can say what’s fair or not, but to me, when our body suffers we are able to separate ourselves from this vehicle that makes so easy for us to sin and see ourseles as the immortal souls we really are. Is not that I want people to suffer, is not that at all, I just consider it’s a gift to have a period of time to prepare yourself and prepare the ones you love for your physical absence. After all, we don’t die, we just move from house into Another.
Thursday October 4, 2007 - 10:28pm (ADT)
Jayrene death has been on my mind for some time now… although i dont want to die yet, am not prepared, and will fight it as long as my body can… i have been imagining myself dying… you know if this thought comes often to your mind, you’ll realize there are a lot more to it than leaving loved ones behind. i have read a lot of books about people having near death experiences, their story is something that one would look forward to. i have a blog story about a couple, the wife knows she’s dying, well you can read about it. their is a story of courage and faith.
Friday October 5, 2007 - 02:28am (PDT)
melvy… I don’t care what other people say.. but facing death is facing the unknown… death means the demise of something vibrant and alive…death means losing your identity… losing what you have been all these years. it means losing who you are and were… death means losing your friends and loved ones… I have faced death before and I tell you it is UGLY… Nobody wants to die willingly… except those who want to sacrifice themselves for a cause bigger than themselves.
Friday October 5, 2007 - 03:28pm (EDT)
Ray Z Melvy -
When a person dies, they do face the unknown, but there is the absolute “Known” of what is left behind - That can be many things. For one, family, and the memories you left with them, the same for your friends, and the memory you left with them also. In that way, you have not perished.
If you were blessed with children, your life continues through theirs. The only time a person truly dies, is when no one knew they ever existed. . . and if that was happening during their lives, to me, it meant they never truly lived.
Your life will last as long as the memory you left in the hearts of others remain, and this includes your offspring. It is why we should always pay attention to what we do and say that affects others . . . it is up to them, to carry on your life, in the light or darkness you leave behind. . .
Peace . . .
Friday October 5, 2007 - 12:59pm (PDT)
M.K–… I hope my achievements in life shall be these –That I will have fought for what was right and fair,That I will have risked for that which mattered,That I will have given help to those who were in need…That I will have left the earth a better place for what I’ve done and who I’ve been.i think about death sometimes and i wrote as i want to be remembered after death.Your moms is in my prayers and God bless you all.Best wishes
Friday October 5, 2007 - 07:33pm (CDT)
Tony H Blessings and prayers for you Clary!
Saturday October 6, 2007 - 08:03pm (MST)
El Di… Hi clary I hope and pray that your Mom gets better,But I also want you to prepare yourself for the future when she leaves you.I lost both my parents within the last 5 years,My Dad died unexpectedly from Cancer back in 2002 and My Mom fought it for a little while before she to felt to Lung Cancer.I missed them both very much,I knew the time would come sooner or later but just like we are born we will surely die.
I have thought about death alot since I lost them and I ask myseld when will my time come,I really never expected to make it this long but like one dicho says”Yerba mala nunca muere” I know I will surely die also and I’m not so afraid as I thought I would be,I guess sometimes I really want to see what is on the other side.What really preocupies me is what the future holds for my love ones,you know my kids and their kids.will the world get better for them or will it get worst.everything else is irrelevant to me.What is DEATH but another portal we must go thru soone or later.
LOVE YOU MAMI!!
Sunday October 7, 2007 - 08:19pm (CDT)
GG - … I don’t runaway from the reality that this is not our home, according to my faith there is a better place but it’s hard not to think of separation. I thank you for your provoking thoughts and reflections on this topic, they help me more than you know.
Life is full of dreams and expectations, nobody knows for sure what their meaning in life is. Most of the time I know when I’m on the right track when I feel at peace with what’s going on around and inside me.
We go through life and encounter new paths and stages, and every time we do so we need to make adjustments. What changes do we need to make in order to continue growing? What new things do we need to learn? What have we learned from past experiences or failures?
I’m constantly looking to learn at all levels; mentally, spiritually and in business. Looking for knowledge is my way to stay alive and motivated, optimistic about the future and the world. I find satisfaction in self-challenge in order to grow and then by achieving my goals.
I have no idea why I’m writing this today, perhaps because I’m evaluating what I have accomplished so far compared to where I was a year ago. I’ve learned to stay motivated and inspired. I’m glad I have a group of friends and associates to share my joy with. Most of all I’m glad to help others any way I can.
Comments: (from another blog)
Deep, Nice blog! I look for knowledge too.
Wednesday September 6, 2006 - 04:56pm (EDT)
Mary … Thanks for the post, so true, my granddaughter asked me today if I wished I was 21 again. I thought about it for a moment and though the idea of being YOUNG again, ( I am far from being ooooold 42) was tempting. However I shook my head no. Because if I was 21 again I would have to forfit all the knowledge and experince that I now have and I have worked hard for it! lol, but true. Thanks again for the post.
Wednesday September 6, 2006 - 08:30pm (EDT)
Miche… Amen. Very deep stuff and inspirational too.. you live your purpose and life really is quite sweet… You are doing the best job at be you that anybody could ever do!
Wednesday September 6, 2006 - 11:23pm (CDT)
Bleac… I walked an uncertain path many years ago, now I know what i want in life and it feels great. I too crave to learn new things, and each second to me is as precious as the one before. Hope you learn something new every day!
Thursday September 7, 2006 - 01:21pm (BST)
MaryQ I find myself sensitve to my path in life. I believe to feel life, not just live it. I highly recommend reading “Everything Happens for a Reason” by Mira Kirshenbaum. It’s an awesome book!
I read an interesting blog entry today about change. I read somewhere that in order to have what you never got, you must do what you have never done. Expecting to obtain different outcomes in our life even though we are still doing the same things is crazy. In order to change the outcome we must do something differently. David St. Lawrence explains it well on his blog entry, “Moving out of your comfort zone.” He talks about carreer change and what sometimes holds us back because we are afraid to leave our comfort zone.
Comfort zones are dangerous and hard to get out of. We tend to live life on this “trance” even though we are seeing our world is changing around us and our soul longing for meaning in this life. Doing what you love is - most of the time- the answer to our vocation in life. Many times there is a way to make money at it, but we need to work on it and find the ways how to make that happen. It’s much easier to let someone tell us what to do and to pay us what they think we are worth, than to work at finding out ourselves what it is we are supposed to do and create a decent income stream doing it.
In my book, Simplicity - Richness of Life I wrote about some of these ideas on the chapters titled What’s Holding you Back? and Dreaming Once More. It’s an exploration of my inner self as I tried to find meaning and purpose in my life and one that many have identified with.
Our talents goes to waste many times until we are forced to make some changes. With the loss of a job, death, divorce, sickness or other tragedies in life many times we are faced to make changes in our life only to find out that we were not meant to do what we have been doing for the last 15 or 20 years. Others have found their way while going through a mid-life crisis, whatever the circumstances I’m glad that God uses everything to bring us where we are supposed to be to begin with.
When you decide to make a change or are forced to it, open your heart and mind to the possibilities; it may be your time to explore the reality that something more awaits you and it might spark your zest for life again. Change is like a rollercoaster, scary and exciting at the same time. You are not quite the same after the ride…and that could be a good thing.
Comments:
Very good message. Your original quote is something I keep posted on my mirror, though it was told to me differently. “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you always got”
Friday September 29, 2006 - 10:58am (EDT)
Archer Offline IM Ms. Clary Lopez, I agree with you totally. The only constant thing in this world is change within, in terms of improvement. Changing the form of matter serves no purpose. It is the change in perception of viewing and perceiving things that leads to path of soul development and salvation. Very nice post.I wish you all the best of being more of woman. Infact your words convay the wonderful mesage that there are still genuine women on this planet with full of femininity and womanhood ruled by venus, not ruled by Mars.
Blesings to you.
Take Care.
Shahid.
Friday September 29, 2006 - 08:56pm (PKT)
Archer Offline IM I wish you all the best for the success of the book.
Friday September 29, 2006 - 08:57pm (PKT)
Archer Offline IM I live in Karachi, the southern most coastal city of a South Asian Country, Pakistan. Is there any workable way to purchase and receive your book in Karachi, Pakistan? I would definitely like to read your book with full attention. The Writrs of South (Southern hemisphere/South America/Latin America and Carribean) always catch my attention due to their outstanding ways of prolific and revelationary writing. To name, some writers of South are Mr. V.S Naipaul and Mr. Paulo Coelho are in my most hot favourite list of Writers. I think your name will be added very soon once I read your book. Kindly provide information of how can I receive your book (with your signature) in Karachi, Pakistan?
I am so glad to meet you Ms. Clary Lopez.
Friday September 29, 2006 - 09:10pm (PKT)
GG - … Offline Hello Archer,
You can order directly from the printer @ http://www.lulu.com/content/126062
I will be glad to send you a signed bookplate if you provide me with your mailing address
Friday September 29, 2006 - 12:32pm (EDT)
raj_i… Offline Hi Ms. Lopez,
Your blog is really interesting. I wish to mention my openion about change.
In fact every one fears about the change. As David Lawrence blog (you mentioned it), no one wants to come out of comfort zone. But people will adjust to the change slowly. First they resist, then they follow (may be forcibly), then they start liking it and next they dont want to change it.
But to the personal growth or organisation growth or country growth, The change is must. With different idiology and with different methods, we can achieve the goals. Even in games the teams will change their strategies in the middle of game itself to win the match.
I like this blog entry very much and I tried to communicate my feelings towards it. (My english is poor but tried my best to communicate)
Sunday October 1, 2006 - 07:34pm (IST)
GG - … Offline You did great raj, thanks for sharing
Monday October 2, 2006 - 09:47am (EDT)
Txcha… Offline IM To make changes in life sometimes it’s easier said then done. For some in a fog of life, change is overwhelming with finances, family and other circumstances. The better advice would be to take time to evaluate life, set goals of where you desire to be, list your challenges, your goals, make a strategic plan to get to a better point one step at a time, you’ll eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s discipline, focus and a desire to be better then you are now. Conquering smaller goals gives a sense of accomplishment and helps tackle the bigger goals in life. And always look forward, learning from the past, yes, but force yourself from your thoughts dwelling in the past. The more you move forward in a positive direction, the more it seems to erase the negative and dims the past. Off my soap box now…lol
“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.” —John Burroughs
Life, so fragile and unpredictable. Nobody knows how long we will alive and yet we live like we will never die.
Life and time are linked together and somehow contribute in the accomplishments of our mission, goals and dreams.
I was listening to Paulo Coelho’s interview in Glasgow last night and it’s amazing how much we think alike. There is a time in life in which you decide to make your dreams come true. It might not be what others have in mind for you but it sure is what you have in your heart.
Writing becomes a way to grow and understand myself in the process, to me a necessary evil. The days in which I can’t write freely I’m uptight and “absent” from my immediate sorroundings. Like Paulo, it’s easier for me to express myself in my writing than speaking so that offers me hope given all he has been able to accomplish so far.
I’m planning to do a major revision to Simplicity - Richness of Life and add the things I’ve learned in the past eight years. I’m not sure if I will expand on each topic and create some new ones or just add a whole new section to the book. Some of my friends have asked me to translate the book into Spanish as well so that’s another major project I need to take into consideration. Time is limited right now so I don’t know when I’ll be able to begin these projects.
One thing is for sure I, like anyone else, need to stop and evaluate frequently my life, my time and what I do with it. If I don’t nobody will and before I know it is out of my control. Life is too short, it passes us by and those we love the most leave us (to begin their life or called by God to a better life) and we need to make the most of the time we have with them.
What do you think your life means? How do you manage your time?
Today I’m sure is going to be a difficult day for many people, I’ll venture to say the whole nation but most of all for the immediate relatives of those lost on 9/11.
Tragedy is something that tends to unite us when we have drifted apart from each other. We live in a way in which we hardly ever take time to think about other people like we used to in the past when neighbors knew and help each other. If anything good came about this tragedy was a sense of oneness for the United States.
To me personally was a reminder that life is so short and that friendship is so valuable. I remember the story about this Christian man who worked with a handicap Jew, I’m not sure which floor they worked on but he wanted to carry him down the building. The Jew told him to save himself, they would never make it together. Then the other responded that he would remain with him there. They both called their families and said their good-byes and they face death together. That’s friendship. I doubt that the Christian man would ever made it anyway even if he tried to escape but he couldn’t live thinking that he left his friend behind.
Since I moved to the United States many things changed. I left my extended family and lifelong friends in Puerto Rico, with time a lot of my cousins have moved here but the big majority is still there. Those friendships can’t never be replaced or reproduced. I stay in touch with my best friend who is like a sister to me and every time I visit the island we get together, it’s like old times. We know each other perfectly and most of all love each other unconditionally. I can’t imagine losing her. So today I’ll pray for all those left behind who have to endure the loss of a loved one and for those who soon will lose them to accidents or sickness. Let us embrace each other and support our communities at large. Let’s do something today to help someone in need, maybe a simple call to someone you know is alone it will mean a lot to them.
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