"LIFE IN A WORD"

The Word is "TEARS"

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: drops of clear saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland and diffused between the eye and eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion. A secretion of profuse tears that overflow the eyelids and dampen the face

Posted 7/7/22

I find myself living in survivor mode some days. So I'm writing this blog because I need a break. I need to turn away from the news and flashback to better days, days before the world became so angry and polarized. Today I choose to share stories flowing with tears of joy. I hope they will inspire you to do the same because it's very likely that you could use a break too.

My Story on Tears

Tears of New Life

My son turned 38 last week. Come with me as I flashback to the sound of his first cry. It’s a moment I will never forget. My body and mind relaxed because I knew that sound meant my son was breathing on his own and that shortly I would be holding him in my arms. The connection and the love I felt were instantaneous. My smile was wide and my tears of joy were overflowing. My dad shared an expression that fit that moment and many other happy moments since. He said, “there are times when you smile so hard your jaw begins to hurt! And it's a good hurt". We would look at each other and laugh because we both knew that feeling well.

Tears of Laughter

My next story takes place at a Cheech and Chong concert. The comedic twosome searched for an audience participant and landed on me. Now, if you know Cheech and Chong's comedy, you might remember that they were notorious for putting audience participants on the spot in the most embarrassing of ways. I’ll leave it to your imagination as to what antics they put me through. However, I am happy to share that I was extremely grateful to be there with a friend and not my parents. They had the audience and I laughing so hard that our tears carried throughout the concert hall.

Sweet Tears of Pride

I was bursting with pride and the tears streamed down my face when, of all things, my kids graduated pre-school. The teachers took great care when creating a video filled with playful moments from years gone by. They also took extreme care matching their video to a song that would bring everyone attending the graduation to tears. In this case, the video played to the music of Whitney Houston singing 'The Greatest Love'. If you’ve forgotten the words, let me start you off with the first few lines. You might just want to have a tissue handy if you listen to the entire song by Whitney. I've provided the link below.

“ I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children's laughter remind us of how we used to be.”

Link to "The Greatest Love" sung by Whitney Houston: https://youtu.be/IYzlVDlE72w

I hope my stories bring a smile to your face and possibly a few sweet tears to your eyes. But mostly I hope they inspire you to remember some of your special moments. Take the time to smile, laugh, and embrace the joy of happy tears streaming down your face again. Maybe we will all fare better by taking a break every once in a while.

If you want to make your life better, sometimes all it takes is the right word to focus on. If you need help finding joy it might be time to talk to a Life Coach. I hope you'll reach out to me.

Please email me at innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com for a free one-hour consultation. Thank you.

"LIFE IN A WORD"

The word is CONFIDENCE

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or reliance on one's circumstances"

Posted 6/25/22

Confidence is among the more favorable characteristics any one human being can possess. Having a degree of assuredness allows one to move forward, follow through and achieve success.

My Story on Confidence

I'm a little late with this week's blog because my mom suffered a stroke on Wednesday. Fortunately, it was a minor one. She’s out of the hospital and the doctors say she will be fine.

On my way to pick her up from the hospital yesterday, I heard the breaking news that Roe vs. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States. Unfortunately, this decision is not minor, and it is not fine according to sixty-three percent of the American people. So why do I bring this up in a blog on confidence? Because people with confidence don’t shy away from challenges, confident people do the opposite they take them on. Psychology Today writes: “being confident requires a realistic sense of one's capabilities and feeling secure in that knowledge.” That statement is empowering and can be applied to many situations in our own lives.

I was curious to find out where confidence comes from, so I did some research. The answers were what you might expect. Sometimes confidence comes from our genetic makeup and our cultural background. Sometimes we get it from experiences with our parents, teachers, and friends. Notably, positive and even negative reinforcement can provide a platform for building confidence. We can grow from our mistakes and become even more empowered and confident by lessons learned from them.

It matters not if you agree or disagree with yesterday's Supreme Court decision. What does matter is this - do you feel confident enough to stand up to challenges in your life that go against your beliefs? Do you possess one of the more favorable traits any human being can have - do you possess confidence? And if you do may you succeed in your efforts to stand up for your beliefs.

If you want to build up your confidence, it might be time to talk to a Life Coach. I hope you’ll reach out to me. To be on my mailing list please email me at innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com

Thank you for reading my blog and for checking back next week for another posting of "Life In A Word".

"LIFE IN A WORD"

The Word is TIME

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues."

Posted 6/16/22

The gift of time comes every year on the twenty-first of June with the arrival of the summer solstice. On that day, the sun travels the longest path through the sky and provides us with more daylight than on any other day. Many cultures celebrate this day with feasts, picnics, dances, and music.

My Story on Time

There is much uncertainty in our world today, save for the existence of time, a "non-spatial continuum". When given more time one might question if time changes anything or if it changes everything.

At times like these, I often turn to music for inspiration, specifically the music of my youth. A beautiful melody accompanied by extraordinary lyrics have a way of uniting and comforting us during troubling times. There are many examples of this throughout history.

Pete Seeger, one of America's most famous folk singers, an influencer of many artists, and an activist for peace and social justice, wrote the song “Turn! Turn! Turn! in the late 50's. The words come almost verbatim from the book of Ecclesiastes as written in the King James Version of the Bible. The word Ecclesiastes in Greek means teacher.

Seeger added just a few lines, the title “Turn! Turn! Turn! and the last lines “a time for peace. I swear it’s not too late”, These words and the melody put to them resonate on so many levels to so many of us. That there is a time and place for all things under Heaven and above all else a time for peace. This message is no less important now than it was when first recorded. For those who are not familiar with the lyrics, here they are.

TURN! TURN! TURN!

“To everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)

There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)

And a time to every purpose, under Heaven A time to be born, a time to die

A time to plant, a time to reap

A time to kill, a time to heal

A time to laugh, a time to weep

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)

There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)

And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down

A time to dance, a time to mourn

A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)

There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)

And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time of love, a time of hate

A time of war, a time of peace

A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)

There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)

And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose

A time to rend, a time to sew

A time for love, a time for hate

A time for peace, I swear it's not too late”

Lyrics: Pete Seeger

Recorded by The Birds in 1965

If you or someone you know are questioning this time in your life, you might want to talk to a Life Coach. I hope you’ll reach out to me. To get on my mailing list please email me at innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com

Thank you for reading my “Life In A Word” blog and for checking back next week.