Groundhog Day

Have you ever had one of those days when you had the uncanny feeling of having done all of this before? You know what I mean, like in the Bill Murray movie Ground Hog Day? In the movie, Phil Connors, played by Murray, finds himself in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again. The first time I watched this movie it blew me away! I said, "that's exactly how I feel, like I'm living the same stupid day, over and over again!" In the movie, Connors tries to take advantage of the situation to his own hurt, but for me, I made a decision, that everyday I would do something that I did everyday, in a different way. Basically, I broke my routine! You see, I had unconsciously fallen into a self imposed rut! I was on auto pilot and my life had become boring and mundane.  Once I became conscious about what I was doing! I was able to change my day and my outlook! Something as simple as changing the route I took to work, gave me different view and along with it, a different thought process.  How about you? Are you stuck on Ground Hog Day? Are you living a boring and mundane existence? Do you need help getting unstuck? Time to get "conscious"! Call me, I can help! I've lived this one already!

Relationships Have Benefits! - It's Not Just Who You "Know"!

It has been said, "it's not what you know, but who you know that matters" I will take that even further and suggest that it is not just who you know, but who you are in relationship with that really matters. Take into consideration, from the beginning of time, mankind has been relational. The bible states "and God said, let "us" make man in our own image. So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created him. Male and female he created them. Had we not been created for relationship, he would not have created "them". So, for relationship, we were created. Granted, to be in relationship with someone, you must first "know" that person. However, relationship goes beyond a mere introduction and a handshake. One definition of the word "know" is to understand from experience or attainment. How about this one, to have intimacy or intercourse with? Puts a whole new spin on this knowing thing doesn't it? Relationship involves connection and affinity. So ask yourself, of all the people around you, are you in relationship with these people? Or do you just know them on a superficial level, like an introduction or a handshake. The definition of relationship is the state of being related, connected or bound to someone. A specific type of kinship or a better one, a passionate attachment. Instead of just getting to know this one or that one, consider creating deep and lasting relationships. It is not enough to be surrounded by people that you know. Surround yourself with those worthy of relationship! And reap the benefits!

On Being Who You Are - Just Do it!

"Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining." - Anne Lamott The above piece of wisdom fell into my lap today and I am compelled to share it with those of you who, like myself, desire to move forward towards your destiny. I believe that when we are created, from the moment of conception, we already have within us everything we that we need to become that for which we were created. Granted, we are shaped and molded by our own particular circumstances. However, if we, at any point in time, discover who we are, and just be that, our lives would unfold like beautiful flowers. Look at the oak tree, from a tiny acorn, it was destined to be an oak tree, it does not have to try to be an oak tree, it just develops naturally. In the same way that we mature from birth to adulthood, if we allow them to, our gifts will mature. Notice, I said, "if we allow them". You were created for greatness. Go on the journey of discovery. Find out "who you are" and be that! Mark Nepo, said, "if you love to sing, you don't have to "become" a singer, just sing!" Are you a lighthouse? No need to run all over looking for boats to save, just stand there shining, boats will be drawn to you! Nike had a great campaign a few years ago, "Just Do it", that spoke volumes. And in doing, so you become who you already are!

I Am Afraid! There! I've Admitted It!

If God, as the scripture says, has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind, where does fear come from? My first thought is that it comes from our adversary, the devil. This morning, I had a new revelation! We blame too many things on the devil! I discovered that fear actually comes from me! No, God did not give it to me, it is created in my own mind! It is a bi-product of my own thoughts. When I begin to contemplate my next big adventure, my thoughts usually go to all the things that I cannot do, don't know, haven't learned yet..etc. and poof! There it is full blown fear! Today, I had the opportunity to look fear square in the face!! I acknowledged it and then I sent it away! I used this same mind to look at my next big adventure in a whole new light, the light of  power, of love and of soundness! These three allowed me to see all of the things that I am good at doing, all of the things I already know and even showed me where to find the resources for the thing that I don't know! And God smiled and said "by golly, I think  she's finally got it!"

The Elephant In The Room Part 2

A couple of days ago I blogged about the elephant in the room and it's still there. Yesterday I forced myself to stop walking around pretending that the elephant wasn't there by having a conversation with one of my fellow associates about the elephant. We talked as women, we talked as mothers, we talked as human beings. When I introduced her to the elephant she said,  "this whole mess makes me sad!" "Why sad?" I asked. Because, she said "there were two people involved and they were both wrong, of course Zimmerman was wrong, he shot an un armed teenager, but Gigi, why didn't Trayvon just go home?" My answer to that was "only Trayvon Martin knows the answer to that question and he is forever silenced, but I imagine the reason he didn't was because he had every right to be where he was, doing exactly what he was doing, perhaps he didn't go home because he was
"Standing His Ground". To that she was silent. And the elephant got smaller.

The Elephant In The Room

There is a heaviness in the atmosphere. Some are dazed, some numb and sadly enough, some are elated. The majority of "us"  are angry. We go about our day trying to have a sense of normalcy. But deep in our hearts we know, things will never be "normal" again, or better yet, this is the new normal. We are all living in fear. Fear of living in this world we have created and fear of our lives, as we know them, being taken away. Remember this is life in an upside world, where wrong is right and right is....well, you know. The biggest case since The infamous OJ Simpson trial and there has not been one comment from my co-workers, some of whom I have worked with for almost 20 years.  The elephant in the room? The verdict! No matter where you stand on this issue, in someone's opinion, you are standing on the wrong side. They say "Lady Justice" holding the scales is blindfolded because justice is blind, perhaps she covered her eyes because she did not want to see how we would mishandle her beloved justice. There is an elephant sitting in the middle of the room, every room and he has tears in his eyes!  So do I! 

Defeating The Spirit of Busyness Part 2

"In his writings, a wise Italian says that the best is the enemy of the good" -Voltaire

This morning I had yet another epiphany! The above quote came to mind as I sat in quiet reflection. It gave me another reason to defeat the spirit of busyness. As I consider my life, my daily goings and comings, I realize that I am involved in a number of really good things. My career and work as a credit union marketer, my service to my church, my continuing education, my involvement with the FCCA and countless other activities are all good things. However, when I evaluate these things in light of what truly brings me joy, I realize that as the quote above states, the best really is the enemy of good. Let me explain, God has a plan and purpose for my life, that is the best. The problem is that I allowed fear to stand in the way of fulfilling that plan. Instead of moving forward toward the things that He was calling me to, I retreated back to the things that were comfortable for me, all those good things. You see, none of these good things, with the exception of Algebra (and I wouldn't excatly consider that one of the good things, only a means to an end) were challenging to me. These came natural.  Therefore, I busied myself with the good. Which, for a time, sufficed. But in the meanwhile, I gained weight, My skin broke out, my relationships suffered and I was miserable.  The plan and purpose of God, taunted me, called to me and loomed like a spector. The best is the enemy of good because behind good is where I chose to hide. Today, I commit to, as my GPS puts it, recalculating my route. How about you? Are you forsaking best, to work on good? Does the spirit of busyness have you convinced that you are already doing enough? Or is your plan and purpose calling you to something more? Hmmmm....