Goals

When solving problems,

dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves.

~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Goals
You have goals we want to achieve.  You have things that you want so badly and yet it seems so many times just when you are about to obtain them, they fall out of your grasp.  Well not anymore.  It's time to hold firmly on to your goals.  Well, how do you do this?  It's very simple.  You must release them.   Yes, you heard correctly.  The more you analyze your goals, the more you infuse fear into your thoughts and the more fear that comes in, the further away your goals will get.  You must infuse the opposite of fear.  You must infuse love.  Start looking at your goals with love and surrender the situation over to the universe.  The more you can let it go and be at peace with the outcome, the more you let life bring it back to you even better than you could have imagined.  Goals are necessary and important but let yourself be free enough for them to manifest into greatness. 

Memorial

And I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

~Lee Greenwood

Memorial

Today is a day to remember.  It's a day to stop and think about those men and women who gave their lives fighting for a set of values & freedom.  It's a day to reflect about the families that are suffering a loss that is unspeakable.  Today is Memorial Day.  A day that we remember our fallen soldiers.  But for me, today is more than that.  Today is also a day to remember all that we have gained from their precious gift to us.  We have the freedom to disagree.  We have the freedom to move around.  We have the freedom to run for office.  We have the freedom to wear what we choose.  We have the freedom to educate ourselves.  We have the freedom to pray to the God of our choice.  We have the freedom to live FREE.  Recognizing these truths is what truly honors our military and their families.  So before we celebrate with our families and friends, find that great sale, eat too many hamburgers & drink too many cocktails, let's all take a moment and stop to say a silent prayer of thank you to our military men and woman and their families.

Embrace

If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, 

you haven't done much today. 

~Author Unknown

Embrace
Life is what it is with all of the ups and downs, the disappointments and successes, the loss and gains; it's all a part of our journey.  The more we can embrace our life and everything that comes with it, the more we can embrace who we are as a person.  Take the time today to embrace your body, embrace your family, embrace your character, embrace your flaws, embrace your talents, embrace your friends, embrace your work and above all, remember to embrace your soul.  Wrap your arms around your life in one giant hug and realize how lucky you are to be experiencing this very moment.  

Brace Yourself

Pain is inevitable.  Suffering is optional.  

~M. Kathleen Casey

Brace Yourself
Sometimes you know when chaos is about to strike.  You feel the shift in the air and a change in the energy.  It can be fun chaos or stressful chaos but either way, you need to brace yourself for what's about to happen.  Getting ready for the unknown is hard but it just means we need to be open enough, flexible enough and willing to bend in whichever way the tide turns.  Find the adventure in every situation and keep yourself grounded enough to stay out of trouble.

Powerful

Put your future in good hands - your own.  

~Author Unknown

Powerful
You are powerful.  You are the one that grips that steering wheel of your life.  You are the one that is walking along this path.  You alone make choices and decisions that bring you closer to your authentic self and your life's purpose.  Don't give that  power away for one day, one moment or even one second.  You are powerful beyond measure.  Anything you want, you can make happen.  Having power means you are the one leading your own ship through any waters you choose.  You are the one living this life, learning the lessons and impacting other people.  Embrace your power and use it wisely.  

Energy

There is deep wisdom within our very flesh,

if we can only come to our senses and feel it.

~Elizabeth A. Behnke

Energy

Everything in this world exudes energy, especially people!  Every interaction we have with each other, whether in person or through the computer/phone, we are exchanging energy.  We can't help it, it's how this world was created.  This exchanging of energy can make us feel absolutely joyous or it can crush us in an instant.  Once you understand this concept, you can guard yourself against any negative energy that come your way and learn how to embrace fully the positive energy that surrounds you.  Not convinced?  Every have someone walk into a room and you feel very uptight all the sudden?  You are feeling their energy.  Are you ever in the presence of someone and you feel like you are being wrapped in a warm soothing blanket of love?  You are feeling their energy.  It's undeniable that as we move through our day, we are getting inundated with energy, both good and bad.  Learning how to navigate through these feelings will let you be able to control what energy you let in and what energy you will block out.  Go through today being very aware of the feelings you are giving off and those you are taking in from other people and if need be, protect yourself from any negativity coming your way.  Just picture yourself surrounded by a loving white light that acts as a shield for your body.  You will find that the more you can do this for yourself, the more grounded you will become!

Try

Life's problems wouldn't be called "hurdles"

if there wasn't a way to get over them.

~Author Unknown

Try
You must keep trying.  No matter what the circumstance or the obstacles that seem to be directly in your path, it's your job to try and get beyond them.  Life is not about giving up or giving in.  It's about your willingness to keep striving to do better and be better.  Will you make mistakes or need a resting spot from time to time?  Sure!  But stopping completely is not or should never be an option.  You were granted a gift so what are you doing with it?  Remember to always try and try and when things are at their worst, try even more!

Clarity

How long a minute is, 

depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on.  

~Zall's Second Law

Clarity
Sometimes it just takes a moment that brings you a sense of clarity.  The world comes more into focus, the colors seem brighter and you feel as though an arrow has been strung right from your heart to your new direction in only a moment.  Clarity comes when you least expect it but when you need it the most.  The trick is to not let this new found clarity be sidelined or benched.  It's too important to ignore it.  We achieve clarity when life is ready for us to embrace it and move forward.  It's time to take that giant leap of faith and put the baby steps aside.

Desiderata

Desiderata

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Truth

There is no god higher than truth. 

~Mahatma Gandhi

Truth
Why is it that it can be so difficult expressing our truths to the world?  Why do we feel we must cushion our truths so that others don't get hurt?  Why must we go about our day only telling "half" truths?  Maybe it's time we all stopped and realized that by expressing our truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we will set ourselves free.  Now there's a difference between blurting out how we feel without any compassion and expressing our truth so it leaves no questions out there.  If a friend asks you for help and you can't fit it in to your schedule, or you've been working so hard and it's your only "down" time, then tell them the truth.  Don't cover it up with a lie.  If your co-worker asks you to help on a project yet you are already behind on yours, just say no.  If you get an invitation to a party that you just don't feel like going to, decline instead of saying yes.  It's the small truths that shape our day.  The more we take control over our lives, the more we will see the evidence that speaking our truth will help us feel more grounded and secure. People will also respect you more when you speak your truth. There is something very powerful that happens when you do.  Others will know and respect that you are coming from a place of authenticity.  You must do what's right for you and not for everyone else.  Learn how to speak your truth today and watch how much more freedom you feel.

Enabling

The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, 

but only to hold a man's foot long enough 

to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.  

~Thomas Henry Huxley

Enabling
There are those in our lives that we care about deeply but we tend to go easy on them.  They could be our friends, our family or even our significant others.  We make excuses for their behavior, or lack of, we shield them from further bad situations and even more so, we take on their burdens.  Where does this leave us?  Feeling drained, overwhelmed, tired and just exhausted.  It's hard to motivate ourselves and now we add in another into that mix.  Although we mean well, it's ultimately a recipe for disaster.  We are not helping them.  Quite the contrary actually.  What we are doing is enabling them and their poor choices.  The more we make everything okay, the more they will not change.  Why should they?  You are taking care of everything for them!  So the question at hand would be who enabled you to where you are now?  The answer is simple,  no one.  You would not be the person you are today without the trials and tribulations of life.  The struggle and self discovery IS the journey.  When you enable someone, you are taking away their life lessons and ultimately not letting them uncover their own worth and potential.  It's time to care from a bigger distance.  It's time to let them stand on their own two feet.  It's time to let them fly without you providing the wind.  

It's Not Personal

Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.  

~Spanish Proverb

It's Not Personal
When rumors fly at you or about you and people are "telling you like it is", well that's when you have to take a deep breath in and realize, it's not personal.  That's one of the hardest lessons we can learn but by doing so, we free ourselves from so much pain, frustration, sorrow and anger.  If someone is "telling you the truth", well guess what, it's not necessarily the truth.  Remember that it's their perception of the truth or it's the truth how they see it.  When others feel it necessary to tell you how to act, who to be friends with or even how your office should look, realize that it has nothing to do with you.  It has everything to do with the fact that somewhere they are insecure and are taking it out on you.  And guess what, you don't deserve that!  You also don't deserve to give that person or that negative opinion any of your energy or thought.  It's not your truth, it's not your reality.  You know who you are and you know what your character is.  Don't let anyone come into your space and question that!  Stand your ground with the understanding that it's not personal, it's their own issues spilling out all over you.

Monday

The Daily Pearl will resume back on Monday!

Missing

Love dies only when growth stops.

~Pearl S. Buck

Missing
Have you been missing someone that is no longer with you?  Wanting to have one more conversation, one more hug and even one more laugh is natural.  We all want more time with our loved ones.  We want to be able to hold them close to us forever.  That's not always in the cards for us so when we lose someone, it can literally shut us down from life.  But that doesn't mean we have to get stuck in a place of sorrow.  We can remember the laughter, the fun and the joy.  We can talk about the funny stories, good times and precious moments.  We celebrate their life by taking those amazing experiences and continuing on doing the best that we can every single day.  It's okay to miss someone.  It's okay to remember.  It's okay to shed a few tears.  It's also okay to move forward and smile every time you feel their presence near you.  

Miss you grandma!  Happy 90th Birthday in Heaven 5/9/11.

Reflection

(picture by my mom, Sue)

Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, 

and you're just a reflection of him?  

~Calvin and Hobbes

Reflection
It's always important to take a few minutes to stop and reflect.  Whether it's reflecting upon your day, a situation, or a moment, you need to carve out the time to wrap your head around what happened or what's happening.  If you never stop to reflect, you are missing a huge piece of your journey.  Growth, maturity, and understanding all come from reflection.  So take the time to stop, take a good look at a situation or your day and reflect upon the good and figure out how to change the not so good!

Going with the Flow

When you feel dog tired at night,

 it may be because you've growled all day long.  

~Author Unknown

Going with the Flow
Sometimes you just need to release and go with the flow of life.  When you try to hard to control it, you can get frustrated and overwhelmed.  On the other hand, if you just relax into the situation you just might find that it's not as bad as you thought.  You may even enjoy the change of events.  Remember that the only thing that stands in your way of having a great time in life is your attitude!

Bravery

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, 

but he is braver five minutes longer.  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bravery
What makes us brave?  What makes us strong?  What makes us keep going?  The answer is quite simple.  We all have hope.  Hope that things will get better.  Hope that there is more good in people than bad.  Hope that our possibilities are endless. Hope that the world can change for the better in an instant.  We are much braver and more courageous than we can ever truly imagine.  Bravery comes from deep within.  It's the little nudge that keeps us going.  Face life challenges with your chin up, your eyes focused on the goal and don't ever doubt for a moment that you will succeed.

Original

(Jester Jim at SCCC's Annual Halloween Fest)

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, 

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.  

~Judy Garland

Original

Why would you ever want to be like anyone else?  You are an original, not a copy. The bravest you could ever be was deciding to be true to who you are without excuses or apologies.  There is nobody on this planet that is talks like you, thinks like you or loves like you.  Give yourself some credit for your talents, skills and what you contribute to this world.  Always be true to yourself.  That's how you live your best life.