The Greatest Life
Run towards your fears. Embrace them. On the other side of your greatest fears lives your Greatest Life. ~ Robin Sharma
Beyond doubt; this is easier said than done. We all have our own fears, deep inside. Often, the only person knowing what those fears are, is the one having them. Still, I think the above quote is a real powerful one.
Do I possess the strength and power to actually run towards my fears and embrace them? I honestly don’t know. But I believe I owe it to myself to try, even though it – well… scares me. Because the latter part of this quote “your greatest life” – that sounds wonderful, don’t you think?
Isn’t that what it’s all about - in every way making the most of the life God has given us. Becoming everything we can be.
More than 7 Things
I’ve been trying to keep it a secret 
but fact is we have a large room on the ground floor of our house, and it’s currently filled with – you guessed it – stuff. All kinds of stuff. Things we don’t use anymore, things we never really used, things we didn’t know where else to put. We only refer to it as “the big room” – and no, I will not post a picture from it! 
We’re planning on rebuilding that room into a garage, and so it has to be completely emptied within the next few weeks. And that, I assure you, is no small job.
It makes me remember the saying;
“If you own more than seven things, the things will own you”
I can relate to that.. Although keeping only seven things may be a bit too ambitious, and I would have a hard time convincing my kids to get rid of (almost) all their toys!
Yesterday while going through a cardboard box, I came across something that I thought I had thrown away years ago. It was my first cellphone! Amazing!!! I had myself a good laugh. Here it is, along with my current one:
Old meets New; 1995 – 2008
They say the best way to understand the passing of time is by looking at other peoples kids. I’d say looking at cellphones would also do the trick!
The Magic of Imagination
First – Think
Second – Believe
Third – Dream
And Finally – Dare
~ Walt Disney
Oftentimes I have wondered what the world would have been like, if there was no Disney. Surely it would have been different. Even though most of Disney’s productions are based upon fantasy and has little to do with the world we are actually a part of, the Disney way of thinking tells us something important; that our dreams can come true, if we dare to believe in the magic.
What is magic then? Does it even exist? What kind of experience would fit the description of “magic”?
I believe magic is what really touches our hearts. When we experience something surreal, something extraordinary that lifts us and make us expand and heighten our perception, we instantly feel we have been touched by magic. Though it can also be found in smaller contexts; when something causes us to stop for a minute, forget about our everyday struggles, and just take a deep breath as we immerse into the beautiful – wonderous – amazing. It could be a gaze into a baby’s eyes, a few words from a loved one, a smile, a special song, a breathtaking scene of nature, a photo, a poem… just about anything.
I’d like to modify the Disney quote just a little; adding the word imagine:
First – imagine. Imagine what life could be like. Second – believe it could actually come true. Third – allow yourself to dream your magic thought. And finally – take the leap – dare.
What you can imagine – what you believe, you can achieve. That’s where it all begins. That is the magic of imagination.
Definition of Success
It is said that in order to achieve success you must first define what success means.
Considering the fact that we are all individuals with our own unique thoughts, emotions and talents, I think we have to do more than that. We must define what success means to each one of us, what it means to you as an individual. Otherwise you are simply succeeding by someone else’s standards.
Living by someone else’s definition of success in life can be destructive. Because how can we possibly live up to our full potential as long as we keep adjusting our lives to the standards of others?
It may seem obvious and I am sure you agree with me. But just stop for a second and think about it – I mean; really think about it: Are you defining success in your life or are you allowing someone else to define it for you?
Don’t get me wrong, It’s not about being all self-centered. Of course we need to interact with other people, listen to their opinions and sometimes adjust our own. That is a strength. But in the end, you are the only person who can take responsibility for your own life. And you will be at your best when you are being true to yourself, also when it comes to making a difference in the lives of others.
In my life I am not successful if I am not achieving my own definition of success, no matter how impressed “the world” may be about what I do. If it’s not what I need to do, if it’s not what’s right for me, then I am living by someone else’s definition, and not being true to myself. And if so, have I really succeeded? The answer is a definite no, I haven’t.
I have this image in my mind; many years from now, when (hopefully) I celebrate my 90th birthday, I will have a collection of photos in my room. Photos from the life I have been living. And those photos should not be showing what others wanted me to be, they should be reflecting the kind of life, the choices that were the right ones for me.
Success is living the life that is right for you, being true to yourself as an individual. Only then can you become that special person you were meant to be.
- Ask not what the world needs. Ask what make you come alive… then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Howard Thurman
Painting on Silence
.A painter paints his pictures on canvas. Musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski
A while ago I heard someone say that because music has no physical form or substance, it can never be considered as valuable as the work of a painter or sculpturing artist. From my point of view, this is as far from the truth as possible.
To me music is one of the greatest blessings in life. Nothing is capable of touching our hearts like music; bringing joy and inspiration to the soul, lifting us up or even bringing us down at times, but still – isn’t music the very accompaniment to life? What can possibly be greater than that?
I personally believe music has the ability to make the world a better place. It is also said; what cannot be put into words, can be expressed through music. I can only summarize like this: I’m so thankful for the wonderful language of music, bringing a whole new dimension into life.
Towards the Horizon
Today I let this photo and these words speak for themselves:
The Truth about Parenthood
I’m spending the weekend in London with my husband. To be honest, it’s quite a few years since our last little getaway together. We have been on several vacations, sure – but we always brought the kids, heading for some family friendly place for the kids to have some fun.
And here we are, 4 days of eating my dinner while it’s still hot, sleeping through the whole night, finishing all my sentences without being interrupted and – no little arms around my neck, no soft hugs, no wet kisses on my nose, no little voices explaining their thoughts to me. Isn’t it strange – when you finally get a chance to spend some time on your own, you start missing your kids!
So we went shopping. For the kids (…) Then I spot these words on the wall of a kids wear store:
What can I say? I remember being both frustrated and exhausted at times, and it is great to have some peace and quiet for once. Still, I seem to carry them with me. Always keeping the thought of them in the back of my mind, thinking of them with a smile on my face. Because being their mom is also… well… wonderful, hilarious and rewarding (!)
I received a message from my mother-in-law (who is babysitting our youngest). And guess what? We are being missed too! I guess we are just meant to be together, the big and the small members of our family. Though we can sometimes drive each other crazy, we belong together, beyond time and distance. Isn’t family the greatest blessing in life – I mean, when it really comes down to it.
Linda
