IN LIMBO

Words are powerful. 
They cause us to fall in love in an instant and transport us to a state of euphoria.
In reverse, they kill relationships just as quickly and leave us in limbo. 

Words carelessly uttered may cause irreparable damage that lasts a lifetime. 
In contrast when graciously delivered, words can lift our spirits so high we forget ourselves ...

CYCLE OF LIFE

When wrong relationships are removed from your life, right relationships will surface.
Often times the old, the obsolete, has to make way for the new.  That's just a natural cycle of life.

Rather than resist change, embrace it...

SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

An excellent spirit cannot be forged or bought. Neither can it be forced. 
An attitude of excellence can be adopted as a way of life. 
When harnessed and nurtured at an early age, the desire to do the best, give the best and be the best can become the driving force to excellent living. 

You alone set the standard.

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

STILL I RISE by Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you? 
Why are you beset with gloom? 
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? 
Bowed head and lowered eyes? 
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you? 
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? 
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

BE GRACIOUS

Why debate over a glass that could be viewed as either half empty or half full!

Both observations are correct anyway.  Depends on the mood that one is in!

A quarrelsome spirit only widens the rift between friends.

Did he not go out of his way to be generous, helpful, accommodating and hospitable?

Even had his hair cut so he would look more presentable.   That certainly took a lot of effort especially for a man such as he, who doesn't care very much for appearances.  But he was intent on making a good impression.  And so the unruly locks had to go!

Despite the careful preparations and planning, their time together was a disappointment.  Although things didn't quite turn out the way they had planned, it could have been much worse. 

Still, for his efforts, the man should be appreciated and applauded.

Every act of kindness, whether big or small, should be received in the same gracious manner in which it was delivered.

I WIN

Love lifted me when nothing else could help.  

When I was caved in, enshrouded in misery, and wallowing in self pity, it was love that intervened.  Love that knocked furiously, and at other times gently at the door of my heart and rocked the sanctuary of my mind.
"To be right or to be kind?"  
"To win the battle and lose the war?" 
"To live in the past or build a better future?"
"To cut loss and retreat or insist on return?"
"To spare or take them on?"
"An eye for an eye or be gracious and merciful?"

Love says to let go.  
Free your spirit.  
Free his spirit. Free their spirit.  
Let him go.  Let them go.  
The score is settled.  For you at least.  You've seen the light.  The destroyer - the joy stealer - brings only division,  darkness and devastation.  Move to a higher level.  That way, the view is better to see the big picture.  In willing submission put down your defenses.  
Let them have their way... their need is greater.

Of course in reality everything remain the same.  The change is only in your mind but that's already sufficient.  
Enough to put matters in the proper perspective.

Everyone has to deal with his own demons of jealousy, envy, anger, strife, greed and others.  They will have theirs to contend with. 
You've dealt with yours.   Keep going.
Exorcism is a daily process.

Victory is not when you can control or lord it over another person.  That is quite simple with the use or rather misuse of power, money, muscle and authority.  
True victory is when you can control you. When you can look at and live in total peace, harmony and synchronicity with the man in the mirror.  That is when you're truly one up on the other.

Love can put things. Too much drama in the theatre of the mind opens too many options. Love throws them all out; the confusion, chaos and conflicts.  Love functions best when you are a willing partner.  

Yes, it was love that came to my rescue; raised my sinking heart, calm my raging spirit and stilled my despairing cry.
So long as I allow love to reign, I win...

PERFECT UNION

There's no pretense or hypocrisy between us.  We're not a separate act.  We don't need a quick change in public or in private.  We synchronize flawlessly.

We withhold nothing - good or bad, happy or sad - from the other.  We take pride and delight in each other's company no end.  Together we've overcome obstacles, faced challenges, taken the beatings, endured hardships and braved the storms.
But we've also done the impossible, scaled new heights, seen our dreams fulfilled and helped others fulfill theirs.  

Although one is seen and the other hidden, we are undeniably one, in perfect union.
And for certain that is good. 

I am my best company...

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Think out of the box.  Search for a different perspective.
There's always one.
Find the balance and when you do, the tightrope of circumstances on which you tread, albeit precariously, becomes a personal platform for your life's finest performance.

For isn't life a stage ...?

MOLEHILL

How exhausting it must be to spend one's resources, time and energy being angry at another person.  It can't be much fun living that way.

Why turn a molehill into a mountain?  Storm in a tea cup.

Enmity causes a great divide which is senseless.  

Hard to believe but staying angry-displeased-dissatisfied is a comfort zone for some.  

People who bull doze their way through.  People who rather hide behind a tough demeanor rather than confront their wounded spirit, the stigma of rejection and furious frustrations. People who don't like to be exposed, to have their faults pointed out to them.  People who choose to suffocate their emotions.

Pain is manifested in many different ways.  How an individual respond to pain varies.  

Where one would choose to boldly address these inner demons that cause untold emotional turmoil, another would hide and bury himself/herself deeper in oblivion.  One chooses escapism, the other examination, self-examination.  The latter may be more bothersome, painful and revealing but it's the better way to address the issues for correction purposes. Know from where you're coming from. 

Mental pain and anguish is the distinct signal that something must give.   Psychological, physiological and sociological disorders can trigger a series of physical illnesses from heart attacks to certain types of cancer.

Pay attention.

Happy is the man who has made peace with himself.  Thereafter making peace with others is a lot easier.

P    -  Patient with yourself and others

E    -  Empathize

A    -  Accept what cannot be changed

C    -  Carry on

E    -  Enjoy; you've earned it

Everyone has great value although this thought may be alien to many of us still.  Disbelief in our 'greatness' is probably the single most crippling setback to help us achieve the greatness for which we were created. 

And so rather than aspire to be all we can be, we settle for average and mediocrity, wrapped in false modesty! We become small in our thinking; trivial and petty.  And this would be fine if not for us being the selfish creatures that we are, we want it all!  How typical. On one hand we are thinking we aren't good enough but on the other hand, we blame the universe, God, and everyone around us for our lack, loss and loose behavior.   We feign holiness and humility but in reality we all want to be gods!

This is a step-back.  I know (and so do you) people who have been angry at the world their whole lives. In essence they are angry at themselves for the thousand and one reasons they could not get their way.  There has to be a scapegoat.

Rather than reflect, review and revise their outlook of life, they take their fury out on others. Doesn't seem fair but this is a fallen imperfect world we live in.

If you choose anger, animosity, alienation over fairness, fellowship and forgiveness because it suits your purpose, so be it.

But don't at the end of the day realize that your contempt, hurt and hate have been hurled at the wrong people.  Remorse comes too late when you discover you have crucified the wrong person.

Conscience has a way of making you pay... heavily.