How Do You Love?

Yesterday I broke a crystal vase that was important to me. Someone I love gave it to me, and I was really upset with my clumsiness. My husband, seeing my distress, was soothing and calm, and said, "Let me see what I can do with this." While I continued to rant at myself, he quietly took the pieces away, worked his magic and made it like new again. When he brought it back to me his face was filled with sweetness, and it occurred to me that this repaired vase was a gift of love. I began thinking about all the ways he shows me he loves me. Words are nice, but his actions speak volumes, and I'm so very blessed to have him in my life. I then thought of a woman I know who complains that her husband and children don't love her. She says they never say it, and she feels that nobody cares. However, when I look at her family I realize that there is a lot of love being given. She just doesn't recognize it so doesn't know how to receive it. When her husband goes to work at a job he doesn't like, so that she can do what she wants, which is stay home and raise the children, that's a gift of love. When her adolescent son offers to pick up something at the store so she won't have to pack up the smaller kids to go out, that is his way of telling her he loves her. Love is all around us, but we're often like my friend who expects it to come in a specific form. When it doesn't, we miss it and feel unloved. So this month I'm reflecting on being aware of ALL the ways people show me love, and being happy to receive it in whatever form it's given. How about you? Sandra Abell

The Great Challenge of Life

Here's the great challenge of life - You can have more than you've got because you can become more than you are. I have found that income seldom will exceed your own personal development. Once in a while income takes a lucky jump, but unless you grow out to where it is, it will go back to where you are. Somebody once said if you took all the money in the world and divided it among everyone equally; it would soon be back in the same pockets. However, you can have more because you can become more. You see, here is how the other side of the coin reads - unless you change how you are, you will always have what you've got. The marketing plan won't do it. It's a good plan but it won't work without you. You've got to work it. It is the human effort that counts. If you could send a sales manual out to recruit - wouldn't that be lovely? The major thing that makes the difference is what YOU do. In order to have more, you need to become more. The guy says "If I had a good job I would really pour it on, but I have this lousy job so I just goof off." If that is your philosophy, you are destined to stay there. Some people say if I had a lot of money I would be really generous, but I don't have much so I'm not generous. See, you've got to change that philosophy or you will never have "the lots of money." Unless YOU change, IT won't change. Amazingly, however, when we throw out our blame list and start becoming more ourselves - the difference is everything else will begin to change around us. Jim Rohn

You're NOT Alone On That Island!

It is a year of challenge; a year of change; a year of learning that it is time to let go! You may feel like you’re all alone on an island; and nobody understands how you think or feel; but you are not alone! There are more people here than you could imagine .... patiently waiting. There are people who really do care; who want to listen, and want to actually hear you! They can help you to step out of that emotional cave that you may have retreated into. It's so easy to withdraw into what we think is a safe zone; but then we start to live in our heads; and not in the world around us! We think it's safer at first; but then it starts to get very lonely and dark in there; doesn't it ... ? It takes a lot of courage and determination to stick our heads out, and have a look around at who or what might be just outside waiting for us to re-appear .... And it takes a stack more courage to step outside and stand tall amongst the uncertainty of it all .... doesn't it ... ? Far too often people get overwhelmed by the stigma that can be attached to 'not being a 100%' ... If we reach out to people who we trust and feel safe with; then there is no stigma; not one tiny bit of it; and the personal empowerment that begins to take place is often stronger than we could have ever imagined. I see it every day in my work; and I've been in some pretty dark places during my run through life too. Lot's of us have! I've learnt that 'a problem shared is a problem halved'; every time; not just sometimes! The value of talking and sharing your stuff (with someone who actually does care and wants to help); is priceless; absolutely priceless! C'mon now; reach out to that someone who does feel right; and allow yourself to be heard! You'll be so glad that you did! (c) Phil Evans - People Stuff TM - 2012