How bad do you want it?!

For my daily exercise, I normally walk on Mondays, but yesterday, I was considering going to the gym because it was exceptionally cold. My dilemma, however, was I also needed inspiration for my weekly meditation to you and the best place for me to experience that is outside in nature.

But it wasn’t just cold, we woke up to 14° here in Tennessee on the first day of spring. Brrr! By the time I was seriously contemplating a walk, it was barely in the 20s. I decided to walk anyway. I would always rather be cold than hot. I can usually fix cold, but can’t always fix hot. So I bundled up and committed myself to at least twenty minutes.

Immediately the phrase, How bad do you want it? came to mind. Turns out, the very act of being willing to get out for a walk in freezing temps served as a warm-up for the flow of life lessons. Other phrases came to encourage me, like, Keep your eye on the prize. And, See what’s good about it, instead of what’s challenging. So if you’re doing something hard right now, I offer the same reminders given to me.

We have to tell ourselves good things, because it's too easy to quit or slack on things we consider important. But guess what? It's also easy not to, and that boils down to a firm decision.

Comfort plays a role in the levels of successes we achieve throughout our lives, which brings me back to going for a walk in 20° weather. Sure, my face got cold, my fingers started to burn from the chill, even with gloves on. So what? I chose temporary pain for future gain. 

In a short period of time after being back in the house, I forgot about my fingers being cold. I enjoyed the fruits of my walk and today, I am congratulating myself on my 225th blog.

YES! Yippee! Today is my 225th blog!

That’s two-hundred and twenty-five weeks in a row of blogging no matter what. I have refused to let anything derail my weekly email to you. If I went on vacation, I scheduled them in advance. If I didn’t feel well, I did a very short one, or simply sent a poem. 
 

Not doing it was never an option. It’s too easy to slack a second time, and a third, once that becomes acceptable behavior. We don’t slack on the things that we value. Period. Doesn’t matter if it rains, if we’re hungry, if we're full, too sleepy, too restless. We don’t bail on the things that matter.
 

Life happens, what then? I have seen a lot of "life" in these two-hundred and twenty-five weeks. Some of it broke my heart and crushed me to the point where sending out an inspirational message was the last thing I wanted to do. Why did I do it anyway?

How bad do you want it?! 

I have not and will not let any part of life permanently defeat me. Ever. Circumstances might knock me down, but I will always, eventually, get back up. I’m just that stubborn. I’m betting you are too. 

Whatever you’re going through today, don’t stay there. Get the lesson and grow! Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Take risks. Get uncomfortable.

Improve the things that are within your control. Become willing to do today something you said you would never do. Your future may depend on your open mind.  

Short of death, nothing can happen to us in this life that can’t serve as a lesson to propel us forward using the wisdom gained—even in the worst of times. Remember not to compare yourself to your neighbors. The grass isn't always greener, at least not for long. (Stay tuned for next week’s email.) The only person you need to compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday. 

Remember the two side-by-side Bradford pear trees that I wrote about couple of weeks ago, in Accept, Give Thanks and Move On? Where the storm took most of the flowers from one, while it barely touched the other? Look at them today, just thirteen days later! They are both vibrant and full of green leaves now, because they decided to get on with the business of living. We can't let life's storms derail us from keeping our words to ourselves, pursuing what really matters, and living in a way we can be proud of. 

I have a young friend who is facing many challenges and wanted to know how other people do it, how other people make it in this life. Among the things I shared with them, I listed the character assets of an overcomer, those people who will always triumph over any circumstance life throws at them. They have:

Faith that it's possible 
A strong support system and the willingness to receive help
Willingness to do whatever it takes
Willingness to do it through the fear
Willingness to keep an open mind and take suggestions
Willingness to make sacrifices
Willingness to make mistakes, to try and fail, and try again 
The humility to lay down their pride
Sufficient hope for the future that prevents the present from standing in their way 
Total ownership of life, releasing all blame for what happened in the past

It’s one thing to make a list; it’s another thing to walk it out. I still have plenty of room for growth myself. I pray that we all seek to grow until our last breath, inspiring others to do the same. Have a great day!

PS Enjoy this day because there will never be another one exactly like it. It’s one of a kind, just like you.

Does today's meditation resonate with you? Please share your voice in our FTG Readers Group on Facebook. Your hopes, thoughts and dreams matter to me.

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Cheers to a great week, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share with a friend.

Announcements and painting of the week are below!

Until next time...

To your gifts!

Angela

Abstract Painting of the Week
If you'd like to see more of my art, please visit my website. Reply to this email if there is something you're interested in. I also offer commissions and shipping is available.

Water Under the Bridge 48x60  acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. 

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