A few months ago, I passed a birch tree while out walking. It had been cut in half approximately two months prior in a massive tree trimming in my neighborhood. Already, a lone straggly branch about two feet long was coming out near the top of the tree. It even had a few leaves on it—sparse but they were there.
Like this tree, we were born to thrive. Our spirits are resilient. It doesn’t matter what happens to us, if there is breath left in our lungs, our natural response is to fight to live. Inherently we are wired to overcome the circumstances that could easily mean the death of us—if not to our physical bodies then certainly are spirits.
Now that tree showed no evidence of life for several months because it suffered a devastating blow. When "life" happens to us, we often will bounce back but it doesn’t mean that things won’t bring us to our knees and knock the breath out of us for a while. It may take some time to pool our resources and our resolve before we find strength to get back up. But if we don’t quit, we cannot help but allow our will to live and our will to be undefeated rise to the surface and help us start
growing again.
The trouble in hard times is that we can only see what’s happening right now. We can often only imagine things will be the way they are right now. If I were to come back and visit that tree in five years, I bet I would see lots of branches and leaves. We have to trust that somewhere in the distant future, we will make a full recovery too. However, we can’t just live for the day we will feel better.
To thrive now, we must find out what’s good about today, yes, what’s good about right now. If we can’t find that, it is doubtful we will experience the inherent growth and the comeback that is in each of us. Our triumphant return to full living will come to be if we can find reasons to be grateful in our present circumstances and if we keep taking small tiny steps toward where we want to go—whatever we feel capable of today.
If you’re walking through something that has knocked you back momentarily, be encouraged and remember, this too shall pass. You will rise again.
We started on December 1. I'm collaborating with eleven fabulous coaches on Instagram for twelve days of life-changing and thought-provoking topics, videos, Live broadcasts nightly and O&A. So far we've talked about authenticity, sisterhood (brotherhood), self-compassion and today is "attract love." We will be exploring bravery, fulfillment, mindset and much more to come!
On Day 13, we will have a drawing and one lucky participant will be chosen to receive a $250 Amazon gift card and a 2018 visionary coaching session with the coach of their choice. AND the winner will be able to gift a session to a friend as well.
Follow me on Instagram
@AngelaHowell4Life to see what's happened so far. I'll be the featured coach this Wednesday, Day 5. Join us!
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Cheers to a joyful holiday season, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share this with a friend. Until next time...
To your gifts!
P.S.
If you haven't already, would you please leave a book review on Amazon and/or Goodreads? Thank you in advance for taking a moment to do this and much appreciation to those who already have!
Gift-giving season is here again! Maybe you have someone on your list who needs a little pick-me-up for just pennies a day? Remember, for every book sold, a portion goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee!
FTG Readers Group Rocks! I'm so grateful to walk this journey with you all and I love reading your comments on our Facebook reader's page. Please join the conversation if you're not already a member. Your voice is important!
