Happy Veteran's Day!!!

"A hero / (she -roe) is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to preserve and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ~ Christopher Reeve

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she -roes!" ~ Maya Angelou
First, let me start with ~To all the veterans that have served,  continue to serve and given their life for our country and our freedom: I'm free to dream, believe, inspire, pursue, to live, love and laugh... because of YOU and I THANK YOU for that! Happy Veteran's Day to all of you!!!

Because of our Veterans and others that have made a difference in my life and the life of others, these two quotes really stand out today. We are fortunate that so many individuals serve /have served our country. Their capacity in our lives as well as our everyday heroes and "she-roes" that we  look up to and admire leave us grateful for what they have done for us, shown us and taught us.  Each of us choose our heroes and she - roes for reasons only we know.  The common thread is that they touch our lives and make a difference in it that is immeasurable to anything else.  Today as we honor the men and women that chose to serve our country for whatever reason, take a moment to truly thank them as well as any one else that has made a lasting impact on your life.

Mistakes

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." ~ Albert Einstein ... 

We are all imperfect beings, trying to find our way / our place. We make decisions and choices on a daily basis and in doing so, we also make mistakes and that's a good thing because it means we're trying something new / learning new things. As you go through life, don't dwell on the mistakes you've made / have yet to make, instead focus on the possibilities. Take a chance, do your best and learn from your mistakes. In doing this, you will continue to grow and experience new things. You won't just be existing, you'll be living. As for your mistakes, make adjustments and corrections along the way so you don't continue to make the same ones.

Triumph

Everyday someone somewhere faces some kind of loss. Whether it's loss of a loved one, loss of innocence, loss of hope, loss of faith, loss of a game, loss of belief in oneself or loss of something that really matters, it's something we all must go through at some point in time or another because the challenge of losing or having to let go is inevitable. However, it's how we handle those losses and what we gain from them that makes the difference. We must realize that every loss brings about mixed emotions and a gain of some kind. It could be knowledge that someone cares, a lesson learned, a desire to improve oneself, a hug or some form of comfort that at the very moment you receive it, you feel at the very least, a little better. The difference that is made in that moment can take on many forms, it can dry your tears, become inspiration, help you through the journey of acceptance, give you insight, restore hope, strengthen you and your faith and / or it can simply give you a reason to go on. So, take the time to recall a loss, not to dwell in the let down / pain but to realize the gains that came from it. Reflect on how you got through it or how you're getting through it and continue to believe that everything happens for a reason and most importantly that within us and around us, we have who and what we need to continue and make the best of our journey through life.

Take a Moment

Take a moment to think about your ups and downs, wins and losses, successes and failures,and your good days and bad days too. As you think about them, you'll realize they have a few things in common. They made you laugh, cry, smile, believe and most importantly, you got through them. Who you are and where you're at in life are a direct result of the things you've been through and the choices you've made. The fact that you're able to reflect on your life is a blessing in itself. Although we don't get do overs, we get a chance to make changes when necessary or simply enjoy where we're at / what we have at any given moment. The healing and growth that takes place on a daily basis contributes to our perception of our life experiences. It is my and prayer that when you take a moment to think about your life, you find that the good outweighs the bad.