A walk at Gibbs Gardens

I’ve learned anything it’s that we can never let the chaos and injustice make us so blind with anger that we become part of the problem. Understanding, compassion, kindness and love are the only true revolutionary ideas. When we compromise those we become what we despise. And we lose our Humanity.

There are times when we just need to go someplace quiet and still and really think. There are times one of the best things we can do in order to plan our next move, or what we want our life to be, is to look within ourselves. 

When we find ourselves looking around thinking this isn’t where I’m supposed to be, or asking how did I get here? And trying to figure out how we get from where we are to where we want to be, sometimes we just need some place to think.

I was at Gibbs Gardens today. I went there once last year and I remembered it as being beautiful and quiet and still and lovely and peaceful.  I needed that today. I needed to commune and be quiet with nature. I did not want the normal hike and challenge that I usually do. 

The gardens were almost empty since it’s during the week, but there were a surprising amount of mothers and daughters walking around talking and smiling. It made me miss my own. Because this is the kind of place Mom would love, like some people love museums or aquariums. And in my imagination, I can see us walking around the beautiful gardens while talking about life, and politics, and everything in between, and having many many laughs like we always did before she got sick.

I went to the Japanese Garden with the Japanese maples. All of my life I’ve love Japanese Maples because they seem to be love, just in the shape of a tree. Maybe it’s because I’m seeking love right now in all forms. 

I wanted to come here and be and think and be quiet and still. I see the flowers and the trees and butterflies. Maybe I just needed some time to reflect away from the busy life that has happened so quickly in the last few weeks.

I always get strength and peace from nature and being outside, just like my Mom.  Many people have told me that I am the strongest person that they know, but she was the strongest person I have ever known. She was much stronger than I. But I am my Mother’s daughter, and with God, I can do and overcome anything.

So when you’re coming out of a hard time, and you’re trying to figure out just how to rebuild, how to regain your steps, how to get where it is you want to be, find what inspires you. You pray, you reach deep down inside where the Soul Meets the heart, and the heart beat reaches your mind, and you go even deeper, and you pull yourself up.

When you’ve been through a hard time, and you’re trying hard not to become angry and bitter, or an empty shell of a human being like you seen others become. Go someplace quiet and look Within. Pray. And listen, never soft Whisper of God’s voice.

The hardest things are the most important because how you handle them defines who you are. Life won’t always be easy, but if we can have faith and find what inspired us, who makes us want to be better than we ever thought we could be, we will be ok. 

There will still be bad days, and hard times, when we are insecure and unsure and even scared. And that’s okay.
Because it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to rebuild, it’s never too late to change direction, it’s never too late for the life you want to build.

Life is What You Make

“The world is what you make of it, friend. If it doesn’t fit, you make alterations.” – Stella, Silverado

Sometimes life is great and then sometimes bad things happen that are completely out of our control.  When that happens, an it knocks you down, what do you do?  How exactly do you get up and get going again?  Ah that is one of the great questions of life.  And I don;t know honestly. I only know what I do and what works for me.

First, I pray. My faith is everything to me and has helped me through many dark times. I have to get very still, and listen to God’s voice and what he is telling me. I have to meditate and somehow, just believe.  That can be very hard in the thick of things.  But you just have to hold on. Whatever it is, it won’t be like this is 10 years, 5 years, one year, even 6 months from now.  this is only temporary.

I think also you must take a deep look within.  Sometimes recalculating directions (just like that GPS).  Sometimes you must figure out a new goal, or a new way to get that goal.  Sometimes life has changed you into a different person and you must take a look inside to get to know you again.  sometimes, you just need to rest and catch your breath. You put one foot in front of the other and take baby steps.

And you can never, ever limit yourself or let others limit you.  I have always had extremely bad eyesight.  I have not been able to see the big “E” on the eye chart since I was about 7.  That did not stop me from doing gymnastics, and being the best in my age group.  t also did not stop me from swimming and diving off the high dive.  However, I have my Mother to thank for that.  She ever told the coaches that I could not see.  She never told me either. Because she didn’t want anyone to limit me, including myself.  Not knowing what you can’t do can be wonderful.  If I thought I could do it. I could. And I did, because I didn’t know any better.

That is hard in this day and age of instant communication and real time feedback.  That’s why you just can’t listen. Follow your gut, make alterations f you have to, but never look at the odds.  Just make up your mind and do it. no matter what it takes. And then d o what it takes.

In the end, I think it’s those people who are simply too stubborn to quit that make it.  That is where I am and what I am. I will not quit, I will pray and tap into the steel frame inside me.  This is a new beginning in my life.  I have suffered enough. I have been through enough.  And now, life is what I make it. And I will make it magnificent.

A new house. A new job. A new area. A new life.  I shed the old, and put that skin in the closet with the other relics of the old me, the old life that I used to live. And if you want to be in my life then you better suit up and bring your top game.  Because my life is no place for you to be lazy.

This will be fun, this will be hard work, this will be the most amazing experience. Because this is my life. Ge ready.