Tag Archives: Blogs

6. Preparation

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“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” -Abraham Lincoln

Over the last 24 hours it seems every news break I heard on the radio was about a gigantic snow storm that is supposed to hit the East Coast today.  The first half of each report talks about the magnitude of how powerful this force of nature could be and the second half of the stories seem to detail how everyone is preparing for the worst case scenario.  I sure hope that everyone who is touched by this storm is safe and protected thanks to the ability for science to predict such a massive event, without such a warning some storms seem to be so devastating mostly due to a lack of preparation.

Throughout life it seems that most of the biggest storms that we face in our lives are ones that come out of nowhere as well.  They deal out extreme pain due to a lack of preparation on how to cleanup the aftermath.  When we lose friends or relationships, jobs or dreams, the most painful ones arrive without a chance to see them coming.  It is hard to forecast anything in life since so much that goes happens, some would say all of it, is outside of our immediate control.  What we do have control over is the how prepared we are to cope with the inevitable storms that come through.

When life is going well and everything seems to be just the way it is supposed to be I often find myself pulling back on the time that I spend trying to grow.  I find myself getting lazy in relationships and responsibilities then seemingly out of the blue something painful comes my way and I am running around trying to pull everything back together.  The truth is that the out of the blue moments come when I let up on the things that keep me connected to the universe and the people about it.  I know today that storms can come at any time and if I am not doing something each day to grow I will find myself overwhelmed by the challenges that life has to offer me.  I choose to grow today, to put in the time to get a bit better, understand a little more and prepare for the changes that life is bringing me.

Affirmation:  I am working on myself today to be the best I can be tomorrow.

Call To Action:  No matter what our circumstances are, today is the perfect day to grow.  Find a place in your life where the leavey is a bit weak and do what you can to fortify it.  Please share your experiences with us below.

5. Others

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“In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.” – Dalai Lama

Over the last two weeks I have been doing some readings from two different spiritual books. One talks about loving your enemy and the other talks about praying for someone for two weeks who you have bitterness towards.  I thought that praying for someone that annoyed me and to love someone that is my adversary was a nice ideal to live up to, but not realistic.

Last Thursday I saw someone that I had not seen in months, since that last encounter, a person that is very close to me told me some disturbing information about this individual. A light bulb went off in my head, I knew this is where it had to start. During the last week, if I get a twinge in my stomach when I see or think about someone, I add them to my list. Writing this edition of CYLFriday, my list contains 12 people, including family, an ex-girlfriend, a bully from elementary school, and a bank. I have been specifically wishing health, prosperity, and happiness for these people.

I am not sure if these people are receiving the above things because I do not talk to most of them. I have noticed that I feel healthier; I have more joy and happiness throughout my day, and my pay checks today were bigger than they had been in months. Last week this was going to be an experiment, but in a short time I feel that this needs to be a lifelong practice.

Affirmation: I lift my brothers and sisters up in my mind and in my heart. Thank you life for the Good that others receive and thank you for the Good I receive.

Call to Action: Who is that person or institution that brings a knot to your stomach when you simply think of them? If you dare, think of three things that you want in your life, and wish these things for them. If you are brave, do this for 2 weeks and please report back what happens in your life.

4. Stand up

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We have decided to get our community involved with our mission of inspiration in a new way.  This year, the last Friday of each month a guest writer will have their submission posted.  If you have a thought, stance or story to share please send it to our email @ changeyourlifefriday@gmail.com If you feel called, please listen to the words of our first guest this week and…

4. Stand Up

Speak Truths And Never Doubt yoUr Position……S.T.A.N.D. U.P.!
by Lalli

I think it’s harder to try to fit in
Than it is to be a martyr for what you truly believe

So persecute me in the name of free speech
Throw the rocks of your verbal abuse
Lash at my skin with the words from your lips
Because I respect your freedom to use them!

Don’t hold back your uncensored opinions
Let them fly from the deepest cavern hidden behind formality
Where in the name of being “proper” is the source to your restriction
I beg for you to release them!

We come into this world without expectation
Yet, we are met with nothing but expectations

Laugh in the face of conformity
Scald the tongue of its language
Crucify the image of expectation as a symbol
A symbol of independent rebellion
Since how is a person supposed to develop as an individual
If they are constantly held to the expectations of the masses
How is a child, unique with a talent to bless the world
Ever going to find it, if it’s raised as a drone
That means that Martin Luther King, Edgar Allen Poe, Ghandi, Jesus, the Joan of Arc
Bob Marley, even Helen Keller would never have lived within the scope of famous existence
They would have never created history
If they hadn’t learned how to turn their dreams into memories
To let the nay-sayers speak with kindling words that fueled their flame
They fought for what seemed unattainable
They stared into the eye of animosities driven fear
They didn’t cower afraid of their peers but they became references of inspiration

Hero’s

Who with each day flew higher
Thrusting wings flapped into footsteps of advancement through the freedom of self-expression
And anyone questioning whether you should S.T.A.N.D. U.P.  for what they feel is right
Well I can think of one reason
That has more weight than many reasons equivalent to all the granules of sand on every beach and the ocean floor
Because every building will fall
Every star will fade
And although an end is inevitable it doesn’t change the impact its existence made
Live, today like you’ll never see another one
Like you won’t be able to take another breath
Quit looking for depth in the shallow end
Search underneath society’s Lilly-pad façade’s for the anchor of truth hiding out of sight
Be the phantom in the night riding a horseback guided by a lantern without a light
Listen to your hearts beat
Dance to the rhythm of your own drum
Follow your passions and have faith in the unique design of your snowflake
Trust the path in which you fall
Because you never know
You could quite possibly shine as the beacon of light that the people need
Just by being the person
you know you’re meant to be

Affirmation:  Today I will stand up for what I know is my Truth, I walk fearlessly through this day and affirm what is Right.

Call To Action:  This is an amazing day to feel what we know is true and stand for it.  Today is not a day to play small to any situation whatsoever, in fact this is the perfect day to address and stand up in the face of your fears.  By doing this you may experience some of your greatest freedoms and inspire others through your actions to stand up on their own.  Get out there and see what kinda good you can do then come back and share it with our growing community.   Thank you life!

3. Calling

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“In every community, there is work to be done.  In every nation, there are wounds to heal.  In every heart, there is power to do it.” –Marianne Williamson

A few nights ago I was graced with the opportunity to attend a talk put on by my local spiritual community featuring Marianne Williamson.  This was the second time I had the chance to hear her share, the last time was 5 years ago.  The first time was by chance yet thanks to her passion and the wisdom that came through in her words, I was inspired to look deeper into my role in this universe.  My experience this week was similar but of course different thanks to the growth I have had since the last time I was present for her visit.

I think a few years ago I identified much more on what I was getting out of it and how positive inspiration could help my life. This time I felt more connected to what this gathering was doing for all of us that were present.  I was surrounded by a full room of people that all shared a very similar goal and intention, one of love and a willingness to grow.  It was a collective recognition that there is work to be done in our community and our nation and there are many people that want to find the best and most effective ways to do their part to work for the greatest good.

What I know about my part today has surely matured over the years.  I know today that I have the ability to lift up and inspire my community through my own words and actions.  I believe this is true for all of us, we all have this amazing ability to raise up and inspire those around us.  I truly believe that once we can recognize this power within us, it is our obligation to get out in the world and use it.  Each and every one of us have an infinite well of love that we can give to the world around us and as we do that the world around us will experience the same growth and change that we have felt and now recognize.  I know this is true because in settings like the one I was in the other night there was a feeling of love amongst strangers that was full and alive.  In those moments I was reminded how important it is to share my joy, love and inspiration with everyone I meet so we can all heal a little more.  It is not enough for me anymore to wait for someone else to come into my experience to raise up my fellows and me, there is an opportunity in every interaction to do my part and share my inspiration with everyone around me.  I feel this is our calling!  Care to join me, I am ready to keep healing, how about you?

Affirmation: I am filled with infinite inspiration and infinite love. Today I will share from my infinite well with everyone that I meet.

Call To Action:  If you know that this life we get to live is a blessing don’t keep it to yourself.  Wear your heart on the outside and share it with everyone you meet today so that they can be reminded of this truth for themselves.  I know how good it feels to embody my blessings and I also know how easy it is to forget them.  Today get out there in the world and help your community remember that Love is free and it comes from a well that never dries up and from that well springs all that is beautiful and good in this world. Thank you life!!!

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1. Letting Go

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“You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you’re satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you’ve got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes then, perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you’re trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.”

― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

The New Year is upon us and as a tradition many of us are making new years resolutions; some of us have already broken them.

Last year we shared about one of the contributors of CYLFriday getting rid of all of his personal belongings to depart on a trip around the world. I couldn’t help but be a tad jealous of his upcoming adventure, but what I am mostly jealous of; is the getting rid of all his belongings piece.

I moved to a new apartment as he left the country. When I moved I brought with me these boxes of junk into the garage of my current residence. My short lease is now up and it is time for me to move again. Those same boxes are still in my garage untouched the whole time I lived here. I also brought with me many articles of clothing that I didn’t take out to wear even once. I recently met with my prospective new roommates, for a sort of quasi interview, and one of my questions was concerning storage space. I was concerned about where these precious knick-knacks could be safely stored until the next time that I move; knowing full well they would continue to be untouched for the whole duration of my next lease. It has occurred to me that this junk is a burden on my life, literally. I have to consider it when looking for a place almost as if I had a pet. Is this new place junk friendly? Is there storage space?  Is there a junk deposit required? I have to defend myself. I am not a hoarder by any means. I go through my closet and donate clothes at least once a year and regularly weed out some of the less important junk every-time I move (which happens to be about once a year for the past 4 years).  This time I will not bring any unnecessary items with me.

Affirmation: I will let go of what I do not need in my life.

Call to Action: Think about what you really need in this world, when you look in your closet, when you are out shopping about to buy some of the merchandise that looked so shiny in that commercial.  Please share below your new years resolutions, your progress on them so far. Or a way you can lighten the burden on yourself whether it by material, physical or emotional.