Tag Archives: Quotes

19. Do What You Love

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Do what you love, you will be better at it.  It sounds pretty simple but you’d be surprised how many people don’t get this right away.  -LL Cool J

One night last week I was down at the ballpark enjoying America’s past time.  The home team was winning so I had a smile on my face.  We were sitting in the bleachers and had some hot dogs; not too bad for 20 bucks. At our stadium they have a big 50/50 raffle that I tend to donate to, there are employees of the park that walk around the isles during the game and help sell tickets to raise money for their cause and also for the cause of one lucky winner.  When the man came by this week I knew I recognized him but could not place him right away.  He looked really happy and I realized that’s why I was having trouble placing him. It was an old roommate of mine and the whole time I lived with him he never looked happy. Sure he smiled, he was happy at times, but his overall demeanor was less than thrilled on a regular basis.

I was so taken back with his 180 degree personality shift I wasn’t really sure how to react. When he came back around later on in the game and I told him he looked really good and really happy. He replied, “That’s cause I love this job! I have always wanted to work for a baseball team.” He went on to tell me he wanted to work for another team eventually, but for 162 days a year he works at his dream job. He doesn’t have the position he hopes to have someday but he is very happy to have his entry-level job.

I think about how he looked when I lived with him and how he looked at his new job and at first thought I am amazed. When I took some time to think about what he said and the situation as a whole It really rang true what they say, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life again.”  I am following my dreams today which was not always the case and I am certainly not yet where I want to be but I have started to take the first steps to my dream, just as my old roommate has.  My truth today is the same as his, I am doing what I always wanted to do and it makes me happy.

Affirmation:  I am now willing to let my fears fall free me so that I can start to be who I always wanted to be.

Call to Action: I think it is very easy to get stuck in a situation that is “good enough” and never take that risk to follow our dreams.  All dreams that are realized start with small steps and commitment to the path that it takes to get there.  I know you have some dreams, maybe today is the day that you take the first step and feel some of the joy that comes with doing what you want.

job love

14. Winner

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“The odd were against us, but we deserve to be where we are.” – Steve Gerrard

I was struck by an amazing thought the other day while I was out for a run on a beautiful afternoon.  It came like a flash, and I was filled with this sense of duty and purpose, in that moment I was at perfect peace and was fully aware of the greatness of my life and experience.  The thought that I had was simple and I know that I have had it before but like most things it would stay for a bit and then fade, as a result I would forget one of the most amazing things that truly can inspire me at any moment. The thought “I am truly blessed to be alive, the chances of me getting to be must be astronomical.”  What I knew after thinking that was that I am grateful for this chance today and this experience and I want to make sure that I am showing that gratitude in every moment of my life.

For the past week or so I have been revisiting this idea, enjoying the feeling that comes when I think about how special I really am to have this chance to experience life and also how special everyone else is who has gotten their chance as well.  As usual I wanted to look a bit deeper into what the odds really are, did I really hit the lottery already? Have I already been granted the greatest gift the universe can bestow.  So I hit the internet up for some answers.  First I would like to say that I have gambled in my life and I know that a 1 out of 100 chance is pretty poor odds.  Furthermore my chances of winning the powerball seem so unlikely but they are around 1 in 175,223,510.  Now my odds of being born at this time in history are about 1 in 6000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000, that is 100 zeros if you wanna count.  I would call that the not a snowballs chance in hell number.

But here I am!  Writing this to you and there you are.  We are the winners!  We are enjoying this thing called life. Life is filled with all sorts of experiences but it seems that when I take this idea of how fortunate I am into them, regardless of how they make me feel in a moment, I am still one of the biggest winners this world has ever known.  It seems so easy to get down and live completely separated from gratitude for this gift, but constant recognition of this divine miracle seems to be an amazing way to connect to what is the real truth in this world; You are so special and amazing beyond measure, you make a 1 in a million chance seem like child’s play.

Affirmation:  I am so blessed to be right here right now.

Call to Action: Take some time throughout the next several days to feel how special you are.  With that feeling in mind how will you celebrate your victory?

12. Connecting

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“Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last weekend I had the chance to travel through several states and log many miles with a group of people in a van.  Over the course of the weekend we were able to go through several stages of growth together since we all had a common goal on our journey.  At the beginning of the trip it was a bit awkward because the group was comprised of 11 people who knew each other mostly as acquaintances.  At some point everyone in the van started to get out of their shells through accepting the group and the role that we all had collectively as well as individually.  The music inspired conversation which turned into jokes and joy for everyone involved.  At some point we also came up with a chant made us smile and turned some heads which finished with the phrase, “No Regrets.” We continued to bond and by the time we returned it seemed that we didn’t want to part since our conversations continued to deepen throughout the journey.

Over the past several days since the trip we have all seemingly found reasons to get together and relive the moments that we shared on our trip and also make new memories together.  I really feel that once we all started to let our guard down and talk about our lives honestly and from the heart our little community began to bond in a very beautiful way.  The most interesting part to me when I look at this experience from the outside is how we all grew once we freed ourselves from judgement and accepted each other and our mission.

I think the lesson that I learned and that I want to share with you is that I find so much growth for myself through the times I spend with others.  I also find that there is not much that is more inspirational than to see someone else grow and change in front of my eyes.  When we left I am certain that we were all thinking about our goal for the trip but I feel that it was in the journey that we found the most growth.  The only way that this can happen though is to get involved and take an active role in the lives that we have been given.  I am so proud of my new crew that took that chance at being uncomfortable and put themselves in a position to show me once again that I am completed by the people that I surround myself with.  Thank you all for being a part of my experience, I love my CYLfriday crew, No Regrets!

Affirmation: Today I embrace my journey. I make memories and connections with all who I come in contact with. I love the idea that all people can be old friends when I let them in.

Call To Action: Share with us a recent time that you have had deep meaningful conversation with someone other that a dear friend. When was the last time you were vulnerable, and the result was something unpredictable and beautiful?

Copyright © 2011-2013, Change Your Life Friday. All Rights Reserved.

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!!!

Copyright © 2011-2012, Change Your Life Friday. All Rights Reserved.

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.