Inspire...: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Rainbows

I've been looking for that rainbow after each and every rain

I haven't seen one for a while although they look the same

Why do I feel so anxious when I look up to the sky

And see no sign of that natural beauty forming oh so high

The weather conditions have been aligning so perfectly as of late

Yet that magical arch of colors just doesn't seem to cooperate

What is this attraction, this almost obsession that I'm feeling

It's not like I believe a rainbow is a miracle for healing

Maybe it's all those stories, you know the ones where we've been told

That a little guy will be waiting with a bucket full of gold. . . .

Saturday, May 28, 2011

The world, this precious planet we call home, has been experiencing wild, or should I say, devastating weather this year. It seems almost on a daily basis we hear of another town, that's been hit by some sort of catastrophic weather. Cities in rural and urban areas flattened as if they were made of toy sticks. In one short moment, lives are lost, or people who are lucky enough to walk away are left with nothing...I wonder. . .

Mother Nature is this you? Rearing your angry head

It seems we have not listened to what you have said

This "ball of life" we take for granted and consistently misuse

Always thinking it will just be here for us to abuse

We carelessly pollute the waters, air and land

And now I bet you are taking a stand!

How much do our eyes need to see and our hearts need to feel

Before we begin to believe this is so very real

We must know that our children and their children too

Won't have a safe haven to prosper and grow and now I must ask, what are we going to do?

I bet if we start believing we can live on much less

We will begin to see progress and maybe even success

We need to be more educated on what we buy

Read labels and be aware of all the pesticides

Green products, more natural may be the path we should take

I'm no expert but I think something needs to change for goodness sakes

My message is not intended to be doom and gloom

I think sometimes we just need to be aware and not to assume

That this planet, our home needs care and protection

And maybe, just maybe we can be the ones to change the direction. . .

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Imagine If. . .

25 Years and a Chicago icon is done! Say what you will about Oprah, but there is no denying she has done amazing things over the last 25 years. Most love her and some don't, but, she has made a huge impact on people of all walks of life around the world. So with this in mind it got me thinking. . .

What kind of impact can everyday people make?

How often do we we think. . .

I'm just one person, what can I do to make a difference?

How can I impact someone or something?

I'm not rich, famous or have the means to do something amazing

But just imagine if. . .

Each one of us made a conscience effort to do one small thing

For one person or one small cause. . .

Just imagine the number of people that would be impacted each and every day

The "it" could be something simple. . .

A spoken or written word or, no words at all. . .

The giving of yourself, your time, especially when you don't believe you have any to give

Maybe, if we all thought about it for a little while. . .

Well, just imagine the possibilities. . .

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Reflection of a School Year

Michelle asked, how does it feel with school coming to a close

It stirred up my thoughts for the words to compose

This year flew by in a blink of an eye

And soon we will send our children off with a hug and a goodbye

I thinks as teachers we always question, did we do all we could?

Did we give the children all that we should?

In schools today, we teachers know there's so much more

Than just worrying about how the children score.

As teachers, we work through each lesson to ensure they succeed

Yet knowing some days they have some other need

These little people we see on a daily basis

Sometimes just need us teachers to create a comfy oasis

Because for many it's clear, school is the best part of their day

We know this because in June, there's often more tears than hip hip hoorays!

So you see us teachers have many hats to wear

For the children that are placed each day in our care

We work hard for our students nonetheless

So they can grow, prosper and progress

Yes, June is the end of the school year

And us teachers will smile and give out a cheer

We will take the next 2 months to relax, unwind and renew

And in August we'll say, where did the summer go to?

But thoughts of the summer so quickly will shrink

Instead we are consumed with reading, writing and how to get them to think

Then children are back and it's oh so very clear

Why we teachers did chose this amazing career!

Friday, May 13, 2011

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

One year ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer, saying my world was rocked is an understatement. But with unending support from my extraordinary family and friends I made it through many dark days. I'm writing this once... to thank all the wonderful people in my life and to anyone who needs to know someone understands...

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

My world as I knew it to be. . .

C... ame crashing down, stopping my breath, unable to believe

A... ll of a sudden feeling so helpless, so not in control, so unsure of everything

N... ever thinking it would be me, even though there are so many, but still asking why?

C... ouldn't imagine leaving all the people I love so, it's not my time, I have so much more to do, don't I?

E... very ounce of my being feeling so scared... so frightened about the road ahead of me

R...eaching out and holding on to my extraordinary family and friends who kept me from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

Turning my life upside down, yet trying to except what it was and how I would fight

The doctors, the tests, the waiting. . .

Digging deep inside... to be strong, to fight, to be in control

Yet I still had questions deep in my soul... where no one could hear, why me? What could I have done differently?

If I had to be the one for all the other women in my life, than so be it

And always holding on to my extraordinary family and friends to keep from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

The treatments, the effects, the inevitable

Watching each hair fall, first slowly, than much to quickly

Once again feeling so powerless and so not in control

I needed to fight back, to be able to make a choice

Steadying my hand on the razor, I watched as my hair disappeared

And in some strange way I felt empowered, a new strength, and the determination to. . .

Dig deep inside... to be strong, to fight, to have the control

And always holding on to my extraordinary family and friends to keep from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

Counting the days for each treatment to be done

Believing it's killing the bad while passing over the healthy

Getting through the bad days by remembering the many good ones

Digging deep inside... to be strong, to fight, to be in control

And always holding on to my extraordinary family and friends to keep from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

Accepting that this journey has changed me in ways that I still don't fully understand

Knowing that attitude is as important as the fight

Reinforcing that I am very fortunate in so many ways

And knowing that I have extraordinary family and friends. . .

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Children

This month I will celebrate 3 graduations

One for my nephew and 2 for my granddaughters

For each of them it's the end of one chapter and onto the next in their very own book called life

Morgan, will be starting high school, and hopefully this is where she will find her passions and start planning and working towards those goals and dreams

Sarah, will start culinary school she discovered her passion, now she needs to cultivate her dreams so they become her reality

Jason, knew what his passion was at an early age, he worked hard and now his dream of practicing law has come to fruition

Each of them in very different phases of their lives, yet is it really all that different?

The chapter numbers may be, but each is starting a new milestone in their life

And I am so proud. . . my heart so full of hope of each of them . . .

Children should start out with dreams, hopes and aspirations

The adults in their lives should guide and assist them to build the foundations

Children need to believe that all their dreams are within reach

The adults in their lives should love, nurture and make sure the lessons, they teach

Children need to know the process may not be easy, in fact, it can be tough

The adults in their lives need to convey that this is what builds character and self assuredness oddly enough

Children need to always feel that they are special and one of a kind

The adults in their lives need to keep this in the forefront of their mind

Children grow up and if we the adults do it right

They will continue to be a constant delight!

Children. . . amazing. . . grabbing hold of our souls and filling our lives with love and joy

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Just a Thought. . .

The sun sets, darkness comes and the day comes to a close

You start to settle down. . . both mentally and physically

You rest your head into the pillow emptying you mind of all thoughts of the day

You begin to drift off. . . ever so slowly into the darkness. . .

You are no longer aware of mind or body. . .

Then all of a sudden, your eyes pop open

You feel again and are aware, even though you are surrounded by darkness

Then it starts... your mind is flooded with yesterdays, todays and tomorrows

The more you want to go back to that quiet, the louder it becomes

Breath, Relax, Concentrate

The mantra that plays over and over

Breath, Relax, Concentrate

Why isn't it working?

Breath, Relax, Concentrate

The harder you try the more your mind is spinning with thoughts. . .

Then like a flip of a switch

Back to the invisible, the tranquil, that very quiet place

Until. . . . . .

BUZZ....BUZZ....BUZZ....

The sound of your alarm

Awaking you to the new day, new beginnings

And if you are lucky, a new perspective on the yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. . .

Friday, May 6, 2011

Don't

Once again my friend Michelle has inspired me. . .

Don't. . .

Ever underestimate yourself and the strength you have within

Don't. . .

Forget you can make a difference. . . be it BIG or small

Don't. . .

Judge others, embrace the differences

Don't. . .

Focus on the problem, but rather the solution

Don't. . .

Walk through life blindly, instead open your eyes, mind and heart

Don't. . .

Promise, if you can't keep your word

Don't. . .

Forget words can be powerful, choose wisely

Don't. . .
Pass over life's accomplishments, CELEBRATE in a big way

Don't. . . Don't. . . Don't. . .

Ever, Ever, forget to tell the people in your life how much you love them!