Monday, April 27, 2009

Finishing Strong

First of all, I need to say that the gratitude quote that I wrote in my post yesterday ,was from Melody Beatte. I am sorry that I left that out, I usually don't forget, but I was pretty tired when I was writing. Today was Sunday and of course I was grateful again, that I felt good enough to go to church. I actually wondered if I would get to because my back and neck were hurting so bad. The weather was beautiful yesterday and Jeff and to work on our garden spot in the back yard. I was ashamed at how messy and over grown we had let the back yard become but... I guess we did have a bit on our plate this past year! Anyway, I pulled a few weeds and mostly showed Angie all the bugs that lived in the dirt, we had a great time. It is so fun watching a 2 or almost 3 year old discover things for the first time. Jeff and I enjoyed every minute of it. But of course because I was actually doing something, my back and neck gave me trouble all night and I really wondered if I was going to be up to going to church. But I was determined to go and am I ever glad I did. Yes, I was still in pain and very tired but the message today was about choosing happiness and Joy, plus... always being grateful.

I also remembered a short movie that I saw on the web site... SimpleTruths.com called Finishing Strong and I think both topics go together. It is just so easy to get down on ourselves and our lives, if we only look at what happens to us. Here are a few gems that I got from that inspiring movie.

 

BECAUSE WHEN ADVERSITY STRIKES, IT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS THAT WILL DETERMINE OUR DESTINY; IT'S HOW WE REACT TO WHAT HAPPENS."     __ Mac Anderson

"LIFE IS 10 PERCENT WHAT YOU MAKE IT AND 90 PERCENT HOW YOU TAKE IT."    __ IRVING BERLIN

How will you take it? How will you choose to respond to life and it's challenges? Will  you choose to finish strong?

"MOST OF US HAVE FAR MORE COURAGE THAN WE EVER DREAMED WE POSSESSED."   ___ Dale Carnegie

BELIEF... "TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS, WE MUST NOT ONLY ACT, BUT ALSO DREAM; NOT ONLY PLAN, BUT ALSO BELIEVE."   Anatole France

ATTITUDE..." HOW YOU RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGE IN THE SECOND HALF WILL DETERMINE WHAT YOU BECOME AFTER THE GAME...WHETHER YOU ARE A WINNER OR LOSER."   ___ Lou Holtz

"IT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, BUT HOW YOU REACT TO IT THAT MATTERS."    __Epictetas

NOTHING CHANGES UNTIL SOMETHING MOVES, PURPOSE. HOW WILL YOU CHOSE TO RESPOND? THE CHOICE IS YOURS....FINISH STRONG!

Wasn't that great? I need to remember these things more often, especially on my BIGGER THAN ME days when everything seems much more than I can handle. I need to realize that I can make the needed changes in my life and that I can truly finish strong. I know that the challenges that I have experienced, have made me dig down so much deeper than I probably ever would have chosen to dig. And in all that digging, I found out that this Lynn, is much tougher than even I thought she was. Thank you for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. Your support was life changing for me, I will forever be grateful for that.

" THE FIRST STEP TOWARD CHANGE IS AWARENESS. THE SECOND STEP IS ACCEPTANCE."   __Nathanel Branden

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