"Seize this chance, rejoice in it, and let no power or persuasion deter you in your task" - Chariots of Fire Oh those words just get me giddy and send goosebumps down my arms! Isn't there something wonderful about seeing passionate people make things happen?!? I LOVE it! The point I want to get accross today is that YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN! Whatever your goal or vision, you can do it! From Emma... One of my favorite movies features Steve Carell and he is having a conversation with a woman he’s just met. She says to him, “So Dan, you were born?” obviously looking for him to expound. His response: “I was born, like everyone else. I grew up, like everyone else.” They both chuckle a bit at that. However, it does highlight a very important thing we all have in common. We all start in the same place. I’ve often marveled at the crazy incredible things people can do. Ya know, there’s 16-year-old me: high school, supporting role in the school play, writing songs on the weekend, sailing and playing softball just for fun, pretty standard stuff. Then there’s pre-pop Taylor Swift: 16-years old, collaborating with song writers in Nashville, playing for filled stadiums and preparing to accept a Grammy. And then I would wonder, “what am I doing with my life?!” Obviously, comparing your accomplishments with someone else’s is so not cool. Duh. I know that. Put that on the list of things not to do because it definitely just makes life harder. But, it can be really inspiring to look not at just what people are doing, but what they are becoming and to learn from those choices. Let’s do a little “time usage” comparison of me and Swift. What was I doing at 12? I was involved in church things, hanging out with friends, spending time with family, sulking about things changing with siblings leaving the house, etc. What was Taylor Swift doing? If I recall that was about the time she met a guy that came over to do some work on their house that gave her a guitar and taught her a few chords. She then continued to self-teach and play for various events near her home. What was I doing at 15? Pretty much the same: school, church stuff, friends, thinking about boys; you know, the important stuff. What was Taylor Swift doing? Going to school during the day (maybe homeschooling part time? I don’t quite recall) before her mom would then drive her a couple hours to Nashville where she would work with other songwriters to get her work out there. What was I doing at 17? I graduated from high school and was getting ready to head off to college, trying to grapple with the emotion of so many changes and the excitement of independence. What was Taylor Swift doing? Her mom had graciously moved them to Nashville so Taylor could pursue her dream. After a lot of work, time investment and sacrifice, Swift had released an album and accepted a Grammy shortly thereafter. Do I wish my life was Taylor Swifts? Absolutely not! I don’t want that lifestyle. And the choices I’ve made have put me in a place that I’m beyond satisfied with. But I do admire what she has accomplished and if I look at it, I can break it down to some simple steps we can all apply.
We all start out the same. We all enter the world the same way. That is a beautiful unifier. We have the same potential and value as every other human being. In the times I’ve struggled to achieve my goals it’s typically because
Once we evaluate what we want, work harder than we thought possible, sacrifice and have confidence, we can do ANYTHING! We can rule the world! Not really. That’s a twisted goal. I believe that when we want something good, if we follow these steps, God and the universe will work in tandem to make it happen. Good attracts good. Happy attracts happy. Positive things happen to positive people that are willing to work hard and just do it (thank you NIKE). And so much of it is in the way you approach life. Thomas Edison said when questioned about his many attempts regarding the making of the lightbulb, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” What an incredible attitude! And this guy changed the world as we know it. When I was born I had one title: Baby. Those titles have majorly increased: Wife, Mother, Friend, Writer, Teacher, Counselor, and on it goes. Each title represents something I value/d in life, work/ed hard for, sacrifice/d for, and have/had confidence in my ability to achieve it. My novel didn’t start getting written until I took the time to sit my butt down and start pounding away on the keyboard. The so-called moral of all this is pretty basic. You can do it! You can make it happen! If you have a dream, don’t settle for easy or comfortable, unless that’s exactly what you want. Go after something that brings you joy for no other reason than you can! And have that kind of faith in yourself. Michael Jordan said, “Limits, like fear, is often an illusion.” The only limitations that really exist are the ones we place on ourselves. But looking at reasonably, if I was once a baby and I’m now me, I can do anything! It’s easy to push away opportunity, possibility, or passions because we assume we will have more time. Why wait? Molly and I often say to each other in reference to just about anything we want to do short or long term, “I’ve got plans.” So now I’m sharing that with you. I’ve got plans. “Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” -Pope Paul VI Well said. I agree. And I’m pretty sure if you think about it, you’ve got plans too. But if not, it's never too late to make some. Emma from Sam...
when I was a kid (or so I've been told) I was a big dreamer. I was theatrical, loved to dance, sing, pretend to be someone important or speak with a British accent. My biggest childhood dream was to become a hula dancer. I know, it's a little bit weird, but that was my dream. As I got older, little by little, I began to lose my zeal for life. I think it's a combination of things. The more life you experience the more times you fail which can cause you to be insecure and/or to make you rethink the direction you want to go. You also have less time for dreaming when you're struggling through college, trying to work hard, pay bills, etc. It's funny because I look back on my college days and think "wow! I was so stressed! I didn't have a clue!" (I'm pretty certain that in a decade I'll feel the same way about where I am right now as well, but idk maybe I'll soon master how to live in the moment.) my parents have a magnet on their fridge that says "Carpe Diem: seize the day". What does that mean? Well, as my daughter Charlotte has gotten older I've felt a huge urge to impress upon her that she CAN do anything she sets her mind to. I think we all believe that for those we love, but do we believe it for ourselves? If I want those I love to believe that, then I need to be that example! I'm kind of to the point in my life where I think "screw it! What do I have to lose? I'm going to do this!" So going back to the beginning, I joined a Polynesian Dance group with Charlotte about three months ago. Am I stellar at it? Nope! Is it a ton of work for me because I've never danced before? You bet! Sometimes am I frustrated and wondering what I'm doing? Yep! But I know I can do it! So look at your life. What are some dreams you have? Don't just wait for them to happen to you, because I promise you THEY WON'T! MAKE IT HAPPEN! And if you realize that it's not what you really want, then change it! There's no unwritten contract we have with the universe that forces us to do what doesn't feed us! But I'll tell you, I have never regretted realizing dream even if it didn't turn out as planned becaus I always learn more about myself. Have a great week! -Sam
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who we areSpread the Good: Three sisters embracing the human experience, ups and downs included, inviting others to join the celebration.
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January 2021
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