Challenges that Change Us!

In life, we can not control what is done to us, but we always have a choice in how we react to those tests and challenges.

Choice is what separates humans from other mammals. Even if we fail with one test or challenge…a new one will come along in which we get to choose all over again. Perhaps, it is so we finally get it correct. Life, as given, isn’t always easy; it’s not supposed to be.Often, we do not especially like the choices as they are presented to us and sometimes they are even unfair…but they are choices nonetheless. It is empowering to know we have that ability. With each and every positive choice we make for ourselves and towards others we give ourselves integrity and honor. We further define who we are as Human Beings. Think of this in even greater terms.

All of us lost something this year. Unfortunately, so many lost employment, homes, and suffered financially in some way. It will be a time of recovery and plentiful new opportunities. Some of us lost our way in relationships, either at work or at home. It will be a period of reconciliation and hopefully, forgiveness.

And a few of us might even have slipped into areas of human weaknesses and perhaps hurt those we love most. Now, it will be a journey of great personal strength and courage moving forward in a healthy and positive way. Difficult situations in our own lives give us the opportunity to become not only stronger within ourselves, but more compassionate towards others, as well.

May we all use these lessons to improve who we are while here on Earth. Sue

Tests and Challenges Make Us Stronger!

In light of all that is going on in the modern world: Civil War and genocide in a number of countries, starvation and health epidemics in many others, acts of Nature with grand scale destruction and continuing loss of homes and lives right here in America, and the never ending issue of AIDS and other life threatening illness i.e. Cancer etc. …all over the world… we still find time to ask, “Why me?” in regard to our individual Child Abuse.

I’m pretty sure I know an answer that might make the Abused look at his own abuse in a new light. It is important to remember that during each of our stays here on Earth, we are constantly tested and challenged. Abuse, of any type, is a test or challenge even though unwelcome. Childhood Abuse is not a disease for which there is no cure. Rather, it calls for recognition and active participation in healing. If we continue our own lives in any sort of dysfunction: excessive eating/ drinking or drug abuse, anxiety or depression, abuse of others, in any form…we continue the abuse and our abuser(s) win! We are now abusing ourselves.


Instead think: “Why not me?” We are still whole and alive, we are capable of healing and moving forward, we give ourselves honor and integrity, and most importantly… we are not defined by what has been done to us. Rather, we are what we have chosen to do for ourselves.


Any type of personal dysfunction or chemical dependency need not be perpetuated to another generation… in any form. I believe it was meant to stop with us. It is a matter of personal choice and inner-strength.

Olympic Failures are Good Lessons for Life!

Limitations


I watched the Olympics last evening and saw a theme repeat itself several times over; it was hard to ignore. The predicted "favorite" fell short of expectations in several events and an athlete that was unexpected to "place" in the medals (Bronze Silver, or Gold) went on to score victory. I felt sad for the athletes who had trained so hard and so long who because of their own human error, Fate, or Divine Intervention went on to defeat. THEN, I got it!

It's like that for all of us. We are only defeated if we believe ourselves to be defeated. It's more about the place in our heads, hearts, and bodies from where we started our individual "race" and where we ultimately finish the "race" that really matters.

Did we come the distance and give it our full efforts in the process? Some of them did it with great dignity, and I fully admired that and others ended with despair...and I felt "sorry" for them.

Our individual sporting event is LIFE! And similar to the athletes in the Olympic Games we often are disappointed, dicouraged, and defeated. However, the outcome of each race and LIFE can be handled with dignity...or despair.

We can be either admired or pitied. It's pretty clear which is the better choice.