1) Big Girls Do Cry and sometimes it is okay to be damn
proud of it. Holding in feelings can destroy
you. It’s so cathartic to let them
out and it’s very healing. We don’t have to wear our emotions on our
sleeve but
we have a right, men and women to express our emotions. Passion and sensitivity
is a gift. My older sister use to tell me when I was a little girl that I was
blessed with sensitivity. Most of my life, I saw it as a curse. Many times,
even my kids, have teased me for it unless they needed it tapped into towards
them, their hurts and hurdles through life. Crying is part of life, Jesus
cried. Let the tears flow, happy tears, sad tears, and moving tears.
2) As Milton Berle said and the first thing I saw on my
first day of chemo on a sign next to my chair, “Laughter is an instant vacation”
and we all need an escape. You can’t laugh without smiling and smiling puts you
in a happy mood and others. Smile frequently and laugh as well. If you find
yourself with others that can’t take smiles and laughter, maybe you are in a
down crowd. Life is meant to be enjoyed not dreaded.
3) Little moments in life are those to be cherished the
most. When you are flat on your back, your goals are simple, walk to the
mailbox at the end of the driveway. Be able to eat a meal. Watch a movie from
start to finish without falling asleep. Too often we are so busy and so easily
disappointed because we can’t travel to Europe, buy the hot car, or put the
kids in everything they want to be involved in that we forget about simple
things that truly matter. I was reminded of the joy of decorating cookies for
Christmas, you are never too old to use colored icing on cookies and have
bragging rights! Kids love it so try doing this instead of taking kids shopping
for new toys. Sit on the porch with a new book instead of going on a shopping
spree. Take the kids out to feed the ducks crackers and watch your kids go from
being scared to you being frightened by how close the children go to the wild
animals!
4). Forgive those that have trespassed against us. Harboring
ill feelings and not letting go of what you can’t control is like a cancer
growing inside of you. However, give yourself permission to divorce drama from
your life. I learned to take a personal inventory of those around me. Evaluate who
is bringing value to you, who is building you up and accepting you for who you
are and making you feel good as a person. If they are not, as much as you may
love them and cherish them, you need to consider letting them go. Life is about
loving others, but also about loving you. If someone is constantly badgering
you or subtly putting you down and making you feel less of yourself, this is
not a good way to finish out your life. You must be whole and be able to give
to those who love you the love you have for yourself. That love won’t be
complete without wholeness inside.
5) Hold to your belief system. If others shun you for
staying true, perhaps they are not meant in your inner circle. God created us
uniquely but with a goal for us to attempt to follow in his footsteps. Our perception
of those footsteps may vary and we may be at different steps in the journey
than others. If others are lagging behind, don’t allow yourself to be pulled
back into an unhealthy unjust unholy place. Evil and contempt breeds
unhappiness and resentment. Always maintain your character, integrity and
values. Christianity and faith must be your stronghold and foundation.
6) Life leads to death. And death leads to life, life
everlasting. It is imperative that you stay on the path of faith, prayer and
development of your Christian journey for you know not when it ends. It is so
much easier to accept your death and others that will die before you if you
have reached some sort of acceptance and understanding of the passage of this
life to the next. It also aids in helping those
around you to accept yours.
Peace will come with our crossing over if we have faith in God, in Jesus’s
words. But to truly comprehend we must continue and be committed to a higher
level of our spiritual development. This is defined by each of us differently.
But in each of us, it must be a higher priority. I have faced the reality of my
mortality and accepted it.
