Your Challenge, If You Choose To Accept It

I just watched Alan Jackson's video, Where were you when the world stopped turning.  I love this song...he had it right.  Faith, hope and love were some good things he gave us, and the greatest is love.  

So today, 9/11, I will focus on love.  Hate doesn't make hate disappear.  It only feeds it.  Love is the only thing that will loosen the hold that fear and hate has on our lives. One choice, one day, one person, one community, one nation at a time, we must choose love.  

I challenge you today to take a moment today and see another person, a stranger.  I mean truly see another person.  Notice the expression on their face, notice their body language and how they are interacting with the world around them.  Then, do just one simple thing. Smile. That's it.   If you are feeling ambitious you might even say "Hi!"  For our over-achievers out there, give that person a sincere compliment or start up a conversation.  I think you will discover we are not really that different from one another.  We are humanity.  We share the same universal community.  We are the love the world so desperately needs.  

Take a step back in time and watch this video if you have a few minues:

We Are The World

Here are some smiles from my family and friends to you!

When Life Happens

• Old habits reappear
• Life becomes about reacting instead of acting
• Activities that bring us pleasure drop on our list of priorities
• Survival begins to trump living fully

That is what has happened to me.  I have been dealing with a health crisis due to an injury. 

• I have fallen into the "I'll be happy...when" trap
• I have been letting my emotions be controlled by the ups and downs of dealing with insurance companies and all of the physicians
• I have all but stopped writing
• I anxiously count the days and weeks instead of living in the moment

How do we let ourselves do this so easily? 

I think it is easy for me because I have expectations of how life "should" be.  Occasionally during these times, I am reminded that it is my expectations that set the trap.  Instead of being frustrated by external drivers, I am working on embracing each beautiful moment knowing that what I am looking for is not external.  It is inside my heart and my soul and has indeed always been.

9/11 - Growth - Restoration - Healing

 Photo Courtesy of MSN.com

9/11. Just say 9/11. There is a flood of emotions that comes rushing to the forefront. I always heard my parents and grandparents say that they remembered where they were when JFK was assassinated. Before 9/11, I could not say I understood how they felt. But now I say, I remember exactly where I was when I was when I heard the news. I walked into the break area and Pellissippi. Everyone was gathered around a TV that had been wheeled into the room. Disbelief was my first reaction. Reality sank in as the nonstop news coverage revealed the extent of the violence that was bestowed upon our country. The first day of the news coverage was so incredibly graphic. The news channels were flooded with heartbreaking content that was forever branded into my mind. That day changed me. Until then 9/11 marked my birthday. It meant the fair was in town. It meant it was football time. It did not mean violence and devastation. It did not mean pain and tears. It did not mean the loss of so many innocent lives. But after 9/11/2001, it meant all of those things and so much more. But just for a little while. NOW 9/11 means pride to be an American, it means despite our background, we come together as one. We come together as Americans. 9/11 brought growth, restoration, healing and it brought love. Love and compassion for people you will likely never event meet. It brought volunteers and kindness. Out of the great tragedy of 9/11, LOVE triumphed!!! So join me tomorrow and focus not on remembering the pain, but the joyous celebration of our amazing nation. "Last year,thousands of organizations and a record 33 million Americansparticipated -­‐-­‐observing 9/11 by performing good deeds, volunteering, helping others and engaging in other service activities, making 9/11 the single largest day of charitable engagement in U.S. history." (http://www.911day.org/). Tomorrow CHOOSE to spread the love!