Ride The Wave

Day 143

“Pain is temporary, glory lasts a lifetime.”

– Len Goodman

Lately, I’ve been thinking that I need to spend some time visualizing my goals because I think I haven’t been focused on them – my focus has been on my writing. Even when I’m not writing, or consciously thinking about writing, it’s in the back of my mind, and I often jot down random thoughts and ideas that I might use at some point.

Last night, I read a paragraph in The Top Ten Things Dead People Want to Tell YOU about healing and how obstacles can turn out to be blessings – a topic I write about often. The paragraph was specifically about how cancer can heal, and I thought that the way the author worded it was really insightful.

“Cancer, for example, ravages the physical body. Yet instead of exploring it with the immediacy of a microscope, let’s stand back and consider it as an experience that plays itself out over months or years; we see that in many cases it leads its “victim” into discovering his or her power, appreciating life, or reconciling damaged relationships. Suddenly cancer can be seen in a different light—as an adventure into healing one’s body, mind, and spirit. With a changed perspective, the gift is revealed: one that was invisible under a microscope.”

– Mike Dooley

I was mulling over ideas for today’s post this morning as these thoughts were swimming through my head, and then I caught a glimpse of my list of random scribbles, and the last two things I’d written were today’s title and quote. I wrote them at separate times with no connection to each other, but today, they came together in my mind and the idea for this post clicked – I wanted to talk about life’s lessons and how sometimes painful experiences lead you to a better place, and then almost out of nowhere, I came across a list of life’s lessons from a 90-year old woman.

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Blog Beats: Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

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Turns out the 90-year old woman, Regina Brett is actually in her 50s, and she wrote her list of life lessons the night before her 45th birthday, after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Synchronicity. Just as soon I read that, I realized that not only am I actively pursuing my goals, I am manifesting them with my thoughts all day long, everyday. Writing is one of my goals.

Sometimes we get caught up in the ups and downs of daily life and lose sight of the big picture. If you’re looking for inspiration to get through a tough time and focus on the big picture, read my collection of posts on overcoming obstacles. Brett’s life lessons are also a great reminder of that.

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. Save for retirement, starting with your first paycheck.
9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
11. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
12. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
14. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
15. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
16. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
17. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
19. Burn the candles; use the nice sheets; wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
20. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
21. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
22. The most important sex organ is the brain.
23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
25. Forgive everyone everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
29. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
30. Believe in miracles.
31. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
32. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
33. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
34. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
35. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
36. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
37. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
40. The best is yet to come.
41. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
42. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
43. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Even if you think you’re not making progress towards your goals, you are. The Universe is always listening and working with you, for you, to manifest all of your desires. Sometimes, when things look like they’re stagnating or off track, they are actually moving in the right direction, you just need to zoom out and take in the bigger picture. The obstacles will pass. Keep going. Ride the wave – glory is waiting.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!