I ran into one of my "doubters" the this morning. I must say that I was proud of myself for standing up to this "dream killer". One thing that I have learned and improved on in my life over the past year is to stand up to those that tell me "I can't" or "I won't".
I was confronted by this person and listen to their defeating thoughts. Being polite, I heard them out. I didn't lash out or become rude. I collected my thoughts and composure. I smiled and was ready to respond.
I looked at this person and said to them:
"Look into my eyes and tell me that I can't.
I will then show you how I did.
Look into my eyes and tell me that I won't.
I will then show that I did.
Look into my eyes and tell me that I shouldn't.
I will they show you why I should.
Look into my eyes and tell me that I should never.
I will then prove to you why I will always.
Look into my eyes and tell me that I am no good.
I will then show you why I will be the best.
Look into my eyes and tell me why I am a loser.
I will then show you why I am a winner.
Look into my eyes and tell me why I will never achieve.
I will then remember you once I am on top.
Look into my eyes and tell me that I will never reach my goals.
I will reach them and set new ones.
Look into my eyes and tell me I am not.
I will then show you that I am."
Feeling a large burden had just been lifted off my shoulders, I stared into their eyes for a few seconds longer. I believe this person got my point. They knew from the get go that I was all of these things that I said I was or am going to be.
I was finished with this person. So I walked away from the mirror.
This morning I was reminded that our biggest critics/doubters/dream killers in life are ourselves. It is hard for those around you to believe in you if you don't believe in yourself. Sure, life throws you curve balls, puts hurdles in your path or even builds a brick wall in your way. Every problem has a solution, one that God has intended for you to work through to make you stronger.
My thoughts on the way to work this morning were about those who stop believing in themselves. Times get tough and they fold. Such challenges are put into our lives to help us develop into the strong leaders and believers that God intended us to be.
Don't doubt your ability to be great.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
This Picture
This picture hangs in my office at work.
I look at this picture everyday.
This picture inspires and motivates me everyday.
I am very fortunate to know the two people in this picture. I will not name them, but there are many of you reading this today that know who they are.
A few years ago, when Heather and I started to get involved with the Eastern Iowa Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, I happened to come across this picture. I remember the day that I found this picture. I was captivated by it. I instantly started to get that "lumpy feeling in my throat. My eyes started to tear up. My nose started to run. What was it about this picture that sparked such an emotion? At the time I wasn't sure, but I learned the back story, which has since made the picture even more meaningful.
What I knew prior to asking about the picture is that 1) this was a mother/daughter photo 2) the girl in this photo is a type 1 diabetic and 3) the mother just finished the JDRF Ride for the Cure. I tracked down the mother in this photo and told her that I have it hanging in my office for inspiration. That is when she told me the story behind the photo.
She began to tell me that she rode the JDRF Ride for the Cure for her daughter. It was her way to combine 2 things that she was very passionate about; funding a cure for her daughter and riding her bike. She went on to tell me that after she crossed the finish line, she was met by her daughter. They tried to sneak away to have their moment; which one can only imagine was very emotional and full of tears. Little did this duo know that a photographer had noticed them stepping away and managed to capture their moment in this image. An image that has no caption, but speaks volumes to those of us parents who wish nothing more than for a cure for their diabetic children.
There are no words for this photo. I try to imagine the mother as she pushed through a long and exhausting bike ride. Putting her body through pain so that her daughter may someday hurt no more. I imagine what her daughter must feel as she watches her mother endure this journey all for her. What a great example this mother is providing for her daughter. The thought, that we as parents, would take on anything for our children. The determination of the mother to do everything she can to defeat the monster that we call juvenile diabetes.
Diabetes or not, this picture speaks loud and clear. On this day, despite the large amount of money raised for Juvenile Diabetes research, there was no cure. However, this picture indicates that there was indeed a victory. A victory in the relationship between the mother and the daughter. A victory within the mother that she can accomplish anything as long as she looks past her fears and doubts. A victory for juvenile diabetics everywhere knowing that there are people who do care and will do anything to help them be cured.
I look at this picture everyday. I look at this picture and have visions of the two people in this picture being Micheala and myself. I look at this picture, with visions of this being Micheala and myself, and insert our story into the picture. I look at this picture, with visions of this being Micheala and myself, insert our story, and know that we must continue to fight.
It's been said that "a picture is worth a thousand words"; in this case, it is worth much, much more.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Giving Thanks To Misfortune
Well, our holiday of stuffing our faces is tomorrow. Tomorrow we will all, more than likely, feed on a table full of food and snacks until we eventually pass out in front of the TV. As we do this with our family and friends, it's important to remember why we are all together...to give thanks.
Being thankful for all of the good things in life is real easy to do and easy to remember. Most people are thankful for their families, health, and so on. I am thankful for all of these as well. But as I think about Thanksgiving and giving thanks, I can't help but remember the events that have happened in our lives that eventually led us to the people we are today.
I have been Diabetic for as long as Heather has known me. Diabetes was just something I had and dealt, or didn't deal with, on a day-to-day basis. A month after Heather and I were married, she was sitting at my bedside in the Intensive Care Unit as I battled through complications with my diabetes. I can't imagine what it was like for her to sit by my bedside, especially a month after we vowed to be together forever. In that moment, our relationship grew stronger.
Our first child, Dylanne was born. She required a minor surgery months later to cut open an opening that females are suppose to have. It was a minor surgery, but scary for us because it was our only child under the knife. We worried in the waiting room until we heard from the doctor that everything was successful and that Dylanne would be fine from here on out. We worried, but our relationship with each other and Dylanne grew stronger.
Our second child, Micheala was born. We noticed that she would stop breathing while she slept; sometimes turning blue. We were frustrated and stressed as we traveled from hospital to hospital looking for answers. Finaly a Chiari Malformationi of the Brain diagnosis at the University of Iowa hospital. She required decompression surgery on our wedding anniversary. We sat in the hospital waiting room on a day in which we were suppose to celebrate, but felt nothing but anxiety. Micheala made it through surgery and our road to recovery began. We grew stronger as a family.
Heather went through thyroid cancer, in which she did treatments and had her thyroid removed. I watched and worried while my wife battled this day-to-day. She is cancer free as of now and feels better than ever. I was worried because throughout this process, I witnessed my wife's spirit disappear. We grew stronger as a family.
Heather was the first to arrive on the scene of her mother's apartment fire. She witnessed the firemen trying to revive her mother on the lawn in front of her apartment. At the hospital we were face with the difficult decision to let her be with God. It is still tough to this date, but we are working through it. We grew stronger as a family.
on Mother's Day 2009, Micheala was diagnosed with diabetes. A day in which I thought my life could not get any worse. A disease she got from me and would have to battle the rest of her life. I still struggle with the fact that she is now a diabetic and the everyday care that Heather and I have to give her becomes stressful at times. We grew stronger as a family.
So these are a few of the events that have happened in our lives since we've been married and started our own family. We went through a period of asking God, "Why us?". We lost faith and didn't feel as if we had much to be excited about or live for anymore.
Our lives are different now.
We look back at all of these things and realize that we have conquered them all. We have not only managed to get through all of these things, but we have grow as a family because of them.
So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all of the misfortunes that we've gone through in our life. I am thankful for those misfortunes because they have made us a stronger family, more confident and happier. These misfortunes have turned into fortunes for us. So, I thank God for challenging the Schrock family. I thank the Lord for being our sheppard. I thank those who didn't feel sorrow for us during these times and encourgaed us to push forward. I thank those who believed in us when we didn't believe in us. Finally, I thank those who choose to stand beside us, achieve with us, believe with us and better their own lives through us.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Being thankful for all of the good things in life is real easy to do and easy to remember. Most people are thankful for their families, health, and so on. I am thankful for all of these as well. But as I think about Thanksgiving and giving thanks, I can't help but remember the events that have happened in our lives that eventually led us to the people we are today.
I have been Diabetic for as long as Heather has known me. Diabetes was just something I had and dealt, or didn't deal with, on a day-to-day basis. A month after Heather and I were married, she was sitting at my bedside in the Intensive Care Unit as I battled through complications with my diabetes. I can't imagine what it was like for her to sit by my bedside, especially a month after we vowed to be together forever. In that moment, our relationship grew stronger.
Our first child, Dylanne was born. She required a minor surgery months later to cut open an opening that females are suppose to have. It was a minor surgery, but scary for us because it was our only child under the knife. We worried in the waiting room until we heard from the doctor that everything was successful and that Dylanne would be fine from here on out. We worried, but our relationship with each other and Dylanne grew stronger.
Our second child, Micheala was born. We noticed that she would stop breathing while she slept; sometimes turning blue. We were frustrated and stressed as we traveled from hospital to hospital looking for answers. Finaly a Chiari Malformationi of the Brain diagnosis at the University of Iowa hospital. She required decompression surgery on our wedding anniversary. We sat in the hospital waiting room on a day in which we were suppose to celebrate, but felt nothing but anxiety. Micheala made it through surgery and our road to recovery began. We grew stronger as a family.
Heather went through thyroid cancer, in which she did treatments and had her thyroid removed. I watched and worried while my wife battled this day-to-day. She is cancer free as of now and feels better than ever. I was worried because throughout this process, I witnessed my wife's spirit disappear. We grew stronger as a family.
Heather was the first to arrive on the scene of her mother's apartment fire. She witnessed the firemen trying to revive her mother on the lawn in front of her apartment. At the hospital we were face with the difficult decision to let her be with God. It is still tough to this date, but we are working through it. We grew stronger as a family.
on Mother's Day 2009, Micheala was diagnosed with diabetes. A day in which I thought my life could not get any worse. A disease she got from me and would have to battle the rest of her life. I still struggle with the fact that she is now a diabetic and the everyday care that Heather and I have to give her becomes stressful at times. We grew stronger as a family.
So these are a few of the events that have happened in our lives since we've been married and started our own family. We went through a period of asking God, "Why us?". We lost faith and didn't feel as if we had much to be excited about or live for anymore.
Our lives are different now.
We look back at all of these things and realize that we have conquered them all. We have not only managed to get through all of these things, but we have grow as a family because of them.
So this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all of the misfortunes that we've gone through in our life. I am thankful for those misfortunes because they have made us a stronger family, more confident and happier. These misfortunes have turned into fortunes for us. So, I thank God for challenging the Schrock family. I thank the Lord for being our sheppard. I thank those who didn't feel sorrow for us during these times and encourgaed us to push forward. I thank those who believed in us when we didn't believe in us. Finally, I thank those who choose to stand beside us, achieve with us, believe with us and better their own lives through us.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
To Fly (for my wife)
"I came to win
To fight,
To conquer,
To thrive,
I came to win,
To survive,
To prosper
To rise,
To fly,to fly" -Nicki Minaj "Fly"
This morning I dedicate this blog to my wife, Heather, who spread her wings on Saturday to fly.
On Saturday, Heather and I were asked to tell our story in front of 290 people at an Advocare event. I have been no stranger to the stage in front of crowds of this size, however, Heather is more of a behind the scenes player. She doesn't enjoy the spotlight all that much. It was also a moment of truth, as we had to discuss some of the bad things that had happened in our lives.
A week before this event, it was decided that I would do all of the speaking, however, I know Heather's story and wanted her to tell it. As the week progressed, we eventually decided that Heather must speak.
Nervous as all hell, we drove to the event on Saturday. We decided that we just wanted to offer hope to one person in the room, plus we wanted to be inspired by others. We didn't rehearse what we were going to say; we just stepped on stage and spoke from the heart. Heather spoke first.
Heather started speaking and I got lost. I was so captivated in the moment, I really had no idea what I would say. She shined like a star on the stage. She inspired. She inspired me. She told her story and had the full attention of the crowd. I was so proud of her in that moment. Not so much for what she has accomplished in Advocare, but how she put her own fears aside in order to help others. She got uncomfortable for other people in the room.
It was the first time Heather and I had shared a stage together, but will not be the last. I don't even know what I said because I was so blown away by my wife. I am married to a leader.
Heather grew quite a bit on Saturday and will continue to grow. I am excited for this. It will be fun to watch her continue to inspire others, including me.
Great job Heather! You are a difference maker. Continue to fly.
To fight,
To conquer,
To thrive,
I came to win,
To survive,
To prosper
To rise,
To fly,to fly" -Nicki Minaj "Fly"
This morning I dedicate this blog to my wife, Heather, who spread her wings on Saturday to fly.
On Saturday, Heather and I were asked to tell our story in front of 290 people at an Advocare event. I have been no stranger to the stage in front of crowds of this size, however, Heather is more of a behind the scenes player. She doesn't enjoy the spotlight all that much. It was also a moment of truth, as we had to discuss some of the bad things that had happened in our lives.
A week before this event, it was decided that I would do all of the speaking, however, I know Heather's story and wanted her to tell it. As the week progressed, we eventually decided that Heather must speak.
Nervous as all hell, we drove to the event on Saturday. We decided that we just wanted to offer hope to one person in the room, plus we wanted to be inspired by others. We didn't rehearse what we were going to say; we just stepped on stage and spoke from the heart. Heather spoke first.
Heather started speaking and I got lost. I was so captivated in the moment, I really had no idea what I would say. She shined like a star on the stage. She inspired. She inspired me. She told her story and had the full attention of the crowd. I was so proud of her in that moment. Not so much for what she has accomplished in Advocare, but how she put her own fears aside in order to help others. She got uncomfortable for other people in the room.
It was the first time Heather and I had shared a stage together, but will not be the last. I don't even know what I said because I was so blown away by my wife. I am married to a leader.
Heather grew quite a bit on Saturday and will continue to grow. I am excited for this. It will be fun to watch her continue to inspire others, including me.
Great job Heather! You are a difference maker. Continue to fly.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Little Love Note
A couple weeks ago, I brought Dylanne to work with me because she didn't have school. Plus it was a great way for us to spend some one-on-one time together, or so I thought.
I was extremely busy at work that day and actually worked about 10 hours. Dylanne kept herself busy, as I tend to keep a few toys in my office. I was a bit bummed that I was so focused on work and not so much on having a little fun at the work place with her.
Recently I have been working a lot and have been really work focused. I have a 6 foot dry erase board in my office that I have full of notes and things to do. I bring work home with me, mentally and have been a little checked out from my family. There has been a disconnect and it was starting to wear on me.
Yesterday, I was standing at my huge dry erase board writing down more notes when something caught my eye. Next to my dry erase board, I have a little cork board in which I have pictures of my girls, wife and family. I noticed the smallest post-it note that you can buy stuck to the board above a picture of Dylanne. In Dylanne's handwriting, the note read: I Love Daddy.
My world stopped as I sat in my chair and just smiled. What an awesome surprise. What was even better is when I returned home from work last night, I said to Dylanne, "I found a little love note in my office today...." and she instantly started to smile. Her note/plan worked perfectly and she knew it.
As much as my kids tend to drive me insane, I love the death out of both of them.
That note will forever be stuck to that board; in the same place because I now know where it is at. I will look at it everyday to help me keep my priorities straight. Work is very important to me, but not more important than the 2 little girls that love me. It's the little things done by my little ones that make a huge impact on me and my life.
I was extremely busy at work that day and actually worked about 10 hours. Dylanne kept herself busy, as I tend to keep a few toys in my office. I was a bit bummed that I was so focused on work and not so much on having a little fun at the work place with her.
Recently I have been working a lot and have been really work focused. I have a 6 foot dry erase board in my office that I have full of notes and things to do. I bring work home with me, mentally and have been a little checked out from my family. There has been a disconnect and it was starting to wear on me.
Yesterday, I was standing at my huge dry erase board writing down more notes when something caught my eye. Next to my dry erase board, I have a little cork board in which I have pictures of my girls, wife and family. I noticed the smallest post-it note that you can buy stuck to the board above a picture of Dylanne. In Dylanne's handwriting, the note read: I Love Daddy.
My world stopped as I sat in my chair and just smiled. What an awesome surprise. What was even better is when I returned home from work last night, I said to Dylanne, "I found a little love note in my office today...." and she instantly started to smile. Her note/plan worked perfectly and she knew it.
As much as my kids tend to drive me insane, I love the death out of both of them.
That note will forever be stuck to that board; in the same place because I now know where it is at. I will look at it everyday to help me keep my priorities straight. Work is very important to me, but not more important than the 2 little girls that love me. It's the little things done by my little ones that make a huge impact on me and my life.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Make The Best Of Your Todays
How many times in your life had you said, "I'll do it tomorrow"? I'll admit, I was a procrastinator and used that phrase quite a bit. Matter of fact, I often used it many times in a row which eventually led to not doing "it" ever. I have learned through my own mistakes that it's often too late for yesterday and that tomorrow never comes.
In the pursuit of my purpose, I have many regrets that I didn't take care of myself and advocate for juvenile diabetes at a much earlier time in my life. I wish that at the age of 15, that I would have become involved, in any way, with JDRF. It's too late for that now. I wish that I would have taken better care of myself throughout the past 19 years, but it's too late for that now. I wish I would have attended Diabetic camp more times, but it's too late for that now. It's too late to do the things that I should have done yesterday.
Moving forward, I cannot let my today be clouded with thoughts of what I should have done yesterday. I must move forward and do things today. The things I can do today will change what I can do or how long I can do things the next day. So my focus must be on today. What can I do today to work towards my purpose? What can I do today so that in the future my daughter doesn't have to battle juvenile diabetes? How can I change the world today?
Tomorrow is a date that never seems to appear on any one's schedule. At 12am, tomorrow becomes today and a new tomorrow is created. So don't put things off until tomorrow because tomorrow just doesn't exist. Nothing gets done tomorrow. Things get done today.
In my own life, I have said that I was going to do things tomorrow and of course, since tomorrow never comes, the things don't get done. I started to apply to my purpose. If I choose to advocate for juvenile diabetes tomorrow, I'll never do it. If I choose to start taking care of myself tomorrow, I'll never do it. A cure will not be found on tomorrow. When a cure is found it will be announced that "a cure was found today".
I know that you may be thinking that this is just a word play. No, it's a mindset. Train yourself to think about accomplishing today, doing today and living today. Tell yourself that today is the day you (fill in the blank). Today's are full of possibilities and tomorrows are just uncertainties.
Make the best of your todays.
In the pursuit of my purpose, I have many regrets that I didn't take care of myself and advocate for juvenile diabetes at a much earlier time in my life. I wish that at the age of 15, that I would have become involved, in any way, with JDRF. It's too late for that now. I wish that I would have taken better care of myself throughout the past 19 years, but it's too late for that now. I wish I would have attended Diabetic camp more times, but it's too late for that now. It's too late to do the things that I should have done yesterday.
Moving forward, I cannot let my today be clouded with thoughts of what I should have done yesterday. I must move forward and do things today. The things I can do today will change what I can do or how long I can do things the next day. So my focus must be on today. What can I do today to work towards my purpose? What can I do today so that in the future my daughter doesn't have to battle juvenile diabetes? How can I change the world today?
Tomorrow is a date that never seems to appear on any one's schedule. At 12am, tomorrow becomes today and a new tomorrow is created. So don't put things off until tomorrow because tomorrow just doesn't exist. Nothing gets done tomorrow. Things get done today.
In my own life, I have said that I was going to do things tomorrow and of course, since tomorrow never comes, the things don't get done. I started to apply to my purpose. If I choose to advocate for juvenile diabetes tomorrow, I'll never do it. If I choose to start taking care of myself tomorrow, I'll never do it. A cure will not be found on tomorrow. When a cure is found it will be announced that "a cure was found today".
I know that you may be thinking that this is just a word play. No, it's a mindset. Train yourself to think about accomplishing today, doing today and living today. Tell yourself that today is the day you (fill in the blank). Today's are full of possibilities and tomorrows are just uncertainties.
Make the best of your todays.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Over Thinking and Losing Focus
It's nice to have somebody in your life that you can refer to as your "go to" person. Michael Roberts, this one is for you.
I have been blessed with incredible opportunities this past year. I had opportunities to speak in front of crowds of people regarding my purpose. I took advantage of these opportunities to to educate and advocate for a juvenile diabetes cure. I also had opportunities to share with people the transformation that my life has taken over the past year. I took advantage of these opportunities to motivate others to do the same. With both of these types of opportunities, I tend to over think the presentation. I over think to the point where I stress myself out about the opportunity and lose focus on the opportunity itself.
Michael Roberts and I talk about this quite a bit. He always has a way to bring me back to the purpose of the opportunity. I find myself so tied up in the presentation, that I forget that the things that I speak about are part of my everyday life. Which brings up the question, "Do I need to write out a script to share my everyday life?" The only script I need is burried inside my heart, so I have to speak from the heart.
In the past, I have gone over different presentations in my head prior to speaking opportunities. I have written speeches out in full and I have even written them in outline form, but they never seem to have the impact that I hoped they would on the audiance. Last Wednesday, I decided to abandon this method and go to the podium with no paper. Just my heart and my daughter standing next to me. I poured out my heart for 15 minutes and walked away with the confidence that someone in the crowd was inspired.
So with another opportunity to share my life and purpose approaching, I found myself going back to my old habits. What kind of props or cool analogies can I use to get my message relayed to the audiance? I have practiced various presentations at home and in my car on the way to and from work. Not being satisfied with any of them, I start getting into panic mode. A great friend, Michael Roberts calls me last night. Listens to me as I ramble on about my presentation, then points out to me that I am over thinking and losing focus of what's important. He was right. So now, I know that all I have to do is be in the room and speak from the heart. The words, passion and know how are all stored in my heart.
So why do we over think the things that we over think? Do we get ourselves so self involved in trying to look good in front of others? Does our message really get relayed to others with the passion and honesty that it should by over thinking? Why do we try to alter what our heart is telling us to say? Are we afraid of the truth that lies within our hearts?
I was blessed with a fantastic email this morning from someone who works for me. I have been watching this employee for a while now and noticed that she was struggling in some area of her life, but was uncertain of that area. I brought this employee in to my office a while back, not to pry into this person's life, but to let this employee know that I was available if needed. They chose not to share any personal information at that time, which was fine, because that was not my purpose of bring this person in. This employee left and I gave them my copy of Rhinoceros Success to read in hopes that this would motivate them and help them through their struggles. They returned the book with a note stating how much the book made sense to them and how much they appreciated the opportunity to read the book.
I took the time a day ago to comment on the progress that this employee has made since the day she completed the book. This employee has become a leader at work, but has also taken charge of their life and is moving in a positive direction. After our conversationi, I sent a follow-up email to this employee, again pointing out all of the positive changes and encourgaing them to conitnue forward. This morning I recieved an email from this person that thanked me for taking the time to care about them. This person then poured their heart out in a full page email. It made coming to work this morning very exciting knowing that I have helped one person better their life.
It all came down to this employee over thinking and losing focus on what was important in their heart.
I try to learn something new everyday, however, this lesson is something that I have been learning for quite sometime. Listen to your heart. Don't ignore the words or feelings that your heart is telling you. Finally, lead with your heart. It is the only "prop" you need.
Thank you Michael Roberts for leading us with your heart.
I have been blessed with incredible opportunities this past year. I had opportunities to speak in front of crowds of people regarding my purpose. I took advantage of these opportunities to to educate and advocate for a juvenile diabetes cure. I also had opportunities to share with people the transformation that my life has taken over the past year. I took advantage of these opportunities to motivate others to do the same. With both of these types of opportunities, I tend to over think the presentation. I over think to the point where I stress myself out about the opportunity and lose focus on the opportunity itself.
Michael Roberts and I talk about this quite a bit. He always has a way to bring me back to the purpose of the opportunity. I find myself so tied up in the presentation, that I forget that the things that I speak about are part of my everyday life. Which brings up the question, "Do I need to write out a script to share my everyday life?" The only script I need is burried inside my heart, so I have to speak from the heart.
In the past, I have gone over different presentations in my head prior to speaking opportunities. I have written speeches out in full and I have even written them in outline form, but they never seem to have the impact that I hoped they would on the audiance. Last Wednesday, I decided to abandon this method and go to the podium with no paper. Just my heart and my daughter standing next to me. I poured out my heart for 15 minutes and walked away with the confidence that someone in the crowd was inspired.
So with another opportunity to share my life and purpose approaching, I found myself going back to my old habits. What kind of props or cool analogies can I use to get my message relayed to the audiance? I have practiced various presentations at home and in my car on the way to and from work. Not being satisfied with any of them, I start getting into panic mode. A great friend, Michael Roberts calls me last night. Listens to me as I ramble on about my presentation, then points out to me that I am over thinking and losing focus of what's important. He was right. So now, I know that all I have to do is be in the room and speak from the heart. The words, passion and know how are all stored in my heart.
So why do we over think the things that we over think? Do we get ourselves so self involved in trying to look good in front of others? Does our message really get relayed to others with the passion and honesty that it should by over thinking? Why do we try to alter what our heart is telling us to say? Are we afraid of the truth that lies within our hearts?
I was blessed with a fantastic email this morning from someone who works for me. I have been watching this employee for a while now and noticed that she was struggling in some area of her life, but was uncertain of that area. I brought this employee in to my office a while back, not to pry into this person's life, but to let this employee know that I was available if needed. They chose not to share any personal information at that time, which was fine, because that was not my purpose of bring this person in. This employee left and I gave them my copy of Rhinoceros Success to read in hopes that this would motivate them and help them through their struggles. They returned the book with a note stating how much the book made sense to them and how much they appreciated the opportunity to read the book.
I took the time a day ago to comment on the progress that this employee has made since the day she completed the book. This employee has become a leader at work, but has also taken charge of their life and is moving in a positive direction. After our conversationi, I sent a follow-up email to this employee, again pointing out all of the positive changes and encourgaing them to conitnue forward. This morning I recieved an email from this person that thanked me for taking the time to care about them. This person then poured their heart out in a full page email. It made coming to work this morning very exciting knowing that I have helped one person better their life.
It all came down to this employee over thinking and losing focus on what was important in their heart.
I try to learn something new everyday, however, this lesson is something that I have been learning for quite sometime. Listen to your heart. Don't ignore the words or feelings that your heart is telling you. Finally, lead with your heart. It is the only "prop" you need.
Thank you Michael Roberts for leading us with your heart.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Union Football: More Than Just A Game
Last night, I got together with a few buddies and we traveled to the UNI-Dome to support our friend, Joe Hadachek and his Union Knights High School Football team in their playoff game. I put on my red fleece and met up with my friends and had no idea what I was about to witness.
Union packed the stands with fans. Parents, Grandparents, siblings, relatives and members from the community all came dressed in red. Those who were not wearing red were wearing some sort of Union Football shirt. The Union boys and coaches were victorious and will play in the State Finals on Saturday, but it was my observations during the game that really warmed my heart.
The Union fans were very inviting. Very kind in making room for this outsider to sit and watch, as well as kind in conversation. During the game they cheered on their boys. They didn't cheer against the other team, hassle the officials or even openly question the coaching done by the Union staff. They encouraged their players and didn't scold them from the stands. They never got down on the boys, yet screamed for them to play hard. They didn't place blame on anyone for the opposing teams' success throughout the game. They were loud...they were proud!
I watched the Union coaches as they would pull individual boys aside and coach them on a play that just occurred. There was no scolding; all teaching. Coaches gave a lot of high fives and helmet slaps for jobs well done opposed to tongue lashings and temper tantrum fits. There was a theme of positivity from the sidelines that was dictated by the coaching staff and it had made it's way into the mentality of the players.
Throughout the game, there was missed tackles and some blown coverages. A few missed blocks here or there and even some penalties, but the players didn't place blame on each other. It was encouraging to see them pick each other up and keep pushing forward.
Finally, after the game was won by Union, the boys stood in respect for the opposing team as they received their trophy. They shook hands with them and then headed to their sideline to celebrate with the Union fans. It was clear that this victory as not just for the team, but for the whole community. The players jumped and celebrated, but not to be out shined by the celebration of the extremely proud coaches.
Before leaving the field, the team huddled close for a prayer. The crowd was silent during this time and a feeling of God's grace overcame the entire Union community. A special moment in the Union community for sure and a special moment for an outsider such as myself to witness.
I had a feeling on my way home from that game that Union Football was more than 1st downs and touchdowns. It was about giving your best. It was about community. It was about pride. It was about love. It was about playing like a champion and living like one too. To the community of Union, you have a special thing going on. Something special that I think most communities would love to have in their possession. I don't believe it came from high school teams being successful this fall; it started long before that. It started with supportive individuals stepping up and mentoring the younger generation on how to get the most out of themselves. Champions are raised by Champions.
Go Knights and Good Luck on Saturday!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Somewhere, Somebody
No work today, yet I am still up at 4am. Crazy, I know, but lately I just feel that when I wake up in the morning, I feel like its time to tackle the day. I turn on the TV and start watching the news. The news triggers my thinking about other people in this world.
I start thinking about what other people are doing at this same moment. I start thinking about what other people are going to do with their day. More directed towards my purpose, I start thinking about what diabetics will go through today.
Somewhere,somebody is checking their blood sugar and etting ready for breakfast. Somewhere, somebody is counting carbs and adjusting insulin for their next meal. Somewhere, somebody is tired because they were up all night monitoring their child's blood sugars. Somewhere, somebody slept on an uncomfortable hospital chair because their child was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last night. Somewhere, somebody woke up sore because they had a night of high blood sugars. Somewhere, somebody is worried sick because their child is a freshman in college and now is monitoring their own diabetes which worries them sick. Somewhere, somebody is considering have children but is worried they will pass their diabetes on to their new born. Somewhere, somebody is scared because they were just diagnosed and think their life is over. Somewhere, somebody is crying because a loved one just lost their battle with diabetes.
Fact: By the time you finish reading today's blog, all of the above will happen. Diabetes diagnosis are spinning out of control. Diabetes is entering our lives every minute. It has no discrimination towards anyone, therefore making everyone a target. It may not be you who is diagnosed, but take a moment to think about who you know that has diabetes. Somewhere, its somebody.
Somewhere, somebody will be advocating for their 6 year old daughter who lives with Type 1 Diabetes. Somewhere, somebody will pray that their dauhter wakes up with good blood sugars. Somewhere, somebody will send their daughter to school and have to pass on her care to a school nurse. Somewhere, somebody will have to comfort his wife so that she doesn't worry about their daughter all day. Somewhere, somebody will fight his own battle with diabetes.
That somewhere is here; that somebody is us.
I hope that somewhere, somebody is putting on their lab coat and is working on a cure. I pray that somewhere, somebody makes advancements in diabetic care. Most importantly, I pray that somewhere, somebody reads this blog today and decides to join our purpose of finding a cure.
That somewhere could be in your seat; that someone could be you.
I start thinking about what other people are doing at this same moment. I start thinking about what other people are going to do with their day. More directed towards my purpose, I start thinking about what diabetics will go through today.
Somewhere,somebody is checking their blood sugar and etting ready for breakfast. Somewhere, somebody is counting carbs and adjusting insulin for their next meal. Somewhere, somebody is tired because they were up all night monitoring their child's blood sugars. Somewhere, somebody slept on an uncomfortable hospital chair because their child was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last night. Somewhere, somebody woke up sore because they had a night of high blood sugars. Somewhere, somebody is worried sick because their child is a freshman in college and now is monitoring their own diabetes which worries them sick. Somewhere, somebody is considering have children but is worried they will pass their diabetes on to their new born. Somewhere, somebody is scared because they were just diagnosed and think their life is over. Somewhere, somebody is crying because a loved one just lost their battle with diabetes.
Fact: By the time you finish reading today's blog, all of the above will happen. Diabetes diagnosis are spinning out of control. Diabetes is entering our lives every minute. It has no discrimination towards anyone, therefore making everyone a target. It may not be you who is diagnosed, but take a moment to think about who you know that has diabetes. Somewhere, its somebody.
Somewhere, somebody will be advocating for their 6 year old daughter who lives with Type 1 Diabetes. Somewhere, somebody will pray that their dauhter wakes up with good blood sugars. Somewhere, somebody will send their daughter to school and have to pass on her care to a school nurse. Somewhere, somebody will have to comfort his wife so that she doesn't worry about their daughter all day. Somewhere, somebody will fight his own battle with diabetes.
That somewhere is here; that somebody is us.
I hope that somewhere, somebody is putting on their lab coat and is working on a cure. I pray that somewhere, somebody makes advancements in diabetic care. Most importantly, I pray that somewhere, somebody reads this blog today and decides to join our purpose of finding a cure.
That somewhere could be in your seat; that someone could be you.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Your World Is My World; My Fight Is Your Fight
"What did you say?"
The question that I have been asked by many regarding the JDRF breakfast that I got to speak at yesterday. I really don't remember, because I didn't write anything down. I chose to put it in God's hands on Wednesday morning, and God didn't let me down.
I could attempt to summarize what was said, but I would rather focus on how it made me feel.
After my 10 minute discussion with the members at the breakfast, I walked away from that podium knowing that I had made a difference that morning. I could see it in everyones' faces, especially my wife's as she was starting to tear up. I was given great feedback after the breakfast from the audience. I had an absolutely awesome conversation with Tom Brands after the breakfast, which meant a lot to me.
Micheala's world is my world and my fight is Micheala's fight. That is what I thought of before I took the podium Wednesday morning. I guess that you could say that was my motivation. I know at one point I eluded to the fact that diabetes was like a wrestling dual (trying to draw Tom Brands in). It is up to the individual to win the match, but it takes the entire team to win the dual. Micheala and I are in a wrestling match with diabetes, but to defeat diabetes for good, it will take an entire team. Families with diabetic members know exactly what I am talking about. It's a team effort.
Finally, I want to share a conversation I had with Micheala this morning. I am sharing this because I want you to think about our conversation and apply it to your life.
Micheala was dressed and ready for school this morning. She was wearing sparkly pants, sparkly shoes and a neat little top to match. She says to me, "I am wearing all of mom's favorite things. I have sparkly shoes, pants and myself." I questioned, "you're wearing yourself?" "Yeah Dad. I wear myself everyday."
Did I put myself on today? I started thinking. I put a lot of effort into making sure that I was dressed appropriately for work, but did I forget to put myself on? So I checked myself.
Am I ready to make a difference today? Yes.
Do I have motivation to be the best that I can be today? Yes.
Am I in a good mood? Yes.
Am I ready to take on anything that comes my way? Yes.
I guess I am wearing myself today. From this day on, I will make sure that I do not forget to put myself on in the morning. Do the same. Society tells us that we need to clothe ourselves in certain situations because being nude is not appropriate. In regards to clothing yourself mentally; is it ever appropriate to be naked?
The question that I have been asked by many regarding the JDRF breakfast that I got to speak at yesterday. I really don't remember, because I didn't write anything down. I chose to put it in God's hands on Wednesday morning, and God didn't let me down.
I could attempt to summarize what was said, but I would rather focus on how it made me feel.
After my 10 minute discussion with the members at the breakfast, I walked away from that podium knowing that I had made a difference that morning. I could see it in everyones' faces, especially my wife's as she was starting to tear up. I was given great feedback after the breakfast from the audience. I had an absolutely awesome conversation with Tom Brands after the breakfast, which meant a lot to me.
Micheala's world is my world and my fight is Micheala's fight. That is what I thought of before I took the podium Wednesday morning. I guess that you could say that was my motivation. I know at one point I eluded to the fact that diabetes was like a wrestling dual (trying to draw Tom Brands in). It is up to the individual to win the match, but it takes the entire team to win the dual. Micheala and I are in a wrestling match with diabetes, but to defeat diabetes for good, it will take an entire team. Families with diabetic members know exactly what I am talking about. It's a team effort.
Finally, I want to share a conversation I had with Micheala this morning. I am sharing this because I want you to think about our conversation and apply it to your life.
Micheala was dressed and ready for school this morning. She was wearing sparkly pants, sparkly shoes and a neat little top to match. She says to me, "I am wearing all of mom's favorite things. I have sparkly shoes, pants and myself." I questioned, "you're wearing yourself?" "Yeah Dad. I wear myself everyday."
Did I put myself on today? I started thinking. I put a lot of effort into making sure that I was dressed appropriately for work, but did I forget to put myself on? So I checked myself.
Am I ready to make a difference today? Yes.
Do I have motivation to be the best that I can be today? Yes.
Am I in a good mood? Yes.
Am I ready to take on anything that comes my way? Yes.
I guess I am wearing myself today. From this day on, I will make sure that I do not forget to put myself on in the morning. Do the same. Society tells us that we need to clothe ourselves in certain situations because being nude is not appropriate. In regards to clothing yourself mentally; is it ever appropriate to be naked?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Determination
What a morning. Breakfast with Champions. I spoke at the Cedar Rapids Country Club this morning in front of corporate heads from Cedar Rapids. At my table sat JDRF staff, Tom Brands and my family.....a table of champions. We left the breakfast and I felt good. Good because I know that I did what I was suppose to do this morning. I told our story. I got people fired up to get involved with JDRF. I also got Tom Brands to sign a photo for our silent auction. It was signed, "Takedown Juvenile Diabetes - Make a difference - Tom Brands". Awesome! This will definately help is raise funds for the walk.
We took the girls to school afterwards and stopped in to talk to Micheala's teacher. Her teacher starts to tell us that one of her "challenge" spelling words for the week is the word determination.
Micheala, as part of her assignment, was to write a sentence using the word determination. Her sentence:
"I have determination for JDRF"
Blown away and so proud. Proud that she is gettin involved in the cause. Proud that it is on her mind. Proud that she has such a huge goal.
Today I spoke of how Micheala holds me accountable, not only in my own health, but in our "determination" to fulfill our purpose. This morning, she reminded us again that we need to keep after it.
I feel blessed everyday that we have such insightful children. I hope the future is full of more words like "determination" in our kids lives.
We took the girls to school afterwards and stopped in to talk to Micheala's teacher. Her teacher starts to tell us that one of her "challenge" spelling words for the week is the word determination.
Micheala, as part of her assignment, was to write a sentence using the word determination. Her sentence:
"I have determination for JDRF"
Blown away and so proud. Proud that she is gettin involved in the cause. Proud that it is on her mind. Proud that she has such a huge goal.
Today I spoke of how Micheala holds me accountable, not only in my own health, but in our "determination" to fulfill our purpose. This morning, she reminded us again that we need to keep after it.
I feel blessed everyday that we have such insightful children. I hope the future is full of more words like "determination" in our kids lives.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Dream A Little Dream For.......You
I usually write these blogs in the early morning or over my lunch break, but as I sit at home tonight, I felt inspired to write something before bedtime. I have a big morning tomorrow. I have many thoughts and ideas running through my head. Tomorrow morning I advocate for JDRF and a cure for Juvenile Diabetes in front of some of the biggest names in Cedar Rapids. What do I say and How do I say it?
I have practiced what I am going to say at least 30 times this week, with each of those times having a completely different message. I can honestly say that I have no idea what I will say tomorrow. I do know that whatever I say will be from the heart because my heart has never led me astray.
I will tell our story tomorrow. I will get emotional. I will get fired up. I will be motivated. I will do all this while having Micheala standing right next to me. I will not fail her.
So the question that I was asked, "what would a cure mean to you and your family?"
A cure is a dream right now. Fortunately, I am a dreamer.
I dream of the day that I don't have to watch my daughter test her blood sugars anymore. I dream of the day that my pharmacy bill is less than $1300 a month. I dream of the day that a common cold isn't so threatening to Micheala. I dream of the day that Dylanne doesn't feel left out because we focus so much on Micheala's health. I dream of the day that my wife can go to work and not spend the day worrying about Micheala at school. I dream of the day that I can wake up and not feel so guilt stricken about the fact that I am responsible for Micheala's Diabetes diagnosis. I dream that someday 24 million Americans will say that they HAD Diabetes.
To quote John Lennon, "You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
What are your dreams? Are you afraid to write them out or speak of them? Are you afraid that people will think you are foolish? Are you afraid that those dreams will never come true?
Dream a little dream for you tonight. Grab a hold of those dreams and dare yourself to believe. If we don't have dreams, then what do we have? If I didn't dream my dreams, I would be letting go of all hope that someday my daughter will be healthy. I can't and will not let her down.
Your dreams are your dreams. Your dreams are only foolish if you say so. Tonight, before you lay your head on your pillow, share your dreams with your loved one. Tell them why they are your dreams. Tell them you love them, then allow yourself to fall asleep and ..........dream.
Sweet dreams everyone and please pray that God gives me a passionate heart and the right words for tomorrow morning.
I have practiced what I am going to say at least 30 times this week, with each of those times having a completely different message. I can honestly say that I have no idea what I will say tomorrow. I do know that whatever I say will be from the heart because my heart has never led me astray.
I will tell our story tomorrow. I will get emotional. I will get fired up. I will be motivated. I will do all this while having Micheala standing right next to me. I will not fail her.
So the question that I was asked, "what would a cure mean to you and your family?"
A cure is a dream right now. Fortunately, I am a dreamer.
I dream of the day that I don't have to watch my daughter test her blood sugars anymore. I dream of the day that my pharmacy bill is less than $1300 a month. I dream of the day that a common cold isn't so threatening to Micheala. I dream of the day that Dylanne doesn't feel left out because we focus so much on Micheala's health. I dream of the day that my wife can go to work and not spend the day worrying about Micheala at school. I dream of the day that I can wake up and not feel so guilt stricken about the fact that I am responsible for Micheala's Diabetes diagnosis. I dream that someday 24 million Americans will say that they HAD Diabetes.
To quote John Lennon, "You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
What are your dreams? Are you afraid to write them out or speak of them? Are you afraid that people will think you are foolish? Are you afraid that those dreams will never come true?
Dream a little dream for you tonight. Grab a hold of those dreams and dare yourself to believe. If we don't have dreams, then what do we have? If I didn't dream my dreams, I would be letting go of all hope that someday my daughter will be healthy. I can't and will not let her down.
Your dreams are your dreams. Your dreams are only foolish if you say so. Tonight, before you lay your head on your pillow, share your dreams with your loved one. Tell them why they are your dreams. Tell them you love them, then allow yourself to fall asleep and ..........dream.
Sweet dreams everyone and please pray that God gives me a passionate heart and the right words for tomorrow morning.
"It Was A Good Try Dad"
This morning I battled with the girls over what they wanted for breakfast. The battle was, I wanted to feed the girls breakfast, but they couldn't decide what they wanted. After much debate and telling them "No" to chocolate donuts, they decided they wanted scrambled eggs.
So, I go into the kitchen and start scrambling up some eggs. Finished them and fed them to the girls. That's when I made the fatal mistake. I asked them both, "How are the eggs?"
They both stared at me with blank expressions on their faces.
Micheala pipes up and says, "They don't really taste like anything, so I don't want mine, but it was a good try Dad." Dylanne follows up by handing me her bowl and says, "Yeah Dad, good try."
Offended? Yes. Funny? Yes.
I wish disappointment was always that easy to handle. The girls were looking forward to eggs and I could not deliver. How many times have we tried in our lives and haven't been able to deliver the way we had wished? For me, it has been a lot, but never due to lack of effort. When that occurs, I usually expect an ass chewin of some sort, so for once, it was nice to have my efforts recognized and appreciated.
A little funny to brighten your day, I know it did mine.
So, I go into the kitchen and start scrambling up some eggs. Finished them and fed them to the girls. That's when I made the fatal mistake. I asked them both, "How are the eggs?"
They both stared at me with blank expressions on their faces.
Micheala pipes up and says, "They don't really taste like anything, so I don't want mine, but it was a good try Dad." Dylanne follows up by handing me her bowl and says, "Yeah Dad, good try."
Offended? Yes. Funny? Yes.
I wish disappointment was always that easy to handle. The girls were looking forward to eggs and I could not deliver. How many times have we tried in our lives and haven't been able to deliver the way we had wished? For me, it has been a lot, but never due to lack of effort. When that occurs, I usually expect an ass chewin of some sort, so for once, it was nice to have my efforts recognized and appreciated.
A little funny to brighten your day, I know it did mine.
Monday, November 7, 2011
There Was A Plan All Along
In past postings, I have talked about how I believe that there has been a plan/reason that Micheala and I are Type 1 diabetics. I believe that our illness has turned into our strength. Not only strength for us, but hopefully strength for others. This weekend, we were given another example of how this has been in God's plan for quite sometime; even longer than we originally recognized.
I love the the fact that people read this blog. I love it because the people that read this blog give me inspiring feedback about the blog. My favorite feedback is that people have made it part of their daily routine to read this blog because it "brightens their day". I also love the fact that these same people tell me that they share this blog with their friends, which brings me to today's topic.
It was noticed by someone that I have never even met. Someone that I have no idea who they are or what they do in life. All I know is that they read the blog and pray for my daughter, which is all that I really need to know. It was the observation of this person that shed some light on us this weekend.
This person heard of the blog through one of Heather's aunts in Illinois. Once she read the blog, she started thinking of Micheala and grew an interest in her well-being. She made the observation that right in the middle of Micheala's name was the word "heal". Heather's aunt passed this information off to us this weekend and I am not sure if she truly understands how powerful or what this means to us.
Before Micheala was born, heather and I went back and forth on naming her. We had al sorts of names picked out and Micheala was never one of them. We simply could not agree on a name, until a few days before Micheala's birth, Heather came up with Micheala. Micheala was named after me, Micheal. Yes the spelling is right. Micheal.
I have fought this battle all of my life, people constantly spelling my name wrong. The popular spelling of Micheal is MichAel. My mother had switched the E and the A around; for reasons I am not sure about to this date. I guess this is why I go with Mike, because I was tired of correcting people all of the time. Anyway, so when naming Micheala, Heather thought it would be appropriate to name her after me and keep the same spelling.
So now, with this new observation brought to my attention, I don't think it was an accident all along. I see that there was a reason that my mother switched the vowels in my full name.
It is now, and has been, in black-and-white for a long time. Mic"HEAL"a and Mic"HEAL". Our purpose had been spelled out to us all along, we just hadn't seen it yet. Now we see it. Coincidence? Accident? My faith tells me that it was not. Most of us have been told or have heard that God speaks to us "unusual" ways. I think on May 18, 1977, God spoke to my mother. I think that on April 19, 2005, God spoke to Heather. Our purpose in life had been mapped out for us since day one. It goes back to the saying, "The 2 most important days in your life are the day that you are born and the day that you realize WHY God put you on this earth".
So there was a plan all along. Since the day I was born and the day that Micheala was born, it was spelled out for us in our names. Who would have ever thought that our plans would have ever been so black-and-white? We certainly didn't. I guess that explains why I have been asking "WHY" for so long.
Our purpose is to heal. The "HOW" is up to us. Our purpose is strong, so the "How" becomes easier. Our family advocates, educates and fund raises. That is our "How". If being stressed out, uncomfortable, busy and putting my daughter's face everywhere possible is part of the "How", then we are all in, because we know our purpose is to heal. Our purpose is strong!
Lastly, with the Walk to Cure Diabetes starting to creep up (February), I encourage and invite all of you to join us in our purpose. There are many ways to become part of Team Pump Princess. You can make a donation, either money or an item to be placed in our silent auction. You can join our committee and help us advocate. You can talk to you friends about our cause and share the blog with them. You can join us in the Walk to Cure Diabetes at Westdale Mall in February. These are just a few ways that you can help. Juvenile Diabetes does not have to be a one-on-one battle, we can team up and fight this together. Will you stand beside us as we fight this monster? Will you make the decision to stand up for my daughter and the numerous other kids just like her? Are you will to help change the world as she knows it? A few dollars may not mean much to you in your everyday life, but to Juvenile Diabetes Research, it could mean a cure. Make the decision to be part of the cure.
Contact me to find out how you can get involved (319-361-1317) or go to http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Walk-IA/Chapter-EasternIowa4218?px=1724279&pg=personal&fr_id=1648 to make a donation.
Stay posted by looking at the "Upcoming Events" section to the right of this blog page.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Finding Your Hero
I must first apologize. I usually try to update this blog daily, but work and kids activities have kept me pretty busy. I know, it's an excuse, but all I can do is try to be more on top of this blog.
Today I write with a certain individual on my mind. I will not name this person, but this person is someone who is struggling a bit right now. I hate to see my loved one's struggle, so I hope this will help this person out.
Mariah Carey had a number one song in the 90's called "Hero". I know that Mariah Carey bothers a lot of people, but I personally love her music, especially her ballads. Her song, "Hero" was a song that I used quite a bit when I would do L.U.G. (Living Unit Group) as I interned with Youth For Christ.
In the song, Mariah sings:
There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
I have always latched on to these lyrics because I believe they are powerful. I believe they apply in good times and bad, but I always seem to refer to them in bad times.
My interpretation of these lyrics is that we constantly under estimate our own strength. We give up when the going gets tough because it is the easy thing to do. We fall in a rut and don't think that we have the power to push through. We want other people to pull us through the tough times, when in fact, most times we don't need them. We give up on ourselves. We quit.
I wish I had a dollar for every time that Heather and I get asked, "How do you guys do it?", when people hear the history of our tragedies and medical issues. We have gotten to a point where we laugh at this question because....well, what choice do we have? Heather and I had to dig deep early on and find the heroes within ourselves so that we could pull through when the times get tough. Sure, we had our moments when we just got fed up and wished for a different life, but those are not the cards that we were dealt. I spent numerous times in the past, questioning God. Asking God, what did I do to deserve this punishment? Why are you making my family sick and having us go through such difficulties? I questioned my faith. I questioned my God. I was ready to vacate God because God had done me no favors.
But i stuck with God and I'm glad I did because God did me one favor and opened my eyes. God made me realize that the obstacles that were placed in front of me and my family were not for punishment purposes. That is not how God works. God made me realize that the obstacles placed in front of me were for the soul purpose of watching me overcome and be victorious. God wants us all to be champions and live like champions. God does not want us to be average and live average lifestyles. God wants us to push ourselves to maximize our potential to the fullest.
God has blessed each and everyone of us with the inner strength to fight through the toughest of times, but you have to find that strength within yourself. It is there. Trust in your God given abilities. Sometimes this means that you will have to stand alone, but if you have a strong belief in what your standing up for, you won't be standing alone for very long.
We are all different and that is what makes life beautiful. We all have our different struggles and challenges, but one thing we all have is inner strength.
There's a hero.....if you look inside your heart.
So to the person on my mind this morning...dig deep buddy. You'll find your answers. To everyone else reading, I'll tell you where to find your hero. Walk away from the computer and look into a mirror. I guarantee your hero will be staring right back at you.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Peace And Love On The Dirty Dashboard
Over the past few months I have been really trying to slow my life down. I decided to do this so that I could see and remember all of the great people and things around me. This morning was no different. Again, I gained perspective from Dylanne, my 8 year old.
Last Friday I was able to bring Dylanne to work with me for the entire day. Yep, that's right, she put in a whole 8 hours and was very good while doing so. She asked a million questions on the way to work and slept on the way home. She brought a little happiness to the office as she always seems to light up the room that she's in. What I didn't notice is that in my often dirty work car, she had taken her finger and drew a heart with a peace sign in the middle of it on my dirty dashboard. I didn't notice this until this morning, then it got me thinking about the symbolism.
As I drove to work this morning, I looked at this heart with the peace sign in it. It was far from a perfect heart, nor were the lines that formed the peace sign all that straight. It didn't matter, I still could make out her picture. That led me to this thought:
Is there such thing as a perfect heart?
We stereotype some people as having a big heart, or even a small heart, but we don't discuss whether or not their heart is perfect. I know that if I drew my heart, it would not be perfect. The sides would be uneven and bumpy, much like Dylanne's drawing. Uneven do to all of the issues in life that try to break my heart. I looked further into Dylanne's drawing and realized that the heart shape is drawn in a way to look as if it is protecting the peace sign. I also noticed that the heart shape was drawn with thick lines. Metaphor: As long as you have a strong heart, you can protect and maintain your inner peace.
Now I'm sure that was not the intentions of Dylanne's drawing, I could be wrong, but that is how I translated it. Isn't ART open to interpretation?
I realized this morning that as long as I have a STRONG heart, not so much a perfect heart, that I can protect my inner peace. When people or things try to put me down or damage my hopes, dreams and desires, I know that my heart is strong because I believe in myself and what I do. This keeps me moving forward everyday.
I also realized that my car served as a metaphor for what we know to be our life sometimes; cluttered, dirty and not organized. In all that mess, if we just take the time to look around and noticed things, true beauty will appear. This morning, my true beauty was in the shape of a heart and a peace sign on a dirty dashboard.
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