Life Lessons

Sitting at my desk doing some writing, I decided to turn on Netflix® and what should appear in my suggestions?  Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  As I pressed play, I could not help but smile.  This is one of my all-time favorite movies.  It was released in Sacramento on Friday, June 13^th, 1986.  You may be saying, “How do you remember that date?”  Well, June 12^th, 1986 was the last day of my Junior Year of High School, it also happened to be the day my father died. 

So, why is this movie one of my all-time favorites when it was truly shrouded in the pain of loss?  Because it was while watching this movie that I promised myself to do the following:

1. Cherish friendships.  On what was the saddest day of my life to date, 4 life-long sister-friends were there.  I learned on that day to make friends that will be there in good times, but more importantly in the bad.
2. Find a way to laugh, especially when feeling low.  Laughter has a way of bringing everything into perspective.  Even in dark moments I find a way to laugh
3. Live my truth even if it doesn’t make sense to others.  People will always have opinions on how you should live your life; however, the only person you have to be with every day is you.  On that day so many years ago I learned for better or for worse, I had to be comfortable walking in my own truth.

This is my Flashback Thursday moment.  A few tears, but truly thrilled that nearly 30 years later these maxims I established for my life hold true. #myfit40s #livelifeonpurpose #iservetheleastofthese

The Closet

When I made the commitment to my physical fitness I didn’t know what to expect.  I knew hard work would change my body. I didn’t know it would affect my mind and spirit.

 

As the fat started to melt, and the muscles began to tone my clothes no longer fit.  I creatively tried to make the bigger sizes fit on my smaller frame.  At 3 months in, I finally went to the store.  Each passing week I would purchase new clothes.  A dress here, pants there, until eventually my closet was over-full.  I had a set of new clothes I could wear, and years’ worth of old clothes I could not.  Each morning I’d wade through the items in my closet, find a familiar outfit, and close the closet door.

It was during one of the many open – to close – closet door moments that I had an epiphany.  I wasn’t wearing the new clothes.  I defaulted to the old. It was with that realization I slowly began to unpack my closet.  As I neatly folded each item I reflected on what I was letting go.  It was more than clothes and childhood memories.  I was folding away belief systems of who I thought I was. It was within that realization I let the tears fall.  With each dropped tear, strength grew.

It would be wonderful if that were the end of the story.  If I cleaned the closet and suddenly became empowered.  But, like everything in life, letting go can be hard.  I was wearing my new clothes; yet, mounds of bags sat on the floor. The items were removed from the closet, but I hadn’t dealt with them. It was during one of the many stubbed-toe moments that I reached an understanding.  These items shaped my past. They were a reflection of limits I’d placed on my life.  It was easy to say I was going to give the items away.  It was harder to actually let go. Removing the items from the closet was a first step, removing the identity that I had associated with those items was the last.

We each carry past baggage that clutters our lives. We often where our past as a badge of honor.  What past hurts, actions, beliefs are you holding on to that you need to let go?   The scars of your past are real; however, past expectations can hinder future actualizations. Assess the physical, mental and spiritual items that clutter your life, pack them up, and let go.

It’s never too late to be whom, and what, you might have been.  Even when your knees are shaking, don’t fear the unknown. Each day you have an opportunity to start over, to have a new beginning.  Don’t hold back your greatness, unleash it!