Hope Whispers Don’t Give Up

On March 17, 2024March 17, 2024 By phyllistalbotIn Believe, Hope, Live Life, Positivity, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have been cleaning out photos on my phone … way too many. Some of the photos were taken years ago … like this photo of a card my sister Cathy received in February 2015 while in Hospice. I do not remember who sent it but the card profoundly touched my heart … so I took a photo of it. After each card was received we lined Cathy’s cards along the slats of the venetian blinds in her hospital window. I still remember that each morning this one particular card stood out from all the rest.

HOPE! … one small four letter word. Hope is so much more than just a word. The dictionary defines Hope as “to expect with confidence.” That’s a pretty good way to describe it but I believe there’s more to its definition. Without hope I would not have the confidence to say that I truly believe that families are forever … and I will be with Cathy again … but hopefully not too soon.

I believe that having hope inhibits the fear that attempts to invade our hearts. Hope is something we all have when times get tough and rough. It is something we should strive to focus on. As we do, our difficulties ease and become bearable or disappear altogether … mine sure does. At times we lose sight of hope and then something happens that causes it to resurface, like the card displayed in my sister’s hospital window. I’ve heard it said that with hope all things are possible. I believe love goes hand in hand with hope. With hope and love, all things are possible.

Having a positive influence of hope is so important to every area of my life … for me, it affects everything. I can’t establish fulfilling relationships without it. It has been a factor in every job I’ve ever completed. It has helped me discover my purpose in life. I believe that none of us will ever reach our full potential without it. It’s like that little seed of grass that pushes its way up through concrete, hoping to grow and blossom. With that said, there is a lot of hope growing in my concrete driveway!

I often hear people say “I hope that …!” Sometimes it is a sincere hope, like the hope that the money to pay for their expenses arrives before they’re due. Sometimes it is the hope of somebody they love will get well soon or not pass away. Other times it’s for things that don’t really matter at all, like hoping that a friend invites them to their beach house or that a traffic stop won’t cause them to wait an additional 5 minutes. I believe there is true hope and there is nonsensical hope which really isn’t a hope at all.

We don’t necessarily need hope to live our lives for us, to fight our battles, to chase away those midnight demons or to make things right. We need hope to keep our boat sailing in our storms until those storms pass. We need hope to be our lighthouse, providing guidance on dark nights or during dark storms. We need hope to keep us going until life improves, because it will. We need hope when we feel there are no other options. Don’t give it up. Hope is more precious than you might know. Giving up will only make things worse than you imagine it to be. As the saying goes, “Hope is the golden thread that should be woven into every experience of our life.”

“Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them.” ~Vincent McNabb

Having hope is like taking your next breath. You probably already have a seed of hope even if you don’t realize it yet! But as you focus on that hope, it grows into your own kind of success! Hope sure has gotten me through many difficulties so far … and it can for you too!

There are so many wonderful stories of hope in the bible. In the midst of life’s storms, finding stories of hope can be like discovering a precious gem hidden in the darkest of caves. It’s during these difficult times, whether they’re trials that have stretched on for a long time or sudden challenges that hit us like a thunderbolt, that the concept of hope takes center stage. The Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, is a treasure trove of stories that illuminate the path of hope in stark contrast to despair. The Bible stories of faith, resilience, and divine intervention hold the power to uplift our spirits and remind us of the unfailing love and promises of God.

One of my favorite stories of hope is the story of Joseph, found in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament … it is story of hope, resilience, and divine guidance. Joseph’s life takes him from the betrayal and imprisonment to the pinnacle of power and forgiveness. It illustrates the power of hope and God’s guiding hand even in the darkest of circumstances.

I’m sure you remember the story. Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, faced the envy of his brothers … who sold him into slavery. He endured hardships as a slave in Egypt and unjustly imprisoned. Despite these trials, Joseph’s faith in God and unwavering integrity never wavered. The pivotal moment in Joseph’s story comes when he interprets Pharaoh’s dreams which lead to his appointment as the second-in-command in Egypt. This remarkable turn of events lets us see God’s divine plan at work …where Joseph’s suffering ultimately served a greater purpose—to save his family and the Egyptian people from famine. Joseph’s story teaches us about resilience, never giving up and forgiveness. It shows us that Heavenly Father can turn our darkest moments into opportunities for hope. When our circumstances seem insurmountable, remember to trust Heavenly Father’s plan.

There are so many great examples of hope in the scriptures. I wonder what’s your favorite story is? The stories remind me of the words spoken by Christopher Reeve … “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.” In our own darkest of moments, hope can be our guiding light … it can provide a sense of purpose and direction. When we encounter adversity, believing in a brighter future, as demonstrated in Bible stories, can motivate us to “keep on keeping on.” Those are words an old friend used to tell me.

NC State University won the ACC Tournament last night. I’m a Carolina fan … but those State players definitely had HOPE and never gave up. The last time they won the tournament was just before their Coach Jim Valvano passed away. His words he spoke at the ESPY awards just before he passed have carried me through a bunch of stuff … I repeat those words often. He said his motto was, “Don’t give up . . . don’t ever give up.” That’s hope.

Just Saying …

A New Normal

On October 27, 2022October 27, 2022 By phyllistalbotIn Be Happy, Believe, Decisions, Hope, Kindness, Live Life, Positivity, UncategorizedLeave a comment

For the past two weeks I have been taking care of either one or two sick kids. I’ve been asked numerous times if I got sick too. The big answer is a big yes… twice. Felt pretty bad some of those days. My thought process was they are sick and I am sick … so what the heck … we can be sick together. That comes from my new normal and Ken always saying “75% of the those working out in the world today do not feel well.”

I actually made a discovery this week. I have a new “normal.” My health is really not great … cancer side effects and lots of heart issues. I am never at 100% and feel somewhat bad every day. I get up early every day and get busy because it keeps me going. Kimbo fusses at me most days to find rest because she worries and worries and worries . But I do rest. I nap with my boys … and love their cuddles. They make anything feel good. Plus watching the boys is mostly sitting around rocking one or both. Did I say that Kimbo worries!

Ok … back to new normals and my discovery. I found that when I do get sick … which isn’t often … I dont feel any different than I do everyday. So I just “keep on keeping on” as a past friend used to tell me. I do believe if I ever stop, it might end everything… not in my plan. I also know that keeping yourself busy definitely fights off most types of depression or feeling sorry for yourself. You see, you don’t get old from age, you get old from inactivity, from not believing in something. I’m already old so I can’t risk inactivity. Nope … no couch, chips and tv for me!

I guess what I’m trying to say is that change comes to all of us … everyday. We also have to deal with sickness and other problems. Our attitude during that change either makes us happy or sad. Acceptance of change doesn’t mean giving up entirely on your former situation. I still have valuable memories, my skills and my relationships to carry forward, but the point is that I’m moving on to a wider life. I’m not giving up because I feel bad.

I always come back to my absolute favorite quote … it’s from Jeffrey Holland. You know it … I quote it all the time.

Quoting Stephen Covey – “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” It does not matter what has happened to you. What matters is what lies ahead of you and what that will look like is completely and entirely up to you. Do you have the faith, trust and hope to carry on?

Im not sure if I’m just boring you guys or not even getting my point across … but I’m trying! Make a difference. Just be kind to yourself and the people around you … we all are going through changes and new normals. When we do, little by little, you will find yourself having adjusted to the new normal because it’s just what we humans do. We can be happy and have a full life with new normals. I sure have been blessed to be able to cope with change. Yep … Heavenly Father loves me! He loves you too … but I think I’m His favorite.

Just saying …

Live Boldly and Face Fears

On March 9, 2021March 9, 2021 By phyllistalbotIn Be Happy, Believe, Hope, Live Life, Positivity, UncategorizedLeave a comment

‘Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee…. ‘ Isaiah 41:10

I have a fear of heights and bridges. I can remember many years ago on my honeymoon getting upset at Ken for not listening to me as he parked in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to take photos. H took a very cute photo of me sitting in the car while he stood bravely on the edge. I was so young and stupid back then. Now I think nothing of driving across that new tall bridge to go onto Topsail Island! You just have to face fears. Several years ago I traveled to the J. W. Marriott Resort and Spa in Phoenix Arizona for a Pilot International Convention. One evening at dinner a group of us were approached to go on a sunrise breakfast hot air balloon ride the next morning. After much prodding, I said Ok … I would risk my life to have some fun with my friends. They picked us up very early the next morning to take us to the lift-off site. I was terrified … scared to death! But I hung onto my friend and crawled into that little basket. I must say the ride was fantastic … I will remember it as one of my favorite adventures. However, when we landed, I could hardly climb out of the basket. The thought that I had just hung out of a little basket, a mile high, taking photos hit me like a ton of bricks … almost to the point of hyperventilating. I could not believe I just did it … I faced my fears and it was amazing!

“Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” ~Unknown

I don’t know about you, but too often I allow fear, worry, and doubt to dominate my actions or reactions. It is easy to allow them to steal our joy, sleep, and even our dreams. It would have been so easy to have declined that Arizona adventure … and then missed that amazing experience.

As a young woman I actually made up my mind that I would always try to face my fears no matter what. I can definitely say that in doing so it has blessed my life in so many ways. Scary decisions are really hard to make … but usually those scary decisions are the right decision. One of the hardest decisions I ever had to make was when I was only eighteen years of age … thankfully I made that decision … the right decision … and I have been blessed for doing it! It was my first really big leap of faith!

My life has been filled with adventures … only because I decided to always let my motto be “Faith over Fear.” I have several tee-shirts with that written across the front. Last summer while visiting a friend and his family, I actually fought back the fear of water, and let him take me on a ride on his jet ski … it was so much fun … but I was terrified. I might even try that adventure again.

Lesson learned: If you want to know happiness and realize your dreams, you have to be willing to take a leap of faith despite being afraid. Too many times we hold back and play it safe in order to avoid feeling embarrassed, looking silly, being hurt, and facing rejection or possible failure … all of which never would have happen. We tend to hang onto those fears we grew up with from our younger years. We cling to the fears from our childhood, traumatic experiences, and the negative actions. Like how Linus clings to his security blanket in the cartoon strip “Peanuts!”

So what’s the answer … maybe that it’s my responsibility to admit, face, and get rid of my fears? Now here’s the big question: Am I willing to begin now … to find the courage to do all the things I was meant to do during my lifetime, but have not begun? Are you ready to begin now too? OK … then let’s figure this out!

So here goes … my thoughts on living boldly, facing fear and taking that leap of faith!

Did you know that fearful thoughts only bring on more fearful thoughts … it’s a merry-go-round! Instead of expecting the worst, I’ve trained my mind to always expect the best. Be positive … about everything! I can tell you truthfully that being as positive as possible during my cancer diagnosis had a huge impact on my health today. I’m almost a nine-year survivor of the most aggressive breast cancer and came through surgery, chemo and radiation with laughter and tears … by being positive! It also helps to have positive reminders around. I love wearing this bracelet that my grand-kids gave me during cancer treatment. It’s words “Let your faith be bigger than your fear” is a great reminder. Doesn’t it look really great on my old wrinkly arm?

Don’t give up any of your energy to fear! I find that when I fear something … I move toward it. Sometimes just the action will give you the courage to face it. If you don’t take action in overcoming your fear then many opportunities will just pass you right by … which doesn’t feel so good. Remember how a hitch-hiker looks when you zoom right past him … well that will be your look if you miss out on something great because you feared stepping out of your comfort zone! Just think: “This fear will pass!” Every time I overcome a fear my world expands. OK here’s a silly example. All of my life I have had a fear of someone touching my nose … really silly … right? My kids love to see me panic when they try to grab my nose … and don’t you get any ideas when you see me next! Before COVID lockdowns, Edgecombe Community College offered Esthetics/Cosmetology services at a discounted price. I love any type of massage so I knew that I would love a facial if I could get over the fear of someone touching my nose! I am very happy to report that before COVID, I had a facial every week for the last ten years … and my nose hasn’t fallen off and I can still breathe! Have the courage to face your fears. Because of facing that fear, I have found I can breathe with other treatments. This was last Wednesday, during a test at UNC Medical Center. I passed and didn’t pass out with that weird thingy on my nose. I did look a bit silly. Yes … face your fears!

Reflect on your life and every single success that you have experienced. Reflect on all those fears that you have come face-to-face with and overcome. Allow these successes to inspire and motivate you to develop the courage you need to face anything! Just thinking back … after Ken passed away I learned how to change toilet seats and start a lawn mower. These activities were huge successes. Believe me when I say there were definite fears that I would never survive without him … but I’m here and thriving!

Many of my fears came with the death of my husband and then being diagnosed with cancer. If it were not for my family and friends, my amazing support group, that provided inspiration, praise and encouragement every step of the way, I might not have come through it. They continually reminded me of all the trials and triumphs that I had come through. To help you … ask your loved ones to do the same for you! Quoting Robert Fulghum: “When you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” Sticking together makes tough times easier and easier times more fun!

Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Her husband, President Franklin Roosevelt also made a great statement about fear: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” If there is one thing that I have learned during the past few years is that life is way too short to let fear keep you from doing something you want to do ….. even if you know that it will take you way out of your comfort zone and perhaps make you look like a fool!

I can live fearless and boldly … I really can! While I was going through cancer treatment I was able to travel to Wilmington to attend the play “Annie” that my granddaughter Abby had a role in …. she was Mollie! Before the play started the director came out on the stage to welcome the crowd. Then she stated that she had a gift card to “Learning Express” to anyone who would be willing to come up here and sing a few lines of the song “Tomorrow.” Everyone in the audience just sat there. Like a fool I raised my hand and of course was chosen. So bald head, pale and all … I marched down the aisles to the stage and tried to sing “Tomorrow” … with the help of the director on a few lines …. Remember I do have chemo brain. Not only did I forget a few lines …. But I forgot that I didn’t know how to sing either!!! But the audience was really nice and clapped anyway …. Probably to get me off stage! Yep …. I had completely lost my mind …. But I sure had fun doing it …. And I received a gift card for Abby to boot! Too bad no one wanted an encore …. I was getting ready to belt out a few bars of “It’s a Hard Knock Life” ….. I know that song word for word after my life’s roller coast ride! OK … my life has really been pretty darn good and blessed with all of its ups and downs!

So in the words of singer Taylor Swift … “Live Fearless …. Live in spite of those things that scare you to death.” So during that play opening I lived fearless … and I remember that it really felt good … and it really made me laugh … which felt even better! Life is so beautiful when you step out of your comfort zone, face fear, and really have fun!

Well those are my thoughts on living boldly and facing fears. We have the power to do what it takes to break through any fear or obstacles that stand in the way of our goals, our dreams, and our happiness. All we need to do is step out of that fear and dream really big!

Just saying …

Quack Quack … I’m A Duck

On September 11, 2020 By phyllistalbotIn Be Happy, Be prepared, Believe, Live Life, Positivity, Serve Others, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I think that I am a DUCK!

Stress is an everyday part of my life! I’m sure it is for many of you too. We all experience stress to some degree … some more than others. How you handle stress inwardly reflects outwardly. This brings me to today’s blog subject … I am a DUCK!

Have you ever noticed that some people look calm on the outside and yet they talk about how stressed they are? Sometimes it’s hard to believe what they are saying because they appear to have it all. That’s because they are ducks. I remember going out to Weeks Pond with Ken and our two oldest granddaughters Morgan & Maggie, to feed the ducks. That was actually one of the last outings Ken had with the girls. It was a really cold day in February and he was afraid there wouldn’t be any ducks out there … but there were! I remember standing beside the water all bundled up as the girls threw out the old bread Ken had brought. The ducks all gracefully swam across the water to our side of the pond as if they were gliding effortlessly, or so it seemed. I had no idea then, but now know, that under the water is an entirely different scenario. Check out this image that demonstrate two very different perspectives:

To borrow a favorite quote from the movie The Replacements: “Like a duck on the pond. On the surface everything looks calm, but beneath the water those little feet are churning a mile a minute”. So if we were to have poked our heads underneath the cold water that day, we would have seen a very different scenario. Their little webbed feet were paddling so fast and furious to reach their new destination of where our granddaughters were dishing out vittles of bread. But we couldn’t see underneath the surface, only what was visible above the surface where they appeared to be sailing smoothly along.

That’s me some days …just another duck on the pond … a duck paddling with all my might to get through my everyday stresses, twists and turns. I bet many of you can relate. You too might be someone who is stressed out but doesn’t show it. On the outside we are Mr. or Mrs. Calm, but on the inside we are stirring up a storm that only we and others who can see beneath us are aware. Now don’t get me wrong … in some cases stress can be a good thing when it serves as a motivational tool.

Even though I retired from work last month, I’ve been so busy lately. I looked at the calendar the other day and thought “Where in the world did this year go??” It seems like life and living have been getting in my way even though most of it has been in quarantine due to COVID19! I have been busy: family activities, working part time, church activities, trying to get my house on the market to sell, being sick, taking care of Henry, yada, yada, yada. Sometimes it seems as if my head is at least a month behind reality and I’m playing a big game of catch-up (and losing!).

I initially had big plans for 2020. It was going to be so different … I was going to be so organized and be on top of everything. But life doesn’t stop for anything! Yep. I’m really a duck … not even a swan … just another duck trying to survive in a world full of ducks!

This past weekend I was watching one of those sappy happy-ever-after “Hallmark” channel movies that I recorded on the DVR last week … what can I say … I love them! All of a sudden my TV went blank and then cut off. The movie was at a really good part so I jumped up and immediately turned it on again only to find that the movie reverted back to the beginning. Oh no! … I had to fast forward it to where I was when the TV turned off.

Have you ever watched a movie in fast forward … it’s quite interesting. So here was my thought process … WOW … that’s how I live my life … in fast forward mode. While watching the movie in fast forward mode, I saw people running around like maniacs, cars moving as if on a high-speed chase, mouths moving without sound! The thought came to my mind — stop … slow down … and smell the roses! My family tells me all the time to slow down.

Life lived at a fast pace is so hectic … at least mine is. My life is full of events that require my attendance and attention. It’s a “you better move it along” life! It’s like what Katie wants the golfer in front of her to do … “play or just move out of the way please!” Even my fingers are in fast-forward mode by always trying to type faster than my brain can think! Of course there are times I would like to have a real fast-forward button. Like when it’s Monday, and I can’t wait until Friday afternoon so I could perhaps leave for Topsail Beach … now that sounds like a good plan!

I can’t tell you why I have always made my life into such a race … other than that’s my normal pace! It could be that my mother used to preach to us girls “idle hands are the devil’s workshop!” I heard those words from her so many times! Living life in a rush can make life a blur! It’s a life where we are always headed somewhere, trying to complete something, making our never-ending to-do lists and then trying to check things off. Then there are the ways that we try to avoid that dreaded boredom so we find ourselves constantly on our smart phones googling random thoughts or checking out our calendars so we don’t forget anything that we have scheduled. This must be a universal problem because even Kenny Chesney sang a song titled “Living in Fast Forward.” Maybe we need to follow the advice of Lily Tomlin: “For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.”

Another thing that I learned about myself is that my ability to stay afloat isn’t all about paddling my feet … that just propels me along. You see if the Duck didn’t spend time preparing its feathers, its body wouldn’t be the watertight body that you see on top. So it is with life… We need to prepare to not only weather the waves around us but to also stay afloat. We have to learn how to “prepare our feathers”. I am a big believer in the power of gratitude and how it creates positive changes. Being constantly aware of your many blessings and feeling grateful for them can have a huge impact on the quality of your life. When you are filled with appreciation, it quite literally changes the forces of your life. For me, quite simply it’s my belief in a loving Heavenly Father and that “Families are Forever”. It is realizing how truly blessed I have been all my life … even with its many trials. It’s also important to show my appreciation by trying to serve others the best I can. It’s having hope and dreams of a better tomorrow …It’s knowing that there is a greater plan for my life than just getting through the day! Take nothing for granted, and believe! There’s no doubt in my mind that the simple act of gratitude will change your perception in positive ways and help you cope with any stress or trial.

So my newest goal is to ditch the Duck in me. How? It took me a while today to think of what exactly I want to be (in an analogous way). I know … I want to be a boat! … a sail boat! They are beautiful and appear so relaxing. As a sail boat I’ll just pray for the right amount of wind, set my sail and glide through the water, feeling free. By letting the wind carry me, it will be like letting go of some of the things that control my life … dealing with my stress as it passes by and knowing that everything really will be OK.

Now don’t get me wrong … a sailboat can be busy and stressful. But it’s also organized and aware of its many courses and the factors that direct them. I can do this … I will switch from a duck to a sailboat. If I can organize my thoughts, beliefs and hopes, then I can focus my intentions on smooth sailing … relaxing on the water … and watching all those ducks bobbing by. I want to toss out my anchor (sail boats do have anchors … right?) and enjoy every moment I have left in my beautiful life! No more frantically paddling underneath the surface!

There comes a time when we have to just stop, think and ask ourselves what we are really striving for … what is the purpose of this life? What can truly make us happy? What can bring us joy? How can we relax and stop stressing?

The bad news is that time flies … but the good news is that I am the pilot! I believe the time has come for me to head to the shore … to slow down the pace of my life … to be still. I’m going to take a few deep breaths and look around and see all the wonderful, amazing, and beautiful things that I have in my life now. I’m not even going to make a list of my next steps until I really see the beauty around me right now. I know that life is short and in the blink of an eye, it can all be gone! I know this first hand! Quoting and agreeing with Diane Ackerman: “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it too!

So my advice for this week: Make a daily ritual to stop paddling for one minute each morning … long enough to think of all the people and things in your life that you are grateful for. You won’t have time enough to think of everything in that one minute, but it will be enough to get you thinking in the right direction. It will instantly set the tone for the rest of your day and help to steer your attention on things to appreciate about your life.

Can you think of a better use of that one minute of your time? … It’s definitely better than paddling! Remember … as the old saying goes … “the happiest people are not the ones who have the best of everything … they are the ones who are grateful for everything they have.”

Just saying …

The Choice is Always Yours

On September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 By phyllistalbotIn Be Happy, Decisions, Kindness, Live Life, Positivity, Uncategorized1 Comment

Yesterday was my birthday … September 2 … I’m 74 years old. What an amazing life I have experienced. I began my life with Plan One … everything awesome and happy. Now I’m on Plan Six … and still everything is awesome and happy. Why? The only difference between a good life and a bad life is your attitude. The choice is always yours. One thing I do know is that I’m truly blessed and thankful for the time I have been given to enjoy a full life.

The Hispano-Roman Philosopher Seneca once wrote: “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested. But when it is wasted in heedless luxury and spent on no good activity, we are forced at last by death’s final constraint to realize that it has passed away before we knew it was passing. So it is: we are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it… Life is long if you know how to use it.”

WOW … What a profound statement. The more I read it, the more I am inspired by it.

The phrases that stick out the most to me are: “It is not that we have a short time to live… but that we waste a lot of it…” “Life is long enough for the highest achievements if it were all well invested…” “It is wasted in heedless luxury and spent on no good activity…” “We are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it…”

I believe that we have a loving Heavenly Father who designed each of us to achieve great things. We are each unique in who we are, our abilities, and our talents. There is also no one else on earth that can live our life and accomplish the good that we can. You are enough! That’s important … do not forget it. You are designed to bring some good into this world. And there are people in your life that you can serve and love better than anyone else.

It is up to us to decide every day to focus all of our energy on important things with the one life we have been given. We must let go of all the inessential things in our lives and remove the distractions. This is not an easy task living in today’s world.

Your life is too short to be offended all the time. Your life is too short to compare it to others. Your life is too short to not believe in yourself. Your life is too short to not forgive. Your life is too short to regret the past. Your life is too short to live in fear. Your life is too short to be unhappy. Your life is too short to waste time on trivial matters.

I love this quote by Alan Watts: “Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.”

I don’t think Mr. Watts was referring to waking up from physical sleep … I believe he is talking about accepting who you are and accepting that it is enough … which leads to a happy life! I struggled with this many times throughout in my life … Am I Enough? I grew up with this “perfect idea” of who I should be (at least what my mother thought I should be)! Yes … that was my Plan One! You know those thoughts … the perfect daughter, the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect homemaker, the perfect church member … and the list goes on and on in my head. In reality too many of us have those feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. We get discouraged with the things that we haven’t accomplished in life, the lack of education, the family members we feel that we let down, or the situations that we find ourselves in. We all have this “perfect idea” of who we ought to be.

Why do we treat ourselves so terrible and relentlessly by comparing our life to other people … no matter how many times someone tells us how good enough or lovable we are? I don’t know about you, but I continue to look for evidence that I am not a nobody, or that I’m living up to my full potential. I’m sure these feeling come from the pressure our society puts on each of us to “stack up to others.”

We tend to think that our lives would be better if we had done things differently along the way. I love the quote from the movie “Clouds of Sils Maria” when the character Christopher Giles says: “We’re not allowed to regret anything. If we’re sincere in our actions, then we’re the sum total of our experiences – no exceptions – and that is enough!” You see … changing the past would change who we are … not make us something better or happier … just different.

Changing our circumstances is not the key to true happiness … It’s embracing who we are and knowing that we are enough that brings happiness. I remember a great quote from the movie “Jurassic World” … “The key to a happy life is to accept you are never actually in control.” We aren’t in control of the things that happen to us, or many times the circumstances that surround us … but we are in control of our attitude.

How long could the hare sleep and still win the race against the tortoise? | by Krist Wongsuphasawat | Medium

Recently I read a short internet article about the story of the “Tortoise and the Hare.” It pointed out that living from one milestone to the next often leads us to miss the most important and enjoyable parts of our lives today. You know the story … the slow and steady tortoise won the race. But this article pointed out that we don’t focus enough on what the tortoise actually gained from the race. The hare focused solely on his next destination point and he missed everything along the way. However the tortoise was able to enjoy his journey and everything around his adventure. Even if the hare had won, the tortoise still would have found joy in his race because he took his time and “stopped to smell the roses” so to speak!

I need to apply this lesson to my own life. I know that my biggest goal in this life is to live a worthy life and return to live with my Heavenly Father and with my family … but I also must have the goal of enjoying the life I have been given … here and now. I need to realize that “I Am Enough!” In Thomas Monson’s book “Finding Joy in the Journey” he admonishes us to “relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family.”

Oprah Winfrey said it better than I could ever say it: “If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

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So if we’re in this “I’m not enough” rut, how can we dig ourselves out? How can we live our lives and be more present to ourselves? How can we realize that we are enough? I’ve developed a short list that I try to follow, and it just may help you too:

Be thankful for all you have and are. Gratitude is powerful because it helps us recognize all the good things around instead of dwelling on all the good things we think we need to be happy.

Read inspiring spiritual messages and blogs. I have several blogs that I follow that uplift me and put me in a thankful state of mind. Sometimes it takes someone else’s words to help you see what you actually have to be thankful for.

Remember that there is more right with you than wrong with you. This powerful reminder is inspired by one of my favorite quotes from Jon Kabat-Zinn: “Until you stop breathing, there’s more right with you than wrong with you.” Remind yourself that you are alive and breathing and able to walk new paths whenever you choose.

Enjoy the present! Being present means noticing the thousands of things around us that make life interesting. It also means making time for fun.

Most importantly, enjoy the person you are right now, exactly as you are!

As Seneca said: “Life is long if you know how to use it.” … and a key to using it is to realize you are enough! … Who you are right now, flaws and all! Not only are you enough, your Heavenly Father loves you exactly as you are. No conditions. No boundaries. Unconditionally! Our Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us … and we will never be who He wants us to be if we are constantly trying to become what others want us to be!

Yes … I am enough … and so are you!

Just Saying …

I Used To Say “I'm Blessed” Until I Asked These 2 Questions | by Josh Bocanegra | Josh Bocanegra | Medium

This Too Shall Pass

On July 29, 2020 By phyllistalbotIn Believe, Decisions, Hope, Live Life, Positivity, Serve Others, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be … it’s the way it is. The way you cope is what makes the difference.” `Virginia Satir

Each morning I wake up, I have a choice to determine the direction that I want that day to take. I can go into default mode and wake up worried and fearful about the things I have no control over … or I can make the conscious decision to choose the kind of day I want to experience. Many times the events of the day happen so quickly that, we get caught up in the drama and feel that we don’t have a choice. Things just happen. Bad things do happen to good people. No one gets through this life without struggles! Everybody has battles to fight … everybody! No one’s life is perfect!

But, even in the midst of confusion … we do have a choice in how we react to our circumstances. No matter what happens, I get to choose how I react to it. I will admit that this is very difficult to do when life smacks you right in the face. But if we intentionally set the tone for our day BEFORE we jump into it … it will be a heck of a lot better. Really … that’s the truth. Personally I find that the first 15 minutes of the day are the most important for me. It’s sort of like putting the train on the right track at the beginning of the day … rather than trying to clean up a derailed train later in the day. It’s so easy to get sucked into being negative … remember that fact!

Case in point: This morning I got up, read through my emails, send out a few “how are you” and “thinking of you” emails before even getting out of bed. I love letting people know how important they are in my life. I was feeling pretty happy while getting ready for work because they were were giving me a good-bye luncheon at work today and I was also feeling grateful that tomorrow is my last day of working at Edgecombe Community College. I will miss them, but the prospects of new adventures is pretty exciting. When I got to work, I received a terrible disheartening phone call. I have been completing some major repairs to the home I own, getting it ready to sell. The repairman informed me that last night’s storm took off shingles from the end of my house and, flooded the ceilings, causing the ceilings and insulation to fall into the floor in two of the bedrooms. Sheetrock, insulation and rain water all over the two bedroom floors. I will not lie … this really knocked me for a gigantic loop. I was three weeks from having it ready to sell. I am not going to lie … I cried a few tears.

Immediately a phrase that my Ken used to quote came to my mind. “Remember Phyllis, this too shall pass. It’s not going to affect your eternal salvation.” Then I thought crossed my mind that it might, if I don’t stop swearing at this moment!

All things come and go. Actually … change is the only thing that is constant in our lives. … And I have had to deal with plenty of change! I know that what may appear to be a mountain in front of me, will soon be a molehill behind me. It always does. Knowing that “this too shall pass” does enable me to get through anything. This knowledge has gotten me through so many things in my life. I have been blessed.

I just have to keep the faith. When scary things happen to me, I remember the faith I have in my loving Heavenly Father and my Savior, and that everything will unfold as it should. I am a child of God. My challenge is not to deal with what may appear as a humongous problem … my challenge is to find the blessing in the situation. If you look hard enough you might just find a gift in what’s happening around you.

There are two things that I have going for me: 1) I am surrounded by people who support me. 2) and I realize that I am not alone.

Contrary to popular belief it does not work to just put on a brave face and soldier on. I speak from experience with that statement. I’m very stubborn … just ask Kimbo! Sometimes we (talking to myself) have a false idea in our heads of what it means to be strong. Accepting help and allowing our family and friends in to help is not a sign of weakness! It takes courage to let people in … it is humbling. I love the quote by Lea McEwan: “Generosity is not just a gift to be given but a gift to be received.”

This is my support group … and they are amazing. Today they hit me full force with love and support when I was having that mini pity party. They reminded me of how tough I am, what I’ve already gone through and just how blessed I am. They helped me see the beauty and possibilities of life. They will be there for me with their “you got this attitude” … pushing me to the top of this big mountain. I will not be on this climb alone. Not only do I have an awesome support group, but I have the knowledge that I have a loving Heavenly Father and

Savior walking beside me … sometimes even carrying me! I could not have functioned during so many difficult times in my life without that knowledge. I am so thankful … and I am so blessed.

My suggestion to you … those of you who are going through your own trials … is to put these ideas into action in your own life. Let me know how it works for you. You and I are walking the same path here in mortality. We are all just trying to get back home to Heavenly Father. We have to support each other. That’s definitely what it’s all about. The difficult times we go through will start to seem less significant when we compare it to everything that is going right in our lives. If you need me … just give me a call … hopefully will not be in the midst of my own personal rough day..

By now I bet that you have figured out that this blog posting is aimed straight for my heart, mind and soul … pointing my finger at myself and reminding myself that my attitude will either lift me up … or bury me in a pit of despair! I know that when I take the time to stop and count my blessings … my problems seem not as severe as I originally thought. Believe me when I say … being GRATEFUL helps tremendously. Remember that when you count your blessings a world of abundance opens up to you. Gratitude is the quickest path to happiness and peace of mind. If what you focus on grows … then please let it be gratitude.

Just focus on moving forward. Even if you are still a long way from where you want to be … you are further down the road from where you were.

Just saying …

Stand Up Scout

On April 12, 2020July 30, 2020 By phyllistalbotIn Believe, Hope, Live Life, Positivity, Serve Others, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Having influence is not about elevating self, but about lifting others!” ~Sheri Dew

In our lives, we meet new and interesting people every day … of course not lately with this “Stay at Home” order. I believe, there are certain people who make an impact on us, affecting us for the rest of our lives. Every one of you has by now encountered at least one person who has impacted your life. This would be someone who is outside of your family who made a difference. I have a specific person who made a difference in my life along time ago when I was going through a very difficult time. As a nineteen year old, a gentleman from my church, who lived about an hour away, was there for me when I had left home for a few months. Knowing that I was extremely lonely and emotionally suffering, he visited me weekly to let me know that I was a “Child of God” with so much potential. He built me up in so many ways, not because of any church assignment he had, but because he cared about people around him. He moved from North Carolina many years ago and I never got to tell him thank you … but he changed my life. I can look at my children and grandchildren and can name a coach or mentor that had a major impact on who they became. My son Paul’s swim coach, John Richards, was not only a coach but a friend and mentor. My granddaughter Katie’s soccer coach, Coach Leshaun Jenkins, was also a mentor and friend … teaching her about life off the soccer field.

Of all the characters that I’ve “met” through books and movies, one character always stands out as someone that I want to be like. That is Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird” … one of my very favorite books! He was just an ordinary man from a very small town, like mine, who had a positive effect on those around them. I cry every time I read or watch the minister in the balcony say “Stand up Scout … Mr. Finch is passing.” Everyone should want to be like Atticus! He is a symbol of what is good, honest, and wise. When the story of our town is written, wouldn’t it be great if each of us were included as someone who symbolized those things? I’m quite sure if the story included Atticus’ childhood, it would read that he probably emulated someone who had been an influence in his life. It is simply amazing how everything around us shapes and carves our character. One person can make a huge difference in your life whereas ten people altogether might never change you.

This photo is from one of the times I have tried to “be the one” … to help my community. At Thanksgiving my family and I work the first half of the day at our local Community Homeless Outreach Shelter. It is one of my most cherished times during the year … serving meals to others. I do this to not only serve, but to Honor Sister Mary Anne, an example to our community on helping others. So, what’s my point today. Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others… It is the only thing.” People look at what you do, more than listen to what you say. To be a positive influence, you must live the life you’d like to see others live. Bottom line … You never know who you are influencing for good! I bet each of you are someone’s shining example and influence right now! I had a shining example to follow … my good friend Kathy Munday, who fought cancer for 13 years, after being given 6 months to live. She never gave up … and lived a full life of service while extremely ill and not feeling well. I never got to tell her that she became my shining example. She passed away several years before I was diagnosed with cancer. I followed her example and continue today. Whether we know it or not, we are all making a difference. But during this specific time in our lives right now, being ordered to shelter at home, how can we make a difference?

In his book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Andrew Carnegie notes that one of the most powerful ways to influence another person is to make them feel important, and show that you care. During the last year, my church began what we call a ministering program. Each member began to do as the Savior did in ministering to all. Ministering is Christlike caring for others and helping meet their spiritual and temporal needs. We are the Savior’s other “good Samaritans” on earth. Even though we are in our own homes, we can still reach out to others and check on our friends. During the last week I have enjoyed calling friends and asking how their toilet paper supply is holding up. It’s a good way to start a conversation. A call can really cheer someone up that is at home dealing with all sorts of new problems. You don’t even have to call … send them a special message on your computer. We all need each other to get us through this horrible pandemic that is taking its toil on so many. We don’t have to be sick with the corona-virus because it is affecting all parts of our lives … work … food … protective gear … and yes, even toilet paper!

So, my challenge to you this week is: Pay attention to those around you. Deliver sincere messages of cheer to others who need encouraging words. By focusing on this, you are sure to bring out the best in those around you, including yourself! Now more than ever the world really needs caring, positive influences to make it a better place for each of us to live … to make each day brighter. This “stay at home” directive is really hard on seniors … they miss their families. It’s hard on caregivers … having to be home without help 24/7. It’s hard on parents having to occupy their children’s mind and energy all day … and provide education too. It’s hard on families having to live without steady income … stuck at home not knowing where to look for help. Be someone that makes a positive difference! Call, email, write notes … listen to their words and tones. Let’s not just settle on spreading light … let’s be the mirror that reflects it too! Be the one!

Just Saying …

Barefoot and Unprepared

On March 17, 2020 By phyllistalbotIn Be prepared, Believe, Choose the right, Decisions, Hope, Live Life, Positivity, Serve Others, Uncategorized1 Comment

socks

These past few weeks has been a bit interesting … this coronavirus is scary. Everyone is asking “Are you prepared?”

To start off I’m going to tell you one of my sister Cathy’s favorite story. She was a lover of sports. She would not be happy today with all the canceled sporting events … especially the basketball tournaments. When she heard this story given by Howard W. Hunter at a conference … she fell in love with it and told it often. The story tells of a quarterback on the football team of a small, rural high school. This young man managed to make the team, but it was clear that he was not going to be all-state or all-American. In fact, he was the fourth of four quarterbacks. By the last game of the season, he had never been called into a game, and he had given up all hope of playing. During the final game of the year he decided to relax and enjoy himself, so he pulled off his shoes, wrapped himself in a blanket, and settled down on the bench to watch his buddies play.

Midway through the game he heard the coach shout his name. He was startled and wondered if he had been mistaken. Then the coach called again, “Hey, you! Get in there and move the ball!” What should he do? He wanted to say, “Wait, coach, while I put on my shoes.” But instead, he made straight for the huddle, his stocking feet conspicuous to the players, the spectators, and the coach.

Being called into the game made him very nervous and he was confused as he called his first play, and by the time he took the snap from center, he had forgotten which play he had called. While his teammates moved to the right, he went left, where he was swallowed up in the snarl of onrushing linemen. No one expected him to make a touchdown. Even running the wrong way was understandable. But there was no excuse for a quarterback without shoes. No excuse for a quarterback not ready to help his team to success!

Are you prepared? Are you prepared to help yourself? But the bigger question is: Are you prepared to help others? Are you ready to pass the ball of life and make a difference? Recently I have been thinking about my life and the things I have done, things I have not done, things I’m prepared for and the things I am not prepared for. Am I prepared? I have decided that when I finally depart from this life and I arrive at the pearly gates that I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautiful tailored clothes with my hair expertly set and with long perfectly manicured fingernails. That is definitely NOT me! I want to pedal up to the pearly gates on a beat up three-wheel old bicycle (not sure I can balance myself on two wheels anymore), with a basket of things to share with others. I want to be wearing a pair of grass stained worn-out shoes from playing with my great-grand kids on their swing set. I want there to be a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want there to be a little dirt under my fingernails from helping my family plant a garden. I want there to be children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of family and friends on my shoulders. I want my Heavenly Father to know that I was really here and that I really lived. I want to be wearing my life’s shoes! Each one of us has to realize that if we are going to really be here and make a different in this world and really live, it is absolute essential that we do not lose hope and we look to our Heavenly Father for support, guidance and love. That means … Not losing hope…. Not getting discouraged…. Not giving up! Keeping our shoes on so we are prepared! And … Serving others!

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This is one of my favorite paintings. The artist is James Christensen who titled this painting “Hold to the Rod.” The man in this painting is trying to hold onto so many worldly possessions that he cannot let go and grab hold of the rod for fear of losing something. The rod represents divine guidance. He is looking at the rod, but doesn’t have the belief and faith to let go of those material things and be guided to the more important things.

I have found that while riding on the bike that we call life, we tend to collect things that make us feel safer and better about ourselves … comfortable enough that we walk around barefooted. Even though these things are mere material possessions, they tend to give us a superficial sense of security. It is only by holding fast to our own beliefs that we can navigate our life with confidence and be prepared for whatever is placed before us.

I am reminded of a speech that I heard presented by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He began the speech recounting an experience he once had moving a grand piano from one room to another. He related how a group of men were trying to move a grand piano from a church chapel to an adjoining cultural hall for a musical event. None were professional movers and the task of getting that very heavy piano through the chapel and into the cultural hall seemed nearly impossible. Everybody knew that this task required not only physical strength but also careful coordination. Each man had his own idea of how the piano should be move, but not one could keep the piano balanced correctly. They re-positioned the men several times by strength, height, and age — but nothing worked. As they stood around the piano, uncertain of what to do next, one of the men spoke up. He said, “Stand close together and lift where you stand.” Together they lifted that piano and moved it successfully. The dictionary defines the word “lift” as “to raise to a higher position or level.”

Lifting up

At the present, we live in a world full of scary things. I’m terrified about getting this coronavirus … I am definitely a prime candidate to die from this virus. I keep asking myself if I have prepared enough. Thankfully I belong to a church that has all ways taught its members to be prepared. Yes … I have plenty of “toilet paper”, meds and food! I even have a supply of hospital masks left over from chemo. In Dexter (my Tahoe) I have my 72 hour backpack that has 50 items to help in any type of emergency. I use items from it all the time to help myself or others. Need a band-aid … I got it! Need a rope … I got it! Need a flashlight … I got it! Need a hatchet … yep … got that too! There was this Pilot Club member from the western part of the state who also had a 72 hour pack in her car. We used to sit with each other and try to out-do each other with new items. I learned a lot from her … a real survivalist.

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I love this photo … even very strong sturdy trees help each other! So let me ask: Are you prepared to help yourself and to help others. Can you lift yourself and then lift others. Life is what we make of it and it sure is better with “lifters” around to pitch in and help! Lifters with shoes on … ready to help our team of family and friends. I challenge you to take the “7 Minutes to Lift 7 People up This Week” challenge. You may have to let go of some of those things holding you back … but it will bless you and give you so much happiness this week. Each day this week, reach out to someone you know who needs a little lift to win this game of life … family, friends, co-workers, peers. Make the commitment with me to make a difference in someone else’s life and then watch what happens in your own life. You and whomever you reach out to will feel much better and be lifted up!

Remember “be prepared, keep those shoes on” so you will be ready to “lift where you stand!”

Just saying ….

Choices Matter

On March 3, 2020 By phyllistalbotIn Choose the right, Decisions, Live Life, Positivity, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“The decisions we make, individually and personally, become the fabric of our lives. That fabric will be beautiful or ugly according to the threads of which it is woven.” ~Gordon B. Hinckley

There is a true story about a man named Joseph Henry. I read it once, can’t remember where, but jotted notes down in my journal to use later. It’s a rather strange story about his childhood. His grandmother paid a cobbler to make him a pair of shoes. The cobbler measured his feet and told Joseph that he could choose between two styles: a rounded toe or a square toe. Little Joseph could not decide which one he liked better. It seemed to be such a huge decision to him because they would be his only pair of shoes for a long time. The cobbler allowed him to take a couple of days to make up his mind. Day after day, Joseph went into the shop … sometimes three or four time a day! Each time he looked over the cobbler’s shoes and tried to decide. He continued to procrastinate. He wanted to make up his mind, but he just couldn’t decide. Finally, one day he went into the shop and the cobbler handed him a parcel wrapped in brown paper. His new shoes! He raced home. He tore off the wrapping and found a beautiful pair of leather shoes … one with a rounded toe and the other with a square tow!

We are all made up from the choices we make! Joseph Henry learned a difficult lesson about decisions: If we don’t make them ourselves, others will make them for us. A wise man named Quentin Cook said that “many choices are not inherently evil, but if they absorb all of our time and keep us from the best choices, then they become insidious.” Either of Joseph Henry’s choices would not have been wrong … but the fact that he couldn’t make up his mind and letting someone else decide was wrong. The choices you make and the decisions you make have a long lasting impact on your life. They make you special and different from others, they make a distinction between you and everyone else.

crow

Here’s another short story on choosing whether to decide or give up. Its a kid’s fable and I’m not sure where it came from, but I love the moral of the story. One hot day, a thirsty crow flew all over the fields looking for water. For a long time, he could not find any. He began feeling very weak, and almost lost all hope. Suddenly, he saw a water jug sitting below the tree. He flew straight down to see if there was any water inside. Yes, he could see some water inside the jug! The crow tried to push his head into the jug. Sadly, he found that the neck of the jug was too narrow. Then he tried to push the jug over to tilt for the water to flow out, but the jug was too heavy. The crow thought hard for a while. Then, looking around it, he saw some pebbles. Suddenly he had a good idea. He started picking up the pebbles one by one, dropping each one into the jug. As more and more pebbles filled the jug, the water level kept rising. Soon it was high enough for the crow to drink. His plan had worked because he did not give up!

If we think and work hard enough, we can find solutions to any situation or problem that we might be facing. The crow didn’t give up on his problem and neither should we. He pondered it and came up with a plan, and then carried that plan out. Your life is a series of choices you have made so far. You will live with those choices for the rest of your life — and believe me when I say this, the rest of your life can be a pretty long period. Whether you feel it immediately or not, your life is being shaped by the choices you are making right now … today and tomorrow. We can’t undo the past, but we can always learn from it. Our choices are the building blocks of our lives and despite all the mistakes we make, a new day brings with itself new opportunities and a whole new world of choices.

We all have goals and dreams. I probably have way too many! We all want something we don’t currently have. If we want to achieve our goals, we need to grab our lives by the horns and make the tough decisions to get what we want. These decisions and choices will allow us to achieve our goals.

Tough Decisions Ahead Road Sign

Next time you have to make a decision … no matter how big or small it is, make a choice. Let me shout that again … MAKE A CHOICE! Choose the option that puts you one step closer to achieving your dreams and the future you want to build. Quoting Stephen Covey from his book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”: “We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals.”

I have had to make some really big decisions in my own lifetime. I am sorry to say that many of my choices were not too smart. I am happy to say that when I used the right powers for help in my decisions, I always made the right choice. Study … prayer … then decide. My hubby Ken used to tell me that in making important choices and decisions to use that method. To study it out, to pray about your decision and then decide to do it. He would say that if the decision was right I would know it in my heart … I would feel peace. If I kept doubting my decision, then I would know that I had made the wrong decision and to back up and start again. This has always worked for me. I always followed his three steps and if my heart kept debating, then I began my decision making again. This important lesson and wisdom sure kept me from making some really stupid choices and bad decisions!

Image result for decisions to be made

For instances, some of my decisions were: Getting married and having children … That was an easy one. Working mom or stay at home mom … a harder choice because of finances but staying home was the right decision. Moving Ken’s business from downtown to our backyard building … also a tough decision knowing clients would be coming to our home … but a right financial decision to move to our own building. Going to work after Ken passed away … Opps, the kids made that decision for me and made me go to work. Actually it was the best decision for my health and emotional well being. Thanks kids. My decision between being treated for cancer in Tarboro or Duke Cancer Center … I chose Duke because of the aggressive cancer type I had and their world class doctors. Proof of the right decision … I defied the odds and am still here going on 8 years after diagnosis. These are some of the choices I have had to made. I’m not going to list all the wrong decisions because I don’t want you to laugh at all my dumb choices. I do want you to see that by making your own choices you can effect your life for the good. You just need to figure out what’s best and then do it. Isn’t that what Nike says … Just Do It! … great advice.

Just do it

I love this quote by Thomas S. Monson: “It has been said by one, years ago, that history turns on small hinges, and so do people’s lives. Our lives will depend upon the decisions which we make – for decisions determine our destiny.” WOW … yes our choices do determine our destiny … strong thoughts!

Donkey

Now for one of my favorite stories. Its Aesop Fable, “The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey.” A father and were to journey to the city marketplace and sell a donkey for winter provisions. As they started to town, the father rode the donkey. In the first village, the villagers said, “What an inconsiderate man, riding the donkey and making his son walk!” So the father got off the donkey and let his son ride. In the next town, the people whispered, “What an inconsiderate boy, riding the donkey and making his father walk!”

In frustration, the father climbed on the donkey; and father and son rode the donkey, only to have the people in the next town declare, “How inconsiderate of the man and the boy to overload their beast of burden and treat him in such an inhumane manner!” In compliance with the dissident voices and mocking fingers, the father and son both got off the donkey to relieve the animal’s burden, only to have the next group of onlookers say, “Can you imagine a man and a boy being so stupid as to not even use their beast of burden for what it was created!”

Then, in anger and total desperation, having tried to please all those who offered advice, the father and son both rode the donkey until it collapsed. The donkey had to be carried to the marketplace and could not be sold. The people in the marketplace scoffed, “Who wants a worthless donkey that can’t even walk into the city!”

The father and son had failed in their goal of selling the donkey and had no money to buy the winter provisions they needed in order to survive. Think about it for a moment … how much different the outcome would have been if the father and son had had a plan to follow and then made to choice to follow that plan. The choice would have been so easy.

At times, making the right choices can be simple. At other times, it is truly a big struggle. But through it all, you can find comfort in knowing that you can summon support and comfort from a loving Heavenly Father to help you in making your decisions. He is intimately concerned with your welfare, and He seeks to give you blessings overflowing with guidance to make the right choices.

Just do it! Just saying …

Baloney Sandwiches Again!

On February 24, 2020February 25, 2020 By phyllistalbotIn Be Happy, Believe, Hope, Live Life, Positivity, Uncategorized1 Comment

Baloney Sandwich

“You can be wise and happy …. or stupid and miserable. The choice is yours!” ~Gordon B. Hinckley

Let me start by relating a story I once heard … I do not know who wrote it or told it … but I love this story and it’s wisdom! To begin … Yes, I love fried baloney sandwiches … especially at the beach … Thinking about them brings back memories of growing up and having to take my lunch to school each day! I actually hated baloney sandwiches then.

The Story: Two construction workers were taking a lunch break and opened up their lunch boxes. One of them looked inside his box and said, “Not baloney sandwiches again! I can’t believe it. I hate baloney. This is the third time this week I’ve had a baloney sandwich. I can’t stand baloney!” The other construction worker looked at the co-worker and said, “Why don’t you just ask your wife to make you something different?” He replied, “I don’t have a wife. I made these baloney sandwiches myself.”

Why is it that the very things that we complain about the most or don’t like about our lives are the things that we put there ourselves. I know that I do. I complain about having a messy over-loaded closet … when the remedy is to organize it myself. I complain about no snacks in the house … when I am free to go to the grocery store. I complain about working every day …. oh … no … I don’t complain about that because I’m so thankful to have something that gets me up and out each day! Really I love my job. OK… back to baloney and complaining! I complain about not seeing my kids enough … when I know it’s a two way street and I can get in my car and drive to visit them. We complain about many things that we can control. This is especially true about our attitudes … something that we also have the capacity to control, but so often choose not to.

We all understand the need to be more positive and have a happier attitude … there are a gazillion books written on the subject. We even have bible scriptures that teaches and encourages us “to be made new in the attitude of your minds.” (Ephesians 4:23) So why do we so often choose to carry around the same old attitudes that have let us down over the years.

The solution really is simple … We CAN stop packing baloney sandwiches for ourselves and start the process of developing new attitudes that will assist us in our daily lives … to develop attitudes that do not hold us back. Our attitude can either be our best friends or it can be our worst enemy. I believe my attitude is the biggest determinant to my quality of life … a happy life. It’s about making the mental shift in attitude that will allow you to power through whatever life throws at you. Think about it … if you are in a bad mood and something annoying happens … it puts you in what I call the “watch out explosion coming” category. But if you try your best to be happy .. and something annoying happens … it’s much easier to deal with. Check out this cartoon … It’s so true … look for the positive … sit in the good seats.

I’m in no way trying to trivialize life’s tribulations. Let’s face it; some of us have a great deal of pain to deal with. I sure have had plenty to deal with in my short lifetime (yes I consider myself young). However, it is essential for your well-being that you understand that these circumstances, events or situations are not the final word on your quality of life … no matter how bad it appears. It’s how you respond to them and the fear and other negative emotions they produce that make the difference. And more than anything, it’s about a shift in attitude that will allow you to power through whatever life throws at you. In fact, it’s all about attitude. It’s always been about attitude. And always will be about attitude.

Henry

I love this photo of my great-grandson Henry and the difference in what attitude means. These photos were taken about a minutes apart. Some days I bet photos resembling these could be taken of me! Unlike my Henry (who really doesn’t understand life yet) … we are in control of our attitude.

You know what kind of attitude I’m talking about? The kind that no matter the severity of the situation, you not only bounce back, but you thrive with a determination and confidence that defy the odds against you.

Do you want to know how to acquire that kind of attitude? Here’s an analogy that I read from a book by Steve Rizzo using cats as a teaching point. Observe a cat, any cat. Our family has a cat … it’s actually belongs and lives with my granddaughter Maggie … but we all consider it our cat. His name is Asha. OK back to the cat story. Go ahead observe your cat. Just watch them. They strut around the house, as if they’re God’s gift to the animal kingdom. I swear, if cats could talk, we would hear, “Meow! Meow! Ba-Da-Bing! Meow!” Our Asha sleeps anywhere he wants and dares us to move him. Yep … Meow! Meow! Ba-Da-Bing! Meow! If you fold clothes on the bed and walk away for five minutes … when you go back Asha has made that nice pile of folded clothes his comfy bed. Ba-Da-Bing!

Asha

Have you ever wondered why it is said that cats have nine lives? Because they have resilience; they bounce back. Nothing seems to affect them. Once I was brushing Asha (he didn’t like it) and he actually fell off the counter trying to avoid me. He land on his feet and look at me as if to say, “What? I meant to do that!” and then walk away. “Ba-Da-Bing! Meow!” Resilience! Bounced back!

View album “Dogs”

My family are definitely dog lovers … we have about eight dogs between all family members. Of course my favorite is my dog “Captain Jack” (he will be 15 years old this year) … he definitely has my heart. Think about it … have you ever told a cat to go fetch something? It just sits there and gives you another one of those looks. “Hey, let’s get something straight. I don’t do fetch. You want something, you tell your best friend Jack (my dog) to get it. I’m busy. The bottom line is this: Cats live on their own terms. Nobody tells them what to do. They defy the odds. All of us could use that same kind of attitude! Resilience! Bouncing back!

There’s a story about two brothers who appeared on a talk show. Again I don’t know what show or when … just read it on the internet. The first brother came out and told his story. He was divorced, broke, unemployed, angry about life, unable to control his emotions and had problems with alcohol abuse. When asked why he thought he was this way he responded, “What choice do I have? My father was an abusive alcoholic and I was destined to turn out like this, it’s all his fault!”

Then the second brother came out. He was a successful businessman with a happy marriage and smiling kids. He lived in a beautiful house, was well-respected in his local church and was a fun guy to be around. When asked why he thought he was this way he responded, “What choice do I have? My father was an abusive alcoholic and I didn’t want to turn out like him, so I focused on improving myself and becoming the best person I could be.”

I grew up with a very dysfunctional family. My father committed suicide when I was 11 years old … which turned my family upside down. After that my family had so many ups and downs. Many extended family considered us not family anymore. At some point in my growing up I decided that my family would not define me, my future family, or the choices I made. I wanted better than I had. I began to understand that we were not meant to be defined by our circumstances but by our choices regarding these circumstances. No matter how hard we try, we can’t control what happens to us, but we can choose our attitude and our emotions. We’ve always have the power to choose, we just need to exercise that choice. Sometimes those choices are hard … but so worthwhile!

Life is difficult … I can’t lie about that. But if you are like me, sometimes you make it more difficult by focusing only on the burdens. But life is not all sorrow. We just need to focus on all of life’s blessings that surround us. I have found so many blessings to be thankful even in the worst parts of my life. Remember that with every burden comes the hope of happiness. If we realize that life includes the good and the bad, enjoyment and heartache, pleasure and pain, we might be less likely to feel disheartened when all is not ideal.

View album “Phyllis Talbot”

Every morning I remind myself of how blessed I am … to pull my head out of my behind and look around at the beauty that this world has to offer me. Things are never perfect. I accept that. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t find joy and appreciate what I do have. I do have plenty to be thankful for. As I struggle to carry my own burdens, I try to focus on living with hope … which is a very powerful trait. Realizing that our loving Heavenly Father will not send us more than we can handle. Life if a test! It is accepting the fact that all is not perfect but having the strength to show the world that it will not rob me of my joy or my happiness. No more baloney sandwiches for me!

Just saying …