Shhh! Please Don’t Say That!

I came out of the fitness center yesterday and saw a couple loading up their air mattresses and other swimming gear. They had been enjoying a Sunday afternoon of swimming and playing water volleyball. I commented: “Looks like you had fun in the sun" and the woman replied “Yes! It was such a beautiful day!” And to her comment, I said, “Well, enjoy it while it lasts because before long it will be snowing!” She returned: “Oh, please don’t say that!” And then I thought….for goodness sake, where did that come from? I just brought in a negative image into their otherwise beautiful day. That's just not like me!

I’m the one that is usually wanting to put my finger to people's lips and say "Shhh -- don't say that!" Especially when I hear them say things like “I’m so stupid", "I can just look at a cookie, and I gain weight", "I get a cold this time every year", "I could never win at that", "I’ll never be able to afford that", "I’m too old to do that", etc. And, you know what…..they will continue to get what they are saying and thinking. “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit" (1 Peter 3:10).

I am typically an optimistic thinker and speaker. I wasn’t born that way, but through conscious effort and repetition, it's now my mode of operation….usually, except for that “snow” remark yesterday. Can I blame it on a "senior moment"? In all seriousness, I anticipate happiness, good health and success, and I sincerely believe that I can overcome any obstacle and difficulty with a "can-do" attitude.

Optimistic and positive people really do experience happy feelings; their eyes are bright, they're almost always smiling, they have more energy and their whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even their health is affected in a positive way, and they walk tall, their voices are more powerful and their body language shows the way they feel.

Positive thinking and speaking is contagious, but so is negative thinking and speaking. We really can become optimistic and control and change our thoughts and what comes out of our mouths.. It’s like changing the channel on a TV – we see a program we don’t want to watch, so we change the channel. In the same way, when a negative thought comes to us, rather than continuing to think that negative thought….change the channel to something good and positive.

If we make a conscious effort to speaking positive, writing positive, reading positive, watching positive and take actions that make us feel positive, eventually, it will be second nature for us to shift any negative focus to positive. If we persevere, we will transform the way our mind thinks, as well as the beautiful things that will start coming our way. So, let’s start thinking before we speak. Those positive thoughts might produce the harvest we’ve been believing for!” Right Thinking. Right Words. Blessed Life!

Proverbs 18:4 “A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

It's Never Too Late

Day 62 of Photo Inspirations -- It's Never Too Late
Okay -- I'm truly inspired. I read about this incredible lady, who for the last 25 years has been disabled with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.  76 yr old Eleanor Pendergraft spent 20 years in a wheelchair and then five years ago, she started working out in a gym six days a week.

Today, she competes in the Senior Olympics, has been named one of Blue Cross’ top 20 most inspirational people and has been featured in a TV commercial.  The news from her doctor motivated her to fight back, and though her first day at the gym was difficult, she kept going.  And even double knee replacements couldn’t keep her off the track. In participating in the Senior Olympics her body was changed but so was her mental health by introducing her to a new group of friends and inspirational people.

Eleanor says you don’t need a major medical emergency to start changing your life. She once was on so many medications but now doesn't have to take any of them, thanks to running.  And I love that she spends her time giving back to so many charitable causes -- because she has been given so much..

I'm a runner, too!  I run at least 3 miles a day, five days a week, and I assure you -- it has made the difference in my life -- my healthy immune system, my energy, my weight control.  But, this post is not necessarily about running, it's about not giving up.  It's about changing those negative things in your life around.  It's not too late.  You, too, can overcome obstacles if you set your mind to it.  I urge you to listen to this interview with Eleanor -- she'll definitely inspire you, too.

https://www.growingbolder.com/eleanor-pendergraft-3019423/

#NeverTooLate #OvercomeObstacles #PhotoInspiration

What Would You Do to Face Your Fears?

I love success stories -- especially the success stories of my friends. Meet my sweet friend, Kristina Vinberg, from Bellevue, WA. She's been my grandsons' nanny for several years, and I've watched this little gal overcome many obstacles in her life. She was in a car accident a couple of years ago that caused her to have ongoing debilitating pain, but she never let it stop her. She faced the loss of family members and friends, and encountered other tactics by the enemy to take her down, but her strong faith, relentless determination, and absolute conquering spirit has caused her to WIN -- no matter what she faced.

But, my admiration for her resilience and optimism was only strengthened when I saw this video of her doing a tandem skydiving jump last week. That adventure represented what she has had to conquer in her real life experiences. Each negative scheme of the enemy would only cause her to have more determination. I loved watching this video with her and my family -- she was giddy and beaming from ear to ear as she told us how exciting it was. She was so proud of herself, and we are, too! Of course she started out with total fear (she was jumping out of a plane -- whew) but she became completely calm when she realized the strength, expertise and security that her tandem partner provided. In fact, she became so free that she is ready to go for the next exciting thing ahead. NO FEAR, because fear was conquered. When we realize that our Father (our Partner) has the strength, ability and everything we need to conquer in this life, we, too, will know that freedom.

Isn't it time that you and I to face those fears that have caused us to freeze in our tracks and have kept us from the FREEDOM that God wants us to live in?
"In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and He answered by setting me free." Psalms 118:5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJA8tUA0Al8