LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

Whether it was someone in your childhood or someone you may not even know personally, we all tend to want to aspire to "be" like someone. We have all witnessed things that have shaped us. I have had several people like this in my life and have been blessed by positive influences from people who took their time and energy to teach me something or help me when they didn't have to. I have, unfortunately, had my share of negative influences also and just like most people I struggle daily with keeping my attitude, emotions, and actions in check! Sometimes those negative influences can serve you well as an example of how not to be. Parents are our first examples, of course. In most cases that is a good thing, but in some cases, unfortunately, this causes most of the issues of dysfunction in a person's life. I personally have always had a fascination with people, why they behave the way they do, why some are so successful and why some are not. I believe each individual is gifted by God with talents and abilities to contribute to this life as our purpose or calling, whatever you want to call it. I have always tried to be conscious of finding my own personal path. Even when I was a young girl I remember wondering about the differences of people, "If God created us all equal why doesn't everyone end up equal?" I didn't know it but I was determined to be one of those who figured it out! I have always worked hard and given anything I was doing all of my effort and that philosophy of determination has served me well for all my life. However, these questions still loom in my mind, even though I have somewhat grown up and learned all about that thing called "free will." It's very difficult to acknowledge that once we are old enough to make choices for ourselves we can't blame anything on our parents, our circumstance or anything or anyone else really. We have to own up to our own life and live it the way we choose. In whatever we do each day we are making a difference in our world, to the people we are in contact with whether you know them or not. It is our choice to determine what direction that difference will go in. So, let's commit to make it the best we can with the resources and abilities we have been given one day at a time.