Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend. Happy 4th of July to you and your family. The 4th of July is a day to commemorate independence and the freedom. The independence and freedom to exercise the freedom to be who we are and the freedom to use our gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for us. As with our forefathers, we have been given the opportunity to follow our dreams and to live our lives in a way that we imagined. In my experience, I have learned several lessons.
Freedom and Independence open doors to possibilities on a daily basis. Freedom and Independence give and provide the opportunity and the power to open and then walk through those doors. In my experience I have found that whether I walk through those doors is solely my choice – because I am the only one who can live my life. When I forget to remember that I have that power – the power to choose – I invariably set myself up to believe that I am being victimized by life and by my circumstances.
A little over 3 years ago I wrote an article under the title of Painting your Portrait {AKA} This is Not a Dress rehearsal. Over the past several days I have been thinking about the contents of the article. On this 4th of July, please allow me to share part of that article with you my friend. Thank you. May both you and your family have a safe and empowering 4th of July.
Painting your Portrait {AKA} This is Not a Dress rehearsal
What an odd title. Painting your Portrait {aka} This is Not a Dress Rehearsal. The title sounds like a mystery novel made into a movie. However, I am not talking about something made in Hollywood. Look a little closer. That is right. I am talking about your and my life. Our lives are precious. We get to choose how we experience the journey. Choice gives us the responsibility to get involved with our lives. Wow. You mean I get to choose. Most definitely!
You may say to yourself or to other people, “You don’t know what I have too…” or “You don’t know how I…”or “If you only knew I …” To be honest with you, I have made similar statements during my life time. My challenge was to stop making excuses and begin living life on life’s terms. I would also encourage you to stop letting your “what”, “how”, and “only” be the reason why you hesitate. If you believe you are stuck in a box, learn how to be happy in that box.
If you can not find contentment living with in that box, find ways to use your creative energy. Use your creative energy to learn to live outside of that box. Use you creative energy — in ways that work for you — to maximize your quality of living. Use your creative energy to follow your dreams. Use your creative energy to live the life that you have imagined — because our lives are not dress rehearsals.
“If you don’t like something, change it; if you can not change it, change the way you think about it.” Mary Engelbreit
“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined…you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau
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