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All posts for the month March, 2016

The Power of Words

Published March 24, 2016 by Jcw

"Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble." -Yehuda Berg

For the most of us that live in a society we consider to be polite or politically correct, we take care, as we should to use words and phrases with others that are not derogatory or offensive.  I am in total support of us understanding each other and being considerate of each others experiences and feelings.  This just makes common sense to me as a part of a diverse global society.

We spend a lot of time and effort in addressing how we speak to the outside world, but how often do we think about how we speak to our-self?

SELF TALK is so important, the same words that can be used to speak power, love, and positive energy into the lives of others can be spoken into your own lives and circumstances.   The messages that we allow into our hearts drive us and impact each and everything we do.

I am a big India.Arie fan and the lyrics of her songs just gel with me in so many ways.  One of my favorite songs is 'Get it together' my favorite lyric:

 "Cause the words that come from your mouth, you're the first to hear

 Speak words of beauty and you will be there, No matter what anybody says

What matters most is what you think of yourself"

Take a moment and think about that….

What messages are you speaking into your own life?   What are you fueling your subconscious with?  Are you setting yourself up for failure? Are you celebrating the wonderfully amazing creature that you are?

We tend to be our own harsh critic, and I am not saying self-evaluation is a bad thing…life is all about balance.  Acknowledge your faults and areas where you need to approve by all means, but let's make time and effort to be our own cheerleaders, our biggest supporter.

Start and end each day by looking in the mirror and feeding your own spirit.

Repeat after me

"I am beautiful"

"I am capable"

"I am brilliant"

"I am enough"

"I am everything"

"I can….."

"I will….."

Fill in your own blanks…  show off your strengths, celebrate them, embrace them…

I want to see you fly….

India.Arie – Get it Together

My Health Scare

Published March 10, 2016 by Jcw

This is the precept by which I have lived: Prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes.
Robert E. Speer

Oh but if it was always so easy…….

A few weeks ago I went in for my very first mammogram, it was a bit uncomfortable but over and done with relatively quickly, That was Friday.

The following Tuesday I got the call that we all fear, “we found something” and just like that everything changed.   I sat back down to my desk and continued through the day making an appointment for that Thursday to go in for the additional scan and ultrasound.

I left work early heading to this appointment  which was a bit more uncomfortable, they still saw something…… so off to the ultrasound I went.  The ultrasound was easy but nerve wrecking sitting in the room waiting to see what they think.

More bad news, I’ve got t o come back for a biopsy.

The appointment for my biopsy was Tuesday, I went about life and enjoyed my weekend with my fiends and mentally prepared myself for Tuesday’s appointment. I am good, I am ready and positive…. Then the calls start to come.

– call one: (incoming) we are confirming your appointment at ###, wait that’s not where my appointment is… Oh it changed.

-call two: (outgoing 5 minutes later) I just got a call to confirm my appointment but I no longer see it in the app on my schedule. Oh your appointment was rescheduled to later that day in the original location. That doesn’t work for me, so we finally get it sorted out to return Thursday morning.
At this particular moment, I lost it.. I was prepared for this potentially life changing appointment, the one to answer so many questions on what comes next and now it’s delayed?

The biopsy was uncomfortable but over relatively quickly.  I left with a bit of hope, it could be nothing.   Back to waiting again….

My primary care Dr gave me a ring the following week, great news NOT CANCER!!! The tumor is benign but it needs to be removed.  I went in and met with the surgeon and scheduled the surgery.   Yesterday,  the tumor was successfully removed. I am a bit sore but none the worse for wear.

I am blessed and extremely grateful that I came through this surgery with no complications and pending a final pathology report God willing I have a clean bill of health.  I am thankful for my mom who saw me through it, my closest friends and my girls at work who stood by me and supported me through this.

We all see the posts, F*CK CANCER… we share the facebook status’ that cancer sucks but I think we can all do a bit more than that.  We can do way more to spread awareness and to make sure that treatment comes sooner than later.

  1.  Get tested, please get your mammograms and prostate screenings!  It is so much better to know whats going n and to get help and treatment sooner than later.
  2. Encourage everyone you care about to get tested! Take advantage of your healthcare, go in for your annual physcial
  3. Set an example for your children, talk to them about the importance of taking care of there health, lets remove any sort of stigma that physical and health screenings aren’t important.
  4. Tell your stories, you never know who will benefit from them.

Click Here for some of the recommended Health screenings for men and women.

 

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Losing Focus 

Published March 8, 2016 by Jcw

Don’t Lose Focus
Sometimes we lose our focus. We can be walking in love all day, going along fine, until someone comes along and offends us. As soon as we forget our focus of love, we stop making progress and come to a standstill – aggravated, upset, and offended.

–Joyce Meyer, Starting your day right

These words came right on time this morning.  I have personally had a lot going on in the last  few weeks, however through the ups and downs I have pretty much remained balanced and steady.  I have been embracing all of the beautiful things that God has called me to be.  I have been focused on improving and growing , its not easy but I am getting much better at it.

Yesterday that changed,  a distraction came in the form of an accidental call from a friend to whom I haven’t spoken in a while.   There wasn’t anything  implicitly sinister or bad about the call but it jilted my focus.   Suddenly, I was a basket case and the things that I was coping with well seemed overwhelming. I got a headache and my blood pressure rose (i know, i checked).

For weeks I was fine but one innocent distraction was just enough to break my focus.  A good friend could hear the change in my voice and spirit, she said “don’t let the enemy distract you”

Just like that… She hit the nail on the head.

If I was doing good before, I should be doing good after.  The accidental caller didn’t do anything but pop up while I was going through a particular  storm. The caller didn’t cause the storm and cant end the storm.  The call was just another wave crashing into me, harmless and i believe filled with good intentions.

Our lives are like ships in the sea, waves of distraction (good/bad) will come especially as we travel through the storms of relationships, finances, career, health, and whatever we face.

We have to stay the course keeping our end goals and destinations in sight.  Our coordinates may change we may have to adjust the route but we can’t give up.

Don’t let the bumps in the road or unexpected allow you to lose your focus.

Take a moment! breathe! Reflect and refocus!

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