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When one door opens…..

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Rejection.  GASP.  Yes, I have said it.  Rejection.  It seems like such a harsh word, right?  We have all experienced this from one time to another and maybe we see this as a negative.  I dare to challenge you to look at it in a positive light.

When we are rejected in a business proposition, a relationship, a meeting or a date, we might have feelings of insecurity.  We might feel offended, vulnerable…or otherwise hurt.  We shouldn’t be feeling any of the above really!  We should seek peace and solace that there is a GREATER reason that door has shut.  I struggled with this concept for a very long time.  I still struggle with it too.  It’s a human thing.

I think if you realized how many times in a day one could be rejected and how that rejection shapes the post actions of yourself you might just find that things are not as bad as they seem.  Rejection is apart of life after all.

In my experience, when I find a “love interest” that I am into, but their vibes scream otherwise it is hard to accept.  Why don’t they like me?  Why do I ALWAYS do this?  It must be me….why do I am I always doing this?  Well did you ever stop and think–It’s not you, it’s them…I have found this is usually the case.  They are the ones that are going through whatever it is they are and that is OK!  It is OK that they aren’t into you.  Would you really want someone who wasn’t 100% all about you anyways?  My answer is no.

It is our journey.  It is our path as much as it is theirs.  The person doing the rejecting may just not be there yet in his/her journey and it is better to learn to accept and love them regardless.  You don’t just stop being you because you have been rejected–you embrace yourself even more so.  Be you ever more!  Show others that rejection doesn’t own you!  Rejection sometimes provides the motivation to get from where you are to where you want to be!  Allow it to work positively and always keep looking up.  God will always provide something bigger and better if you allow it to happen.

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Shift in Focus. Adjust Perception. Change in heart.

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‎”When one focuses too much on the negative, all they see is road blocks. When one focuses on the positive, that is where one finds hope…” (me)

 

It is so easy to allow ourselves to be drug down by the muck surrounding us or listen to others that are only trying to bring us down.  Unfortunately, it is harder to be a leader than it is just to allow us to be sucked in to the abyss.  It is so easy to listen to the negative bringing us down….then we crash…If we ever expect to make it past tomorrow’s muck we must be willing to change our focus and stop listening to the outside noise.  Focus on what is good.  Focus on what we have going for us and focus on hope.  Hope is a key component to this whole situation.

One way I like to ensure that I don’t become a dirty muck pie is to visually wipe myself clean (literally take my hands and fling off the negative) and affirm myself often.  I constantly need to remind myself exactly what my purpose is.  Without affirmation, we can lose focus.  Something simple would be “I am a vessel to which God uses for His Good Works.”  I also like to personally make take my focus deep inside of me and allow God to transform from the inside out.  Think about it, this takes YOU out of it and allows Him to work His magic.  “Send my mind, body and soul into light and love” is another great affirmation.

Human’s are naturally imperfect.  We will always have flaws.   By taking us out of the mix, we are able to recognize we are a tiny part of this bigger picture.  It is amazing to understand what your purpose is and to fall in line with the circle of life!  Each little purpose that we all have is apart of a bigger entity.  We might be small, but the purpose of the small is equal of importance to the bigger picture’s results!  Without the little parts, the picture will never be fully complete!

Next key component…adjust your perception and do not make anything bigger than what it is.  You own that girl….or guy?!   This is a true test of inner peace when you can keep everything in check.  You spill coffee and it goes down the front of your shirt…take a deep breath and embrace it.  We have all been there and you know what?  Starbucks has a shirt with a “printed coffee stain” down the front of it!  You can get that for the bargain of $80 at your local department store.  Someone cancels on you, again.  OK.  Not a big deal!  That is life–so what are you going to do now?  Maybe go on a walk, or find a little cafe’ close and just observe!  Life is good remember.  It’s not the end of the world.

Now we are focused.  Everything is in check and balanced, so now what?  Now we have to make the most important change!  Change in our heart will not just happen overnight.  It takes time to get ourselves back to a state that is more enjoyable.  Let me explain….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eefP4bG2EkI&feature=related

When we were children, we had very little to worry about and things seemed relatively easy.  Something happens to our heart as we grow up to be adults where we allow the muck of the world to steal our innocence.  Now it seems we are always stressed, always on the go, and always rushing without really taking time to smell the roses.  This is definitely a problem.  When this situation gets to this point, we are really missing out on living.  Those little things as a child we so dearly loved are now buried under adult junk.  UH OH…now what?  A change of heart is needed to keep in balance.

Start simple.  “Live simply so that others might simply live.” (Mother Teresa) Learn to notice everyone on the street, yes even the weird ones.  The people who are the most interesting are the one’s (usually) last noticed.  Dare you to talk to one!  (Oh did your mother tell you not to talk to strangers?  Well it’s fine now, you’re an adult!)  Learn to ask people questions when you don’t understand.  Learn how to give your time and knowledge to helping others succeed.  Hey they might thank you later!   Learn to get back to that child like innocence and you might just find yourself living an even more incredible life.  Take the ownership back and start living life with a purpose!

❤  CatMan  🙂

Random dance party…

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I must say this day has been amazing!  I was out of the office the majority of the day.  I accomplished so much.  I started at the office where I send out a handful of emails.  Then I went to my DR’s appointment(what a bitch it is to go to the DR over balding and heartburn at 25!) where my appointment accidentally got switched.  I was delayed–which is not so bad really.  SO I sent out “Happy Hump Day” messages.  I got a call from Katherine asking what that was…and that was a beautifully short but sweet conversation.  I then went to the store and successfully bought Rogaine (for women) for the first time,  print off all of my pictures to send out, and organized my life.  By the way, if you are ever looking for hair loss medicine, like Rogaine, it will be found on the TOP shelf in the “medicated” hair product section.  You actually have to look up….Well anyways,  I have a new friend that I have been talking to and I will call him Nomad.  And followers….He.  Is.  Wonderful.  We have been talking for a few weeks…and I talked with him for almost 2 hours this evening.  First, I can hear your voice in like 7ish years.  What a wonderful addition!
We met when I was a sophomore in college and literally talked maybe 5 times between then and what we are talking now.  Last contact before this was a Christmas card sent early for break…at 19 I didn’t appreciate it.  BUT, It was pretty funny because, we just kept talking this time and here we are now.  🙂  Such a strangely cool connection.  It’s SO very strange.  We will see if he gets tired of me anytime soon…
So because my language program didn’t workout…I decided to have a random dance party instead.
My play list is as follows:
Flo Rida/Club Can’t Even Handle Me Right Now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOep-pUv-9g
LASTLY:
Coolio/Gangsta’s Paradise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFK6H_CcuX8

 

Enjoy the music as it was picked by yours truly!  If you have any additions YOU my readers would like to see….Please feel free to post and add!

Love, light, and happiness to all,

CatMan

You can’t teach compassion!

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You can’t have a light without a dark to stick it in.
– Arlo Guthrie

Today I start with this quote.  I say this because I am sick of being in a funk.  Bad days….good days…its life!  Life is all about what you make of it.  Part of this funk includes a harsh realization of who my friends really are and whom of which I can depend on…which surprisingly enough are a TON.

Friends make everything better.  If they are sincerely your friend, they will be there with you in heart, soul, love, and in your life!  When they exit, they really aren’t leaving for good but just taking a vacation.  So many times we get bogged down with the everyday grind that it’s difficult to see the light.  Friends get you to refocus yourself back on the light.  They can untangle the mess your in and help you get back on track.

Isn’t it amazing how well things work out when we keep things in perspective?  That bad day we had three weeks ago doesn’t seem all that bad now.  You survived!  It is inevitable that you are going to have more bad days to come…can you survive those too?  YES!  Yes you can.  Keep yourself in check and support those in their efforts.  Be a friend.

There are different levels of friendship but a friend is a friend none the less.  Keep an open and understanding heart to all those who are in your life and even to those who aren’t.  Did you know that you can be a friend to a complete stranger?  Amazing isn’t it?!  Stay positive for yourself first and foremost.  Stay positive and strong for those around you.  Be kind to everyone…not just those who you consider friends.  I love this quote by Plato, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”.  But, most of all have compassion toward all.

 

Aren't the hands of kindness so beautiful?

 

 

Everyone struggles with their life.  No one said life was going to be easy.  Doing the right thing, being there for someone even when it is inconvenient for you, loving someone even though they don’t love you back…these are all hard things to do but, if practiced often it helps keep things in perspective.  When practiced, you shift your whole outlook on humanity, yourself, others, your relationship with others…etc.

I cannot teach you to be positive.  I cannot teach you kindness.  I cannot teach you to be compassionate.  I can show you how to be positive, kind, and compassionate though!

 

Be an unexpected Angel...there's an element of surprise!

 

 

Reach out.  Be a friend to someone today.  They might really need someone’s kind words to help them thru their unheard battles.  They might just really need someone to listen or take interest in them.  Or maybe just a heartfelt encouraging note.  It doesn’t take much to be a friend.  It merely takes a simple act of love.  This is so fitting…http://www.actoflovefoundation.org/.

 

Expect nothing. Gain everything!

 

 

Carry your candle…

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So, I have decided today was kind of blah.  I got a few things done (cough 2 projects!) and then I was done.  A rough Monday if you will.

This past weekend was filled with interesting happenings.  First off, I think as we all have specific energy that helps gravitate others either away or toward us.  It’s almost like seeing people of light and of dark in a sense.  For me, I tend to attract some pretty cool people but, they might not necessarily be anyones first choice.  I love them!  Those are the people who make things happen.  For an instance, on Friday night when I was getting my nails done, Nicki was the name of the woman who took care of me.  She was going thru some guy issues.  I could tell she had something on her mind, so I asked.  Sometimes, people just need you to ask!   We had an at length conversation about boyfriends, marriage…etc.  🙂  She had a dim light because of all the crap she was going thru…but I guarantee once she eliminates that–she will be in good shape!

Next, my friend Katherine and I ate dinner at a restaurant that has really good sweet tea.  We walked in, out of the cold, and had a delightful time.  I am sure people thought we might be sauced because both of us together are all giggles and politeness.  🙂  Then the manager came around to check on us and we struck up a conversation about his situation!  He was planning a wedding with his 24-year-old fiancée and so we were drilling him on that!  How great…then out of no where he asked me if I wanted a gallon of sweet tea!  UH HECK YES I DO!  My inner child was just jumping for joy!  Best part being I got it for free.

The attraction just kept coming thru the last part of our night at Karaoke.  While we were up singing, the table right in front of us participated in our singing antics.  We were energetic, and just having a blast.  AND the one that I had a connection to was named Gopher.  He was a regular.  We talked about everything.  Literally.  He probably gave me the biggest complement ever that night.  He told me that the reason why I could carry a conversation on with anyone about anything was because I was secure with in myself.  That means this stranger could see what progress I made in the last 2 years.  That is huge.  His light too burned brightly.  So did the stage lights though….

OH my did I feel like such a Rock Star up there!   “DON’T STOP BEELLLLIEEVVING…..HOLD ON TO THAT FEEELLLING!  STREET LIGHTS, PEOPPLLLE!”  (excerpt from Journey-Don’t Stop believing)  By the end of the night, we were dancing on tables and singing at the top of our lungs!  I never thought that would be possible but OH yes it was!  We ended up closing the bar down.

Well on Saturday, it was all about my Special Olympic athletes.  🙂  Totally had Bowling State!  Everyone did so well.  There were 13 athletes that competed.  We had two athletes place first and it was super awesome.  There is just something so special about them.  You could see the nervous looks on their faces as well as succeeding…it is one thing you can just never replace.  I think the coolest thing that happened though on Saturday was when an athlete from another team got a strike.  She ran and gave me a hug!  I just hugged her right back but how precious is that?

I think that if you really think about things and about how we all connect, you might be more inclined to let your light shine a little brighter.  Deal with the situations you are given, take a lesson from each and move on!  Those who understand, will always support you.

Visualize:  A dark world with little specks of light scattered around it, some brightly burning and others dark as night.  Imagine if the specks gravitated toward one another.  What a bold visual!  What if then the semi bright ones also reflected in the darkness and made them bright too?  What a beautiful bright world this would be.  Let us strive for that kind of world today!

 

Carry your candle 🙂

 

 

Peace and Love,

CatMan