Education – love by the drop

Today’s Gem of Insight #14

September 19, 2014November 8, 2014Leave a comment

Today’s insight journey led me to the idea that knowing really is half of the battle. I do not know about you, but I have noticed that many people in the world today appear to be content with solely relying on the knowledge of others rather than taking the time to educate themselves. This lack of desire to educate themselves leaves them at a severe disadvantage as they attempt to navigate the challenges of life. And not only is this disturbing trend affecting their lives, but it is also creating a devastating and disabling legacy that is being passed on to successive generations, generations who do not seem to realize that in order to thrive in this life one must be educated.

Now, that’s not to say that everyone has to go to college and attend Ivy League schools. We all have our own paths to take in life. But whichever path we choose, we need to actively pursue education, so that we do not find ourselves relegated to relying on the opinions and extrapolations of others, which are often biased and ever-changing, as are the often misguided whims of human beings. We need to learn and discover things for ourselves so that when we are faced with opportunities to better this world our preparation will usher us through to success. #lovebythedrop

Finding Yourself When You Never Knew that You Were Lost

July 2, 2014Leave a comment

Sometimes you just have to reach the point when you simply say, “I am done.” I am done living my life for other people – trying to make them happy, trying to be the person whom they want me to be, trying to be everything, to everyone, at every moment. In fact, if you are completely honest with yourself, you probably will say that you have spent so much of your time and effort focusing on what everyone else wants and expects as it concerns you, that you do not even recall when exactly you lost yourself, and in turn, lost your way.

We have all likely been there at some point – frayed, tattered, and worn like our old favorite pair of shoes left to rot in quiet, isolated darkness at the bottom of an antique trunk. We kept those shoes because they were our favorite pair, after all. And oh the memories that we created while wearing those trusty and faithful companions. Yet, as essential and integral to our existence as they once were, we somehow separated ourselves from them because they no longer suited a relevant purpose – they no longer caught the occasional eye, no longer provided much needed comfort in tandem with style, no longer beckoned our presence, but rather languished in the corner neglecting to move save for the occasional lurch to emit a labored sigh as if to remind you that they, like you, were still there.

Somewhere along the way, just as we ushered those shoes to the side, we did the same thing to ourselves, the only difference is that we foolishly thought that nothing had changed, when it fact everything had. This, my dears is what has been festering in my heart as of late – the reality that somewhere, in time, in space, I made the decision to lay myself down and inadvertently forgot to pick myself back up. Is it too late? No, not for me, and I would venture to say that the same is probably true for most people who incidentally leave themselves by the wayside.

Thankfully, I am in the process of picking myself back up again. And where I will go from here, I cannot really say – that is a journey bearing a destination that is yet unknown. However, I will continue, to be, to engage, to strive, to move forward, all the while finding my way back to life. #lovebythedrop

Today’s Gem of Gratitude #365

June 13, 2014Leave a comment

Today I am thankful for insight. On today, the last day of my 365 Days of Thanks project, I find myself thinking about insight, specifically the insight that I have been blessed to acquire throughout my completion of this project. Taking the time to think about and describe something different for which I am thankful each day has truly been an eye-opening experience for me. I have learned even more about the minute idiosyncrasies that comprise who I am, how I live, whom I love, and to what I dedicate my efforts and my time. And I have also become more aware of just why it is that I have no reason to ever allow myself to have a pity party.

Simply put, I have too much to be thankful for to allow myself to focus on the few moments, instances, and circumstances that seek to cause me to lose sight of the importance of exercising my sense of gratitude at all times. This 365 Days of Thanks project has truly been a journey. And just because I have technically completed the project, that does not mean that I am finished writing about the blessings in my life for which I am truly thankful. Trust me, there is so much more that remains to be shared. And in the meantime, I thank you all for taking this journey with me thus far, and I hope that you will stay with me for the remainder of the ride. #lovebythedrop