#203

"The best use of imagination is creativity. The worst use of imagination is
anxiety." Deepak Chopra

This is the difference between the thinker and the doer. The thinker may come up with great ideas, and sometimes even puts them into action; but not necessarily always. Too often, logic gets in the way. The thinkers are married to logic, being rational left-brain thinkers. 

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the world" 

Albert Einstein

Meanwhile, on the other side of the brain, the doers will take an idea and run with it. No fear, no anxiety, just action. The doers will make it happen, they will create it.The imagination is at the core of everything.

"Imagination should be used, not to escape reality, but to create it." 

Collin Wilson

You need to be able to do something merely because you know it is the thing to do. You can see it, feel it and almost taste it; and it will come to fruition. Trust yourself, and just do it.

"Beware of minimizing imagination by equating it to a game of pretend. Every single creation, from The Great Wall of China to the first flight to the moon, was a by-product of imagination." TEAL

Logic will get you from A to Z. Imagination will get you everywhere else."

Albert Einstein

Who can argue with Albert Einstein? Believe in yourself!

#202

There are two sides to every story....

We have heard this expression throughout our lives many times. But it really comes into focus, concerning judgement. 

I think most people experience judgement and find themselves criticizing others. We form an opinion about some person or action. Our viewpoint is derived from our own experiences and may or may not be 'on the money.' 

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as WE are." Anais Nin

There is no way we have any idea what is going on in anyone else's brain; and therefore we have no business coming up with any opinion whatsoever as to why the situation is what it is. But that doesn't stop our beliefs from rising to the surface and usually out of our mouths; no doubt to insert our foot. 

The same principle can be applied to other circumstances where you might make a judgement call, judge a book by it's cover or perhaps make a snap judgement concerning some situation. Perhaps two people witness a car accident and come up with different accounts of the same  event. You may assume that one of them has ulterior motives or is simply lying, because he didn't see things as you thought they were. Not necessarily true, they saw what they saw, and you saw what you saw.

We can give our opinion, but what others are doing is none of our business. Judgement is the bottom feeder of the negativity pool and always reflects on you. It makes you look bad and often feel bad, as well. Everyone has their story, and no one person is better than another. We are just different. Everyone has special talents and things they don't excel at.

There are always two sides to every story, don't jump to conclusions no matter what you think you see or hear. Everyone is entitled to their own truth without any judgement from anyone.

#201

Know that every situation brings a blessing. 

All the situations, the good and 'bad' ones, in your life, have taken place to help you in some way... they are your lessons. 

There is something you came here to learn this time around, and the entire universe has conspired to help you in your quest for understanding. Your journey is filled with experiences in various forms, and from each there is a little more illumination concerning the whys and wherefores of your existence. 

You will receive what you are looking for... what you need. Circumstances will point you toward a situation that will show you the answer. You may or may not gain the experience at that time, depending on how open you are to what is going on. You may be preoccupied and miss the signs, but never fear, there is always a replay. You will continue to do the same thing, over and over, and receive hints and signs until you 'get it.'

You may be on a quest to learn patience, and you will experience situations that require you to be patient, or maybe it's compassion or love. What are you striving toward? What do you feel compelled to learn? Usually the traits that you are trying to emulate are the ones you came to learn.

The gift, for all that you endured is the awareness that you received from the experience. You will always be grateful for all that you learned, because it is so sweet to finally KNOW.

"Find the gift, know that you have chosen to be here now and have this experience because it is helping you to grow and awaken to the glory of who you are."

#200

LIFE*

Available for a limited time only. Limit one (1) per person.

This quote makes you think. We all seem to take our life for granted on a day to day basis. Unless we have a major disaster, whereby realizing our mortality, it seems as though complaining is a major life activity. 

We are not too pleased with the body we received, or at least some part of it. We may not be too happy with our job, our home, or the family we received either; this constitutes a large part of the life we are leading, doesn't it? 

That being said, most of us do HAVE a complete functioning body, a home, a job and family around us. We all know, of course, that there are people worse off then we are, but does that make us completely happy or grateful for our blessings? 

We have every advantage, especially compared to the a great section of the earth, but are we programmed to expect even more? Many people in our own privileged country have survived loss in countless ways; financial, physical, and emotional. And some have survived war, illness and death, but still, do we appreciate all that we have? 

I'd like to think that most of us, at least sometimes, practice gratitude. We have been given a life and it really is quite amazing. Check your pulse, be grateful for the gift of life.

It's easy to let days fly by without taking notice of the world around you. Life is beautiful... soak it in, think about it, and be grateful.

#199

The universe responds to our inner yearnings...

The people that enter your life, throughout your life, have messages for you, answer questions that have been troubling you and help you sort out conflicts in your life. 

You may, at times, feel especially drawn to someone that turns out to be bad for you. Just because you feel an attraction does not mean it is for your good. If it is for good or if it is not, there will be a lesson involved.

Don't forget you attract what you need, not necessarily what you want.

Nothing is as it seems and nothing is simple. It is like the layers of an onion, there is such depth to a simple meeting on the street. It is not just a 'chance' meeting, there is a reason for each encounter, you are meant to meet, at that time and at that place. 

Each time any encounter or relationship runs it's course it helps you to 'hone up' your intuition. You will begin to realize that you 'know' when someone is right for you to form a friendship or relationship with. 

"Every time you follow your intuition, your personal vibration intensifies. The more your personal vibration is intensified the more you will pull people into your life who carry messages for you."

You will begin to only invite and/or allow people in that compliment you, that are respectful and good for you. 

"The universe responds to our inner yearnings."

"It is universal law"

#198

There's no point in consistently worrying about everything.

Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be.

It will be as it is meant to be. You can rant and rave, scream and cry, throw things, do anything that makes you feel better, but until it is time.... nothing will happen. You cannot control it, control is an illusion.

You usually dig a bigger hole by fighting what is... you can't change the way things are at this moment, they already are. So, if you find yourself in some predicament, and feel the anger/indignation/resentment or which ever negative emotion is uppermost in your mind, rising within you... what do you do? 

You need to look at the situation, see what is going on, take it all in, and either change it or accept it. If you are able to change it, then by all means change it; but if you cannot; your only choice is to accept it and carry on. It is what it is. 

If you are worrying that something may happen, you are wasting your time.... most things you worry about will never happen anyway. You cannot force anything to happen, so just go with the flow, it will happen or it will not. You need to trust that whichever way it goes, it is for the best. Just breathe. Live in the moment, do your life, enjoy yourself.

"Worrying doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace"  Randy Armstrong

Be calm, be at peace...the journey has started and you are in charge.

#197

The same boiling water that softens potatoes hardens eggs. Its all about what you are made of, not your circumstances.

Great quote....

Even though we feel that whatever is taking place at the moment is what we are reacting to, it's actually a reaction from within ourselves. 

You probably have experienced the differences in children within the same family; if we take two children, of the same sex, same parents, we will find that they usually do not react the same way to most situations. So their circumstances were similar, but their reactions are not. Isn't that interesting?

Simply stated...we all consist of different combinations of chromosomes. Whatever is in you when you arrive, determines who you will be. Even if you were not raised with your birth family, you would still have the same combinations that determine who you are. You are always YOU. As I have mentioned previously, your life's plan is written in your fingerprints, stating conclusively who you are.  You are always destined to be YOU.

To our make-up, we add our experiences, and this results in our story. The story often determines how we act or react to different circumstances, many times, over riding our true nature. It is our perception of our experiences that cause us to overreact to certain things, or follow certain destructive patterns. The story pushes your buttons and produces fear. 

So your assignment in life is to get yourself back to what you are made of, to drop the story and be who you were meant to be. It is a process, it takes time and commitment to make it happen.  Drop the story and you'll drop the fear. Tune in to who you really are, who you are meant to be; don't be held hostage by your circumstances and/or your fears.

#196

"Whatever makes you weird is probably your greatest asset" Joss Whedon

What do you think? There has always been controversy around whether or not people want to be different or the same as 'everyone else'. 

As teens, they want to break free and everything revolves around how 'different' they can look. (We don't need to tell them, that within their group, their 'different look' is exactly the same as their peers.) Perhaps what they want is to be different from their parents or be different than their parents would like them to look. They most definitely DO NOT want to be boring and/or basic. It is a rebellion, a right of passage. 

BUT, sometimes this carries on into adulthood, when they are still not owning their differences. They are still not comfortable in their skin, simply because they are different. They may have been teased/bullied when they were younger because they didn't fit in the mainstream, and this is a cross they are still carrying. 

Meanwhile, they could have been

celebrating the attributes that make them the distinct individual that they are. 

Being different or weird is what sets you apart from the herd. It is what makes YOU, YOU. It is what you are all about. It is probably your greatest asset. Never hide your weird side. Celebrate your differences, own them, they make you who you are. Viva la difference!

#195

Why not you?

Why not you to be, have or do anything you have ever dreamed? 

So many people seem to walk around with a dark cloud over their heads, all doom and gloom. They seem to feel that nothing good ever happens for them and don't expect that anything ever will. Well, not with that attitude, that's for sure. You need to rein it in. 

You get what you give out! 

If you feel as though you don't deserve anything, you will find that that is exactly what you get .... nothing. If you don't think you deserve anything, no one else will either. It's a self-fulfilling prophesy... if you keep going around thinking and being less than, the rest of the populace will assume you are.

You are the only one that can fix this malfunction. 

"Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change." Dr. Wayne Dyer  

So, change your attitude, start looking for the good in people, try thinking of someone else besides yourself, do something for someone else, get a rescue pet and take good care of it, practice gratitude. 

The world does not revolve around you. And, you are totally entitled to sit around and mope about how nothing good ever happens in your life. But really where will that get you? You might just as well join the rest of the world and put in some effort. 

You are valuable too, you deserve everything the universe has to give you. "You is kind, you is smart, you is important" - THE HELP 

That is really all you need to know.

#194

Everyone is my teacher...

Sometimes you realize that you want a more in-depth analysis on some subject, and will look for a course or someone with some knowledge on the subject. 

Other times, before the thought has even entered your head, you start to see signs everywhere pointing you in the direction of the subject. If things are flowing that smoothly, then you can rest assured...it is meant to be.

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" 

When you have a desire for something, the universe will do everything to get it for you, or you to it. You will 'come upon' exactly what/whom you need, when you need it. You can learn something from everyone, because even though we are all one, we are individual. No one is quite like you, so the differences are the teachers. The traits in a person that you particularly like, or dislike, are qualities that you also have. The people we are attracted to, are mirrors for us. They show us what needs improvement. 

Random people will show up and say or do something that is life changing; and you may be sharing your most profound moments with strangers. Anyone can be the one to 'make your day' or show you the way.

Be grateful to your fellow earthlings, they are here for you. You only need to view your encounters as lessons, and realize that you did indeed learn a great deal, even from that 'chance' encounter.

"Some may be completely unaware that I'm learning from them, yet I bow deeply in gratitude."  Eric Allen

#193   This is your LIFE....

Do what you want and do it often.
If you don't like something, change it.

You are in charge, this is your life. Everyone has the opportunity to change what isn't working for them. You do not have to tolerate things that offend your sensibilities. You also do not have to tolerate your own thoughts. If negative thoughts are sneaking into your mind, delete them. It is up to you to make this journey joyful. 

If you are looking for the love of your life, STOP. They will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.

LIFE IS SIMPLE-stop over analyzing

Open your heart, arms and mind to new things and people. 

We are united in our differences, we are all one. Everyone has something to say, something that could be just what you need to hear. Listening is a talent that could 'fast track' you on your journey. You never know what you might learn, just by actually 'tuning in' to the conversation. New people, with new topics is a significant way to open up your world, and broaden your mind.

Travel often. Getting lost will help you find yourself.

LIFE IS SHORT.  Live your dream and wear your passion.

Life IS short, ask anyone who has suffered a loss, there is never enough time to say and do all that you wished you had. There is no time like the present. Carpe Diem! This moment is all there is, and there is nothing more painful than regret. 

Do what you want and do it often.  

#192

The Paradox of Our Age...

The Dalai Lama is expressing what most people 55+ are feeling. There is not much in this world that is recognizable anymore. We, as the elders, have to face the fact that it is no longer our world, not entirely. We had our turn, and the younger generations are taking over. We don't necessarily 'get it' or like it, but I'm sure our parents or grandparents thought we were going to hell in a handcarts as well.

I have found in North American cultures that we are success driven. We consider success to be material accumulation. I feel this stems from parents that participated in WW2 and the Great Depression, or had parents that did. They raised us with the fear of not enough or lack. Thus we accumulated. We needed the large house, the cars, higher education, careers for partners, the savings accounts, the investments, the retirement accounts...we accumulated money and belongings and grew up with the fear of losing it all.

This creates enormous amounts of stress. Most people feel the strain. Many countries are in financial turmoil, businesses are closing, and cut backs are now the norm. It’s very hard not to feel the stress. Because of the accumulation clause, the majority of the population is carrying around issues about not being able to keep up, not being good enough.

The parents work all week and would like some down time, and the children suffer. They are alone, too much, wrapped up in their hoodies and i-magigs; plugged in and unaware and uninterested in anyone or anything else. They belong to every social network and yet have no social skills.

We just have to keep in mind, that everyone is on their journey and each generation learns what they learn. They subsequently pass it on, and that is their contribution. The next generation will have their triumphs and hardships and pass on their knowledge. We all do what we can do, and then pass the torch.

#191

God did not add another day in your life because YOU needed it. He added it because someone out there needed YOU!

Do you understand? We are all one, all connected. Even on your death bed there are lessons to be had .... by someone. 

You have probably heard stories of a women dying in the hospital and her favourite son has not been to see her. Beyond all expectation, she hangs on until her son finally shows up and then quietly slips away. There was a lesson for someone, either her or her son or perhaps someone else in the room; the doctor, a nurse, friend, or another family member.

You are here to learn, but also to teach. Each day, you are showing others the way. You, just being you, have a profound effect on someone, maybe even someone you have never met. The way you act, something you do, connects with another soul on this planet. And right until the end, you are showing others the way.

You never know who you have touched or who garnered a life lesson from you. You may have had a friend or your child express their gratitude for all you have taught them, but they are not the only ones. We all work off each other. Each scenario is orchestrated, each has a meaning, and is leading somewhere. Nothing is as it seems and everything happens for a reason. If you are involved it is because you were meant to be. Someone is counting on you to learn what they need, or you have something you need to learn. Everything has a greater significance than any of us can fathom. You are an necessary part of the overall plan, you are important and significant. 

Everything you learn is meant to be shared, and someone will benefit from your message.

#190

In between where you once were and where you are headed is where you are right now....

Where you once were is finished, there is no way to change anything that has already taken place, and tomorrow.... who knows? No one knows what tomorrow will bring, whether you have planned  it or otherwise.

As the quote states, the only things in your control are the direction you face and the actions you take today. 

This moment is all there is, it's all you have, nothing else is guaranteed. There is a lot more to life then the stress-filled days you are living. 

So enjoy the good people around you, freedom, fresh air and sunshine. Enjoy everything that we take for granted every day. Be grateful for all you have and all you are, you are blessed. And live for today....

excerpt from: Live for Today - Grass Roots

When I think of all the worries

That people seem to find
And how they're in a hurry
To complicate their minds
By chasing after money
And dreams that can't come true
I'm glad that we are different
We've better things to do
May others plan their future
I'm busy loving you

Sound good? Well it is there for you too. Life was never meant to be a struggle and the one creating that struggle is you. But the good news is, you can change it, and start enjoying your life. It is your choice.

#189

Give the gift of your absence to those who do not appreciate your presence....

Above all, do what you need to do for yourself. If you are giving the gift of your absence, make sure it is for the right reasons. Not out of anger or revenge, but because it is the right thing to do in the circumstances. 

If someone has been oblivious to you and your feelings, abusive or disrespectful, then walking away is highly recommended. These people are not appreciating how wonderful you are. and don't deserve to have you around. Staying in a situation like this, will only encourage resentment and anger. Therefore, you have a duty to yourself to consider ending it.

You will notice the 'lightness' you feel immediately when you don't have the attitude around you anymore. You deserve to be appreciated by everyone around you. We all do. 

You will need to accept that not everyone will like you, or treat you right. That is their issue, not yours. They do not like themselves. If, though, you are putting up with their destructive behaviours, you don't like yourself either. Also, if you continue to expand your boundaries to accommodate others, they will continue to push them. You need to take a look at yourself and why you are allowing anyone around you that is not kind, loving and accepting. 

So the lesson is... if you want people in your life that will love and respect you for who you are, you will have to do the same.

As for the people that are not appreciating you, they need to hit the road. 

#188

Draw a circle around yourself....

To live your best life, it's best to surround yourself with people that bring out the best in you; and hopefully you can do the same for them. Therefore, only associate with people that are positive, loving and caring. 

Because you are in charge of your life, you would think this would be easy. But some of the people in your circle came with the territory ... your family or co-workers, for example. You may have issues with some of these people and have no way of distancing yourself from them. They may have already crossed all your boundaries and don't seem to know when to quit or that 'no' means 'no'. 

Ask yourself, 'What is in this for me?' 'Am I giving more than I am receiving?' 'Do these people encourage, inspire, or make your life better in any way?' 

The time comes where you need to take care of you. You need to draw the circle and only invite in the people that are 'there' for you. It may be time to let some of these people go, in order to allow new relationships and opportunities to take their place. You will not be open to anything new if you continue to hang around people that suck the life out of you. 

It is never easy to break off long standing associations, but sometimes it is necessary. It is one thing to be forgiving and understanding and quite another to be shouldering the entire burden. If the person in question is too much to bear, then simply end it. It is OK to end something that is of no benefit to you. There is no reason to feel guilty, it is just no longer viable.

You want to have people in your circle that are participating with you, that are sympathetic, trustworthy, helpful and kind. People that you can trust to be 'there' for you. And remember, it is a two way street. You will also need to 'step up' for them in return.

#187

There comes a day....

There does indeed come a day when you finally say ENOUGH! You have had enough, of whatever current struggle you are focused on. 

That is the day you turn the page, and give  the struggle to the universe allowing the healing to begin. 

I know you didn't give it up without a fight. We are all programmed to take care of things, ourselves and most every one within 100 miles of us. So this has been going on for some time, with much anxiety, worry and trepidation and it is as though this is now your life. This is the life you have been leading, one of stress and anxiety; banging your head against the wall, jumping through hoops, dancing as fast as you can. Is this the life you want to continue living? You have a lot more pages in your book and living like this is not going to make it easy. 

So eventually, after maximum soul searching you come to the realization that whatever you have been doing is not working. That you cannot keep up this level of stress and not suffer some medical emergency. You take a deep breath and decide that there is nothing you can do, that you just don't care anymore and that you are simply not going to think about it. 

This isn't the ideal method of letting it go, of giving it to the universe to handle. Although, this is the usual method that gets it where it is going. You just can't take anymore, you have done all you can and there is nothing left to do.

You might consider prayer. In fact, it would be beneficial to try prayer at the beginning of the struggle, before desperation sets in; but it's better late than never. You have been stuck where you didn't want to be, with no inspiration, and couldn't turn the page. Now you can. Have faith, the universe is more than willing to help you, life wasn't meant to be a struggle. You can't carry the whole world on your shoulders. 

Let it go and just say thank you.

#186

Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny. He has something to fulfill, some message to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally, you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you

I have come to understand that we choose this life; we choose our parents and all the people surrounding us. We also choose when and if we want to come back to the earth plane. We choose our sex and all our relationships. We choose everything that happens to us, the good, the bad and the ugly; in order to perfect. It’s all set up before we are born...it’s a plan, a blueprint. We will act a certain way, look a certain way, it’s all there. 

In fact, as I have learned, our life’s purpose is even written in our fingerprints, like a branding. We have been sent here or we have come back to earth, however you choose to see it, with a secret coding as to who we are. That is so powerful!

We all have a purpose, we all fit in, and we affect others by what we do. 

"For every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Isaac Newton

It's a domino effect .... what I do affects the people around me, and some of their future actions may be due to their reaction to me. Their actions will affects the people around them and so on. We are all connected. Everyone you meet, you are supposed to meet, at that time and place and for a specific reason. Everyone plays off of everyone else. 

It is an intricate plan. You are a piece of the puzzle and it is important for you to fill that slot. It doesn't work if you are trying to fill someone else's slot, it will throw everything off. You are important just being who you are and doing what you do. You are here to fulfill your destiny, and that is what you will do.

#185 Sonder...

I was told a compelling story, a number of years ago that has continued to inspire and comfort me throughout my journey. As one is planning one’s new life on earth, the souls willing to participate were gathered around accepting their positions in that lifetime. Certain souls would be asked to portray less than kind, sometimes despicable characters. It is a sign of their pure unconditional love that they accepted this assignment. The soul that was orchestrating his life was grateful for the acceptance and compassion shown by the souls that had agreed to be the 'villains' in his life. When all was said and done, one of the 'villains' approached the soul and stated: “do not forget who I am”. 

What this little story is saying is that each person that plays a part in your life has agreed to do this for your growth; this is your production. So in this particular lifetime, they signed up to be the abuser, the controller, the addict, or the loving, kind, supportive one; whatever you need to experience in that chapter of your life. You, too, have made the same agreement with other souls. You are playing the role of someone that will give them the lessons that they require. It’s a WIN/WIN situation.

Nothing is as it seems. We are all actors on a stage and each person is starring in their own show. This world and each life is much more complex than they appear on the surface. Forgive, start your next act, the show must go on.

#184

We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness....

We are not alone, we are never alone. 

I think it is common for everyone to feel alone at different times during their lives. You may have the idea that no one could possibly know how you feel, and you are probably right. 

You may have experienced a death or a frightening diagnosis, and although you have a support system you are alone in what you are feeling. Many people feel alone in a crowd or  even with their family around them. You may have a feeling that you are always alone, that nothing can fill you up. There is something missing from deep inside, there is a hole in the soul.  

This, as everything, is up to you. You cannot be filled up with alcohol or drugs or any artificial means. You can only be completed within yourself, there is no one on this earth that can do it for you. You need to find that love for yourself that you have misplaced. 

"You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here." Desiderata

You are important, you have a position to fill here on earth. You fit in, you are part of the universal plan, you and each and every one of us.  And you are not alone, none of us are alone, we are all one. 

None of us is separate. Get up and get out. Go for a walk in the woods, join something, go to the library, check out your town, help someone. Reconnect with the world and you will see that there is no separateness, it is only an illusion.

#183

You either walk inside your story and own it....

My mantra has been....No Story, No fear. Your story is the basis for all the fear you feel. If you keep your story in tact, you are also keeping all the issues that go with it. No matter what has happened to you, it has already happened, you have survived it. The key is to own and accept everything in your life that causes you anxiety. 

Do it deliberately, look at the situation that causes you stress, face it, accept it, and then let it go.... 

'Yes, I had a hard childhood, or I was treated badly by some people in my life etc. I accept that these things took place, but I no longer wish to give them power over me. I am now willing to let go of this portion of my life, in order to continue to grow, and accept love and joy into my life.' 

Then do it.... let it go, don't take it back, let it go with love and gratitude for the lessons. If you purge your story, you will be 'present' and living each day with and open mind and heart.

Or stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness....

If you are not owning and accepting of your story, your experience, your life so far,  it will contribute to feelings of unworthiness. You will spend your time trying to get people to like you, and trying to please all the people all the time. You'll be that hamster on the wheel, running as fast as you can and going nowhere.

Whatever has taken place in your life before today cannot be changed. It has already happened, it's part of you and only you can change it. Letting it go will lighten your load, open your heart, and fill you with gratitude. Releasing your burdens will free you to enjoy the rest of your life .

#182

If a door closes...

When you want something so bad and no matter how hard you try, it just will not happen for you. You plot and scheme, you put yourself in the right place at the right time and nothing... 

You are getting nowhere, despite trying as hard as humanly possible to make it happen. 

Eventually you find a loophole, and try a new tactic, still nothing. You are still at the 'banging on the door' phase of this adventure. You haven't yet realized that whatever was behind that door that wasn't meant for you. If it was meant for you, the door would open.

The door has closed and no amount of banging is going to bring you the results you wanted. It's over. This is not a time for a pity party, it's not about you never getting what you want. Try looking at this from a different angle...change your perspective of the situation. 

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Dr. Wayne Dyer 

No one is picking on you, no one is out to get you. Consider the fact that the door was closed because it was time for you to move forward to bigger and better things. You had hung around behind that door for as long as was necessary to learn what you needed to learn and now it is done.

If the door closes, it's not a dead end, it's a fresh start. You are worth more that whatever was on the other side of that door. You are now free to move forward.

#181

I hope you live a life you're proud of. If not I hope you have the strength to start all over again. F. Scott Fitzgerald

It may be that you have always been proud of your life, your accomplishments and your situation. Maybe, it's an age thing, where you can look back with satisfaction and conclude that you are proud of it all. You may be proud of the life you are living today, but have had times where you were not. OR you are not and have never been proud of the life you are living.

Being proud of your life can happen at any time. We all have times when things look so bleak we'd have dig under a rock to find our pride. 

That is the time that we need strength to start all over again. I, myself, have started all over again, many times. It is not the easiest route to take, but sometimes it is the only route. I had always had to have a ton of bricks fall on me to get me to make a move, so the hole that I had dug always took time to climb out of.

You have to take care of yourself in the pursuit of happiness and if starting all over again gives you the opportunity to be happy; then it is what you need to do. You just have to leave the unhappy, unhealthy situation behind and get back on the road. Everything is a lesson, and that is what that situation was. Take what you have learned and make a new start.  

You can always take the bricks and use them as building blocks to form the foundation of your new life, a life you can be proud of.