Flying Upside Down

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” ―Seneca

When you step out into the unknown, there will be fear encountered both real and imagined. A few years back, many of us attended a couple's retreat in the North Georgia mountains. The camp had what is referred to as a challenge tower, four stories high and with various climbing obstacles to overcome.

During that retreat, a friend by the name of Belinda conquered something greater than the tower that day. She accomplished it in ways that you can not imagine. In fact, I think what she overcame that day was fear. In doing so, it set her up to overcome years later a brain tumor.

You can read about her miraculous story by picking up a copy of Bwenna - A Story of Hope and Faith.

Overcoming her fear of climbing prepared her for the fear that could grip even the heartiest of us when a doctor says the word cancer.

It could be fear of failure to reach the top or fear in your own physical ability to accomplish the climb. It could be that "step off the platform" for the zip line ride that grabs hold of you. For others, it may be the fear of simply reaching the top and being so high up in the air.

It was during this same event that I watched in amazement as another friend scaled the tower with little problem. She had reached the top and quickly we all learned that she had a fear of being so high. It caught me by surprise, but she had conquered it. She conquered that thing which holds her from moving forward in life. She had let go of fear and created the path to achieving so much more in life.

For me it was a certain fear of not being able to make the climb. After watching so many others ascend and questioning my own ability; fear was beginning to creep in. Yet I made that step forward; actually up the tower. My focus became the goal, my focus became ensuring my wife made it to the top, my focus was to overcome.

Once achieved, everything became much more clear to me. It seemed to me that my ride down the zip line was now the reward. Stepping out from the platform, taking the ride upside down was the only way. Flying upside down, everything was crystal clear to me at that moment.

Take a chance by stepping out into the unknown. Let go of the fear and know that even if you find yourself flying upside down, everything will be clear. Enjoy the ride!

Stay inspired my friends.

Shiny Things

“It is not needful for our dreams to be very grand nor very big. It is only needful for our dreams to be very shiny.” ― C. JoyBell C.

We have some very good friends that are absolutely wonderful people. We share meals and coffee, laughter and pensive moments both with this couple. They are just what friends are supposed to be.

A couple of months ago, the wife part of this couple had cancer reappear after laying dormants for twenty plus years. It has been a roller coaster of emotions and health to say the least. With the radiation treatments she is undergoing along with her chemo, the inevitable loss of hair has started.

So one day my wife and her were talking about the loss of hair. She was tired of the clumps and general care needed. For most every woman I have known, hair is a very personal thing. But to combat it, she had made the decision to shave it all off. Jokingly she told my wife that a hair appointment would be made for her as well.

My wife got to thinking about this and thought maybe this could be a nice way to show support for our friend. Again, doing something such as this is not something anyone would take lightly. My wife thought heavily and seriously about her decision. She made her decision to stand in support of her friend, it was final.

So all of her beautiful blond locks were removed and her hair was shipped off to another great place called Locks of Love. I recommend you find out more about this organization to see the great work they do.

As for my wife, she now has a shiny skin-covered noggin that beams forth in beauty. If you look up the definition of the word noggin, it not only means "one's head" but it was originally meant to describe a "small cup or mug."

This got me to thinking that my wife's gift of shaving her head was not just a shiny bald head in support and encouragement of her friend. It was more like a "small cup" of kindness filled with great promise and miracles. It is a shiny cup filled with dreams and visions for a long and wonderful life.

Just maybe it is not the shiny new head but this shiny cup of wonder that each of us need to carry around in life. A small or large cup of hope, kindness, promises and dreams that will lift us beyond what is trying to hold us back today.

I say order up a cup of the shiny dreams you want fulfilled in your life. Carry it around with you and see that miracles can occur.

Miracle of a new Day

Walk To Beautiful

"The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth." ~Chinese Proverb

The sun has come up and the fog begins to burn away as life awakens to a new day. Fresh coffee brews and the smell of breakfast emanates from the kitchen. The activity of this day comes to life and a new miracle begins.

Life gives us this miracle each and every day. Its a chance to experience the greatness of our lives. Its a chance to experience the miracle of a new day.

Get up and walk the earth. Get up and live the miracle.