Dear Self...

...and all of you,

There's no such thing as a life that is greater than yours. Let's work on putting a stop to this context of competition and comparing our lives to others. Appreciate what you have, love your own, and if you have not yet attained what you want, it is never too late-- know that, believe that, and keep your eyes on the prize.

-AJ Bee

Groceries

A few weeks ago, I was headed to the grocery store and a little voice redirected my path to a new store. In line in front of me a woman was counting her pennies, literally, to pay for her groceries. Because I was able, today, I offered to pay for whatever she hadn't already scanned and paid for. She literally turned around and hugged me and said "you don't know how much you just blessed me." The woman behind me said "I came in here having a horrible day with too much on my plate. But you were Gods way of telling me, everything will be OK." I responded "keep claiming it and believing that God will bless you."

The cashier then said "my mother tells me all the time 'you barely have a pot to ---- in' but I shush her because I'm trying." I affirmed her faith and we had a mini faith party right in the store. To me, tithing isn't about giving to a building. To me, Christianity isn't always about going to church on Sunday in a suit. The purpose of our faith walks are to bless others and get them to believe that they are already blessed. Your purpose here is for people to see God in you. Let your blessed life be your testimony. 

Lastly, I saw the woman again in the parking lot and she was so full of gratitude that she pulled off forgetting to put her groceries in her car. She was just crying and kept telling me I didn't know how much she needed that. (A gentleman and I helped her put the groceries in the car when she bumped into the basket while backing out.)

Bless someone today folks, genuinely, looking for nothing in return. 

Happy Friday Folks!

Safe Space

True Story:

When I was a little girl, around third grade, I wanted to quit playing the piano. I had been taking lessons for about 6 years by that tie and we just got to the point where the right and left hands were playing different melodies at the same time. I kept telling my mom that I couldn't get it. But she wouldn't let me quit. I would get up every morning before school and practice every day because I just couldn't go to my lesson and not be able to play. So finally I got it! The piano (after years of competitions) became my calming method. Throughout college I would go practice the piano in the dorm when I get frustrated with school work, or life. When I moved to Japan, my first stint of loneliness, I went to the bookstore and bought a keyboard. And now, present day, when my world feels like it's crumbling, I pick a new classical piece to study. I sit at the piano with a metronome on largo and start, right hand first, left hand second and then together. Some days, I don't know how long I Just sit and play, but when I finish, all is right in the world. 

Moral of the story:

Find your center ... 

Find your safe space ... 

and, when life throws you lemons, put them in the fridge and let them sit until you centered yourself. 

Discipline

#laterblog - A post from 24 weeks ago (via @thegarnetexperience on instagram)

"Discipline is not being a slave to repetition, it's knowing what to do and when to do it." - TTC

What battle are you fighting? Look at what needs to be done and handle it. You can do it! It's all mental. Just get up and do it. Practice your discipline today.