Tuesday, December 3, 2013, the IETF ( International Essential Tremor Foundation ) will be part of a call to action that will change the calendar and help make history! We are celebrating a day dedicated to giving -- when charities, families, businesses, retailers and more will all come together for ‪#‎GivingTuesday‬ - a movement to celebrate giving and encourage more, better and smarter giving during the Holiday Season. 

Consider giving something back today and this festive season. Together we will show how the world can do much more with our wallets than just consume. We invite you to be part of this global or national giving celebration particularly to a health foundation such asThe International Essential Tremor Foundation or associations such as  The Parkinsons Association, Disability Associations, Breast Cancer, Cerebral Palsy etc thats dear to your heart.

Thank you and be blessed

Shaking.....and shaking some more, those horrid hand tremors!

Have you ever seen someone with tremors (shakes) in their hands, head, tongue or legs for that matter?
I am sure you have even thought..."Shame, how embarrassing!"  or  "Shame, I hope that never happens to me!"

a spiral drawn by a person with hand tremors like me

Well, yes to the person with the tremors, yes its embarrassing at times even humiliating and it even affects their self confidence which eventually causes depression and even a withdrawal to their social lives.

For the past 36 years I have been plagued with tremors in the hands, often jokingly responding to people by stating I have withdrawals from not having my tot for the day, but still it has made me very self concious.  As time has progressed, so has the tremors.  Going from doctor to doctor to find out cause and treatment has been to know avail, a million diagnosis has been made, lots of money spent on tests, scans, mri's etc.

My experiences are:
When I lay down, I shake, my bed shakes;
I cant hold a cup of coffee it shakes all over;
I eat with a spoon or the food shakes all over the place;
I drink with a straw in my cup of coffee if I go for coffee somewhere;
I order toasts or wraps so that I can use my hands, utensils are out;
I can no longer do my arts and crafts, i shake too much;
When I read I need to place to book or kindle on a hard surface and still my body quivers;
I cannot pour water from a kettle, or pot;
I try to do tapestry, but I shiver so much before the needle enters the area;
My water consumption is from a bottle not a glass;
I cannot fasten my tops with buttons, I now wear pull on pull off items.
I struggle to fasten my bra;  (no im not going without my wonderbra)
I cannot write or sign my signature, my son has power of attorney;
My hair is now cut short, I cannot blow dry my hair.
I monitor my tremors with a lift pulse downloaded from essentialtremor.org/
and the list can go on and on.........

Over the past 6 years I have really declined in health, diagnosed with fibromyalgia, heart flutters, atrial fibrillation, nerve pinching, you name it its being diagnosed, even thyroid. 
I even did self diagnosis and research on MS, CFS etc out of desperation.  Things got so bad in 2012 that I thought I would never see December 2012 and got my will and papers finalised.

Finally in July 2012 I was referred to a Neurologist. He immediately ruled out Parkinsons and Wilson's Disease and told me what I have is Severe Essential Tremors,(www.essentialtremor.org read more about it here)  

Again, lots of tests were done, medical costs spiralling and medical aid exhausted, medication called Lyrica 125mg tried out (not covered by med aid), which had a strange effect, I felt I was on a high (like helium in a balloon is how my head felt) like someone with ADHD but the negative was that I never thought rationally, I was forgetful  short term memory problems and would make silly decisions, driving was a problem as I would blank out mentally while driving and when reaching my destination couldnt remember what happened between point a to point b.  Then, on a day in July 2013 I slipped, breaking my leg in 3 places and displacing my ankle, and its still not 100% healed.  My leg just gave way under me, apparently due to tremors.

During  this period I underwent more tests, medication changed to Myocilin 125mg and Occupational Assessment done to assess my ability to work, where finally the Neurologist has declared me unfit for work and placed me on permanent disablement.  Then, the depression decided to find place in my life.  Again anxiety/depression medication has been adjusted to double dosage as I just felt I have no purpose to life any longer.  

Not being able to sign ones signature or the ability to write has left me in a really poor mental state, it felt like a part of me has died.  I'm mourning this part of me, i'm mourning the part where I cannot make a cup of coffee or even cook, i'm mourning that my independence has been ripped from me.  All that works easy is my mouth and at times a sharp tongue(I say this honestly but with sadness and regret to those close to me I hurt). And now, I am now, If the word is correct, totally bereft of my life, and i'm only 52.

But all is not lost.

Despite my very dark days recently and still at times now, I have stilled grasped and held very firmly the hand of my Heavenly Father and have fought my soul fight together with Him.  Psalm 62 says it....Our Hope is in YOU Lord, my Soul finds rest in you Lord.

In reflecting on my life forward I know I need to :

• Accept my chronic disease
• Redifine my life...where to from here in Now, 6 months, 12 months time
• Focus on the passion that has been driving me in my soul for the past 2 years and that being Coaching people with disabilities (is this why I have to walk this walk? To understand?
• Enforcing and reinforcing the myths and facts about people with and facing disabilities.
• Securing my own home to be more disability user friendly, eg bath out shower in
• Most importantly keep my life firmly grounded with knowledge that God is my Jehovah Jireh, the Light to my life
• Very importantly to still nurture, love, guide, support my son emotionally and spiritually
• Start a new life, leaving the old behind and starting afresh.

Nothing in life can ever brace us for these unexpected turn of events in our lives. 
Today we are still planning the next 13 years to retirement, planning our 60th birthday celebration, saving to want to go on holiday, and suddenly in the blink of an eye its a case of....helloooo..."Change of Plan".  

How aware I have become that life is lived now, here, this moment...hoping to fill it with Joy, Happiness, Laughter and the ability to cry without blaming or reproach.

May I encourage you...next time you see a person with the shakes/tremors, dont laugh, dont joke and call them names eg uncle / aunty shake shake as colleagues have done to me, rather show some empathy- showing understanding and caring of how they might be feeling.  
You never know when you could find yourself in such an unfortunate situation.

If you too are facing some form of chronic disease/disability...please be encouraged by this thought...God is ALWAYS in control, He is the Captain of our ship, He will never let us become stranded..He directs our path.  Psalm 37:24 says  that though we stumble and fall, we will not be bruised/hurt/overwhelmed because He holds our hand.

I trust that thru this blog, you will understand and support people facing these

challenges in life.  We no different, we have feelings and emotions too...just love us for who we are on the inside.

Greetings and blessings to you!

"The doors we open and close each day

decide the lives we live."

~Flora Whittemore

How many times have your heard the saying, "When one door closes, another one opens"? It seems no matter how many, we often forget this in times of crisis, disappointment and unrequested change.

We need not fully understand why a change is occurring to ask ourselves: Am I going to let this door hit me in the rear or am I going to 'break on through to the other side'?

Very often the doors that close are positive for us!  Let's be honest, whether it be fear or insecurities, we often wait too long to make the necessary changes on our own . There are times when we ought to be grateful for the closure and consider what new and more positive paths await us.

The choice is always ours. Are you a survivor or a victim of change?

I always advocate for survivor and therefore, thriver!

Go ahead, look back and ponder for a bit, always remembering, "The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." 

Now, please spend the rest of your time and energies finding and going through the new, more positive door. It is through this door you will discover your best self and gain the ability to enjoy all the wonderful life experiences that await you.  

Believe: You too can "break on through to the other side".

Sharing this with you from:    Positive Adaptation and 'Think, Feel and Do'  your way into becoming the best you can be.  Remember, life is to be enjoyed, not survived!

The art of wearing a mask, or is it?

Wearing a Mask: People who suffer from low self-esteem try to look calm when they are not; try to hide their embarrassment when they think they've made a mistake; attempt to look like they understand a discussion when in fact, they don't; try to look confident when they feel inadequate; and exert a lot of energy trying to "look good." They feel that others will think less of them if they show emotion or admit to “not knowing” something and try to maintain the appearance that all is well, when that is not at all how they feel. They feel too vulnerable to let others see that they have problems or that they have difficulties in their lives.

We all wear a mask hiding our true identity and easily turn into the greatest actors and actresses in the attempt to deceive those who surround our lives.  

The mask we wear disguises and hides who we truly are inside and protects our soul from being tainted and torn in shreds by the harsh judgement of others. 

The smiles and laughter we display are clever devices hiding our pains and sorrows we carry within us. While the tears and heart break displayed for all to see only show the thin cracks of the mask we wear, allowing small portion of how we truly ache inside be seen from observers quietly watching for you to reveal yourself. The choices and actions that we make are often deemed adequate by our friends, family, and the strangers that seemingly enters our life. As people get to know you, they are unknowingly lied to, becoming friends with the illusion you created for them to see. 

 One day we will look in a mirror and realize that we don’t know the person who is staring back at us. We will learn that the mask we have worn for so long became our true face, and the one underneath that has been to afraid to be shown to the world has become our true disguise. That it was hidden for so long that we have even forgotten the person we once truly were, and we’ll be afraid to know who we once were ourselves.

People with low self esteem are so good at using these masks, for what ever reason, however we need to be brave and honest enough to ourselves to identify the type of mask we are wearing, work on developing our self esteem, and brave life with who you truly are.   

Be true to yourself:  be who YOU want to be not what others expect you to be, don't live by the opinions or choices of others, never sacrifice who you are for others, 

Be true to yourself:  Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of your life, open your heart to those who love you, and ALWAYS, ALWAY be true to yourself. 

Thats it for now...here's raising my cuppa to you,
be blessed....

Dear Workaholic

The Workaholics: These low self-esteem sufferers know they have the ability and skills to be successful in their careers and devote the majority of their time and energy into making that happen. Success brings them a degree of satisfaction and feelings of adequacy as long as they remain in the job or position from which they get praise and/or respect and reward. Tending to gravitate where they feel best about themselves, work becomes a form of self-sabotage, as they place work before family or social arenas in which they feel less adequate. Workaholics often don't have time for a personal life or ignore and neglect those who are in their lives. Often they become overachievers.

Do you know of some one that's a workaholic?  I sure do, even I have been termed by people as being a "workaholic"  One day, a friend of mine Paul, told me to get a life, because all I do is work, work at work work at home, work for this or that, but never take time for me and then for my family.
Did I change? No, I just reshuffled things a bit to look like I changed, and made excuses..."Oh, Im still at work, trying to avoid the traffic you know" or "I'm just busy with a student, you cant chase them out and say you going home now!" when in fact the student left ages ago but you still hanging around in the office.

Why do we do that?  Is it because there are just so many demands in the work place lately that you even go to the loo with you iPad, Blackberry Z10 or PS4/5 or whatever device that is now so convenient that you can work from home, in the car, on the toilet, while on a holiday, in Church?  I mean...it can operate on silent right? No one will know what you typing away there.

Are we avoiding something or someone?  Maybe you avoiding those GIANTS in your head, maybe you avoiding being lonely, or maybe things are not as it should be at home.

Do you have anything to prove at work? Oh I can really get started on this topic....particularly where we find ourselves presently in South Africa,  in the unhealthy work climate of employment equity, the undermining, the jealousy of colleagues one to another, backstabbing and just plain old insecurities.  But, its not the answer is it.

So how do we overcome the insecurity of being a Workaholic?
Tuff question I do admit.
1. Realise it can become addictive
2. What are you avoiding in your life?
3. You work hard to prove your worth?  

• Identify Why you feel inadequate or worthless?  
• What can you do about it?  
• Better your skills?  why not
• Whatever it is, whatever it takes   DO IT

There is only one person in life that can manage and in a sense direct your life and give you the permission to pursue what ever you intend to do...and that is YOU.

In saying this, its also important to rely on God to provide you wisdom and guidance, leading you to a wonderful invigorating sense of joy freedom and happiness.

This reminds me so of a song we often hear in Church.......Psalm 37:3

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

And He delighteth in his(your) way

Tho’ he(thats now you) fall, he (you)shall not be utterly cast down

For the Lord upholdeth you with his hand

Be Blessed...here's raising my cuppa to you!

Do you drive a car? Can you remember when you did your first hill start?

The learning process

In the process of finding ourselves, we need to realise, its no plain sailing or getting in the car and going, there are the rules we need to learn, understand the directions, under stand the basics of the upkeep of a cars engine, interior and exterior, we then pass the learner stage, and finally pass the test to drive our vehicle on the road.  

Similarly is our life and relationships skills. 
We have to first unlearn bad habits then learn how to relate properly. It will feels strange at first, we fail a few times, get it right on some occasions, but remember that practice makes perfect. Communicating, sharing and being willing to work on (like a car service) our relationship with ourselves and with others is vital to ensure all the cogs are working insync. 

Hope you keeping up with your hourly journal, remember, change is not easy, keep those tissues close by, but once you get it right..start the engine, keep it in neutral for a while just until you ready for the next gear change.

Until next time...remember you are important to yourself first and then to others...

1. oh! let me share some me humor on this topic...when I feel im not  good enough or going thru a ruff patch emotionally, I apply my reddest lipstick, look at myself in the mirror, and say, "hi sexy...i think you are just oh so cute," pout my lips and say "mamma loves you" then give myself a kiss myself in the mirror and walk away....when I think of this action I have such a good laugh at myself, but heck, why not!

Blessings...and here is sharing my cuppa and some me humor with you

Oh heavens! Are we so needy...

Being Needy is a basic need...however all or many people believe that they are lovable and knowing that they are loved. When people have low self-esteem, however, they are anxiously unsure of themselves and likely even question if they are lovable. One of the main ways people try to find an answer to this question is to look to others, hyper anxiously watching the others’ behaviours, listening to their words and tone of voice, mentally recording the ways that person acts toward them, even keeping score of what they think works and doesn’t work. Of course, all too often their conclusion is not accurate.

Desperately seeking reassurance that they are lovable, those with low self-esteem look outside themselves and at the behaviour of those closest to them, to find answers to the question of being lovable. Then, if the person who professes to love them, does not act in ways that they think would indicate this love, the person being needy: 1) try harder to please in order to win the love and attention of the significant other 2) become angry when they feel the significant other is withholding giving them what they need, or 3) feel they must be deserving of this treatment and conclude that they are indeed, unlovable. Finding this explanation unbearable, however, they continue to vacillate between depression and anger toward the person from whom they want affirmation.

Unfortunately, much of the disappointment the “needy” persons have toward the significant other is the result of their own insecurity, their neediness that demands constant reinforcement, their unreasonable expectations, their irrational expectations, poor communication, holding in feelings, and all in all, chaos.

People need to satisfy their emotional needs. These are intellectual – thinking about what they are doing or want,existential – existing satisfactorily, and relational – relating to others around them, communicating or sharing your emotional needs with a trusted person/friend/life coach.

So how do you do this?  How do you move from emotional needy to being emotionally free?

• Write down your 10 needs in life. (just one word)
• Place them in priority order...YOUR priority.
• Write down next to each one 
• HOW you want these needs met
• WHAT you can do by having your needs met
• WHY you can benefit from changing your neediness to being more positive
• Finally...working thru this in your journal, take a bold 1st step and show you can change.

Joy, happiness and satisfaction comes when you set yourself free

So ...learning with you step by step, I raise my cuppa to you

Life is a journey..lets grab hold of these challenges and celebrate

a life of emotional freedom,

Blessings

FLOATING away in your personal Dinghy????

On the topic of inadequacy, lets look at some of those GIANTS that are blocking the way to us being totally adequate, live with confidence, good self esteem, happiness and just the amazing ability to laugh for the sheer pleasure of it.

Self-Sabotaging  = what does that mean?
(To self-sabotage is to behave in ways that are not in one's own best interest.)

Self-sabotaging falls into three categories:

The Floaters, The needy and The Workaholics

Today we focussing on...The Floaters: These are people who are unable or unwilling to take charge of their lives or make changes to their lives, they float through life taking what comes their way.  These people often become underachievers, convinced it's the best that they can do and are fearful of failure or rejection, they stay at jobs with inadequate pay with poor or nonexistent benefits, or in abusive and unfulfilling relationships. They avoid taking classes or bettering their education (for fear they would fail), don’t join groups (for fear they won't fit in), refuse to seek therapy (because it would be an admission of inadequacy), and may even be ashamed to be seen purchasing a self-help book and think its a whole lot of hogwash. With the result they remain stuck, repeating their mistakes, unaware of their self-defeating behavior, and unable to do things differently from the past.

So, how does one get off the dingy you floating in, remove the gumboots and rainjacket and take a bold step to change? One thing is for certain, soon than later that dingy of yours will get a puncture, deflate and where will that leave you?

Begin by being truthful to yourself. Start a journal today, with these topics (spend an hour a day) focus on them, ask yourself these questions, then start applying the positive thoughts to your life, step by step:

• what makes me a floater?
• how can I change?
• why I need this change in my life.

In any situation you find yourself in, look for truth, search for it deep in your heart. Let that truth of your heart flow, and you will see obstacles melt like ice.

Truth has strength and power of its own

If a truth sets you free, what does a lie do?

It binds you.

It will hold you against your will.

The truth let's you live life

to the fullest

your cheeks will be rosy

and you'll be smiling

but what about a lie?

A lie will hurt you

and your life will be dark and dreary

you'll look pale and sunken

and your face will show pain

A lie will bind you.

So then the truth shall set you free.

till next time...here's raising my cuppa to you.

Blessings!

 

So, you feel inadequate...not good enough hey?

Do you think you’re not as good as someone else? What’s new? 

We all feel this way at sometime. Don’t settle for the same old familiar tune of friends and family. Friends and family say they mean well and often what they say is honest. But does it really satisfy your emotional need?

When we are feeling inadequate what is really going on? It is not just a question of the glass half empty or half full. Either we haven’t lived up to our own expectations or we fear we won’t live up to our own expectations or maybe the expectations of others. Where do our expectations come from?

My expectations come from my self-image. I would like to excel in everything, well, mostly everything.  When I put my mind to it I have excelled at many things. Yet, have I excelled at being MYSELF?  Does that realization make me feel adequate? Not really.  When placed on disability from work how will I deal with the reality of the situation? How will this affect my family emotionally and how will they react toward me now that their tower of strength needs a tower of strength?

What then makes me feel adequate? Sometimes it is simple things like straightening the house and making the bed. Today it’s been the ability to take a shower without fear of falling, without people hovering outside just in case, today its getting this blog written tremors and all.

I have thought for days how I can take this blog to the next level. Now that I am writing, it is taking a form different than what I thought it would. This is not the first time a blog has written itself and come out differently.  Sometimes I’m concerned that what I would say would sound corny. Now I see those fears were a means for my unconscious thoughts to come up with a new answer. The answer for me to feel adequate seems that I must just go ahead and just do it. That means of course figuring out what you are afraid of, and finding a way to approach it.

When we feel inadequate we are also feeling overwhelmed. Yet, a huge task like putting a man on the moon wasn't done in a day. It took thousands of people working over a decade to make it a reality. The overall tasks seemed impossible. Yet when they broke it down into do-able parts it was accomplished.

So, when we feel inadequate how should we approach it? Well, we need to define the task, break it down into do-able parts, and get started.

This may seem right when we’re overwhelmed by a future task. I would define the task, to find my expectations, review the outcomes, look for lessons learned (from past experience), and celebrate my successes. We can always claim we tried. We can always identify factors outside and within our control that prevented us from reaching our expectations. Then we can design new strategies to prevent those things from happening again. This process is easier if you have somebody help you work it through, but let me tell you its even more rewarding just doing it, seeing the outcome and feeling great!

That is one of the tasks of a coach and that means you need not do it on your own, you have support.

What in your life is making you feel inadequate? How have you coped with your feelings of inadequacy in the past. How have you overcome them?  What wisdom can you add?

You feel you need a coach…im just an email away.

So, here's raising my cuppa to you as I sign off..

Blessings to you

YOU are just soooo awesome :)

Today, right now.......

The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.

Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.

Sometimes, life hands you a chance. It hands you something amazing, you almost think it’s a dream, but no matter how much you pinch yourself, you don’t wake up. It’s moments like those that make life really worth living, because no matter how hard times get, there are always those miracle moments that lift you back on your feet.

So, as I raise my cuppa coffee to you, I ask, are you the passenger or the pilot in your life?

Its all about YOU in life, what happens in your life is only because YOU allow it. You are awesome, you are who you are, a special addition, carefully selectively designed by the Master Crafter of Life. 

"fix your face, you look like a blown up bull frog" she said

We all tend to walk about with these ridiculous negative thoughts about ourselves....

I remember as a teenager wearing specs, it was these rather big squariesh fashion (1970's) things not like we have today, elegant, streamlined or even contacts.  A teacher one day said to me," oh come on fix your face, you look like a blown up bull frog".  just because i was angry about something.  well, after that I stopped wearing my specs for a long time, because I had this hang up about how I looked.

Its took me a long time to realise, that what actually is important iswhat I think of me, myself and I, and when people are hurtful and say things to hurt others its because they themselves hurt inside, they themselves have hangups and insecurities.

Today, Im no teenager any longer, and heck I like who I am, where there are imperfections...there are ways to cover them up to actually show off the beauty, the amazing me..(no one will say i'm amazing, so i'm saying it *smiles*)

I challenge you today, make a list of all your imperfections, your hang ups, those negative thoughts that are holding you back ....then dump them or burn them or flush it down the loo...GONE and never to return.

Does it matter what others think of us? No

Does it matter what we think of ourselves YES.  when we are positive, believe in ourselves, we attract the positive to us, life becomes exciting, we see the beauty around us, we notice those that need a smile as we walk by....when we all negative we push people away and then thats why they only see the ugly.

Today you can have the power in your own hands to grasp the truth about WHO you are.  You are special, loved by God and carefully creatively designed, unique, a one of a kind.  Priceless and treasured.

Grab hold of that thought, believe it, its yours, given freely.

Blessings...and time to share my cuppa with you 

A broken tree can bear fruit

I saw this pic today and it really spoke volumes to me, it reaffirmed that feeling, that desire, to follow the passion burning in me by reaching out to people who are having to deal with their various disabilities, particularly our youth but also not neglecting people facing the changes and challenges to their lives suddenly, due to some progressive disability.

Despite the situation we find ourselves in due to the challenge of whatever disability we have, we need to identify and use the gift or talent we have so that the fruit from our "tree" can grow, develop and become that which we can depend on, day in and day out. 

If you good at woodwork or hairdressing, art or designing, or just simply need to do house sitting for people when they go away for weekends or holidays, then do it, God has given each of us unique talents or gifts, its because of God's grace that we can do these things.  You never know, the fruit from your efforts may just pay off.  

Let me share two things that happened in my life....

1. Due to doctors negligence my son suffered a lack of oxygen at birth, today, 23yrs later he is a well adjusted, capable, amusing, loving young man, he has his athletics which I believe fully, was the way God made up for the Doctors negligence, has a good job and works hard.  He also knows, that although he is achieving both work and sportwise, he needs to keep his feet firmly grounded, remain the person he is and always remember its thru God's grace that our broken bodies can bear fruit.
2. Again, doctors negligence, my mom suffered a stroke at the age of 45 they forgot to monitor her blood pressure during surgery...my mom was a "on the go" lady, made our clothes, designed her own hat and matching shoes and made it herself, she baked cakes which would put Mug n Bean to shame.  So, what was her gift or talent after all this tragedy in our lives, where she now only had tunnel vision, lost the use of her left hand and had moments of dementia.  She never lost her humor.  But, she became an intercessor, she had this amazing relationship with God, she daily did our washing and while hanging the washing on the line or taking it down mom would be praying, she would be talking to God, This has sustained me for most of my life now, 12 years now after her peaceful passing away, I still wish she was here to pray for us all.  

You see, our broken tree (our body) can bear much fruit, we just need to be willing to put that gift or talent to good use so that we can enjoy and reap the blessings.

Be blessed...here's raising my cuppa to you

How do you fill your cup?

It is often said, what you fill your cup with usually spills out.

So, I'm just wondering, who fills your emotional cup? how do you keep that cup filled with positivity, encouragement and support?  How often do you need a refresh, top up or refill?  Do you reach empty and say..."Ah, great that was just what I needed for today?

Taking care of yourself = keeping your cup full. 

 If you don't do things to keep your cup full, you will have nothing to give or share with others.

As we continue forward, pouring out of our cup to take care of everyone and everything around us, and notice that dry, cracked feeling at the bottom of our cup or seeing It’s bone dry, lets realise empty cups lead to burnout and breakdown. So before we get all angry and frustrated and resentful, we need to be strong enough to say, enough is enough

It’s our responsibility to take the time to do what feeds our soul – first.

When we do this, the world won’t fall apart.  People won’t hate us.  People won’t think we incompetent losers.  People won’t think we selfish.

When we do this, we happier. We have more energy to care for others.  We calmer.  Our body feels better.  Our mind is clearer.  People want to be around us because we giving off good, positive energy.

So the more we do for ourselves, the more we can do for others.  It’s one of Nature’s laws.

Speaking from my own personal, self interest:  Please go out and fill your own cup.  I, along with those close to you, will be glad you did.

Remember ~ Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks

Raising my cuppa to you
Blessings!
Romans 12.1

A scarecrow in our lives

Don’t let fear freeze you into paralysis. Hannah Hurnard, author of Hinds’ Feet on High Places, was once paralyzed by fear. Then she heard a sermon on scarecrows that challenged her to turn her fear into faith.

The preacher said, “A wise bird knows that a scarecrow is simply an advertisement. It announces that some very juicy and delicious fruit is to be had for the picking. There are scarecrows in all the best gardens.... If I am wise, I too shall treat the scarecrow as though it were an invitation. Every giant in the way which makes me feel like a grasshopper is only a scarecrow beckoning me to God’s richest blessings.” He concluded, “Faith is a bird that loves to perch on scarecrows. All our fears are groundless.”

Yes, I know what you thinking...."but you dont understand....!"  We all, if brave and honest about it, will admit, we all have fears, particularly in the day and age we live in.  Fear can be very crippling in your life.  Its like an infestation of ants and you just can not rid yourself from it.   I have a friend who is constantly afraid of his financial status and well being when he retires, people fear the dark or birds, I have a fear of heights and the list of peoples fears go on and on.

What is it that makes us fear? That grabs our gut and turns it into a knot, deprives many of sleep, makes us sick?.

Then reading the above note on the scarecrow, It dawned on me, that if a little bird can challenge a scarecrow which is to put fear in the little creature, why do we all allow fear to be our GIANT and what stops us from allowing our fear to take hold of us, and how are we going to conquer the scarecrow in our lives.. 

I think, its that little inner voice that whispers back and causes self doubt and fear at a low ebb of our circumstances, and its time that we face the Giant Scarecrow in our lives, be like the little bird and tweet away excitedly because the field is full of wonderful, exciting treats, show the scarecrow that while it stands there nothing stops us from challenging that which we fear.  

Still. we cannot do this on our own and in our own strength, we need to grasp tightly onto Gods' promises, we need to believe, have faith, speak the positive in our lives and know that God will never let us down, He is our Hope for today, tomorrow and always.

Blessings to you...raising a delicious steamy cuppa to you!