Tag: journey

Riding the Wind, Swimming the Current

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There’s a series I once watched called The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, and there was a quote that stayed with me:

“Birds don’t fly; they ride the wind. Fish don’t swim; they are carried by the water.”

This view is as much about perspective as it is about surrender. It’s poetic, beautiful, and invites reflection.

Have you ever been in a river? The current flows in one direction, and if you try to fight it—swimming upstream—you’ll exhaust yourself and get nowhere. There are moments in life that feel just like this, aren’t there? Times when we push against the current, believing we can change its course, only to find that some things are immovable forces.

The truth is, life has many rivers. Some are worth navigating and working with, while others require us to simply let go. Surrendering isn’t giving up; it’s recognizing when resistance is only causing unnecessary suffering. But how do we know the difference? How do we identify what is a “river” in our lives—the things we cannot control? That’s the hard part.

It takes time, self-awareness, and a willingness to step back from our struggles to see the bigger picture. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves: Am I exhausting myself trying to fight something that just is? And if so, what could happen if I surrendered, trusting the current to carry me?

When I think about the quote, I wonder: do birds actually fly? Do fish truly swim? Or have they simply surrendered to what they are—to their nature—and found harmony within it?

What if we did the same? What if we embraced our own nature, allowing life’s wind and water to guide us instead of resisting them? What if we trusted the flow?

By shifting our perspective, we begin to see the beauty of surrender—not as a defeat, but as an act of profound wisdom. We let go of the need to control and, in doing so, free ourselves to move more fluidly with life.

After all, some of life’s greatest joys aren’t found by fighting the current but by letting it take us somewhere new.

Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy

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Albert Einstein once said, “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” How often do we judge ourselves—or others—by the wrong standards?

How often do we believe we should climb a tree when we’re meant to swim?

See yourself for who you truly are. Explore the journey of self-discovery. How else do we grow?

The truth is, each of us is our own. You can’t compare your growth to someone else’s. You are not meant to be them, and they are not meant to be you. Some people thrive in the spotlight, sharing their lives boldly for all to see, while others find their strength in private moments, nurturing their growth quietly. Neither is wrong. Both are necessary.

It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison game, measuring ourselves against someone else’s timeline, achievements, or personality. But just as every flower blooms in its own time and place, so do we. The garden of life is vibrant because of its variety, not its uniformity.

If we think about flowers for a moment: some stretch tall toward the sun, like sunflowers basking boldly in the light. Others bloom quietly in the shade, like lilies of the valley, hidden yet exquisite in their own way. And then there are flowers like the rare corpse flower, which might take years—sometimes decades—before it reveals its unique bloom.

Instead of judging or comparing yourself, embrace who you are and the unique way you are growing. Your purpose isn’t to mimic another person’s path but to walk your own with authenticity. Trust that you are exactly where you need to be, and that your growth is unfolding as it should.

And remember: the same applies to others. Just as you wouldn’t expect a fish to climb a tree, don’t hold others to impossible or unfair expectations.

The world doesn’t need you to be like anyone else. It just needs you to be fully, beautifully, and unapologetically you.

Skip The Short Cut, Take The Long Drive

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You notice with age we seem to always be in a rush. And for what? Why are us grown-ups always rushing? It’s like we think something catastrophic will happen if we’re “not on time.” We’re so consumed with getting to the next thing that we barely savor where we are.

For a while, I kept catching myself saying, “real fast.”

“Let me do the dishes real fast.”

“I gotta go to the bathroom real fast.”

“Let me make this call real fast.”

“Let me eat this real fast.”

Why? Why am I rushing everything “real fast” all the time? It’s like I was stuck in a loop—accomplish one task, move to the next, repeat. We have so much to do, but are we really living while we do it?

The truth is, we lack patience. How do you truly embrace and enjoy the ending of a book, a movie, or a show if you just skipped through the whole thing? Life is the same way. It’s an experience meant to be lived fully, not hurried through. The so-called “boring parts” or long highways of life are what make the destination that much sweeter.

So take your time. Let the journey unfold naturally. It’s not about how quickly you get there; it’s about how much of the road you let yourself feel along the way.

Every Moment Is An Opportunity

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A few years ago, our family traveled to the pines for a weekend getaway on Father’s Day with some great friends. As we drove, I saw a sign that read, “Every moment is an opportunity.” Those words resonated with me deeply and sparked some reflection. I started thinking about how much potential lies in the small moments we often overlook. How many of those little opportunities could we take advantage of each day? A moment is just a brief period of time, but we are always in one—whether it’s a big moment, a small moment, or something in between. And all of them are opportunities for growth, reflection, or connection.

Life itself is a moment, a fleeting gift. None of us will live on earth forever, and knowing that can inspire us to be fully present, to make the most of the time we have, and to view each moment as a chance to be a little kinder, a little braver, or a little more grateful.

So today, think of every moment as a door waiting to be opened. Step into each one with intention, and allow the magic of that opportunity to shape you in new and beautiful ways.

If It Brings You Joy, Share It. Chances Are Whatever It Is Will Bring Others Joy Too

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One thing I love about social media is how easy it is to share things that make us feel good. Whether it’s a beautiful place you’ve visited, a recipe that turned out perfectly, a workout that really made a difference, a picture of an adorable animal that made you smile, or a funny video that had you laughing hysterically—sharing these moments spreads the joy.

I especially pay attention to the people I know personally, like family and friends. If there’s something you’ve done or tried recently that helped you or brought you happiness, let others know! We all want to feel good and do good. So we think, “If it worked for them, maybe it can work for me too.”Awhile back, one of my friends posted a quick Snap of a trainer she follows for at-home workouts. Thanks to her, I found this trainer, tried the workouts, and was sore for days! I wouldn’t have even known about her if my friend hadn’t shared it.

You don’t have to post it on social media if that’s not your thing—text it, email it, or bring it up at your next gathering. Whatever it is that made you feel good, know that by sharing it, you could be making someone else’s day a little brighter, too.

When we share what brings us joy, we’re doing more than just passing along a tip or a laugh; we’re inviting others to feel connected and experience that same uplifting spark. Sometimes, it’s the little things we share that end up being exactly what someone else needed to lift their spirits or inspire them in a new way. So don’t hold back—if something brings you joy, let it shine! By sharing, you’re spreading a little more light in the world.

A Tree Doesn’t Grow Tall Overnight

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A few years ago, I became fixated on our front yard and started landscaping little by little, doing what I could. I remember transporting rocks from one area to the next—it was tedious, to say the least. As I was shoveling, a thought came to me: “A tree doesn’t grow tall overnight.” We have to be patient with whatever we’re building or growing.

In this fast-paced world, we often get frustrated if we don’t see results right away. But what I’m learning is that there’s a unique beauty in each stage of the process that no other stage can offer. So, instead of focusing solely on the final outcome, I’ve started to pause and recognize what’s in front of me. Because once this stage is complete, it’s gone.

Enjoy the process. Be grateful for the struggle. Push through, knowing that the fruits of your labor will be that much sweeter. While there’s wisdom in “keeping your eye on the prize,” I’ve come to realize that if my mind is always on “the reward,” I might miss some really beautiful moments and unexpected opportunities along the way.

As we move through each stage, let’s all try to take a moment to appreciate where we are, even if it’s not where we ultimately want to be. We all can pause, breathe, and remind ourselves that growth takes time. If we can look for the small victories, the lessons, and the beauty in each step, then no part of the journey will feel wasted. So let’s trust the process and, together, enjoy the journey to wherever we’re headed.

Why Is Learning To LOVE OURSELVES So Hard

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Learning how to love ourselves can be challenging for several reasons, often tied to deeply rooted beliefs, societal influences, and personal experiences. Here are some of the key reasons why self-love can be so difficult:

1. Cultural and Societal Conditioning

• Many societies emphasize external validation and achievement, leading us to base our self-worth on how others perceive us or on meeting certain societal standards. This can create a sense that our value is conditional, making it hard to truly love ourselves unconditionally.

2. Negative Self-Talk and Inner Critic

• We often have an internal dialogue that’s far harsher than how we speak to others. This inner critic, fueled by past experiences or insecurities, can make us focus on our perceived flaws, failures, or inadequacies, overshadowing our strengths and worthiness.

3. Unresolved Past Trauma

• Experiences of trauma, rejection, or abandonment—especially in childhood—can deeply affect our ability to love ourselves. These experiences can create deep-seated beliefs that we are unworthy of love or that we have to earn it through certain behaviors or achievements.

4. Fear of Egoism or Narcissism

• Many people fear that loving themselves will come across as selfish or narcissistic. There’s often a misunderstanding between healthy self-love and egoism, leading some to suppress their self-appreciation to avoid being perceived negatively by others.

5. Comparison Culture

• With the rise of social media, comparing ourselves to others has become even more pervasive. Constant exposure to idealized images and lifestyles can lead to feelings of inadequacy, making it harder to appreciate and love ourselves as we are.

6. Conditioned Beliefs About Worthiness

• From a young age, many of us are conditioned to believe that love and worthiness must be earned through good behavior, success, or pleasing others. These beliefs can make us feel that we are only worthy of love under certain conditions, which complicates the journey to self-love.

7. Fear of Vulnerability

• Truly loving ourselves requires facing and accepting our vulnerabilities, imperfections, and past mistakes. This process can be uncomfortable and scary, as it involves confronting aspects of ourselves that we may have avoided or denied for a long time.

8. Lack of Role Models

• If we didn’t grow up seeing examples of healthy self-love, it can be difficult to know what that even looks like. Without role models who practice self-love, we might struggle to develop it ourselves.

9. Overemphasis on External Achievement

• Society often prioritizes success, productivity, and external accomplishments over inner well-being. This focus can lead us to seek validation from achievements rather than from within, making it harder to develop a sense of self-love that isn’t tied to external outcomes.

10. Difficulty in Accepting Ourselves as We Are

• We are often our own worst critics. Accepting ourselves with all our flaws, imperfections, and mistakes can be challenging, especially when we hold ourselves to unrealistic standards of perfection.

11. Deep-Seated Guilt or Shame

• Guilt and shame, often stemming from past actions or internalized beliefs, can block self-love. These emotions can be powerful and difficult to overcome, making it challenging to feel deserving of love and compassion.

12. Need for External Validation

• We often seek validation and love from others, which can become a substitute for self-love. When we rely too heavily on others for our sense of worth, it becomes difficult to cultivate an internal sense of self-love.

13. Complexity of Self-Discovery

• Self-love requires self-awareness and understanding, which involves delving into our true selves, including our desires, needs, and values. This journey of self-discovery can be complex and uncomfortable, making self-love harder to achieve.

14. Societal Norms Around Self-Sacrifice

• Many cultures glorify self-sacrifice, especially in roles like parenting or caregiving, where putting others’ needs before your own is often expected. This can lead to neglecting self-care and self-love, as it’s seen as less important than caring for others.

Learning to love ourselves is a journey that requires patience, self-compassion, and often unlearning old beliefs and patterns. It’s a process of gradually building a healthier relationship with ourselves, where we can appreciate our own worth, embrace our flaws, and treat ourselves with the kindness and understanding we deserve.

A Word Of Encouragement Goes A Long Way

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Encouragement is defined as, “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.”

Encouraging another human being doesn’t cost a thing but it gives them more than anything. It can be life changing for some!

A small act of encouragement pushes people, gives them strength, reassures them, gives them something to hold onto and maybe even fight for…..especially during challenging and sorrowful times.

Even a smile is an act of encouragement.

Don’t fall into the common trap of belittling yourself and your capabilities. You are power.

You can save lives and you DO save lives. You may not know exactly how, but does that really matter? You influence others more than you know. That’s something to think about.

Who knows what doors you have opened for others.

Know in your heart you make a difference. Pass on the love, pass on the encouragement, pass on the hope. The world needs it.

The world needs you.

– m.g.

It’s Time To Stop Mediating On Things That Haven’t Even Happened…..Or Are Even Happening

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We poison ourselves with these types of thoughts and non-existent scenarios. Our minds have the power to liberate us or to imprison us.

When we begin to ruminate on things that haven’t even happened, we begin to believe that it HAS HAPPENED or will eventually happen. We self sabotage ourselves, our relationships, and end up causing pain that didn’t even need to exist to begin with.

Unfortunately, we allow these types of meditations to thrive, to develop, and they could destruct us and those around us.

When you feel yourself dwelling in events that haven’t even happened, stop and recognize that it’s just a thought. Then, shoo it away.

Controlling your mind/ thoughts doesn’t happen over night, it’s a conscious effort that you have to work towards everyday.

It’s time to develop a shield to protect you from this type of thinking.

Whatever thoughts you may be meditating on, there may be something deeper as to why you’re dwelling on those thoughts.

But in the meantime when you feel those thoughts creeping in, acknowledge them and then just shoo them away like you would a fly.

Stay focused on the present and what’s in front of you right now.

Lots of love.

– m.g.

Give Yourself Permission To Be Still

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We are busy humans living in a very fast paced world.

There’s always something we have to do, to prepare, to clean, to organize, some event to attend, etc.

I often thing of the song by Alabama,

I’m in a hurry to get things done
I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die, but
I’m in a hurry and don’t know why

We are so conditioned to be busy that if when we aren’t busy we are uncomfortable. We become bored or even anxious because we are so use to always being occupied with something.

We have to seek something to do to keep us busy and distracted. I believe many of us feel that if we aren’t doing something then we aren’t being productive. Society highly influences this.

The problem with that is if we are constantly go go go guess what happens?

We become burnt out my friends! Agitation becomes our shadow. And that’s not good for anyone who is near us. That’s not the kind of energy that we want causing ripple effects.

This quest to accomplish starts once we are born. It’s not enough to just be. We are already being judged on what we can do and can’t do. There are milestones for every month/year. We’re always being watched and compared. It makes sense why we are so concerned what others think about us.

If certain milestones are not hit, we panic and become overly concerned. I just want to say there’s nothing wrong with being a late bloomer. Plenty of people in history by the way fall under that category and it should encourage you.

As you get older it just constantly feels like one thing after another. You think to yourself, when am I just going to get a break? And the truth I think is….we never really will until we just begin to take breaks. That’s life. That’s just how life is and the sooner you realize that, the better. Don’t forget about yourself.

YOU, have to make time and effort to sit still, to be still. To do nothing once in awhile and just breathe. There’s always going to be something. Some hurdle to overcome. And often times it takes something to make us stop in our tracks and just be still. And it shouldn’t be like that. We should be encouraged to notice the details in the present and not always driven to reach “new levels”.

Maybe you had a surgery, or you’re not feeling good and you’ve been told to have bed rest, maybe you broke your foot, etc…….you don’t need THIS or THESE types of things to happen in order to sit still, to soul search, to read a book, to enjoy the sunset, to try something new for yourself, to RELAX, to surrender. You can give yourself a moment to be still whenever you want. Truly, it’s your choice.

You’re multitasking, giving yourself all these things to do and the only thing you’re doing is stressing yourself out. And something I’ve realized is we are typically making ourselves stressed out for other people! Who really don’t care as much as we believe! Give yourself some grace and others.

Take a moment and be still for yourself. Give yourself permission.

Do it for YOU. Life is quick and feels more quick when you’re always busy. Slow it down and practice just being.

Not every thing needs to be done today, this week, this month. Notice the little details and seek the beauty that can’t be reached when you’re moving quickly.

Walk sometimes instead of always running. Less busy, more stillness and slow pace. When your driving a car you don’t whip the steering wheel to turn right or left. You gently turn the steering wheel with ease to change the direction of your vehicle. It’s okay to move slowly and be still. As long as you keep going.

You’re a miracle all by yourself. Remember that always.

m.g.