Security

Security – Poem on mixed media

One of the definitions of security is “feeling safe, stable, and free from fear or anxiety.”

How secure are you in who you are? I used to be very insecure. A lot of that came out of my childhood, and living with an alcoholic father that I feared constantly.

Today though, I am secure. I have a great husband and two beautiful children that are healthy and happy. I live in a warm sunny place that does wonders for the serotonin levels in my brain. I have a roof over my head, friends and faith. I also have purpose and peace in my heart.

Even though I am no longer a spring chicken, and the days of my youth have passed, I’m ok with that. No problem at all. My security and contentment do not rest in what others make of me. My importance isn’t in how I look or what I can do. It lies in something far deeper than passing things. It lies in something eternal.

Do you struggle with insecurity? Are you content with who you are? Where does your worth and security lie?

Simplicity

Simplicity. Don’t you just love that word? Who wants confusion and complication? Not me. I was inspired to do a simple little art piece with buttercups after reading a post by the lovely Trini.

Buttercups symbolize humility, neatness and childishness, while the color yellow symbolizes new beginnings, joy, happiness and comfort. All of these attributes speak simplicity to me. Treasures that can’t be bought. Treasures that make up a life worth living.

What says ‘simplicity‘ to you?

Security

Today is thanksgiving in the USA, and I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a great husband and two beautiful children. We are all healthy and happy. I live in a warm sunny place that does wonders for the serotonin levels in my brain. I’m thankful for my home, friends and faith. I’m thankful for my purpose in life and the deep contentment and peace in my heart.  And…… most of all I’m thankful for my life. Today is my birthday.

I am no longer a spring chicken. The days of my youth have passed. And you know what? I’m ok with that. No problem at all. My security and contentment do not rest in what others make of me. It doesn’t rest in how I look or what I can do. It lies in something far deeper than passing things. It lies in something eternal.

Do you struggle with insecurity? Are you content with who you are? Where does your worth and security lie?

A huge Happy Thanksgiving to all of you beautiful Americans. I am thankful for you.

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Yes, the photo is of me. It was taken during a performance when I was still dancing.

 

Now is all we’ve got

Have you ever met anyone that is always looking to the future?  Or how about those that are always lamenting about the past?  What about yourself?  Do you fit into one of these two categories?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve become a little tired of living for what could be.  Or to looking forward to what is to come.  Also, I certainly don’t want to be focusing my time, emotions and strength on the ‘what could have been’ either.  Or the, “Oh my goodness, look at what I’ve done with my life.” Or how about, “Poor me, look at my sad past (lick, lick).” Been there, done that. Now I’ve closed the door, locked it and thrown away the key.

There is a need, now-a-day to recognize that the ‘hear and now’ is all we can be sure of.  To not live it to it’s maximum would be a real shame.  Not to say that we should never plan for the future or look to the past in order to learn from our mistakes. Not doing so wouldn’t be wise of us.

I recently watched the movie, “My Life in Ruins”, which is a romantic comedy about a Greek-American woman who’s lost her teaching job in Athens and has taken a job as a tour guide, which she hates.  There are a couple of moments in the film where her co-worker who drives the tour bus, makes some changes for her benefit and she doesn’t even realize it. She’s too busy hating her present situation and thinking about finishing the tour so she can move back to the States and get on with her life.  She hasn’t lived in the moment.

One of my favorite movies of all time is “The Peaceful Warrior”.  There is much truth spread throughout the film.  One of the lines really caught my attention – “There are no ordinary moments”. The young man in the film is striving for a dream to be an Olympic gymnast, until one day he suffers a horrendous accident that causes him great pain and the opportunity to compete.  He wallows in his misery for a time, learns some tough life lessons, and then gets back up on his feet and conquers his ailment.

It’s an amazing story of triumph and not giving up on your dreams.  I do, however think that the whole idea about shooting for one’s dreams could very well be a post-industrial/post-modern ideology. Every generation has probably struggled with the “ME ME ME” syndrome and the youth of today may have highly unrealistic views of the world and reality, however I can’t help but think about the way people must have lived before the industrial revolution.

I remember when I was in my early 30s (which was not too long ago =), I was talking with a friend of mine about how I couldn’t stand this whole mindset of women (specifically home-makers) not being able to ‘choose’ what they would like to do in life.  I had real issues, thinking that that type of mindset was sexist and unfair (I grew up in Canada.  What can I say?). I said that it was totally wrong – the whole issue of a woman not getting to pursue her ‘dream’ and the man getting to do whatever he wanted.  My friend then looked at me and said, “Not always”.  That comment made me think of the ‘non-western’ world.  How so many men are just struggling to provide for their families.  How many of them are just taking over the family trade.  How work, life and existence depended on fulfilling basic human needs – food, shelter and clothing.

Since that time I’ve come to terms with my life and being a woman.  I love being a woman and raising my children.  I love being able to invest time into their lives and sow seeds that will germinate in the young fertile soil of their minds and form healthy, happy and secure individuals.  I’m living in the now, doing this, and being satisfied in this. Not regretting what I could have done or what I could be.  No, I’m thankfully accepting my ‘todays’ and leaving the future where it is; in the future.

Far too often, the past and the future blind people from the ‘here and now’, which is really unfortunate.  We cannot change our past and don’t have control over the future.  Now is all we’ve got. Let’s make the most of it.

Your turn. Are you living in past? Regretting the ‘if onlys’? Is it keeping you from seeing today? Are you living in the future, always looking to the ‘next big thing or event’? Are you living your life today, drinking in your moments? Share some extraordinary moment that you had today?

Sweet Routine and Monotony

He who puts the stars in the sky…

…joins me for my morning coffee

…is by my side as I prepare lunch for my family

…goes for a run with me at the end of the day, finishing it with a brief 20 minute moment of reflection, while listening to what I have to say

…lies with me at night and watches me as I drift off to sleep.

Then He does it all again the next day.

The monotony of it all doesn’t bother Him a bit

And I couldn’t be more content.

Are you content?  And if not, why?  What causes you contentment?

Something to think about.  Let me know.

Smile on my face

A tickle on my arm
A hug from my son
A massage on my neck
My mother-in-law’s pet

Peanut butter on a spoon
Lazy Sunday afternoons
Sunny skies in the spring
Pleasures that don’t cost a thing

Casual walks on the beach
Taking in the scenery
Conversation with good friends
A glass of fine wine on the weekend

These things put a smile on my face

“There are no ordinary moments.” –Dan Millman, The Peaceful Warrior

The best things in life are the simple things, don’t you think?  What are your thoughts?  What puts a smile on your face?

Blessings =)

WHY?

I absolutely love the movie, “Peaceful Warrior”.  It has inspired me to do a blog series called, “Who, What, Where, When and Why?” This post is the fifth and last of this five part series.

Why are you scared?

Is it because you feel so empty?  Why do you feel so empty?  Are you searching for fulfillment in things that just don’t satisfy?  Are you wondering what your purpose is here on this earth?  Are you thinking that you may not amount to anything?  That you may not make it in this world?  And how is it that one “makes it” in this world?

I remember when I was graduating from high school.  I thought to myself, “What am I going to do with my life?” I remember thinking about how I loved theatre, music and dance and loved doing musical theatre.  Throughout my younger years I had been involved in various different productions.  In elementary school I was in a musical version of Cinderella.  Then during my adolescence I was in the musical Oliver Twist and even played “Anne” in Anne of Green Gables.  I took dance classes, voice lessons, acting classes and so on.  However, I was a very insecure individual with low self-esteem and thought that I would never make it in the industry, and that it was pointless for me to even try.

A few years after high school though I had an encounter with Truth – the Living God.  He came into my life in such a powerful and extraordinary way that I have never been the same since.  He permeated every fibre of my being and started to take ahold of the lies that I had believed and the damage that had been done.  He started to heal me up and make me into a new creation.  I had been born again.  That’s what Jesus does.  Lies can’t hold up in the sight of Truth.  When light comes, darkness has to go.

Soon after, I received a calling from Him.  A calling to go into the nations of the world and minister to people’s lives.  A calling to share Truth using the performing arts.  And as of May 2000, this calling started to come to fruition.  I set off for Hong Kong for training and soon traveled throughout various parts of Asia, sharing Truth using the performing arts.  I then moved to Brazil and joined an arts group, doing the same thing.  I had “made it”.  I was living and doing what I thought would bring me satisfaction.  But you know what? It didn’t bring true satisfaction.  You know why? Because I cannot be defined by what I ‘do’.  And it isn’t what I do that will cause true and lasting peace, satisfaction, contentment, joy, fulfillment, and the list goes on.  What I do is not who I ‘am’.  And who I am is what will remain throughout all of my life and into eternity.

I can say, with confidence and full surety now, that I am a woman that is fulfilled.  And it is not because of what I do.  It’s not because of what I have.  But it’s because I am found in Him.  I am in a living, active, passionate and intimate relationship with Him.  He has made Himself one with me.  And that’s what brings me meaning.  That’s what brings me satisfaction and contentment.  That’s what brings me security.

So then, there is nothing to be scared of.  There is no room for fear.  He that put the sun in the sky and brought everything into existence is with me.  And I will remain with Him.

Are you worried, scared and anxious about your life? What’s got your heart in a loop?  Leave a comment and let me know.