Day 357 ~ "Never" miss an "Opportunity"

What I Learned About Me... from A to Z

What have I learned about myself this past year {blogging}..?  hmmmm... First off... I would like to make sure you know up front... I never had blogged before until I started this blog 349 days ago.  Secondly... I never intended on learning anything.  HAHA! LOL!  No but seriously... It wasn't my intention...   Check out what my intention(s) were/are here.

So here goes... What I Learned About Me... from A to Z

"N" is for...  Never.  Yes, never.  

Today I kept hearing the word "never".  A word I have learned to deal with most of this year.  But today, it was haunting.  I kept hearing it over and over In different contexts... standing out each time more and more.  By the end of my day, and before I headed out to church tonight, I heard it yet another time and found it to be very odd.

At tonight's church service, we sang and praised Jesus like no tomorrow.  Then the gal in charge of the music proceeded to talk about "Never".  I was beside myself.  I started crying.  I felt so touched.  I could not believe what was happening.  

We sang... "Never will I leave you... Never will I forsake you..."

By the time I arrived home ... I realized His message to me today...

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

~Deuteronomy 31:6

By the time my day ended and found myself writing my post tonight, I completely understood.  He was reaching out to me.  Reassuring me.  He has never left me, and never will.

"O" is for...  Opportunity.  

As my year end approaches I have learned one of the more valuable lessons of my journey.  Never miss an opportunity to better yourself.

I have learned that each day that I rise... each day that is given to me... each moment is an opportunity to better myself and to do something good in this world.

We all live and die, and one day will be forgotten.  I want to leave something behind that won't be forgotten.  I want to leave something behind that will out live me.  Something to be proud of... something that my children and their children's children will be proud of.

So here's to not missing a beat... not missing a moment... not missing a day... not missing an opportunity to creating a lasting legacy.   

Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.
~Tony Robbins

Tomorrow...  What I Learned About Me... from A to Z ... the letter(s) "P" 

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

8 days to go... {single digits!!...}

read about this count down in my "About my Blog" page

... for a, l & c.  you are my sunshine(s).

Images are courtesy of either google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barilá Karam and of this blog- Taking Back My Life ~ Making it My Own.  US Copyright law apply  ©

Day 326 ~ Giving Back!

Last Sunday I shared with you all (you can catch up here if you'd like) the "rebirth" I have been experiencing at the hands of Oprah and her Lifeclasses.

I have been discovering new things about myself, life, love and death on so many different levels.  

After watching, and continued watching of the Lifeclasses, I have been inspired to work towards a new goal.  Giving back.

I talk so much about wanting to help other women, that now I am going to put my words to action.  I can't wait for someone to come to me, I have to go to them!

Tony Robbins

For the next year, I am committing to myself, with the assistance of my blog (which keeps me accountable -wink, wink,) to volunteer through my church to help others.  I have an appointment this week with my Pastor in hopes that he can guide me on my mission. 

Now, I do have to be 100% honest with full disclosure.  With that said, my goal is to get a "scholarship" to attend one of Tony Robbins' events, and doing volunteer work for one year (minimum) is a prerequisite.

Deepak Chopra

After I watch Tony Robbins I feel so, so inspired to do more with my life and I want to experience that first hand.  SO my goal is to be at one of his events next year.

These Lifeclasses have been life changing for me.  Being inspired by Tony isn't all... as I shared last week, I am also having "AHA" moments, left and right, with lessons and enlightening words from Deepak Chopra, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and Iyanla Vanzan.

From forgiving myself and others, to looking within myself to who I am as opposed to what I am (a daughter, sister, mom, wife, etc...), which is not easy.

Bishop TD Jakes stated, "You are more than what happened to you..."

Now that is deep!  And so very enlightening!!  That made my light bulb shine brighter than it has ever shined!

It is possible for you to get a grip on the thing that used to have a grip on you. And instead of it controlling you--you are now controlling it.  ~ Bishop T.D. Jakes

Iyanla Vanzant

Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real.

~Deepak Chopra 

It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives.

~Tony Robbins

Your willingness to look at your darkness is what empowers you to change.  ~ Iyanla Vanzant

Blogging A to Z Challenge April 2012... Tomorrow ... "Z", the finale!

Blessings,

39 days to go...  

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  © 2012

Day 319 ~ Taking Back My Life, Making It My Own!

I feel so blessed to have some healthy and long-life genes, I'm sure it will come in handy as I get older.  You see I have the honor to have had two great-great aunts who both lived to be well over 100 years old, and their niece, my maternal grandmother is two years shy of her own centennial... and each one of them healthy! .. to the very end.  No senility what-so-ever.  I should be that blessed.  

To be very honest with you, I doubt very seriously that I will live that long myself.  Lol!!  Honestly... I just partied too hard in my youth and did not treat my body as a temple as my predecendants did.  They barely had one or two glasses of wine a year (yes, YEAR) and took care of their ailments via the natural way, no chemical, prescriptions and such.  Holistic all the way.  That's how it was done.

On a positive note... they do say that 40 is the new 20, 50 the new 30, and so on... there is still hope.  lol.  So... I will make healthy, educated decisions for my family and me, and live my life to its fullest.

I have to share with you that in the last two weeks I have been conquering so many issues.  I really have been diving into my healing process (in regards to the loss I have suffered in my life and "life" in general) and can't really decide what "it" is I am going through.  

All I know is that I do not want Calley (my little girl) to grow up with a sad mommy or a grouchy one at that, and one who no less is starting a new phase in her life (Perimenopause).  Oy my poor little girl, lol.

Some may say that I am going through some kind of a mid-life crisis... however I disagree with that terminology being that I do not know how long I will live, and I may have very well passed that "mid" point or have yet to reach it. Big smile. 

What I do know is that I definitely suffered many years of a post traumatic depression, including blocking out negative memories which to day I have no recollection of.  

Lets review... (lol)  ... 

You know what... I was just about to do a brief recap of all the bull shit (sorry for the language, but I have to call it what it is) I have gone through, but have decided not to.  Enough is enough! 

I will however tell you that... I have been listening to a lot of Oprah's Lifeclass (yet another plug for Oprah, including the likes of Tony Robbins, Bishop TD Jakes, Ram Dass and Oprah herself (to mention a few) and what I have learned from them in my "aha" moments is...

I accept all the bull shit I have seen and been through to be in my past...  

I accept the fact that my past is my past and I can not do anything about it...   

I have no hope for my past to be different, it is what it is... 

I have learned from it...  

I have grown from it...  

I will no longer be defined by the sad, trial and tribulations, the stories of my life...

~ Carla Barilá Karam

A rebirth of sorts.  A cleansing.  A post traumatic rejuvenation.  A greet and meet really, a getting to know myself  Taking Back My Life and Making It My Own, and it's all been documented in this blog in one way or another.

Funny... I was just thinking, how long does it take a person to go through something like this?  Do I put a time limit on healing?  or... As they say, do I take it 'one day at a time"?  Am I completely healed?  NO WAY!  Maybe I just answered my own question? 

Another "aha moment" I have had is that by blogging of my goals in itself has been a motivating tool for me.  It is like I have to not only complete my goal, my challenge for myself, but for my blog and its readers and followers as well.

With that said, I have a new goal/ challenge to announce but will do so soon.  

You know what?  I heard Tony Robbins say that we should not say "should" or "will"... you are to say that you "are" and "am"... and WITH THAT SAID... I will announce my new challenge, my new goal in next Sunday's post.

Blogging A to Z Challenge April 2012... What will "T" have for us tomorrow?

46 days to go...  

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  © 2012