Surrender and Fear

Surrender and Fear

Never mistake the freedom of surrender with the scary emotion of fear.  The two are very similiar and can be easily mistaken.  What’s even more interesting is their definitions.  Surrender is relinquishing something or to someone, fear is perceived danger.  Ah, therein lies the key “perceived”.  Unfortunately in my life, my address was fear for a very long time.  You see, I come from a long line of strong women.  We love to fix, create, and dare I say it, control.  Lack of control is scary, it’s fearful.  

My lightbulb moment happened recently dealing with the preparation of my 18 year old getting ready to go off to college.  For years, he traveled to tournaments independently, he went to visit friends, he trained away from home, but I always knew it was for a short time.  I always knew he was coming back.  Getting ready for him to attend a university out of state was shell shocking to say the least.  He would be away for long stretches, he’d have a new life, and God forbid he wouldn’t need me anymore and I would no longer be in control.

How will he ever make it without me I questioned.  How will he fend for himself?  Who will take care of him when he’s sick?  Who, I ask, will make the Ramen he loves when he has a cold?  What I really wanted to know was who will I be when he’s gone?  What purpose will I have?  Who will I have to take care of then?  Who will I control for crying out loud?!

I realized I had to let go, cut the umbilical cord, let him spread his wings.  It wasn’t easy, but thankfully I’m a spiritual person.  I knew I had been pursuing a tug of war with my great big God for my son and I knew I couldn’t win.  Clear as day I could hear God in my heart, not with a stern voice but with a sweet, understanding one.  Never mistake the feeling of surrender with the scary emotion of fear.  See, I had to relinquish my son so God could do His work in molding him into the wonderful man I know he’ll be but I had to get over my fear of letting go.

So, next time your feeling “perceived” danger just ask yourself what your afraid of, because chances are God’s got it already, then all you have to do is let go!

The Wheelbarrow

"Don't be like a wheelbarrow-- only moving as far as someone will push you!"- author unknown



I am thankful to have grown up in a home where working hard was not an option.  My father is the "John Wayne" in my life.  He taught me to be prepared for every situation, to arrive early wherever I was going (on time was late according to dad), treat people with respect and always look them in the eye, and never ever forget who I was and the very strong people I came from.  This recipe for success has been a part of me through every aspect of my life.  It's what I hope to pass on to my son as he is on the cusp of adulthood.

I love the thirst and hunger as I come upon new challenges whether in my real estate business, working on my fitness goals, or striving to be a better person than I was the day before.  We HAVE to want it!  We HAVE to go after it!  I'm sorry to burst the bubble of ignorance that some people have but success in any form will not be delivered to you in a pretty little package.  You must pursue it! 

Some people don't know where to start.  Start with what you want, write it down, tell someone, make it  real!  Then and only then will you have to put your words into actions.  Get an accountability partner or mentor and allow them to keep you on track.  Your dreams and goals will become rungs on the ladder and you will climb higher than you ever believed possible.

So, don't wait for things to happen or for someone to push you along, GET MOVING!  One of my favorite verses in the Bible is from the book of John "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world!"  Jesus almost promises life will be hard but He has already overcome so dig deep, take heart, and make it happen!

People Pursuing Passion

Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
-- Harold Whitman

How many of you out there live out your passion daily?  Whether its a passion for fitness, a passion for a political cause, a passion for food, whatever it may be do you allow yourself the chance to enjoy it?  I believe there are a number of people who have known from a young age what their passion is and yet far more that have no idea.  These people live the status quo of life.  They have become or behave as others have labeled them to be.  They have chosen the safe route because to get to know themselves is well...scary.  It's scary since they've never really gotten to know who they are and have morphed into conformists without a clue as to what their passion is.  Finding and pursuing your passion takes risk and risk for the "safe" is truly uncomfortable.

I've had the pleasure of surrounding myself with people of passion through my son who is a nationally ranked tennis player.  He surrounds himself daily with others who share the same disciplines, the same sacrifices, the same passion.  Since Jake was 2 years old and learned to walk, we could not keep him off the tennis court.  He loved it and still does.  It is what drives him, it is what gets him out of bed at 6am to train, it is his passion.  Alison is another young adult who inspires me!  She can run like a gazelle for hours on end, she trains daily to improve her basketball skills and she has since she was 5.  Alison is a mature young woman.  She knows who she is, her values unwavering, and she certainly has passion.

But what about those who truly don't know?  How sad that their lives have passed them by like empty boxes that can be filled up with whatever people  tell them to fill up with.  Why havent they found "it"?  How do you know what "it" is?  I suppose it redirects us back to our quote, ask yourself what makes you come alive and as the great Nike adage says "just do it".

Footprints

As a little girl growing up in South Texas, there were many things I loved. I loved the weather, I loved the wildflowers in the spring, and I loved hunting! My dad taught me much about hunting for deer. We put out salt licks, deer feeders, and he taught me how to check for their tracks. We knew their patterns and where they had been because of their prints in the South Texas caliche. Remembering these great memories got me thinking, where do we leave our footprint?

In the midst of this thing we call life we encounter many people. We live through many changes and events, some good and some very difficult but they are all opportunities for us to leave our mark. So, what does your print say about you? Are you a person conscious of your health and taking care of your body? Do you encourage others to do the same? Are you a person of strong faith? Do you tell others your story of impossible situations and your faith alone was what saved you? Are you a natural leader? Do you guide and direct others with strong character and great decision making?

It's very sobering but the truth is we will all die one day. When your time comes, what will others say about your life? What will the footprints you leave behind say about you?