Love for All

#PrayForDallas

I write with a heavy heart today. This country {and world} that I love, is falling apart in front of my eyes.  People I love are full of fear not love.  We are fighting violence with violence.  
We have forgotten how much more powerful it is to love. 

We were all made different but beautiful. We shouldn't have to hide behind "normal" because of fear. Be proud of who you are and the story you are writing and then be the change this world needs. I challenge you {and myself} to embrace someone that looks, prays, lives, or loves differently than you, because the closer we are to someone the more love we will have for them. Glennon over at Momastry had it right when she said, 

 "Hate is fear and fear can't survive proximity. So let's get close to each other. Eye to eye. To really see and know a person is to love her. And perfect love casts out fear."

We shouldn't have to specify that "any lives matter" because of course they do! We are all a son, daughter, brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandson, granddaughter, husband, wife, father, mother, or friend to someone that loves us.

Everyone deserve love.

Everyone deserve respect.

Everyone deserves to be treated fairly.

We ALL matter.

Labels. They are being used to divide us and drive hate. Just because I wear a "white" and "Catholic" label doesn't mean that I am racist and conservative. All blacks aren't criminals, all immigrants aren't here illegally, and all police officers aren't bad.  Remember, ignorance comes in all colors.

Hate is a choice.  Hate is something we learn. So, how about we start teaching love? Teach by example and let's finally drive out hate with love!

Don't hold back, love like you have never loved before!

Anyone up for a love mob? Is that even a thing? If not, let's be the first.

Love. Love wins.

Sweet Success

Success to me is...

...achieving a goal you set for yourself.

...understanding it looks different from person to person.
...understanding it looks different in different stages of life.   

 ...personal!  


These were my initial thoughts and then I became curious as to what others thought about success so born was this post...  

A favorite movie quote

Society seems to have a very rigid definition of success and if one doesn't fall within those boundaries or meet the expectations then they aren't seen as successful.  Success is often times defined by how much money we make or what our job title is, but can't we follow our passion and be successful?  A stay-at-home parent can be just as successful as a CEO. Employees of all skill levels contribute to successful companies but who is recognized? The one or two at the top.  How often do we recognize housekeeping or the employees working in the "background"? Are they not making a contribution to keeping things running smoothly for those at the top?  These people may never be the face of the company and may not want to be, but does that mean they can't be successful?   Sometimes there is so much pressure to be like "someone else" when truly we should just want to be better than the person we were yesterday.  Don't compare yourself to others, but instead let them be your inspiration.  Be inspired by those that encourage you to be the best-version-of-yourself!    

Love yourself. Celebrate your journey.  Embrace your story. 

Let's learn to be happy and satisfied with our own accomplishments. Let's celebrate all successes from passing a big exam to a job promotion.  All experiences are important and often time teach us lessons that we don't always understand until later.  These experiences are part of our personal story and what makes us who we are today.  Everyone has failures. Everyone gets knocked down from time to time, but without the failures we wouldn't be able to recognize the successes.  Let your successes be the star of the show, but remember your failures are just as much part of the story, they were the stepping stones that helped you reach your goals.  Also, don't let one success be your only defining moment. Don't quit once you reach a goal, but continue to strive to better yourself.  Your life is a journey and your journey in your story! 

This.

Sometimes we define our success day by day and other times the timeline is much longer. That is okay! We are all writing our own unique story.  Our stories shouldn't be compared to someone else's because we don't know their every detail, and we sure don't know if it is their beginning, middle or end.  We are only a small part of their story but the star of our own, so let's move our focus back to writing and inspiring our own audience!    

I love children for many reasons but I especially love toddlers because they have no filters, don't understand the pressures of society, and are always honest and the truest versions of themselves.  This is who I want you and I to be.  Let's be raw, honest and open with each other.  Let's trudge through hard times, celebrate the good, and embrace our boring day to day routines, because we are writing our story and have readers we haven't even met that are inspired by what we are doing.  Let's do life together!

I asked my Facebook community, "what does success look like for you?" and you answered! Everyone gave me a different and very personal answer to only validate my own thoughts {and my original inspiration for this post} that success shouldn't be defined by one person or one event.  Success should be on going and can look different at different stages of life.  Everyone is successful on their own terms and has the right to fully experience success, so let's congratulate and celebrate with them and let their adventures inspire our own.   

"Success for me is seeing success through others eyes. A text from a client saying that their booty looks better in some pants and their husband keeps complimenting. Someone working hard to compete in something new, and doing it. Someone gaining better body image confidence just by learning how to look at food in a healthy way. Someone just thanking me for being in their corner. The days when I hear those stories are my best days." 

"I have recently started in a direct sales business and just getting out of my comfort zone and every small step I take has been a success to me. Whether it's a small sale, a big sale, or just talking to someone about the product!Getting someone who won't smile to smile." 

" To make a difference in someone's life each & every day. It doesn't have to be big, but knowing I did something to help someone else is success to me." 

"Being a mom has vastly changed my attitude of success. I used to think degrees, making money, and helping people were what made me successful. Now, raising little people who are kind, loving, helpful, and God followers is what I'd consider to be success in my life. Although, in complete honesty, my short term success goals include losing baby weight, helping my daughter through her potty training regression, and completing everyday tasks with two under two such as cleaning, cooking healthy meals, and getting the bills paid."

My thoughts remain the same from when I was first inspired to write this.  I nor you should be compared to anyone but ourselves to measure success.  We should always have a goal we are working towards, because that is how we grow and become a better version of ourselves.  Success is much sweeter when we have a friend or two that understands the struggles we endured, cheers us on every step of the way, and throws a themed party for us at the finish line! {OK, ok...that last part may just be me, but you get the point!} Success is sweeter when it can be shared!

What is your proudest, personal success story at this moment? 
Share with me in the comments! 

Thank you to everyone that contributed and made this post possible.