"Beautiful People do not Just Happen"

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” ~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Stock photo

Relationships and Adversity

All relationships have their high and low periods.  It is inevitable that a relationship will from time to time undergo tough periods and adversity.  The health and potentially the survivability of the relationship will depend on how both partners address the adversity and the underlying issues.  It is especially trying if the issues subconsciously spark behaviors that sabotage communications through the triggering of negative feelings.  Becoming stuck in a personal drama or failing to address a sabotaging habit or behavior will inevitably damage the relationship, perhaps beyond repair.

All it may take to do the necessary work to break out of a negative drama or correct the destructive behaviors is to remember why the relationship exists in the first place and how strong it seems during the high points.  Differences of opinion are inevitable, but can be handled with open and honest communication.  Using fight-fair rules, listening with empathy, and valuing the other person inevitably lead to bringing both partners to the same side of the table to address the key issues.  When that happens, the issues will be resolved and a stronger relationship emerges.

Photo credit: Cousin Dawn

Adversity as Opportunity

Adversity is an inevitable aspect of living – everyone experiences it.  Most attempt to avoid it, weather it, or cope with it; however, without hardship, there would be no impetus for change, for improvement, for growth.  Adversity may well be the signal for a necessary life change or an opportunity to learn.  The experience may well provide a stepping stone to a much better place.  Approaching adversity from this angle will help provide the energy and perspective needed to effectively handle the underlying issues.

Personal photo: Sand Beach

Everyone is Interconnected

To some extent, everyone is interconnected together through their hearts and souls.  These connections transcend all physical and cultural differences.  No matter the differences, recognizing this in our daily interactions with other people will increase our empathy for others.  Empathy opens the gateway for love.  Empathy and love breed caring.  These qualities unite people more closely together and make the world a better place to live.

Stock photo

The Universe Deserves You

Being careful not to make waves

Politeness overruling feeling and passion

Walking cautiously on the frozen pond

Not wanting to slip stood frozen in place

And fell through the ice

There often is only one chance at something

And only this one life to live

Having the courage to skate with purpose

Would have made all the difference

So take a chance and let your light shine

Live where the passion resides

Relish the full spectrum of feelings

For life is a precious gift

And the universe deserves you

Photo credit: Cousin Dawn B.

Who am I?

Who am I

What a profound question

Am I capable of answering this question?

<not>

Some say it is impossible to answer

Some say who cares

<Thinking>

I’m a hundred different things

A hundred thousand maybe

Can’t list them all here

Well I can be anything

My imagination wants to be

Is that good?

Is what I imagine the truth

What do others see?

Everyone’s list is different

Everyone has an opinion

And I often let that affect my self-view

And that also becomes what I am

How do I sort through all the contradictions?

All it does is leave me confused

So many different things

Maybe I am a collage of all of them?

Sounds right to me

Variety is good

I change day by day

Minute by minute

I have bad, good, ugly, beautiful, and amazing in me

I can choose what I visualize

I can choose good, beautiful, and amazing

And focus on that

I can choose to be something better

And strive for that

I can choose to act to better the world

And better the world

I can choose to learn

And learn I will

I can choose to live

For I am alive

I can choose to love

For love is our essence

I can choose to be

For I am I

~G

Personal photo, Germany