Cloudy With a Chance Of……

Today I am thankful for storms.  Storms have a purpose in life, especially thunderstorms.  The thunder and lightning combine to shake things up, and make things grow.  If we didn’t have storms we wouldn’t have produce, or flowers, or water to drink. 

While I don’t like the big storms like hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunami‘s, they too must have some purpose, though it is hard to see when you are looking at the damages.  Still they do bring communities together, remind us to pray, and allow people who would help to meet others they might not meet otherwise.

I remember growing up, almost every time there was a thunderstorm we would lose power at our house.  We had a lot of flashlights, hurricane lamps and brass candlestick holders on hand for such occasions.  In the dark, often gathered in one room we would tell stories, listen to the rain, or even play monopoly by candle light.

Life brings many storms both physical one’s, emotional and spiritual one’s.  I’ve found that no matter what kind of storm comes, the thought of a candle and the warmth it brings is the calm that gets me through.  It in the storms that we find our strength, our inner light, a light we can share with others when they are going through a storm.

I don’t particularly like all the different kinds of storms, but I am thankful for them because there is a reason for everything.

Cherry Coley (c) 

 

Time to Go!

Today I am thankful for transportation.  Sometimes traffic can be a pain, you have to watch out for other drivers on the road and road hazards as well.  Yet what a privilege to be able to get a license to drive and to have the opportunity to buy a vehicle of your own choosing.

Think about what it must have been like prior to cars.  There were buggies, carriages, chariots, wagons, trains, and horses.  Other than that, you just walked if you wanted or needed to go someplace.  Back then if a family member moved away there was a pretty good chance you might never see them again.

Despite all the complaining about the roads, construction, traffic issues, and the price of gas, I think we overlook the fact that we have it so much easier than our ancestors even on our worst days.

We can get in our cars with friends or family and travel places in a short amount of time that might have taken weeks, months or even years to get to before. We can travel in comfort with windows that help block sounds, smells, dust, wind, debris, and even the sun.  We can turn on air conditioning or heat at will.

I am thankful I am here in this time and place in history and be able to travel in safety with my children and loved one’s beside me.  I am thankful for all the forms of transportation we have available to us.  I am thankful that if a family member decides to move away or travel, it doesn’t have to be the last time I see them.

Cherry Coley (c)

Just Being Me

Today I am thankful I am me.

Saying I am thankful I am me sounds a bit conceited perhaps, but I am truly thankful that we are each of us wonderfully and individually made.  There’s not a single person that is identical to another person inside and out.

 What a great gift to wake up in the morning and realize today we have the opportunity to show the world who we are.  We can use our talents, work our hardest, give our best, be goofy, and be authentic. 

 No matter who you are or what your station in life might be, realize that there is only one you.  No one else can ever take your place.  You have a purpose, a reason you are here.  Don’t give up or let yourself become complacent, the world needs you, we need you.

Look in the mirror today and say, “Today, I am thankful I am me.”   Then let the people in your life know you are thankful for them.

 Cherry Coley ©

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The Land of the Free

I am thankful to live in America.  We have our issues, our challenges, disagreements, victories and failures as a country, but we still have a belief that a democracy is the best way to live.

I am thankful to live in a land where I am free to search for knowledge and research topics as I feel the need.  A land where I can choose how, where and when I worship and who.  A land that allows me to vote for public officials to represent my interests.  A country that allows it’s people to be creative, to make businesses and search for jobs freely.

I am thankful to live in a place where we can celebrate, or choose not to celebrate holidays.  A place where people can be generous, show kindness to others and voice their beliefs or choose to disagree and not be sentenced to death for doing so.

America is not perfect, the system is not flawless, and never will be.  Our government, our country is run by people and people make mistakes.  Yet, I am thankful to be here now, at this moment in time. 

Let us cling to the things that make America great, be thankful to those who are fighting for our freedom and way of life.  Let us not forget our troops and their families, but show kindness, generosity and offer a helping hand. 

While we’re at it let us remember the storm victims, and those in need all around us.  Even the smallest person can make a difference if their heart is in it.  The holidays are coming, remember the spirit of Thanksgiving, wouldn’t it be nice if you are the person others are thankful for.

Cherry Coley (c)

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Failure is Not Permanent

“The only time failure becomes permanent is if you decide you aren’t going to try anymore.” – Cherry Coley

Today I am thankful that failure is not permanent and that we, as humans, can choose to improve ourselves, our lives, our outlook on a daily basis.  What an amazing thing to be able to change direction or correct our error when we find we’ve made a mistake. 

I am thankful to have the ability to learn to plan ahead, to not let myself be cornered and to recognize that in every situation, no matter how stressful, there are always choices to be made.  Being human means we can learn better ways to approach lifes challenges.

We do ourselves and the people around us a great service by taking care to look at  situations as they arise, center our focus on the goal, and take the steps necessary to get there.  The circumstances, events, and obstacles have little impact as long as we keep our eyes on the goal we wish to reach.

Today be thankful for the ability to set goals, remain focused, realize that failure just means we are still trying, and the determination to see things through to completion.

Cherry Coley (c)

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That’s History In The Making!

What you do today matters.

The things you think,

The things you say,

The things you do all matter.

 We have all heard the saying, “it’s history in the making!” Usually those are words describing some important event that is deemed to be memorable for years or decades to come.  The truth is we are all history in the making. 

 From the moment you were born you began on the journey of your life.  Each day you have grown and learned new things along the way.  Each day you make decisions and choices that will take you further towards your goals and dreams, or keep you where you are.

 As humans we have the ability to keep learning, keep stretching and testing our limits, and to change directions at will.  Stop and think what you do today will affect where you are tomorrow.  You truly are history in the making!

 Cherry Coley ©

Get Started!

photo by Casey Keal

You have to get up in order to start a journey.

You can take a few small steps and be well on your way.

Don’t fret, don’t worry, don’t hesitate,

Just get up and do it today.

 We can pump ourselves up with positive thoughts, and listen to any number of motivational speakers each day to put us in the right frame of mind.  Yet the thing that will make the most difference and speak the loudest are our actions. 

 You want to make a difference?  What’s stopping you? Even doing small things each day in an effort to reach a goal will add up over time.  Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

 Cherry Coley (c)

 

Use The Talents You Were Given!

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.” – Erma Bombeck

 

When I read the quote by Erma Bombeck I thought, “Wow, that would be amazing to be able to say that you used all the talent you were given.”   As of right this moment I cannot say that is true for me.  I have not lived long enough yet and not in a way that uses all the talent I have been given.

 On that note if I were to direct my life to be able to utilize all my talents then I have some major changes that need to take place.  I will definitely need more time to write, to draw and paint, to play music, to dance, to do needlework, cook and that’s just a start.  There are a lot of talents I don’t possess, and just as many I haven’t tried yet.

 There are many talents that I have put on the shelf through the years, knowing that I would not have time to devote to developing them or to enjoy them as I took care of children then later parents.  It is amazing what you forget while you are busy watching the little one’s take their first steps and grow to make their way in the world. 

 Then one day you find you have teenagers instead of small children and more time available than you had before.  You find yourself doing some soul searching, even going back to those shelves in the back of your mind to see what talents can be dusted off and used again.

 I haven’t utilized many of my talents for years.  I dare say that even before my children came along, I didn’t use some of them on a regular basis.  Yet, talents are given to us for a reason and some, if not used over time, can be lost.

Perhaps it is time to go back and dust off some old interests, memories, and talents to see where they fit in this journey going forward.  Life should be enjoyed and shared with others often.  What fun to go back and remember who we were, then discover who we can become as we continue to grow and develop the talents we were given. 

 Cherry Coley ©

 

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Faith

photo by casey keal

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

What is faith?  Is it a belief in something?  Is there any tangible evidence of faith or is it just a feeling?

Faith is the exact mix of hope and determination you need at the given moment when required.

 Faith conquers fear, moves mountains, shatters obstacles and grows in strength with steady use.  Take the first steps of faith to reach your goals, you don’t need to see the whole staircase, you just need one step at a time to make progress. 

 The first step is to allow yourself to dream.  Get a notebook, a pad, or a journal and start writing down your dreams.  Don’t put limits on your dreams or judge them, just step out onto the staircase and let the journey begin. 

 What do you want to do? Are there places you want to visit?  Where do you want to be later in your life?  Is there someone you would like to meet?  What kind of lifestyle do you see yourself living?

Choices and decisions, planning, goal setting all come later, for right now, just for today allow yourself the unlimited possibilities and the wonder that comes with dreaming.  Take a mini vacation just for you and enjoy the ride.

 Cherry Coley ©

Decide For Yourself

“Neither believe nor reject any thing because any other person, or description of persons have rejected or believed it.  Your own reason is the only oracle given you by heaven.” – Thomas Jefferson

One of my pet peeves is when someone tries for force their opinion on me.  I like to look at, research – if I want – information and then make my own decisions.  I don’t want someone to put their spin on things or interpret something in such a way that it would seem stupid to disagree with them, anymore than I like someone taking my choices away.

If you truly care about someone then don’t blind side them with tainted opinions.  If you respect someone then respect their right to make up their own mind about things. 

My parents taught me to think for myself, to take the time to consider things from different angles, to think about the consequences, and ask question and seek different perspectives.  I am thankful for the time they took to teach me to reason and think things through for myself.

Mentors, parents, teachers, managers, friends, when you take the choices and options away from the people you are around – who does it benefit, you or them?  You might avoid an argument, or make things go faster, but if you don’t let that person work through things for themselves or be fully informed of the situation, then they won’t be able to handle the real crisis’ life loves to throw in the mix at some point.  We all learn by experience.

Be kind to yourself, it’s not your responsibility to rescue every person.  Be kind to others and trust that they will figure out what is best for them. 

Cherry Coley (c)

 

 

 

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