The Power In Change

They say (whoever "they" are) that change is like shedding one's skin, allowing a more beautiful, vibrant, and refreshed "You" to emerge. I think that "they" might just be right. This time.

Have you ever stopped to look at yourself from the outside looking in? When was the last time you stopped the self induced drama long enough to take a good, long, candid look at YOU?

YOU are your own best friend; or, at least you should be. Would you tell your BFF that she was right, even when she wasn't? Would you want her to learn, grow, and be shown, with love, where she might have made a more effective transition, a more honest choice, or taken a more scenic route? Of course you would...so then, don't you want this for yourself?

Gracefully accept your joyful mission to spread more joy, starting with YOU. Openly welcome the lessons, the disagreements, the efforts, and most of all, the inevitable Change.

Thoughts become words. Words become actions. Actions become habits. Habits become character. Character becomes Destiny.

There is always room for improvement; accept change; embrace growth, and enrich your spirit.

You're worth it.


~Elle

The Gift of Calculated Chaos

It's a messy kind of exciting, right now, living this life. The pieces seem to be unsystematic, and in complete disarray, but...doesn't every jig-saw puzzle look this way when you first dump all of the pieces out of the box?

They're all flipped upward now; no cardboard backings without clues. The pieces with the edges are in the pile to my right. I'll start there; build the frame. Here we go again...

I can look at this only ONE of two ways. I need to CHOOSE ONE.

The Options:

A.

This is overwhelming, impossible, and bigger than I. I'll never know where to start when I'm dealt a pile of reckless shapes, mocking my sense of confusion. Why Me...why now..why AGAIN???

Or,

B.

This is AWESOME! I have the chance to start all over again...not only with this puzzle entrusted to me, but also each day. Every day, every experience, and every blessing is meant especially for me. There simply are no mistakes. I CAN DO THIS. Why? Because, God believes in Me. That's why.

The only reason I will be brought to my knees is to GIVE THANKS.

I can put these pieces together standing up.

So can you, Sister.

The best choice is obvious; And God's best is meant to be yours.

xo
Your Sister,

Elle

Survive or Thrive; It's Your Choice

Pick one, then, take the other one OFF the table. It will be eliminated, and no longer be an option for you. My girlfriend and I had a conversation the other day that will not stop replaying in my mind...

The conversation went something like this:

Lanie: "We're survivors, Elle, and we're still surviving! I really have hope that things will only get better".

Me: "I cant own, "Surviving", Sister..I just cant. I survived already; that means I whooped that storms ass, rather than the other way around..I made it; now, I'm ready to Thrive".

We sat quiet for a few...Lannie and I both come from similar backgrounds, and truly, I do consider us to be survivors; aside form the biggie that both of us spent the second half of our childhoods in the foster care system, both of us have been sexually abused, both of us have had physically abusive partners, both of us work in the same field, both of us have parallel feelings towards change, the process, and the NOW...

In our NOW, and in our silence, we realized that we really are not surviving anything; We're thriving...

TO THRIVE:

: to grow vigorously : flourish

: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances.

♥

When the cashier asks, "How are you today"?

There will be no more, "Eh, survivin'".

Now respond with "Thriving, thank you, and you?"

Make eye contact..OWN WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID ..

Allow this.

(Remember, there's not a single other option on the table...)

This is your process, your experience, and your NOW. Make this statement yours, and THRIVE.

Regardless of your circumstances. (Thriving is your birth right).



Abundant love and peace,

xo
Your Sister,

Elle