Who Do You Inspire?

In my work as a Human Resources Manager for a large corporation I tend to meet alot of people. A whole lot. When I add in the work I do as a Myers-Briggs certified trainer, I meet a bunch more. Every once in a while I meet someone who absolutely, hands-down inspires me. It's electric and enchanting when it happens!

I've been thinking about what it is that touches me so much about these people and I think I finally figured it out - because they are all about making the lives of others better. Simple isn't it. They don't even do it in big, grand or sweeping ways - they do it in everyday life. They are easy to talk to. They are genuine in their concern for those that don't even usually have a voice in the matter. They are humble and kind. They aren't donating wings of hospitals. (Don't get me wrong - that's pretty spectacular!) But the people that truly inspire me are the ones that make me happy to be me and happy to know them. Which is pretty much the basis for love - love grows when we are happy to be ourselves with someone else.

Simple ... simple ... simple.

I wonder, just wonder, if I am ever the person who inspires another. Do I measure myself against the right success criteria? Do I make them happy to be who they are when they are with me? Am I self-aware enough to notice?

If you want to see someone who I think is inspiring by venturing to spread smiles, peace and happiness in these difficult and worrisome times - check out Paul Wesselman and his uRock campaign. And then, check out this video on youTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k.

Enjoy!

Friendship

I am amazed at the blessings of friendship I have received over the years. As a child growing up in an orphanage (age 3-8) I thought making friends was the scariest thing because none of them ever lasted. Grade school and high school brought a smattering of friends but alas none of them seemed to stick either. I often thought I was destined to be one of those people who was always looking in from the outside. Sad but don't feel sorry for me - I just needed time to grow up and "see" what I really have.

What I've learned is that I don't have to define friendship the old way. I have true, lasting, wonderful friends that I have kept through moves around the world and across town. I approach life differently now. And when I talk to those friends either by email, phone, letter, Christmas card, or Facebook I find that my bond with them hasn't changed. That's because now I define friendship not by the day-to-day intertwining of our lives (although that's a blessing when I have it as well), but rather as a heart-twining that time and space doesn't have the ability to affect.

I love my friends and I truly thank God each day that they have been an integral part of my life. So for today, here's a shout out to my long-distance and short-distance friends. I love you all - and yes, you know who you are!

May today be blessed and tomorrow be better!
Hugs all around,
Barb

Remember Who You Are

Do you ever sometimes forget who you are? Not your name. Not your family. But your faith - do you forget that you are chosen because God created you and He loves you? Sometimes I think it is so easy to forget just who we are.

I think about this as I approach problems and questions. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in seeing the problem that I forget the next step - looking for the solutions. If we always stay stuck in that space of identifying, naming, categorizing, analyzing, giving name to our problems it becomes bigger and stronger in our mind. Take for instance finances. I used to think so much about what the next bill is, when it's due, how much or little I have in the bank to cover it, etc. I never actually moved passed the stage of being in awe of the size of the problem. I never actually remembered that who I am is a child of God. I have the protection of the Creator of the Universe behind me. I have the creative power that He rendered to me at birth, in His likeness. I just need to look for opportunities to use it!

Sometimes the solution is in renaming and reclaiming my power. Be it over destructive habits (in this example, spending or not saving). I sometimes forget that this life is about creating and about possibilities. The possibility to see things from a different angle. The possibility to count my blessings instead of my sorrows. Yes, it's a lofty ideal if it's just that - an ideal. But when I put it into practice - when I really and truly look for and count my blessings, big and small, it overwhelms me how truly loved I am. All problems seem to regain their proper perspective and new ideas and new solutions come into my consciousness. Not because the problem went away but because I remembered who I am and who my source is. There is nothing that can overcome me if I have my eyes, my heart, and my gratitude on the Lord.

So, friends - remember who you are and look for the grand possibilities that exist in this world to overcome.

Be blessed!
Barb

Feed your spirit for Easter!

I was just listening to my favorite Christian radio station online and realized that this is probably one of my favorite ways to "feed my spirit". There is something about music that changes my connection to my emotions. It can mellow me out or it can fire me up in a 3 minute time frame. I never really thought about Christian music until I lived in a little town called Connersville, IN about 16 years ago. I'm not much of a country girl so the atmosphere was just ok. But I found in that little town a group of believers. We had weekly Bible study at a friend's home and the house was always filled with the sounds of music - good, uplifting, Christian music. It started my love for this type of music. I listened to it all the time. Then when I came back to Cincinnati and life got busy and my kids turned to teens I listened to what they were listening to. I enjoyed some of it, was shocked by much of it. I certainly provided my "2 cents" worth of opinion on it and banned quite a few things. What a waste of music!

Last year when I had an incredibly spiritual experience and captured it in my book, MIGHTY INSPIRATION: Love Letters from God, I felt my heart shift back toward what feeds my spirit. Now, it's virtually all I listen to. I'm thankful to have this station in my town. They sing me to and from work and fill my life with reminders of what is great and how we can all make a difference in this world. What a blessing.

So, for this Easter, as you go about your day enjoying the eggs, the candy, the kids, the beauty of spring I wish for you a blessing of music to feed your spirit!

May God bless you!
Barb

http://www.eloquentbooks.com/MightyInspirationLoveLettersFromGod.html

MIGHTY INSPIRATION, Love Letters from God

Today is a great day! My book, MIGHTY INSPIRATION, Love Letters from God is now published and released!

A year ago when I started to hear God's words stir in my heart I never imagined that I could actually write a book or that the book would be published. I had heard and felt God in my life before and it always provided peace or challenge for me in the moment. But this was different! Way different! God's words were so strong inside of me that I had to capture them in writing. He led me on a journey of self discovering and broadening my vision for my purpose on this earth. And he challenged me to help others find their purpose and their gifts for this world. We are all here to make choices - big and small choices that will move the world to a better place. God has a message for all of us. See what he said to me.

http://www.eloquentbooks.com/MightyInspirationLoveLettersFromGod.html

Peace and love to all!
Barb