Inspiration – Life Lessons

Age Gracefully, Not Hatefully

Growing older is not a burden. It’s a blessing! Do you realize how many people didn’t make it to 50 or even 40? A gray hair is a life spared. A knee cracking is what’s happening. And a little gut is what’s up!

Ain’t nothing wrong with making home improvements or renovations, but there’s no need to remodel your home. It’s not dilapidated. It’s not raggedy. And it’s definitely not old. You’re seasoned, stable, mature, and marvelous!

You know what’s the cool thing about having gray hair? You now have a new look to add to your collection. Once that dye grows out or that rinse wears off, you’ve got natural salt and pepper growing in your own head. If you don’t have any gray hairs, then you’re not officially seasoned 😄

What in the world could be exciting about cracking knees? You no longer have to bend to anyone’s demands 😃 Saying no becomes a whole lot easier when your knees start speaking for you. As long as you can bend them enough to walk away from drama, you’re still in good shape.

How does a gut make you the stuff? Every time you suck in your stomach, you’re working your ab muscles and looking slimmer at the same time 😉. Seriously though, it forces you to make a lifestyle change. That gut surely didn’t come from dieting and exercising. Either you never started or you stopped a long time ago. If you’re not happy with it, be grateful that you’re still alive to do something about it. And if you can’t seem to, then improve an area that you can to make up for it😊

Bottom line, don’t waste your precious life beating yourself up about the little changes that come with age. Change what you can, but accept what you can’t. If surgery makes you happy, then don’t let anyone make you feel bad about it. But please be careful and understand the risks that come from doing so.

There’s somebody for everybody, so you really don’t have to change a thing. I haven’t seen too many supermodels at the alter exchanging wedding vows. Sagging tits, fat backs, flat backs, and pot bellies are still winning. So if you fit the description of any, then so are you.

Love your seasoned self but hate sin, for that is the only thing keeping us from being great.

“If you live long enough to tell your own story, then you’ll make the greatest accomplishment in life.”

-Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson ✍🏽

What’s Your Purpose in Life?

Whether or not it has been discovered yet, you were born with a purpose. Purpose is your spiritual responsibility and service to society or the universe. Are you doing what you want to do or what you were called to do? It’s an important question because we were all given an assignment to complete before leaving earth.

Oftentimes, purpose is discovered within a gift. A gift is unique quality acquired naturally. Sometimes others see it in you before you do. Nevertheless, it’s up to you to cultivate it.

Gifts aren’t always as desirable as one would like, but they usually have the biggest impacts. For example, many preachers did not dream of serving in that way, but they bless so many people with their sermons and other religious or spiritual services.

In fact, using a gift to serve with purpose can actually become burdensome if you don’t know when and how to say no. You must also know when to take a break.

Talent can count as purpose as well. Though it may be a hobby for you, it can be a gift to someone else. For example, making wigs for cancer patients is a great way to serve with your talent. Cancer survivors like to switch up too. I know my deceased sister did. When she felt like having hair, she had a large collection to choose from, which was as beautiful as she.

Like gifts, talents can become burdensome when used to serve with purpose as well. An enjoyable activity can easily become a nuisance when it starts to feel like a job, and you’re not getting paid for it. That takes the fun out of it.

My husband refuses to monetize his passion for cooking or commit to a series of scheduled events. He does it out of pure love whenever it’s convenient for him.

If your purpose is also your passion and it’s paying, good for you! But if your purpose feels painful, then you should adjust your attitude about it and put the needs of others before pity.

Practice vs Purpose

What you practice could be your career or personal interest. It’s what you “choose” to do. I wouldn’t refer to a job as a practice because it may not be something you choose or like to do. It may just be something you must do to sustain a living or pay some bills until you get into your career.

You’re Special

You should never feel insignificant once you’ve discovered your purpose in life. No one else can do what you can exactly the way you do it. You are too unique and incredible to ever go unnoticed. Don’t be stingy with your gift. Share it with the world!

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

Something captured your interest? Don’t be selfish. Share with your friends!

The Poor is Rich with Ideas

Do you have an idea that you are afraid to execute? What exactly is stopping you? Have you buried it before even trying? Let’s talk about this doubt and fear you have. Or perhaps, the number of excuses you keep coming up with.

So what you’re poor or broke. You’re not the only one. As you can see, most people in this world have no pity for the poor. Know why? Because most of the world is poor. They have problems of their own. The good news is you don’t have to stay in that condition because being poor is a mentality, not a reality.

An idea is an Intelligently Decorated Epiphany Ascending. It goes through stages of development just like any great invention. First, it starts in the mind (conception). Next, it is nurtured with time and effort (planning). Then, it is executed with an effective plan (implementation). Finally, it is properly monitored and maintained (monitoring & controlling). But, it is also easily destroyed with doubt and fear triggered by negative thoughts, which can come from you or others (attrition).

Everyone was born with a gift and talent. I mean everyone. You just don’t realize what you have because you are too busy looking at what someone else has. You’re creating TikTok videos in your spare time. That’s media talent! You’re posting delicious looking gourmet meals prepared by you. That’s culinary talent! You’re posting makeup and hair tutorials you’ve learned by practice or just from watching videos. That’s beauty talent! You loving taking pictures at gatherings. That’s photography talent! Your ability to discover or recognize talent is a talent!

The idea of making a TikTok video showcased your videography skills. The idea of making a meal showcased your cooking skills. The idea of creating a tutorial showcased your beauty talent and gift of teaching. The idea of taking those pictures at the family reunion captured memories and revealed your photography skills. Now you need to research ways to make money from it, if that’s your passion.

Of course, ideas go beyond visual arts, cooking, and doing makeup and hair. I used those examples because many people do them for fun without realizing they are talents. Media classes can help turn your hobby into a career in marketing, advertising, and the like. Culinary school can help you become a certified chef. Cosmetology school can help you become a licensed beautician and business owner. You can become a licensed photographer, though you don’t need one in most places. You’ve already got the skill. All you need is professional, high-level equipment to get started.

If you’re serious about cultivating your idea, then you should start your research now. Talk to people who have successfully executed their plan, and surround yourself with positive energy. You don’t have to quit your day job. You just need to quit making excuses. But if your idea starts producing enough to replace your job, then you’ve scored big!

You don’t have to turn every hobby into an income. That can take the fun out of some activities. However, if money is an issue, you can use some of them to discover your niche and generate an extra income.

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

Photo: Flickr. Idea by Angela_G

Something captured your interest? Don’t be selfish. Share with your friends!