Be Everything You Can Be - Ginger's Update

Aren't we an interesting species? We are the only species on earth capable of stopping our own blossoming.
We limit ourselves everyday to the things we can accomplish. We allow others to crush our dreams with their words, just because the others don't think they could do it, so why should we? Silly, silly people.

If there's one thing I've learned (and am still learning) is that we have untapped potential inside of us just waiting to be released. Everyday we are presented with opportunities to grow. Some opportunities come as positive experiences, and some come as very painful ones. But each opportunity, if looked at correctly, can multiply into a myriad of learning and growth that will ultimately define who we are and show us our true character and the immense strength that was within us all along.

How do we learn to see opportunity correctly? Easy. EVERYTHING you experience in life is an opportunity for growth. From waking up and deciding to enjoy the day - to calming yourself when the inconsiderate driver cuts you off. And honestly, although many of our experiences are horrible to us, they loose their severity when you learn of others hardships.

I recently watched a documentary on micro lending to poor women in foreign countries. I was amazed by the determination and resilience of these women. One woman from India experienced severe hardship. Her husband was a laborer and made less than $1 per day. She stated that there were several days when her and her children would go hungry because there was not enough money for food (after her husband went and got drunk). She learned of a company who would extract oils from human hair to make other products and started collecting hair as a means to supplement their income. If she came home late from her work, her husband would dip her fingers in boiling oil. She experienced SEVERE trials but was determined to live a better life. She received a micro loan for $60. With that $60 she purchased trinkets at the local market. She then told all the children in the village that if they would collect the hair from their mothers' brush she would give them a trinket. Soon she had paid back the loan and had enough proceeds from the sale of the hair to hire additional women who would then repeat the process of giving trinkets to the children and bringing her the hair. She not only changed her life with a single opportunity, but the lives of her children and the women who now work for her.

The opportunity I had to hear her story put my trials into complete perspective. There I sat on my lush couch, full dressed and full from dinner. I had complained earlier about not having something -- I quickly shut up.

"I used to complain about not having new shoes, until I saw a man without any feet."

Perspective, opportunities, and learning to ignore the doubtful comments from others - all things that help us overcome our own personal trials and release the strength within us. Everyday we can grow a little more. Everyday we can seize the opportunities in our lives. We can do it....and that's the truth.

All my love.

Ginger