Time is a luxury.You have been afforded the opportunity to utilize yours for anything you choose.But what have you done thus far?I know you've heard this before, but what if your time was up in like ten minutes? What if you died suddenly? What have you done (not what do you plan to do)?Who would miss you?Whose life have you affected?Do your loved ones even know they're loved ones?Does anything matter to you, or are you just here taking up space for a time? What are you missing? What about your kids? What are you doing with the time you have been given? So many questions, so little time.
From the mind of: Tonya D. Floyd, No better time than the present... www.Versatili-T.com
I was thinking about how sometimes we get so preoccupied, we forget to praise God despite the circumstances. You know how when things are going very well, and bricks are falling into place, and the sun is shining—we can’t help but give God glory for what He’s done in our lives? Then sometimes when things are on the flip side, we pray and we pray and we pray, but we can’t see as clearly how things were wonderful at another time, how we were delivered the last time, or how we felt when we knew God was in our corner and the world wasn’t so big and bad. I didn’t say we ignore it or forget; I said we can’t see it as clearly as the good times. Well, I’m guilty too, so I figured I’d remind everyone in my reach including myself to take a good snapshot of that higher-than-high, wonderful, over-the-top feeling and keep it in our pocket to peek at when the skies are gray and the worst is all you can see around you. Then make it your business to describe that feeling and the gifts received when you were on top, giving God the glory...
I decided that I'll send out some throwback thoughts when I can't put out a fresh, new one; and I was trying to see which one I would send. Then this snooty broad at work passed me on the way to the bathroom, and I thought: The toilet, and death--two great equalizers. You eventually have to give it up to both, no matter who you are, or who you think you are. And I thought of the perfect TDF Throwback to send today:
14. Anger is like diarrhea. You can't hold it in no matter how hard you try; it burns, pains you from deeply within, and sometimes it can be violent. You just have to find a way to release it in a safe and healthy environment. If you don't get it all out the first time, keep going back until you do. You'll feel much better when it's over.
If you're wondering why you are missing something, or if you feel like you’re less than whole, or if you’re waiting for something good to happen in your life, perhaps you can speed up the process of getting whatever it is you’re lacking by offering kindnesses to others in the meantime. It’s possible--and probable--that your good things are on the way, but perhaps you just need to remember to focus on giving rather than receiving. Even if you’re someone who often helps others out, helps old ladies cross the street, or donates whatever to whomever, you could be overlooking the obvious, and that could be holding you back.
We don’t usually get to choose our own assignments to better us. They’re chosen for us, and when they present themselves, we must view them as opportunities for growth and move accordingly. And don’t worry if you feel you can’t do it; just ask for help and it’s there. If we choose to reject these assignments or ignore them, we hold up our own blessings. It’s like when we as parents instruct our children to do specific things, and they choose instead to do what’s more pleasant or easier, or to do...
Continuing on the thought from last week about purging files from my life, it took longer than the weekend, but I have identified what needs to go. I figured I should share this with you so you can decide if there's some cleaning you need to do. So, here are the categories I came up with.
There are certain parts of your long-term memory and day-to-day that require archiving--holding onto it for later use, just in case, maybe like you hold on to tax files for a few years until the audit likelihood is clear (maybe a functional relationship with a co-parent). Some parts you can delete altogether like junk mail (flirtations from losers, arguments with an ex-). Other parts you place in a hold pattern until you figure out what to do with them, or how you may need them today or tomorrow (new relationships, budding friendships, people who make you smile); there's something to it, but you just can't justify deleting it cause you can't get it back once it's gone. Then there's stuff you have held on to for so long, it's way expired, nobody will ever need it again, and you're just afraid to let it go...
I was thinking about my current job, how I got to this point, and what I need to do next. It occurred to me that people place different values on their versions of success, and I tried to figure out what I now consider a measure of my own. It's true I'm not exactly where I once thought I would be at this age, but I realized through the different stages, phases, and episodes of my life, I've done quite a few things I never knew I could or would. Then I got to thinking how just like changing majors in college, I've had to adjust for some adjustments around me and find a whole different direction.
Okay, for those I've lost and will lose soon, let me ask you what does success look like? Take a person who makes large commissions off customers in sales, and is miserable in his/her job, but makes six figures and can afford a big pretty home with all the accessories and amenities. Then take another person who is a school teacher, living her life-long dream of teaching our youth and making a difference, is blissfully happy in her job, but only makes a fraction of that, and would...
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I was thinking yesterday how sometimes we will say we're doing the best we can at some task or fulfilling some request, and we can actually believe it; then it occurred to me that in most cases like that, there's a lot more we could be doing, or doing differently. I just asked myself as I was getting us all ready to leave the house, and I got my son to practice a little later than he would like, if Jesus was at the field waiting for me that day, would I have gotten there sooner? Or if I were being tested by God, would I really say I did the best I could at getting there, and know it?
Yeah, I know it's not really that serious, or it may seem so, but if you put it in that type of perspective all the time, regardless of how big or small the situation or scenario is to you at the time, you'll probably be doing the best you can more often. I mean, who doesn't have room for improvement? I'm just saying....
From the mind of: Tonya D. Floyd,
It's easy to say anything; making it so isn't always...
I was thinking about some decisions I need to make, and I thought, Jesus said at Matthew 16:26: "For what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" It occurred to me that at times pursuing a certain course or choosing a particular set of battles is just like that--the thing you're desperately seeking may leave you devoid of some rather important parts of yourself. What am I talking about? I'm saying whether it be a sucky, stressful job you stay in because of whatever benefit you call yourself getting in due time, or a relationship you stay in waiting for the other person to change, or a marriage you hold on to hoping things will be like they once were, or a fight you choose thinking you'll win big this time, or whatever--you can put so much time, energy, and so much of yourself into it with no real guarantee that you'll get a favorable outcome. After a while, you can look back and think to yourself I can't believe I'm still here, doing this, fighting for what? I'm so tired....
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Good morning all. After much conversation with myself and my Creator, I've decided to stop being a selfish control freak and submit my third book for publication. Those thoughts I put together over three years must now come to light, because like I said the other day, people need something--and I don't ever want it to be said that I had nothing to say. Part of my purpose is sharing, which may or may not reach a large-scale audience, but from this list, my blog on versatili-t.com, my contacts at work, and my growing Facebook list, I cannot possibly be overlooked.
So, I'm on my way to work now, and I'm just gonna push send and let the book people sort out the details this time. I wrote the words; they can package them up nicely for me. I feel better already. Stay tuned....
From the mind of: Tonya D. Floyd, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. So are the pictures one's mind is able to draw for others. www.Versatili-T.com
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Small reminders count.
June 23, 2009
"So let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due season we will reap if we do not tire out."--Galatians 6:9. I saw that attached to an email last night, and slept like a baby. Funny, some of the things occupying my mind at night just went away with that promise. All the fighting I was doing in my dreams was about a perception certain people were getting away with something, and it bothered me to see that they just seem to go on in their idiocy, which affects me. Yeah, it's easy to forget that it's not my place; I just don't like feeling helpless or taken advantage of. Work in progress.
I mean, every time the IRS takes their cut out of my pay for that bill I didn't create, I lose a little perspective. Whenever a bill comes for a medical copay I didn't incur, I lose a little perspective. Every time I fork over whatever amount for whatever because I know nobody else will, I lose a little perspective. When someone says something to me and we both know they're bull..., I lose a little perspective. And each time I hear...
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