3:50 am. And, Inspired…

Good Wednesday morning.  Here’s a selection of inspiring posts of the week from my favorite bloggers:

Vicki Flaherty @ Mostly My Heart Sings with her post The Survivor In Me:  “I guess you never think someone will say the words “You have cancer.”  I certainly had never imagined it. It was surreal. I was home alone and scared. I remember crying like I have never cried before. I’m amazed that just days after the diagnosis, I was already moving to a place of strength and resiliency. The survivor in me, I guess.  Here’s what I wrote in my journal that day, just a series of words: Strong. Resilient. Informed. Great care. Options. Choices. Fortunate. Reaching for family, friends. Being held, supported.  Feeling love. Light. Healing. Growing. Path, Obstacle, Overcome, Stumbling forward with Grace. The seeds for this poem were planted on a beautiful day like today, when I was outside running with Jim, and watching the birds fly over the Iowa River.  I remember thinking how awesome it would be to fly, to embrace the vast openness of the sky and float effortlessly on thermals – and wondering if I could create something like that for myself down here on the ground as a human being.  The answer?  Yes, for moments at a time.  Read the entire post and Vicki’s poem titled Strong at this link.  Inspiring.

Dr. Bill  Wooten, who produces “aha” quote shares day-after-day-after-day, with a quote from Henri Nouwen titled: The Greatest Trap: “Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions...Read the rest of the quote at this link.

Katrina @ Freedom to a Full Life with her post titled Pay Attention: These are conscious choices I make.  I could fume over the flat tire, or grumpy people.  I could worry about money, bills and the economy, or I could count cracks in the paint, smudges on the windows or tracks on the floor.  But, when I dismiss these minor inconveniences and focus my energy on sunset, moon rise, red and gold clouds, and birds visiting my space, my heart rate slows, my blood pressure drops, my breathing is deeper and more even.  So, what are you paying attention to?

Becky Robinson @ Weaving Influence with her post: Decision #1: I Will Do The Work.   I have been making some important choices lately, decisions that will shape my life. The first, and perhaps most important one, is this: I will do the work. It’s easy to get distracted from the work. What is more important is to do what I know I need to do, at the moment, the most important things, whatever they are. The work. A decision to do the work means that I intentionally set aside time to complete the tasks that require my attention. I choose focus and commitment. I will do the work.

And here’s a shot of the handiwork of Patinaandcompany – whose passion is designing gardens…be sure to check out her blog and her post on exterior Christmas planters.

Have a great Hump Day…