“There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside of you.” Maya Angelou
What’s your story?
What inspires you? What turns you on? What makes your heart sing?!
What has uplifted, empowered, or enlightened you in a way that made you feel like you were on top of the world, or at least on the road to there?
We all want to hear about it!
Share with us the experiences that have had an impact on your life, or those in your life. You can’t keep all the good stuff to yourself! Get it out there where it’ll inspire and motivate others to live a life visited by passion and adventure … or compassion and love.
Tell it to us as only you can … expressed from your heart and head to ours.
Be a part of publishing history!
You never know, your story could be one that’ll be shared in the upcoming IT’S GREAT TO BE ME! collection of powerful and moving stories of self!
Please keep the stories in this section ones of the “feel good” variety … if you need to rant and unload, feel free to go to the TRASH HEAP, where all of your junk is welcome!
With great zeal, our 6 year old princess bounced onto the bus the beginning of this year,
anxiously seeking the adventure called Kindergarten!
Months later, she came home –
telling of an older boy that was hitting her on the bus.
As a parent, I like you would be offer my life for her safety in a flash, there had been experiences with “embellishment”..
so I approached cautiously.
My wife went off to meet with the principal, who promised to “look into it”. So, I waited. (Not a core strength of mine)
When I followed up as to what had been done,
it was deemed insufficient. (By the judge and jury known as-ME)
So, with justifiable anger (this was a 6th Grade boy hitting my 6 year old princess)-I left the office and sped home. Immediately instructing her big brother and she to get in and come with me upon arrival.
Where are we going they asked?
Candidly, at that moment the plan..a plan…
any plan was just forming in my head. I was in action..and the plan would have to catch up!
Off we went..to the 6th grade assailant’s home. They lived behind a secure entry complex. Lest they not feel the need to “buzz me in” upon my request, it seemed best to eliminate the option upfront.
We waited till someone went thru, then caught the door before it locked.
Up the elevator and down the hall,
targets location acquired and I locked on.
With my most authoritative knock,
my knuckles sounded off the door.
I was ready…not sure for what…but my heart was pounding.
The door opened..and I was greeted by the 6th graders grandfather,
speaking very well the language of their native European country. Not ours.
We made an attempt at communication..
which was doomed from the beginning.
He called his nephew on the cell phone who spoke english fluently. He lived nearby and was “on his way”.
We were invited by smiling gestures into the living room.
Enter the enemies den? What do you think I am..nuts?
Apparently.
My son, daughter and I,
now sat across from grandma and grandpap. In the Living Room.
Unable to communicate. Smiles and Silence.
In the corner of the dining room, mattress’s stacked up for communal family sleeping caught my eye.
This modest apartment, was home for many people.
I began to understand (against my will) this young man’s (aka assailant) plight
He…like we were at this moment-spent his day in a language and enviroment foreign to him.
English..the language of his school day..
was not the dominant language here.
Our traditions were certainly not theirs. Yet, theirs wrapped around us like a cozy blanket on a cold day, it would be difficult to argue ours were the better choice.
The frustration wretching within me at the moment,
was his to carry and attempt to contain every day.
Then the nephew came thru the door with his wife..
and a flock of kids. Which one was the assailant of my princess? My spidey senses were tingling!
Then a transformation began: the coffee table before us was cleared, a brilliantly white table cloth draped over it, cups of their native tea poured into sparkling china adorned with lavish hand painted craftsmanship. Then came the food. Nuts, fruit, meats, home baked bread..all this within a matter of moments.
Didnt they remember I came here angry?
OOps – by then even I had forgotten I had come there angry! The boy stood next to his uncle..and never admitted to what others had seen..but by then he did not need to. With 5 children around the table (plus my two)..all started to chime in with..Mr can your kids stay and play? Our families (and who knows who else) are going star gazing at the observatory this weekend.
All this occurred in 90 minutes..what lessons left with me?
a. Possibilities live in conversation and die in silence.
There are times the conversation cant be delegated.
Being welcomed into one’s home, and becoming the recipient of such sincere and gracious hospitality..did not need a language. They do require being present however.
b. Our children need us as advocates. Other peoples children do too.
c. Lessons are everywhere…yet only when present will they be acquired. Anger does not allow me to be here..and now. It commands I be controlling and a very poor communicator.
d. I have become to dependent on words. They are only one means of communication. What is said can and is heard in different ways by other people. Yet, the magic and grace in a gesture…still brings tears to my eyes at this moment.
I went there to “teach him a lesson”…and I did.
I just didn’t realize I was the “him” being referred to.
Mike Netzel
(Thanks Mike!… Jerry)
It’s Great to be me!!! Everyday I love to put as many Smiles on everyones faces as possible! You know, LOVE, just smile, or open a door for someone, say Good Morning. It doesn’t matter if you don’t always get a response back even if it’s just one smile, that ONE makes your day!
Don’t you love it when you are walking down the street and see someone else walking and they are smiling, not at you but just in general and you automatically smile. It’s Awesome!! So spread the LOVE and spread the SMILES….it feels so GOOD!!!
I’ve always been the girl that’s been a tad (OK, really) irresponsible with her time, her body, and her life. I haven’t wanted to own up to any responsibility because it’s been scary to grow up, to find a job, to be healthy, to deal with the curve balls that life has thrown at me. But as the new year starts, I want and NEED that to change, for I am tired of feeling insecure about my right to step forward, tired of letting myself pollute my body with toxic substances over and over again.
So, recently I bought a book instructing me on how to eat right by cooking for myself using only the ingredients that supply my body with the nutrition it needs on a daily basis.
I started out on a one-week challenge, cooking every meal with healthy ingredients and cutting down on portion sizes. I felt amazing, on top of the world! I was finally becoming more responsible about what I was putting into my body, and waking up early before work just so that I wouldn’t miss out on breakfast.
Along with that shift came a desire to be more reliable to others, whether it be as an employee, a sister, a daughter, or simply a human being. Wait…did I hear myself right? Had I just inspired myself to stop making excuses for why I couldn’t be more, do more? It felt absolutely amazing to stop settling for less, to stop settling for the lesser version of myself. I finally held myself accountable to be my true self, and once that happened, it leaked a spark of hope and joy into all parts of my life…something I believe we all strive for.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why it is great to be me. Because no matter how torn down I am by something, I will always find a way to get back on my feet, to feel like there is joy and purpose to my life. Because I don’t let who I’ve been stop me from being who I want to be, no matter how scary the transition. Because I am finally able to take full responsibility for the choices I make, for this beautiful life I lead.
So I guess now my question is this: Am I willing to continue to pay the price of success? To give up the things I’ve always depended on in order to live the life I want to lead?
My answer to that question is, YES, YES, YES!!!!
I realize that it won’t always be easy, but I finally fully realize how much I am worth; that I am worth the “trouble” I’m giving myself in order to live a happier, more successful life–in ALL areas.
Are YOU willing to pay the price of success?
by ronbelpedio
Sometimes I watch my routine and I see this guy getting up, showering and appearing at work, and I slip into this identity that is me. Smiling and saying “hello” – I am genuinely happy to greet my friends and share their lives with them. From “What happened over the weekend?” to “Did you see American Idol?” the people in my life are a constant affirmation that I am needed and liked.
I guess that’s why it’s really great to be me, because I am not alone – because I have great friends and family around me. Being me is so much better because you are here with me. Inspiration is in the union of people, and I truly appreciate all the love and encouragement I get everyday. Hopefully, I can also inspire others to care, and to enjoy everything from a nest of baby birds to the challenge of a business venture.
It’s great to be me, and I just bet that it’s great to be you, too.