Even thru loss we can gain.

Life has a way of becoming really straight up real in the matter of moments. It can suck the very breath of us right out without us having a clue what happened.

We can be ridin the tides one moment and crashed upon the rocks and suck under the next. It seems to take losing greatly to awaken us. To open our eyes. For us to understand fully and completely what life is truly all about. We are robbed of what could have been but are left with the seed of hope.

Hope to love more. Hope to understand. Hope to be kind. Hope to show compassion. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope for strength. Hope we hold onto what truly counts...what truly matters....

I pray that in loss we are able to see the gift we gain...for each life and death holds lessons...and even if we don't want to know them...we are forced to know them.

May we be inspired to be more of the people we are meant to be...may we strive for happiness in all corners of life...may we find smiles upon our faces...may our laughter echo and fill a room...may we want more from life...may we still believe...still hope and still keep the faith...may we truly believe this world is more because they were here and not less because they are gone....in the end I think...no I know that is the best way to honor those we loss...its the greatest gift we could possibly ever give...to live the life we would have lived if they were still here with us...that our lives aren't less...that we aren't less as a person because they are gone...if anything we are more...because of their love...for even in death...in loss when we think we have been stripped...there are things we can gain...there is greatness we can still find...

Taken too quickly

I didn't know her. I never got a chance to meet her. But I have many friends who did. Her story has touched my life and changed me. Knowing her story makes me feel in some ways that I know her.

She was just 21. She was healthy and full of life. She had the world just at her grasp. A twin sister I have been told, a loving family and a handsome & kind boyfriend. She was a Bison and so I have been told a true friend. I know many are trying to come to terms of her passing. Trying to hold the cards of life that no longer contain her presence, her laughter, her smile, her voice. Trying to search for answers to all their why's. So many are shedding tears to the point where the tears have gone dry.

Death is never easy. It never makes sense, it always leaves us with un-answered thoughts and questions. And most of the time we don't fully understand until year and years later -- yet sometimes its not until this life is over do we fully grasp the true lessons a person's life has in this world and in our life. Tonight I pray for the life of Lindsey Cunningham. Tonight I pray for her family and friends. I pray that the angels lead her into paradise. I pray that she is now free of pain and cancer itself. I pray Lord that you hold her loved ones in your arms and bring them strength to face the days to come... and give them hope that life is meant to go on even thou its so very hard not to without her. Even I know, without even knowing her, she was taken too quickly...much too soon.

The Game of Life

"In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson.

How many of us just follow the flow with all corners of life? How many of us act more like a herd of cattle than finding out own way? It sure is a lot easier to do just as everyone else....but sometimes ok most of the time doing the right thing means also doing the hard thing...Going against the grain is not easy...nor is it meant too be or else everyone would be doing it. The same goes for being the person in front that people follow...its not a simple and easy job...that's why I am a firm believer not just anyone can be such a person. In sports esp...you don't just have anyone leading...it takes a special person...A good leader gets people to do things without speaking a word...a great leader is a someone you don't even know is leading you...the best leader most of the time has no clue they are leading they are just doing. Life is like sports in so many ways. So why not apply the things we have learned on the court and in the gym into a much bigger playing field and game... the game of life... I am positive you will find you carry even more tools to succeed in this life. And maybe just maybe we will start leading our own lives instead of following like a herd of cattle... "There's more to life than being a passenger." -Amelia Earnhardt

A Friendship Vow.

I wish you strength in moments of weakness.
I wish you a light to shine in your darkest times to show you the way.
I wish you a friend who understands.
I wish you dreams that you find yourself reaching.
I wish you YOUR laughter to fill a room.
I wish you love that will last.
I wish you someone to see you for who you are...and that's all you need to be.
I wish you calmness when chaos surrounds you.
I pray you know you are never alone.
I pray you will someday see and know the greatness that lies in you.
I pray you will find the love you are in search of.
I pray you will see just how special and rare you are.
I pray you know that this too shall past.
I pray that you one day take off the mask and show the world your true smile.
I pray for a life filled with smiles-happiness-joy and laughter.
I pray for life to be gentle with you during its storms.
I hope you will see the silver lining in this storm.
I hope you grow from each struggle...each mistake...each darkness.
I hope I find you dancing in the rain and jumping in the mud puddles.
I hope you know I believe in you...always.
I hope you know that all you need to pull you thru this all lies within your soul.
I hope you know that I am always here... never to judge... but to understand... never to turn away and see you differently...but to embrace you and love you for ALL parts of you .... you will always find me in your corner.
I hope you know that I carry your faith with me...and will until you begin to have true faith in yourself...

Settlin'

Its something that I find myself doing from time to time...its something that NEVER settles well with me...Settlin'...whether it be in life...work...coaching...teaching...photography...or love...I refuse to settle for anything less than what I am going after...less than I deserve...less than my dreams coming true...

I get the question Michelle why aren't you dating...you are a pretty girl...well the plain truth is...I am not just going to date to date...never have never will...for doing that would be settlin'...I love the person I am...well for the most part...and I would rather spend my time with myself than date a guy just so I could say I was dating someone. Being alone doesn't bother me....yet I found it bothers many that I am...I love being single...I love being able to put what I want in front and doing just that...I love that I don't have drama...I don't tork someone off if I want to have a night out with the girls...I don't coz a fight because I was talking to some guy a little too much at the bar...If I wanted too I could move to Washington or Japan at the drop of a hat...I could catch a flight to Australia in a matter of moments...of course I know better but the point is I could...granted I am sure this is what all single people tell themselves and it all changes when you meet that one you will spend the rest of your life with...well...I have yet to meet that guy or maybe I have yet to start having a relationship with that guy that I already know...So of course I am playing the single card as much as I can til then...who won't...

I refuse to settle esp after to getting to this point...I refuse to let someone tell me my dreams are unreachable...I refuse to hear their can'ts...don'ts and won'ts...I refuse to hear anything negative...It will be me and only me who puts an end to my dreams...Only me that will say I can't..I won't...I will continue to set the bar higher and high because I know that I can and will reach it...it may not be at the pace that I planned but I am positive that I will stick with it until I reach what I am yearning for...I have to...because when I do find myself settlin'...its the worse feeling for me...I would rather fail...I would rather have the wind knocked out of me...I would rather fall from a high distance...for settlin' with me is like guilt...it eats at me...because I know I am capable of more...I know that I am capable of achieving and reaching higher...Settlin' is being just content...its lowering the bar...it involves me being a person less than who I am...Settlin'...its never right...and if you think it is...well sooner or later you will be in for a real treat.

Ripples of another

I often think what my life would be like if someone wasn't in my life and just how that one person can and does play such a huge role in my life...and having that person taken from my life the changes that would cause.

But never do I think of what would happened if it was me taken out of their lives...we never know the difference we truly make in another's life...or the difference we could have made if we were in their life.

I truly believe in the whole pebble throw in the still water making ripples that go on til the eye can't see...I believe in the whole pay it forward and I hope that my life does make a difference in the life of another...just the simple act of caring-understanding-befriending-loving and believing can change a life...so know your life matters!! Your life makes a difference...you simply saying what lies in your soul and how you feel could be all that someone needs to hear and know to make a change in their life- to try-to believe in themselves-to change...

Our words and thoughts hold so much power to them...its great when we can use them in such a simple and powerful way by just speaking them!!!

gift of words

I just got done reading the book After Anne...a book I have read again and again and again....so many times I don't know the true count. Yet it doesn't matter because every time I read the book its like the first time...I cry--which is amazing in itself because I am NOT a crier...I am touched and left with feeling hopefully...I am inspired to be changed OR to spark a change in someone.

I am inspired to be and full fill what the author wrote to me when she signed my book...Become the friend you long to have....

I am thankful for this author's gift of words and her courage to share her story...for her words and story have changed my life and continue to change my life!