Tag: truth

HERO TO ZERO

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 2 Comments

mother and child

Life is beautiful when you are considered a hero in someone’s eyes. It could be a child, a boss, a girlfriend or boyfriend. A husband or wife, married or single, being a hero can relate to just about anyone in this world. One day life changes and that child becomes a teen, your boss has found another star, and friendships are broken. In a short period of time, you go from hero to zero.

What is a hero by society’s standard? It is someone who is admired for their courage, achievements,  or other qualities, like showing courage through life’s difficulties. A hero can also be an object of extreme admiration.

Do you remember when your kids were younger? Well I do, and they looked up to you like you were a king or queen? Well as most parents know, when they become teenagers, they believe they know everything and you know nothing. The glow in their eyes and admiration diminishes. They no longer feel like you’re their hero.  You’re just mom and dad, who are imperfect beings. In today’s world, kids have learned so much through the internet that they begin to correct you even before high school.

How about working for a company for years where  you are considered one of the best employees. Year after year, you are commended and given awards. Your associates look at you with admiration and intrigue. Then one day things begin to shift in another direction.  Age becomes a factor and there is a new challenger that is being admired. There is always someone younger with more energy who may run cartwheels around you. Then one day your best isn’t good enough as someone else have taken your place. In a short period of time, you go from a hero to zero.

Friendships come and go. You can have a best friend today and sometimes foolishness crushes those relationships. In their eyes whether it is a love relationships or friendships, you can go from a hero to a zero.

These experiences could be a real life changer impacting your life in many ways if you allow it to become a thorn in your side. When you dwell upon where you are instead of where you are going, it will take over your life.

What is required is a new way of thinking. Transforming yourself and your ability to see these experiences in a positive light, will allow you to grow and develop new skills and characteristics. This will promote positive changes in order to move ahead towards the future. Maybe you needed a shift or a prompt to move in another direction. It’s easy to get stuck in one’s world while not growing mentally or spiritually. Sometimes I believe God has to give us a little nudge in order to wake us up from our mindlessness.

Nuggets of Truth: “We sometimes need a shakeup in order to wake up.”

                                       Pat Fagan

 

 

 

Free To Choose

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 2 Comments

clerk-18915_1280If you had the ability to choose whatever you wanted to do with your life today, what would you do without any boundaries? Where would you go and how would you live? What choices would you make if you had absolute freedom?

These are questions I sometime ask myself, because I realize in the world we live in, with all the responsibilities we have on our shoulders, it’s not always possible to choose. We live in a so called free world, but are we really free?

I remember when I was younger, a teenager growing up in long Island, life was a breeze. My whole life was ahead of me and I couldn’t wait until I was 21 to embark on my journey of discovery. Well, life was much simpler then and as I look back I realize how sweet life was with no real responsibility. As a grown up I have the freedom to choose, however, that freedom comes with a price.

Am I really free to choose? Well, if you are poor or middleclass, you have quite a few limitations. Unlike the rich who have more opportunities, a lot of us are living paycheck to paycheck as noted by recent statistics. A lot of people are working jobs they’re unhappy with, however it pays the bills. Relationships are complicated and sometimes cause undue stress. So, are we really living a life of freedom?

Imagine a world where freedom of choice really existed. Money was not an object you chased after for survival. It’s like chasing the wind but you can never quite grasp it because it’s always moving. Imagine living your purpose and passions with no restrictions. How about getting up everyday to do something you love rather than focusing on a paycheck. Imagine living to give to others because of your abundance.Think about how you would feel without the pressures of your current life.

Being free to choose is not an illusion. In your current state, making a move towards your new goals and striving towards a different lifestyle is attainable. Examine where you are right now and figure out where you want to be years from now. If you are happy where you are, make some small changes in order to make things better. If you are like me, I’m looking forward to a different future. One that is much lighter and freer than where I am presently. This also comes with a price and that’s the ability think smarter and make some tough choices in order to achieve your desired outcome. Time and patience is also a factor to consider when embarking on a new journey. Stay the course and eventually you will arrive at your planned destination.

Nuggets of truth: When you lose sight of your goal, you will loose sight of your dreams if you don’t stay on your path.

 

 

 

Opposites

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 3 Comments

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Have you ever met anyone who thinks they’re always right? In a conversation, you are like night and day or positive and negative. Sometimes you can’t get a word in edge wise as they choose to believe their opinion of the facts are correct and yours is wrong, thus dominating the conversation. You debate on various personal and impersonal topics and you never seem to have a real understanding. The older you get some things never change. Think before you speak and refuse to engage in these debates. Continuing to discus a topic with someone who is unwilling to listen, will only lead to frustration.

It can happen on your job with your boss, or an associate. Family, friendships, or personal relationships, can also lead to broken dialogue if both parties are unable to share their thoughts. We have all experienced this in life, and it’s lessons we learn how to deal with on our journey.

Beleiving you’re always right, and not giving others the opportunity to express themselves is dangerous. Healthy debates and a willingness to listen to another persons opinion will allow your mind to expand to other possibilities. We are all learning and growing and no one has cornered the market on truth or factual information.

If you encounter someone with this type of disposition, my advice is to listen and let go. Don’t engage in their negative behavior. What doesn’t serve you will only lead to exasperation. Focus on constructive thoughts rather than destructive attitudes.

 

Life’s Failures

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

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Facing life, with all its twists and turns, takes a certain level of courage. Meeting your intended objective is paramount to feeling successful. We’ve all had different experiences which led to pain and discontentment. Picking up the pieces and forging ahead will set you on a new road to discover solutions for future endeavors. Continue reading “Life’s Failures” →

Tis the season to be what?

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 2 Comments

christmas gift2Are we really thinking jolly? Have we all lost our minds?  The Christmas season can be jolly if we change our way of thinking.

I’ve worked in retail during the holidays for many years, and believe me when I express that human behaviors are not conducive to having a happy time. People fight over parking spaces and who’s next in line. I had a customer who was at least 80 years old, in poor health and felt obligated to purchase 50 different gifts for her family located in different states. If that’s not enough, a lot of men who have no idea what to buy or even have the desire to join the madness will pick up anything just to keep peace in their homes.  The common thread from men year after year is a desire to please even knowing their loved one will return the item as they have done in previous years. Baby carriages with infants less than a month old and children crying as they walk through the stores. People stressed out from all this delusion with lists upon lists of gifts they have to purchase.

mall shopping

Hustling and bustling through the malls decorated lavishly, Christmas music playing to set the mood and digital billboards drawing ones attention to sales upon sales to entice the shoppers. Tired people everywhere waiting on lines with several items hoping that they made the right choices. Caught up in a whirlwind of spending, setting them financially backwards for another year. Gifts are wrapped and delivered, finally Christmas day arrives with beautiful packages wrapped under the tree. Stress is somewhat relieved by the smiles of loved ones as they open their package.  In retail, the day after Christmas is our biggest day of returns. Some of us are not happy with our presents. Whatever happened to just being thankful?

So what’s the point?  I have come to realize people’s hearts are in the right place but a feeling of obligation clouds their judgement. Folks are spending money they don’t even have in order to make their loved ones happy. Some of us are looking for love in all the wrong places. Most consumers are going through the motion but are not entirely ecstatic. I am not a Grinch, I love Christmas just like everybody else but I believe we are going about it in the wrong way. Keeping it simple and not going overboard during the holidays would be my recommendations. Reduce your list and consider a grab bag alternative. Focus on the things that are really important and get rid of the guilt you feel if you don’t buy someone a gift. Showing love and kindness all through the year is more important than how much you spend on a gift during the holidays. Give to others who are more in need and do it in the name of someone you care about. Think of valuable ways you can share Gods blessing. Why do we keep giving to those who are already blessed with so much more?

nativity-scene

Christmas or the season of Christmas is about reflecting on the birth of Jesus, our lord and savior. He is the greatest gift to mankind and therefore, our focus for the season should be on what he represents. Love and hope for a better future and saving those who believe from their sins. Going forward, let’s rethink how we go about celebrating Jesus’ birth.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16