Saturday, July 28, 2018

There Will Always Be Another Hill....Make The Best Of The View!...





Hi!


Life is a series of hills and valleys, this in and of itself is not news.

Hills, both high points, and obstacles to climb. Valleys, low points, and spots where we are afforded rest between the climbs.

The trick, as I see it, is to make the best of whatever view we have.

If the hill before you is of the obstructive variety, every laborious step, though a struggle, is so important. Sometimes, the temptation to give up is palpable, giving in to the exhaustion of the effort, the only way. But, that is because in the midst of the climb all we can see is the hill we are on. All we can feel is the fatigue in our legs, our lungs struggling for a full breath, our souls fighting to take a full beat.  If we allow ourselves to look up, take a breath, take a moment, we can see the crest. If we allow ourselves to believe that what awaits us on the other side is worth the journey, finding the strength to keep going seems less impossible. It's just a hill, the climb is temporary.

If the hill upon which you stand is of the high point variety, take the time to truly appreciate it. You deserve to soak in every inch of that panoramic view. Look back on the climb you just completed and be proud of yourself for the strides you took to get there. Enjoy where you are, for as life's history has proven, this too, will be temporary.


If you find yourself in a valley, whether a low point or a rest or a combination thereof, use it. Use it to fuel yourself for the climb ahead. The climb you know is inevitable, because everything is temporary.

Our lives evolve, grow and change, sometimes at the will of our own hand, but more often than not, it's what happens while we are making other plans.

Things have a way of turning out exactly as they are supposed to, maybe not exactly as we think we want, but exactly as they are supposed to. People cross our paths when we need them to, the right opportunities present themselves at the right time, things beyond our control continuously happen conveniently depositing us exactly where we need to be.

Every experience leads us to the next one, and to the next one.....

If you look back, the thread of your life has been stitched together in a complicated pattern, each design dependent on the one directly before it.  Even the bad stitches had a purpose.

Each valley, each hill, each stitch, as important as the one before, and the one that follows.

If we are patient, clarity finds us. Confusion and struggle subside, and we find ourselves comfortable in who and where we are. At least for a while, after all, everything is temporary.

Stillness breeds stagnation, and who wants a stagnant life? Keep climbing, doing your best to enjoy the view.



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That about does it for now. Time for some water fights, pizza and cartoons with some munchkins I hold very dear. Definitely going to enjoy each and every view!


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Until next time...


May your view, for the most part, be peaceful, pleasant, a multicoloured sunset playing in the distance.
May you know you are a beautiful soul, worthy of every happiness, worth everything in your very existence.

May the hills you need to climb be surmountable, yet challenging enough to appreciate the summit.
May you surround yourself with positive people when you feel your spirits attempt to plummet.

May you take advantage of the rests between the climbs, use it to fuel everything within you.
May you take the time, during both the ups and downs to appreciate the view.


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www.margyreidbooks.com














Saturday, July 21, 2018

Sometimes Letting Go Just Once Is Not Enough......







Hi!


When life gets chaotic, sometimes you have to grab a bit of time, even if it's just a few hours, and vacate. Vacate and vacation. If you can't take a trip, take some time. Find the beauty close to home and soak it in.

Beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder. Find yours.


Letting go of everyday stresses, new hurts, old wounds, it's all hard, and sometimes letting go just once is not enough.

New events can scrape old scars, making them feel as fresh as the day they happened. Things you had forgiven long ago, that you thought were let go and forgotten, come screaming to the forefront.

You are then confronted with the task of letting them go...again.


It's hard, but for our own sake and sanity, we need to. Continually carrying the hurt gets too heavy, it weighs us down, drags us backward. When crap happens to bring it back, we have to acknowledge it for what it is, stand our ground, and slap it aside, keeping it from prohibiting our path forward.

These scrapes can seemingly come out of the blue, hitting you where and when you may least expect it. They can be hard to recognize. They can feel physical, they can cause panic and anxiety, they can be subtle. In whatever form, they will be.

The scrapes are not fatal, they are there to remind you that you are a survivor, a fighter. You let it go once, you can do it again, and again, as many times as it takes until the scrapes stop. Think about the strength and courage you had the first time you let it go. Think about how hard that was. Think about the fact that you did it anyway, and you're still here.

Maybe, for you, the scars have yet to form. Maybe, for you, the wounds are fresh. Maybe this is the first time you are letting it go, cutting it loose.

Letting go of pain and trauma isn't for the benefit of those who have inflicted it. It's for us.


Sometimes letting go just once is not enough. But that's okay, the practice is making me better.



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May you come back from every scrape stronger than before it hit.
May you see it for what it is, stand your ground, slap it aside, never quit.

May you embrace the healing that comes from letting go.
May you see that it's within your power to rewrite your script, it's your show.

May you find it within to let go, no matter how tough.
May you see that letting go just once is not enough.




Check it out.....

www.margyreidbooks.com



























Friday, July 13, 2018

We Don't Have To Know Every Next Step In The Minute...







Hi,


It's been a busy week, crammed with all kinds unexpected turns.

I'm still unpacking, processing, and sorting out the details, but I think the basic lessons I will eventually walk away with, having either learned or relearned are these...



Crowds who lean toward being fans of Gordon Lightfoot are highly unlikely to be fans of metal rock bands.

Big problems can disguise themselves as little ones quite cleverly.

Regardless of our desire to do so, we can't cure a broken heart, especially if it's not our own.


I wish I could put together some incredible words of wisdom that would magically alleviate the pain, create some joy, lift, at least, the edge of a spirit.

Instead, both of us will have to settle for whatever pours from these fingertips.

Heartaches happen often, true heartbreak, if we are very lucky, but a few times throughout our lives. I think the trick is learning the difference.

The two will look and live differently within each of us. What might shatter my heart may only make yours ache a little. Whether shattered or battered and bruised, we have to ride it out until the shards quit cutting and the bruises heal.

Both carry with them some level of shock. We have to give ourselves permission to take a breath, let the tears escape, wash our wounds. We don't have to know every next step in the minute. But, we can't allow ourselves to give in to the tears completely. They can be seductive, if we are seduced, the tears go from being soul cleansing, to life draining.

We don't have to know every next step in the minute. But, as our tears subside and the healing begins, we do need to step, forgive ourselves for the odd misstep, then step again.

Moving forward and living well is ours. We just need to claim it.

Strength is not walking through like it's nothing.
Strength is knowing it's Hell and walking through anyway, even as it burns.



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That about does it for now.......


May you see yourself, really see yourself, you are more than enough.
May you find your way through these waters, no matter how rough.

May you once again find the smile that was stripped at the hands of another.
May you know you got this, you are a warrior, a gift from your fore-mothers.

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www.margyreidbooks.com








































Friday, July 6, 2018

As Sunsets Kiss The Clouds Goodnight...






Hi!



As the sunsets kiss the clouds goodnight, a night that, even in its deepest slumber, doesn't quite surrender to the darkness, we know summer is truly here. 

These skies carry with them the endless possibilities of every tomorrow. The distant horizon beckoning the free-spirited adventures that create the memories we cling to when we need to cling.

The weeks ahead of running through sprinklers, learning to ride bikes, skateboards, and paddle boards. Finding pop up carnivals in shopping mall parking lots, learning how far we can push our courage.

The eternal evenings spent around fire pits sharing stories, s'mores, and the search for the perpetually elusive spot devoid of smoke. Learning our capacity for mosquito bites, sticky fingers, and ghost tales

The choruses of boredom echoing through the house seemingly minutes after rising at the crack of noon. Learning quickly how these choruses can turn into verses of chores. 

The days of summer seem to stretch before us, yet they are so fleeting. Do your best not to miss one kiss of a sunset.


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Last weekend we had the opportunity to participate in the end-of-the-day celebrations of Canada Day in Outlook. As folks gathered together around the ball diamonds behind the rink, waiting for it to get dark enough, kids were running around playing tag and other games. 

There were a bunch of families there, some celebrating their first Canada Day. I'm not sure who had a better time, the kids, or their parents. 

It was awesome. 

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Tomorrow I'll be participating in an event in Bruno, Saskatchewan where I'll be doing a reading for munchkins shortly after 10am.

If you are in that part of the world tomorrow, be sure to stop by! There is going to be all kinds of activities and entertainment! A great way to spend a summer Saturday!

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May every sunrise bring you tranquility, every sunset bring a smile.
May you take the time to be, let the sun kiss your face, just be still a while. 

May you savor this summer, for there will never be another like it during this ride around the sun.
May you bask in making every memory, they are treasures to be cherished, created one by one. 


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www.margyreidbooks.com