I Beg Your Pardon...You Wanted a Rose Garden?

Every year I nurture a rose garden near my deck. I laugh because I use to think roses smelled like the air fresheners that you put in the bathroom near your toilet bowl, so your bathroom smelled like a porcelain bowl of roses. Now times have changed....I do not buy rose air fresheners. Instead, I have the real thing..aahhh much better. White roses are my favorite!

My parents' song as a couple has always been I Beg Your Pardon I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson. My father plants and nurtures a rose garden for my mother as a reminder of this song so I guess that's why I now do the same. What's so special about a rose? Not only is it a symbol of love (good times) but if you note there are also thorns (bad times or failures) on roses. No matter what thorns (mistakes/failures) you encounter along the way, you are sure to receive abundance and beauty as you nurture the rose garden of your life with consistency and care. Rose love moisture and sunlight. The energy brings forth beautiful blooms of flowering results. It is how you get through those times, that makes your stronger, more resilient, and more courageous than you have ever thought.



If you are feeling like something in your life is not going as it should for you right now, nurture it with love and energy. You have the resources available to you to move through it and you do not need to do it alone. Ask for the help you need to get a project done. Soon enough you will be smelling real roses from the garden in which you sow. Stop and smell your roses of success!

For Your Eyes Only

It is interesting to me that a woman can be so confident one moment and then have her confidence plummet to the ground when someone puts her down or squashers her dreams. Why? Women are the heart of the world. We feel and give so much to others. What I realized more than anything is that these confident women have taken a step back allowed those individuals to define who they are. They hear "It cannot be done or it is not possible to do this if you only do it part-time." This is tragic and we need to embrace each other and remind each other that we can reach for our dreams. Another person cannot define your reality. One person in the whole world does not equal your truth. It may not occur as fast as you want depending on your circumstance but if your dream is meant to be; it shall be at the right time and place for you. You are more powerful than you know. Your kind word, smile, or action can change the world.

Stand tall. The gift and talents you possess cannot be shared by anyone else but you. Do not rob the world of your gifts and talents for the world is waiting. You are the missing piece of the puzzle. Sometimes you need to tunnel vision you dreams to block out the doubters and naysayers. These dream squashers have not pursued their dreams with the passion and tenacity you have. They are scared not that you will achieve your dream but they may lose you in the process. Be not afraid. They will lose you by not allowing you to chase your dream. Remind them that they can share in your dream with their love and support.

Be confident and brave. Summon the courage you have and take action toward your dream. The momentum you create leads to success. You only fail when you fail to take action. Your dream is for your eyes only but it must be shared with the people you know, like, and trust so you can get the support you need.

Define who you are not by a dictionary or by another person's perspective but through your own eyes. The definition of you is for your eyes only!

How do you define who you are?

Chasing Your Dreams and Following Your Passion

There are definitely times you may question your purpose in life. You may even wonder if you are on the right path. How do you know you may ask? When you have a burning desire or drive to go after something, you feel unstoppable. Even when you're unstoppable, you may feel stuck and unsure of your next move. The one thing you should always keep in mind is that you never have to do it alone. People want you to succeed and you need to believe you can succeed. Believing in yourself is essential in getting unstuck.
Think about the people are who inspire you to stretch and grow. Ask them what fuels their purpose and passion. Adopt some of their tips and techniques and make them your own.

Take a few minutes to watch this video of my friend Justin Hines. He is an amazing singer and songwriter and I need your help to share his message and his inspiration. I also invite you to listen to his music at www.justinhines.com If you are in need of inspiration, go to YouTube - listen to or watch the video say what you will and courage they are my favorite and I hope they will be yours to.

I believe that each one of us is here to do incredible things. When you hide your gifts, you serve no one. The world is waiting for you to share your talents and gifts. Do not rob them of the one thing I can have the biggest difference in their lives, that is you! Enjoy everyone!



Here is "Say What You Will":

Courage Come Out to Play

Life can hand us unexpected challenges. Sometimes, we can rise up to the challenge and sometimes it feels like the darkest hour has hit. If you know someone who has overcome their challenge, you know it takes courage to move forward. Courage despite what others think is best for you. The courage to do what you think is best for you and trust that you already know what you need to do. You already have it in you.

Listen to my friend Justin Hines as he encourages - Courage!



Share how you find courage!

Stretch into Your Skin

It always amazes me how fear can interfere with what we want to do. A friend of mine called me today and said, "Debra, I did it, but I was scared and uncomfortable." I asked her what she was afraid of and she said she was afraid the answer to her ask would be "No". Guess what? The answer would still be no if you never asked for what you wanted. What if the answer was "Yes!" We tend get uncomfortable doing things we are not use to. I like to think of the discomfort as stretching into the skin you were meant to be in. It is when we get too comfortable that we must continously strive to stretch ourselves out of that comfort zone.

Have you ever noticed that when you ask for what you want, you get excited and nervous at the same time?  The excitement and nervousness can be put to great use in your learning curve. Take that enthusiasm and savor the moment. What does it feel like to see yourself hearing the "Yes"? Music to your ears I bet!

You can choose to hang onto your fears and your doubts or you can summon up the courage to go after what you really want in life. Too often, we catch ourselves looking for the approval from others instead of from ourselves. Fear and doubt may even numb you from taking action. When people try to talk you out of your dreams, they do so because of their own fears and doubts. It does not necessarily mean they do not believe you will succeed. It is important for you to believe in your dreams and for you to continue to take steps toward reaching your goals even if they are small ones. You will never be able to realize the full impact of the small steps you take until you reach your big destination.

Lead a fearless life!