Time is Our Most Valuable Resource

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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If I lose a dollar, I can replace it with another, but, If I lose an hour of time, I will NEVER get that hour back.  My father once said to me, “I’ll sleep when I die.”  This was a man who woke up every morning at sunrise and didn’t go to sleep until 1 or 2 in the morning.  He couldn’t have been more right.  Today, that same man is asleep forever, may he rest in peace.

Watching so closely the full cycle of life, from my daughter being born to my father’s untimely death,  has taught me a crucial lesson.  Time is my most valuable resource.  Every moment of each day is an opportunity.  It can be an opportunity to share time with a loved one, an opportunity to write, an opportunity to take a chance, and the most beautiful fact is that every moment is an OPPORTUNITY.

Many of us live in the past, or look to the future.  How many of us actually live in the NOW?  Since my father’s passing I try to ALWAYS live in the present.  I am constantly asking myself, am I happy with my moment right now.  If I am not, then I quickly adjust myself to think positively and change course.  I do not know many things, but what I am definite of is that this is my moment.  My life span could last another 50 years, or 50 seconds, but what I choose to do with my moment is vital to my quality of life.

When we fail to look around us and bask in our present, we fail to see the beauty of living.  Life is a gift.  No matter how many times we fall short, we are alive.  We have something that is so precious.  We have something that for all of us, will run out.  So when you wake up in the morning, appreciate and utilize the time you are given because it will be gone before you know it.

Is our inner voice following the leader?

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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If someone asked you to tell them about yourself and what you represented, would your answer be found on someone else’s Facebook page? I’m sure you have seen the same inspirational quotes and stories, the horrific acts of violence, and the newest billboard hits flooding the Facebook and Twitter news feeds.

With people spending 50% of their time on social media, it is very hard to tell what was derived from your own intuition and what was a result of someone’s post.  The bandwagon effect is real and is one of the oldest forms of human interaction.  It is an observation of social behaviour in which people tend to go along with what others do or think without considering their own beliefs or values.

The more lonely or socially incapable a person is, the more likely they will follow the bandwagon.  Facebook is an excellent example of the bandwagon effect.  A story is most likely to go VIRAL if there are key names leading the way such as famous personalities, musicians, and big brands.  Social media makes it very hard for an individual to gain importance through their own beliefs because the key to social media, is that what becomes VIRAL is what is considered important.  In the real world, for the survival and quality of our lives, standing up for our “gut feeling” is necessary.

In order for a person to live without regret, or to live the life THEY see fit, they must follow their intuition.  However, when the internet has found a way to be a part of half of your day, and 55 million people share status updates each day, how do we even hear what the voice inside is saying to you.

The fact is that Facebook and other social media networks are about following the leaders of the world.  The ones with the most followers are the ones that we follow and that we admire.  If they say it is a good idea, then chances are we will share that good idea to our friends on social media. We are entering a world where people spend most of their time socializing online, where, it is not the one with the voice of reason that is heard, but the one with the most popularity.

We have to remember that social media was derived by pop culture, it is a key player in creating followers around the world.    If you are trying to lead an individual path for your life, don’t spend too much time following the masses.   The moral of the story is, Listen to your gut because if you don’t then you are living someone else’s life.

Dad Your Death Saved My LIFE

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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Dear Dad,

You left me 12 years ago when your battle with Liver Cancer ended. The funny part is that, though I miss you, I feel you never missed a moment. I’ve always wondered when I would write you this letter, and as life went on and I gained more wisdom, I know that NOW is that moment. Our connection was deeper than life, it was more than love, if you could imagine. It was something out of storybooks. Like when you would tell me to close my eyes and think of myself in a field with butterflies while the sun shined down upon me, or how you would not let a day go by without telling me you were proud of me, you were preparing me. Something in you told you that life was not promised and that same something allowed you to live your life as if you were dying. You cherished moments, you held on tight, and you listened to the sound of your children’s voice. You never took it for granted. You were the strongest person I knew and even when the doctors told you that you had two months to live, you told me you would be OK. As I watched the illness take hold of your life, and I watched you LIVE like you were dying, it killed me. To watch you play with your one year old daughter, as you nodded out due to the heavy doses of chemotherapy, I was heartbroken. Yet you still gave it everything you had.

You went to baseball games bundled up and on the sidelines because you were too weak to coach, or you would do grocery shopping and cut coupons because it was all you could do, you inspired me. I held onto you, knowing the hugs would soon end, and it destroyed me. And the day you died, I died, and then, I was reborn. Your death saved my life. I no longer took anything for granted and time was so important. A conversation would become an experience, and a hug from me to my daughter would last my lifetime. I learned what this life was. It was an opportunity to love and to give of yourself so that people would be inspired. Every moment that I was scared or alone, I knew what you would say, I felt your hug and it made everything OK. I am strong because you were fearless. You stared death in the face and smiled. You were strong in your death, how could I be weak in my life? I cannot thank you enough for your courage and your message. These bodies that we have, are temporary, but the energy we leave behind can last beyond time. Your death saved my life, it became my strength, and most of all it gave me the courage that I will one day need, to face MY final moment. Because of you, I live a life full of butterflies and sunshine. I leave a trail of inspiration in hopes that I can help others live. Be thankful for each breath, and remember that there are many that can’t breathe anymore.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROBERT LOUIS GARNDER, I KNOW YOU ARE SMILING FROM HEAVEN.