Success Through Failure + #MyPostMonday Linky -The Week's Best Original Content

Wow, what a week, month, and year this has been. With no sign of it really ending anytime soon! The thing that I've seen, though, is that people are so resiliant, so ready to try, so anxious to be their best selves, so determined to be happy, come what may.

And I just marvel! Some examples that have moved me in recent days:

1) The mom who was told in her teens that because of a severe case of PCOS, she would likely never have children. She beat the odds with fertility treatment once, twice, and then, when she thought her chances of ever conceiving again were gone, due to the sudden cancellation of her infertility treatments because of Covid-19, in her moment of darkest despair, there it was---the two lines of the pregnancy test. In disbelief they took the test 4 times with different brands of pregnancy tests. Of course, the journey isn't done, she had to endure a painful surgery just to keep the baby in her womb in a hospital all alone. But she has courage, she is pulling through and has profound hope that she will be the mom of a miracle baby in a few months!

2) A young mom of 5 beautiful kids, wife of the high school football coach, successful social media personality, and owner of a successful dance studio, gets the devastating news that she has AML Leukemia. Cancer. Serious. Lethal . Robber of joy. As she shares with everyone her ups and downs in a hospital room where noone is allowed because of Covedf-19 restrictions, she bravely keeps going with her live online sharing sessions, where she not only inspires us, but tells us how incredibly blessed she is. She then starts dancing in her room and does a hospital patient fashion show. It's the craziest thing. It's like she is trying to make us feel better when she is the one enduring all that suffering. She is still on her cancer journey and you bet, I'm right there with her, rooting for her and hoping that she'll recover. Some days are complete failures for h er--her blood count numbers go down, her symptoms intensify, and her husband and children can't be there with her. On top of that, she recently lost her mother, who was her biggest fan, and support system. She swears that she feels her mom there, being her guardian angel, orchestrating the care she can't be there to give. She gives an example: Before she knew she had cancer, through her dance studio she was able to help a little girl named Indy Lew, who was diagnosed with....AML Leukemia, the same cancer she now has. Indy Lew's mom has come to the hospital several times to help her, care for her, and give her encouragement because now Indy Lew is now healed, in remission and doing great! I wish @thetiabeestokes every luck on her journey, because she has helped make ours so much better!

Competition And Compassion + Motivating Monday

I actually took my advice from last Motivating Monday. (What? You thought I just spout off and don't follow my own advice? Nah, baby nah!) I picked myself back up and started again, and guess what? It worked! I'm back on track. In life, in goals, and in relationships as well. I'm saying, wow, that was a good self-talk. If no one else was helped, at least I'm verbalizing what helps me and then to actually follow up? I must be heading into a zen-like existence or something! (Keep on dreaming!)
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This is a goal-oriented society--From driving the fastest on the freeway, to having the healthiest body, to making the most money. I get it. Achieving certain ideological goals can actually be a measure of our self-worth! Give yourself a pat on the back if you're not competitive to a fault. Meaning, you don't furtively seeth when someone else does better than you. You don't vow then and there to top them, come hell or high water! That has been the American way for years. The spirit of competition and capitalism. I'm not saying it's bad. 

It's just that there has got to be some measure of humanity in the same person who competes to win. "When success in reaching goals comes at the expense of disregarding, ignoring, or hurting others, the cost of that success may be too precious"  --D. Uchtdorf

That's why I love GoFundMe and other charitable causes. It helps people to step outside of themselves for a minute and actually empathize with someone who is going through tough times, walking in their shoes for a moment. Then they can actually take action by donating. I like the fact that it doesn't have to be very much. But the action alone is very therapeutic. 

There are so many other ways to help your fellow man or woman. Volunteering is a huge commitment of time, but what better way to contribute to the greater good and forget about numero uno for awhile? It is said that when you lose yourself in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God!

Some of us just don't have the time or the money right now to do much. If, in our hearts, we can say, 'I'm not able to do much now, but if I could, I would', I think that's enough. There is always the kind word, helping hand, friendly smile, or listening ear.

So let's get out there and achieve our goals but in the doing, remember that there are others that need us--just like we will need others someday too. We're all in this together! 


Today is Motivating Monday!  We all need a little motivation!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for motivating, mostly non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos!  If I happen to find a great one, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MotivatingMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  Sometimes I miss some amazing posts.  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Don't be shy--I'm really very supportive!  Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase!
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