Be extraordinary ~ delight in being uniquely you

Inspiration surrounds us every moment of every day ...

We never know where it's going to come from, or how. Today I found the inspiration for this piece in a single statement that I heard on a tv show ... Grey's Anatomy.

This was yet another lesson to me, to always have a notebook handy to jot down my ideas, if I don't ... I'll never remember them !!

..... the main character, Meredith was fighting with some personal demons about her relationship with the death of her mother. Things never resolved. She was seeing a counselor about it, and the counselor was directing her to search within herself to find the answers - the counselor was definitely not just giving Meredith easy answers. Meredith was going to have to do some digging in those places that we fear to tread the most. Where our deepest feelings abide!

I have found that there is much more power in finding the revelation to a situation myself, as opposed to someone else telling me! In fact, one holds great power and the other usually is not quite tangible - We hear the words but don't know how to apply it our personal situation.

That's why when we love someone, we learn (hard as it is ... and sometimes its really hard, really~really~hard!) to allow our loved ones (even children) to discover many things on their own, even while making mistakes, knowing that the lessons that they learn on their own will be 'felt & experienced' as opposed to lessons that are words really only to be taken into consideration, for when we learn something for ourself, it is a lesson for life.

It can be a revelation, and heal many wounds when we discover something for ourselves. We are transformed and transcend into a higher aspect of ourselves. We have learned something from experience ~ not from someone who knows better. Good intentions notwithstanding!!

Back to the tv scenario ..... Right before her mother died (taking her own life) she said to her daughter; "be extraordinary, have an extraordinary life". She initially thought that her mother had been referring to her career as a surgeon, however after much introspection and watching events around her, she realized what her mother had really been trying to say. -- It had nothing to do with her career, it had everything to do with herself, and her life. and nothing to do with being a surgeon at all. In a moment she saw her mothers life and her own in a new light. She was healed from certain unknowns and she was transcended to go forward and take on her life with new meaning.

At the moment of watching this unfold, ideas about what her mother was trying to tell her, what she truly meant when she said "Be extraordinary, have an extraordinary life" started flowing through my mind and my heart. I began writing about these thoughts as soon as I could reach for my notebook.

Here are some of the reflections of the ideas that came to me;I hope that you can find a space of peace, a moment of clarity, and give yourself permission to shine. Your uniqueness is your beauty.

Darling, be extraordinary .....

• Dare to dream and dare to make those dreams come true only you hold the key to your dreams, and fulfilling them And by all means if you're going to dream DREAM BIG BABY ! Chase down your dreams with a passion

• be yourself, ---- be true to yourself ... the more you can find your authenticity, the richer your life experience will be You find authenticity when what you feel on the inside matches what you present to the world, when your words match your feelings, and your actions match your words

• When you decide to do something give it 100% Give whatever you are doing your best, do it to the best of your ability -- give it your time and your essence. Be proud to leave your signature on any task that you do, and you'll know you've done your best (best does not mean someone else's idea of perfect!) Doing your best is greatly satisfying ;)

• Squeeze all of the enjoyment of of your day and your life that you possibly can Squeeze it out, find it wherever you can, it's up to you to take your moments and squeeze with all your might, getting every last drop of pleasure that you can

• Be fierce Don't compromise who you are or what you believe in and stand for Be confident but not arrogant Don't allow anything to stand in the way of your dreams -- nay sayers and nonbelievers can step aside!

• Be true to your words Keep your promises, your agreements and your word If you are not sure you can do so, do not say so until you are sure you are willing to fulfill your words

Be fresh Learn something new every day, grow everyday Every day is an opportunity to be as fresh as you want to be, and to look at something in a whole new way Try a new perspective on for size

Be comfortable in your own skin Let your light shine through You're as unique as a snowflake The moment you get comfortable with who you are is the moment you really start to shine