Stronger

When I was 5 and playing against 11-year-olds, who were bigger, stronger, faster, I just had to figure out a way to play with them.” ~ Wayne Gretzky.

I discovered resistance training while in college. My roommate and I would squeeze into the cramped, sweaty, unorganized space that passed for a gym in the early 80s…a far cry from the sprawling Student Recreation Center current University of Alabama students enjoy.

I became fascinated (some might say obsessed) by the way the resistance training shaped my muscles. I learned how the stress of lifting weights actually created little tears in my muscle fibers, which fused together to create muscle growth. Lifting also made my bones denser and less likely to break as I got older, increased blood flow, which reduces blood pressure…just made my body stronger and more efficient.

I realized that the long-term benefits far outweighed the temporary discomfort.

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” ~ Napoleon Hill

Inhale Strength, Exhale Stagnation…
Inhale Discomfort, Exhale Underdevelopment…
Inhale Discipline, Exhale Destruction…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Development

Seeds

One of my favorite pastors taught about seeds and growing, reaping and sowing. Even during story hour, the fable she shared about seeds that face obstacles spoke to the young and young at heart.

In the story, some of the seeds decide to postpone any attempts to grow until the obstacles disappear (they don’t). But one determined seed decides to face possible destruction and fulfill its purpose to become a palm tree with an extraordinarily strong trunk.

“What do you think happened?” the pastor asked the assembled 6, 7 and 8-year olds.

And one brave young soul answered correctly, “The obstacles made the tree grow stronger.”

Inhale Bend, Exhale Break…
Inhale Slowed Down, Exhale Terminated…
Inhale Delayed, Exhale Defeated…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Development

Reconciliation

We often tie forgiveness and reconciliation together. But forgiveness and reconciliation are separate processes. Forgiveness is something each of us can do on our own. Reconciliation requires the participation of another person or entity.

True reconciliation cannot happen without forgiveness. But we can forgive, yet consciously determine reconciliation is not possible…

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” Proverbs 4:23, MSG

Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Forgetting…
Inhale Reconciliation, Exhale Resentment…
Inhale Boundaries, Exhale Enabling…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness

Vengeance

One of my favorite shows is OWN’s “Greenleaf” which follows the deeds and misdeeds of a family leading a mega-church in the south.

The midseason cliffhanger saw the primary character in a life and death struggle with the show’s primary villain. Her inability to forgive led her to interpret her antagonist’s actions incorrectly, which led to heightened emotions (in this case panic), which led to actions that may lead to results contrary to what she wants.

She has looked for peace in his punishment, but peace can only come through forgiveness…

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18: 21-22, MSG

Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Punishment…
Inhale Peace, Exhale Revenge…
Inhale Truth, Exhale Vengeance…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Divine Forgiveness

Forgive and forget.”

You’ve heard this adage, which, I believe, really speaks to a higher-level consciousness that many of us find difficult to achieve. Biblical passages like those in Hebrews and Isaiah assure us that God “blots” our sins, or “ wipes the slate clean” of our sins, or doesn’t “keep a list” of our sins. For most of us humans, the idea that we must forget an offense to truly forgive the offender sometimes stops the whole process.

But forgiving does not mean having to forget the offense or deny it happened or to ignore the real feelings that it generated. Forgiving may mean that we simply have to think differently about what happened, change the feelings about what we think and modify how we act.

Forgiving may require that we overlook what has happened.

Inhale Letting Go, Exhale Holding On…
Inhale Overlooking, Exhale Condoning…
Inhale Forgiving, Exhale Excusing…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness

Forgiveness

When I forgive, I free others and myself from past behavior, mistakes and regret. I’ve found that forgiving benefits all aspects of my life… from my relationships, and my health to my ability to focus energy on what I’m here to do.

Forgiveness removes hurt and resentment and allows me to see clearly to a much brighter future.

When you forgive you don’t change the past, you change the future.” Rev. Mark Anthony Lord

Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Victimization…
Inhale Freedom, Exhale Blame…
Inhale Future, Exhale Past…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness

Forgiveness is Freedom

Forgiveness has been at the forefront of my experience over the past few years. And I’ve gotten really clear that being able to forgive others is about me…that I can forgive without another person doing anything…that forgiveness is freedom.

As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Conditions…
Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Resentment…
Inhale Forgiveness, Exhale Vengeance…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Forgiveness

It’s Your Journey…

I’m a fitness instructor with bad knees. My clients are often surprised to see me taking an elevator instead of the stairs after a class. I don’t take the stairs because walking up and especially down stairs puts a lot of strain on my knees. I save my knees for demonstrating the best form when I’m teaching and being in the best form when I’m taking class.

Allison’s last class.

My knees let me know when I’ve gone too far. My knees are the reason I challenge my clients to push themselves to THEIR limit versus what I might think they can do. Because each client is the only one who really knows if she’s pushing herself, challenging what’s comfortable and living up to her potential.

In life as in fitness, you are the only one who knows if you’re giving it your best shot or just coasting. And you’re the only one who has to answer for you.

The journey to wholeness requires that you look honestly, openly, and with courage into yourself, into the dynamics that lie behind what you feel, what you perceive, what you value, and how you act.” ~ Gary Zukav

Inhale Ownership, Exhale Irresponsibility…
Inhale Responsibility, Inauthenticity…
Inhale Honesty, Exhale Inaccuracy…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Wholeness

Lived Experience

Experience is the best teacher…”

I’ve seen some people live this saying as if they can ONLY learn through their own experienced mistakes. And while I concede those lessons tend to be the most enduring, I wonder sometimes how much smoother our lives would be if we could just apply the lessons from someone else’s experience…

But then I’m reminded that life is not necessarily supposed to be smooth all the time. The life lessons gained through good and bad experiences help us get to who we’re supposed to be.

Out of the cacophony of random suffering and chaos that can mark human life, the life artist sees or creates a symphony of meaning and order. A life of wholeness does not depend on what we experience. Wholeness depends on how we experience our lives.” ~ Desmond Tutu

Inhale Experience, Exhale Judgment…
Inhale Detachment, Exhale Judgment…
Inhale Acceptance, Exhale Judgment…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Development

Complete

Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ~ Carl Jung.

Sometimes when we feel unsure or incomplete, we may look for someone else to approve what we are doing, how we are presenting ourselves … who we are being. But I’ve realized there is nothing external to me that can complete who I am; I have to recognize and acknowledge the God in me to achieve wholeness.

I am a Divine, magnificent expression of life, and deserve the very best. I accept miracles. I accept healing. I accept wholeness. And most of all, I accept myself. I am precious, and I cherish who I am.” ~ Louise Hay

Inhale Wholeness, Exhale Control…
Inhale Surrender, Exhale Struggle…
Inhale Acceptance, Exhale Resistance…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Wholeness