Birth

Today I am grateful for the birth that gave hope to the hopeless. In this season of birth and renewal in the midst of confusion and fear, I am praying for sufficient strength to be hopeful, effective faith to believe, and enough compassion to be loving…

“For a child has been born—for us! The gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.” Isaiah 9: 6-7, MSG

Inhale Creation, Exhale Suppression…
Inhale Inclusion, Exhale Exclusion…
Inhale Compassion, Exhale Separation…
Just Breathe…

#ReflectionsWithRenita

Tested

In my early 30s, I experienced some major disruptions in my life. I left an abusive marriage and took my toddler out of the country to a new assignment in England, courtesy of Uncle Sam. And then DESERT STORM happened.

At first it, was difficult to get my footing. I had to find a place on the economy that wasn’t looking for a man to guarantee the rent. I beat myself up for thinking my daughter would easily transition to a big-girl bed. Why didn’t I bring the crib? I worried about deploying; should I send my 3-year-old to the States? I wondered if I could juggle all the demands…

But we survived. In fact, we didn’t just survive, we thrived! And I learned some things about myself…

“If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman…” Helen Reddy, I Am Woman

“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” ~ Philippians 4:13, MSG

Inhale Strength, Exhale Fear…
Inhale Invincibility, Exhale Fear…
Inhale Faith, Exhale Fear…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Faith

I’ve been an up close and personal witness to what stepping out in faith looks like.

I’ve seen how limitless our dreams are when we understand why we are dreaming what we are dreaming…how intense our passions when we direct our energy to our purpose…how impactful our purpose when it’s in service to something other, something greater than ourselves.

“But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.” Luke 17:6 MSG

Inhale God’s Promises, Exhale Doubt…
Inhale Belief, Exhale Doubt…
Inhale Faith, Exhale Doubt…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Hurtful Words

I once dated a guy who would make “jokes” at my expense. When I complained, he would defend himself and accuse me of being overly sensitive. I finally realized his behavior for what it was…abuse.

“People who shrug off deliberate deceptions,
saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,”
Are worse than careless campers
who walk away from smoldering campfires.” Proverbs 26:18-19 MSG

Inhale Honor, Exhale Dishonor…
Inhale Respect, Exhale Deception …
Inhale Integrity, Exhale Duplicity…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

New Connections

One of the speakers offering tribute during my parents joint 80th birthday party was Gloria Cobb, who my Mom refers to as her “claimed child”.

Gloria has gleaned wisdom from my Mom’s experience raising five children and my Mom has acquired an adopted daughter who loves and looks after her in her adopted Orlando home.

Embracing change, changing relationship patterns, being open to new people and activities are some of the ways my parents stay engaged in life. And engaging in life is how to keep enjoying life.

“Life gets sweeter when you open up from a place of peace and continue to expand your circle.” Oprah Winfrey

Inhale Change, Exhale Stagnation…
Inhale Newness, Exhale Sameness…
Inhale Connecting, Exhale Rebuffing…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Acceptance

I believe our God given gifts and talents and personality are to be used to achieve our purpose. But whether or not we use those gifts, apply our personalities or achieve our purpose is up to each of us based on our personal beliefs. It’s no one else’s business

“Grace says you have nothing to give, nothing to earn nothing to pay.” Charles R. Swindoll

Inhale Acceptance, Exhale Rejection…
Inhale Embrace, Exhale Tolerate…
Inhale Grace, Exhale Judgment…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
#Strengths

To Be Known

We say we want to be known but then make those closest to us guess our inner thoughts and feelings. But if we tell those we say we love exactly what we are thinking and how we are feeling, they wouldn’t have to guess; they would know and could react accordingly.

And we would get what we want.

And they would know us better.

I’m just saying…

“Love is the essential existential fact. It is our ultimate reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life.” ~ Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Inhale Love, Exhale Frustration…
Inhale Love, Exhale Impatience…
Inhale Love, Exhale Fear…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
#Relationships

Shared Values

A week before I was scheduled to conduct a day of workshops for multiple leadership teams at a government agency, I was asked if I was going to laugh. The question might as well have been, “Are you going to breathe while you facilitate the workshops?”

I laugh loudly, uniquely and, as I age, with increasing frequency. But in this instance, my laugh, a reflection of my positivity, one of my strengths, was perceived as a weakness.

Trying not to laugh made for one of the longest, most exhausting, miserable experiences of my life. So I decided that in the future, I would only work with those whose values I share, one of which is, there will be laughter!

“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” ~ Victor Borge

Inhale Authenticity, Exhale Repression…
Inhale Positivity, Exhale Restriction…
Inhale Fearlessness, Exhale Restraint…
Just Breathe…

#ReflectionsWithRenita

Sight

A young activist, whom I’ve grown to respect, recently spent some time traveling outside of his south Chicago neighborhood. The experience opened his eyes, impacting the way he viewed his neighborhood, leaving him disillusioned…desiring more for himself, his family and those he has worked so hard to help…dreaming of a better life.

“You can’t be what you can’t see.” ~ Marian Wright Edelman

Inhale Vision, Exhale Confusion..
Inhale Desire, Exhale Delusion…
Inhale Dreams, Exhale Illusion…
Just Breathe…

#ReflectionsWithRenita

Sometimes It IS About You…

In this semi-retired phase of my life, I am privileged to have fulfilled my dream of becoming a fitness instructor. And I’ve noticed that no matter how large or small my classes are at the Bar Method, no one is really paying attention to anyone else. In fact, some days, some clients are barely paying attention to me!

Of course, I’m looking at everyone to ensure each client is in the best possible form to get the maximum benefit from every exercise. Everyone else is primarily focused on staying in the present moment, staying in his or her own best form and staying in the exercise.

Most importantly, there is no judging anyone else, no comparison to anyone else, just encouragement to be the best YOU…

Inhale Self-Reflection, Exhale Pretention…
Inhale Self-Care, Exhale Neglect…
Inhale Self-Awareness, Exhale Unconsciousness…
Just Breathe…

#ReflectionsWithRenita