Changing playgrounds

When reading a poster it made it sound  so  simple. The poster stated:  What you put into this life you will get back out of it.  If you are happy you will be surrounded by happy people.  If you are kind you will be surrounded by kind people.

I liked the poster and even believe in some of what it says.  Yet, I also think the poster implies that it is as easy as believing and not having to work for it.

On this journey with Cora I have found, and you have read it here before, that there are times when people are kindly dismissed from our lives.  No matter how happy, kind, caring and prayerful I am with that person their negativity and complaining just seemed to bring me down.  Cora greets everyone with a smile and a friendly "Hello".  This is usually reciprocated with a huge smile back, a hug even or maybe a kiss on her cheek.  There are also times when she is not met with kindness, caring words or happiness.

As the poster stated:  I can fill Cora's life with happiness and positiveness if I believe it.  This is true.  As I stand in faith and happiness it also give me the ability to politely dismiss "pissy poopy" people from our lives.

It really comes down to this:  

 Remember, in order to draw into your life that which you put out, you must also consider the people you share your life with. Allowing people in your life that continually cause turmoil or chaos, no matter how blessed you treat them, will continue to allow that negativity to participate in your life. In order to maintain a sense of peace and allow the "that which you put out will come back too you" way of things to work, you must be willing to allow some people to be less involved in your life. Love them from a distance, send them prayers or blessings yet limit the amount of time you physically and emotionally spend with them. In order for your life to change you must sometimes change your playgrounds and the ones you play with.

A lesson that Cora and this journey continually reminds me of.  Blessings to y'all today.

 

The Happy "Button"

As Cora gets older, many of her behaviors and emotions are maturing.  I find it humbling as I look back through the three years of her life, and see her accomplishments and activities. I am humbled by the perseverance and positive attitude that seems to be an inborn trait of hers.  There is no such thing as "can't do" in her vocabulary, tenaciously working at figuring out whatever has caught her attention.

In the last few days, Facebook has posted these little one minute videos reviewing a persons posts since they started using their services.  Mine was filled with Cora pictures and Cora accomplishments.  While I watched that video I was brought to tears of joy, and I was again humbled.  I watched her age progression and body development in that short one minute video and I was filled with an overflowing amount of gratitude and pride.  That feeling showed itself in the form of tears.

Seems like there are a great deal of tears in this house lately.  Now, don't get worried.  I am talking about tears of happiness, gratitude and yes, even tears of faith and abundance.  How does one cry tears of abundance?  With laughter.

I started today's blog post with the intention of coming to this point...laughter.  Cora's maturity level has now included laughter.  Laughter at the silliest things.  A full belly, tear inducing, breath stealing kind of laughter.  She hasn't had this in the past three years.  There was always little nasally giggly quiet laughter.  All of a sudden she can laugh with the best of us.  And laugh we do.

I am again granted a gift on this journey and that gift has been the laughter of Cora.  She can turn the most somber moment into a game of laughter and play.  That is a gift most professional comedians long to have, and Cora does it without inhibiting her laughter.  A pure, full belly, breath stealing laughter that is instantly contagious.

I ask you this, "How long has it been since you laughed or giggled?".  Has it been some time since you laughed so hard tears came to your eyes and you fought for the breath to laugh again?  Take a note from Cora and just let go.  Look around you and smile and laugh at the wonder of everything.  Be humbled enough to embrace laughter and not worry about who is looking or listening.  Be yourself and love yourself enough to offer the gift of happiness.  When you laugh that kind of laughter your life is filled with abundance of happiness and the faith it will happen again.

Spend this day in laughter.