forget me not

DESERT ROSE

Desert Rose

I began my journey the day I was born.My name told my destiny.Yet, it remained hidden for me to discover.I traveled a long time to get to this moment.So many cactuses I stumbled over in the dark.No star lighted my path--

I was not yet awake.Naivety guided me into sandstorms that made wounds in my soul.Ignorance blinded me as the cactus' thorns scratched me.However, these wounds propelled me forward and kept me ona certain path.One day, when I looked ahead, I saw an oasis. A mirage, I thought, so I slowly walked towards it-- expecting to be fooled again.When I reached the mirage, I found a rose.I touched it and found it was no dream.Entranced by this rose, I placed it in the vase of my heart.As it took root, it became a part of me. My blindness lifted, for I could see the true Light.Faith rested in my heart.

My desert rose led me to this destiny.When I stray-- its paper thorns remind me to come back to the straight path. Each day it continues growing, it strengthens my heart and my soul.I water it with my prayers, my charity, my fasting.This rose is here to stay--It guides me to an eternal Garden.My thoughts, my goals, my actions are preparing my place in that Garden.That is where I will rest my roots--As long as this rose remains in my heart.(starlight)

WHO AM I?

People struggle with what to call themselves as it defines who they are, and what people think they are. Many would like to go by their job title, such as Doctor, Lawyer, or some other important title. Others would like to go by their political affiliations, such as Republican, or Democrat, Liberal, or Conservative. But who are we?

Job titles, or political affiliations does not make us who we are, it goes deeper than that. what makes who we are is what we believe, and not just believe, but practice in our lives. I have been told a believer is a doer.I ask myself that question from time to time who am I, and what do I want to be? I believe it is not in the good times when everything is going your way, you will find out who you are.

But it is in the time you struggle the most, when every thing goes wrong. When it seems everyone is against you, and in the face of adversity your true self will show through, then you will know who you are, and what you are.If you don't like who you are, you can always work to change it. That's something God has given us an opportunity to do.

We can always work to improve ourselves, and should, we need to be the best we can be, not just for ourselves, but for everyone else around us.Who am I, I am just one imperfect human being trying to do the best I can in this life. While hoping that I am not making it harder on someone else trying to do the best they can also. (A.M)

DANCE LIKE NO ONE`S WATCHING

~Dance Like No One's Watching~

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.
After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with, we will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?
Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza.
He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin -real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way, so, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time... and remember that time waits for no one.
So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy... Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So, Work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt and Dance Like no one's watching. Unknown