Hello, Dear Friend
"In a world where you can be anything, be kind." - Jennifer Dukes Lee
Won't you come in and sit with me for a moment?
I've been thinking about you. yes, you, and I wanted to share something that's been warming my heart lately. You see, I've had the privilege of gathering with some remarkable people, and what they've shared has reminded me of something important:
You are not alone on this journey.
The Truth About Success (And Those Waves of Life)
Winston Churchill once said: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
Isn't that beautiful? And isn't it true?
I want to tell you about something I have seen, and that my friend, Angela, witnessed recently. Imagine standing on a beach, watching a parent wade out into the water with their small child. When those big waves come rolling in, the kind that could knock that little one right over, the parent reaches down and lifts them up, right over the wave. Safe. Supported. Together.
That's what we're here to do for each other.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller
Because here's what I've learned from studying the great thinkers and from walking alongside friends who've faced tremendous challenges: Nearly everyone who achieved something worthwhile found themselves, at one time or another, with at least one foot hanging over the brink of failure. Nearly everyone.
Robert Fulton. Abraham Lincoln. And perhaps... you?
When the Waves Come
"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." - Confucius
Maybe you're facing a wave right now. Perhaps it's:
- A health challenge that's taken all your time and energy
- A loss that's left an empty chair at your table
- A setback that makes you wonder if you can keep going
- A fear that whispers, "You can't do this"
I want you to know something:
Setbacks are not the end of your story.
They are building your character, your endurance, your perseverance.
"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." - J.K. Rowling
One of our dear friends, Bill, recently shared that he'd been through some of the hardest months of his life. He said, "It seemed, everything was a 'take-away'."
Did you hear the wording he used for things being 'taken away'?
Even in those difficult days, there were people who showed up for him. And he began to see those "take-aways" as something else entirely..He saw them as 'gains'. As lessons. As proof that he was still being shaped into something beautiful.
What a perspective to hold onto!
The Secret Power Within You
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." -Henry Ford
Here's something wonderful I want you to remember:
You can do it if you believe you can!
Now, I know that might sound simple. But there's a difference between merely *wishing* for something and actually *believing* you will achieve it. The "doers" in this world are the "believers." They don't recognize the word "impossible." When one plan fails, they know they can create another. When a door seems to close or the lights go out, the "doers" believe another door will open.
Think about Edison. He made more than ten thousand experiments before the talking machine finally recorded those simple words: "Mary had a little lamb."
Ten thousand attempts! And he kept going.
"It always seems impossible until it's done." -Nelson Mandela
The word I want you to carry with you is this: PERSISTENCE.
You Have the Key
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." -Tony Robbins
Everything has a price. There is no such thing as "something for nothing." But here's the encouraging news: You already have the key.
The door to knowledge, to growth, to the life you're meant to live, it won't come to you. You must go to it. And yes, the going won't always be easy. You will stumble. You will have days when you wonder if you're making progress at all.
But keep moving, dear friend. Keep moving forward.
"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." -Martin Luther King Jr.
Because very soon, you will come to the peak of the mountain you've been climbing. And when you look down into the valleys below, you will behold the rich rewards of your faith and your efforts.
"The mountain is there to be climbed, and the view from the top is worth every step."
About Those Fears
"Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear." -George Addair
We all carry fears with us. Fear of failure. Fear of what others think. Fear of not being enough.
But science and more importantly, experience has shown us that we can overcome these fears. That demon called fear sits on our shoulders and whispers doubts into our ears. But it doesn't have to control us.
"Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
You have the power to direct your own mind and thoughts toward whatever you desire.
When you're in alignment with yourself, with your purpose, with the good you're meant to do in this world, you have more power than you realize. You can move forward in a better way.
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face." - Eleanor Roosevelt
What You Can Do Today
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi
As we enter this season of reflection and new beginnings, I have a gentle suggestion for you:
Be present, not worried about presents.
- Call someone who might be alone
- Offer a smile to a stranger
- Do something kind for someone who cannot repay you
- Share your heart without worrying what others think
- Remember that if you have a good meal and a roof over your head, you have more than most
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia
And here's something else: Go tell somebody how amazing they are. Because they were created to be exactly that, Amazing. And so were you.
You Are Not Alone
"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up." - John Holmes
Just waking up on this side of the dirt? That's a great day, friend.
Every night, no matter how hard, is followed by a beautiful morning. And every morning, you have a choice. You can choose your attitude. You can change your altitude. Even one degree of change like a plane beginning its climb, will lift you higher than you were before.
"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." - Alice Morse Earle
Move a muscle, change a thought.
And remember this:
There are people in this world, perhaps people you haven't even met yet, who will come alongside you. Who will lift you over the waves. Who will believe in you when believing feels hard.
A friend is someone who makes it easy to believe in yourself.
the end of the day, people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
A Little Card for Your Heart
I want to leave you with these words, like a little card tucked into your pocket:
*Always remember the sweetness of sharing, the need for confiding, the reason for caring.*
*Always remember that loving and giving adds meaning to life and gladness to living.*
*Always remember that being together is a joy in itself, to be treasured forever.*
With All My Heart
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." - Albert Pike
You are loved. You are capable. You are exactly where you need to be to take your next step forward.
Don't give up. Don't lose hope. And don't forget, we're right here, cheering you on, ready to lift you over whatever wave comes next.
You've got this. And you've got us.
With warmth, encouragement, and belief in YOU,
Your Grow Rich Family
Love,
Lori Sue
P.S. When you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. That's where your power is.
Share this message with someone who needs encouragement today. Sometimes a kind word is all it takes to help someone rise.
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." - James Keller
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