Live, Believe, Inspire

Why is it we feel so compelled to prove ourselves right all the time, we allow the slightest difference in belief or thought pattern to turn our reality upside down. There is no need to argue over anything in this world. Everyone we come across and learn about is our teacher in some way shape or form. When we allow ourselves to be open to understand that our truth, points and beliefs are not the only one’s with illuminating effects, we in turn encourage unity and oneness. Once we start to believe that we have the “truth” or we are “right” we are done growing spiritually and we become stagnate in our own limited reality.

It all starts out with a perspective, how we choose to see the world through our eye’s, completely unique depending on the experiences on our journey, that is where perception comes in, this is very tricky, our bare eye’s can be deceiving, what we interpret is happening in the world around us is merely based on our belief, and our belief is only an opinion derived from the experiences we have had. Beliefs are literally prejudiced by one’s own point of view which is exactly why the need to stay open and continue listening and searching for “truths” is so important to our spiritual growth. Everyone in this world has their own system of living and seeing things, understanding and relating, no two paths are the only way, until we learn to question our own conclusions, or at least allow the thoughts process of others about our conclusion in, we will stay stuck in our own truths so to speak. Since we evolve and life around us ever evolving so too will our truths and way of life, think of it this way, we don’t stop believing or just drop the belief that has been working toward our highest good for so long, rather we learn how to expand our understanding to encompass more and gain more wisdom from doing so.

Not everything and everyone we meet will be agreeable, I am not saying to follow everything you hear, the point is to reach a point of awareness enough to be open and honest to understanding the other person, understanding what has happened in their life to have led them to live and think the way they do, if we can make it that far in our awareness we will learn to see life through their eye’s, and recognize why they make the choices they have, without judgment, simply understanding and respecting that their way of life is their way, equally as important as our way, no one way has more validity than the other; each one plays a significant role on this earth to both teach and learn from. ~Will “Story” Rivera

Opportunities aren’t around for every tomorrow.

I have such fond memories of my brother-in-law Clinton, who I had known for the last 20 years.  The very first time I met him, he made me laugh at my expense.

When my husband and I would come home on leave, we had drove for 18+ hours, though we were tired at night when everyone in the family would go to sleep, my brother-in-law, husband, my children and I would stay up ALL NIGHT and play his favorite games with him.

 He knew everything about anything, the pros and cons on every item or subject. He could transform any day into a magical story.  He had the gift of changing his voice into a variety of accents,  Yes, Clinton had a lot of great qualities, but perhaps his most endearing quality was his ability to get people to open up.  He made me feel comfortable enough to share my darkest secrets with him, and in addition to great advice, he gave me the confidence to choose the road less traveled and reminded me that no matter what, I will be okay.  I’ll always remember his advice.  He left a mark on every single person who met him. Unfortunately his life wasn’t long enough for us to see how far his excellence would have taken him.

My regrets are not being able to say goodbye, assuming he’d always be here, not spending more time with him & not being there when he died.

Clinton was very young, only 32 yrs old. He had always been a very healthy person, hardly ever even had a cold. He had been suffering with a bad headache for a few days before his death. He described it as a “killer” headache and commented that he was trying to keep his head from “exploding”.
On Sunday afternoon, a call of concern was placed, he was not answering his phone or his door and his vehicles were parked in the driveway and the door was locked. My sister-n-law went to his house to check on him and found him. He had been gone for about three days. We still do not know cause of death. But we are sure it had something to do with his headaches.

Life can change in the blink of an eye, the sooner we can all learn to live in the moment, and live our life in a way it was intended to be lived, one with purpose and one with love.  For now, do things that make you happy, love, give back, figure out your purpose, and enjoy the journey because the show must go on, I know Clinton would not have wanted it any other way.

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are
And nothing else matters

Clinton Andrew Ellis

April 3, 1981 – January 2, 2014

“The smartest man I’ve ever met”

A cherished son, brother, Uncle and friend.

Forever in our hearts and always on our mind.

You will be dearly missed!!!

Spirit Of Freedom Constitution Monument

The “Spirit Of Freedom Constitution Monument”

 What an inspirational reminder of the selfless work of our forefathers, who so bravely charted the course of our great nation. Cheers to everyone who stands up for what’s right, despite the cost. Freedom isn’t free, never will be. God Bless our American Heroes tonight, wherever they may be.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

 

Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, honoring those that are still missing from our Nation’s past wars and conflicts and those who made the ultimate sacrifice and whose remains have not yet been recovered and returned home.

God bless every single POW/MIA.You are not forgotten.