I totally resonated with this article written by the mega woman Oprah Winfrey . It says just what I feel about being conscious of the blessing of ones life and the power of creating your own world. My last year was an intense one. I have some moments I'm beyond proud of, but what I was not proud of, was my stint of sadness that my life was not appearing how it should be. What I wished for it. I kinda felt like I was in that scene from the movie "Never Ending Story" where Atreyu (the worlds best name ever) was fighting to save Artax from getting caught up in the "Swamp of Sadness". Being an out of work actor is not easy. But thank God, I remembered myself again and continued walking out of that mud! Man did I missed me. Here I am again, and to the "Sea of Sadness" I say, "GET OUT OF MY @#$!%* WAY, MOTHA @#$!%!!!!!!!
Who's with me???
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What I Know for Sure
"I feel immensely blessed to have a chance to get it right."
If living your best life were a test, I would not get a passing grade for 2009. All the things I vowed to do this time last year, I didn't. I didn't give myself more balance or more time. I didn't work out daily. I failed. So 2010 is a start-over, for sure. And I feel immensely blessed to still have a chance to get it right.
This was made even more clear to me recently as I sat with Charla Nash, the woman who was violently attacked by a 200-pound chimpanzee last February. I was scheduled to interview Charla by satellite for the show, but once I became aware of the extent of her injuries, I traveled to see her in person at the Cleveland Clinic. I thought we'd have a better connection sitting together than meeting via television screen.
Charla's face was so mangled that paramedics who'd rushed to her aid had said there were no "identifying markers" to "determine it was a face." She was forever blinded by the tragedy. Her hands were so badly disfigured that one paramedic said "they looked like they'd been through a meat grinder." Doctors were able to save only the thumb on her right hand. That she's alive is a miracle.
Charla's outlook on life and her attitude about creating a future are a miracle, too. Her lack of bitterness, anger, and self-pity amaze me. I am in awe of her resolve to live the best life possible.
I must admit that I walked in preparing to see horror. And it was a shock, at first, when she took off the veil she wears to "keep from scaring people." (Though she knows her injuries are severe, she's unaware of what the world sees when it looks at her. Because she literally has no eyes.) But after being with Charla just a short while, I was no longer focused on her devastating scars. Instead, I sawher. Her resilience, her grace, her determination, her will to get better.
"Are there some days you don't feel like getting out of bed?" I asked. She said, "Yes…but I push myself, even when I don't feel like it, to take a walk and keep going. I just want to get stronger. I just want to get better."
I said to her then, and know for sure now: If this woman, whose world was shattered beyond imagination, can push herself to a stronger and better life, anyone can. As for me, I'm starting over. No excuses.
This was made even more clear to me recently as I sat with Charla Nash, the woman who was violently attacked by a 200-pound chimpanzee last February. I was scheduled to interview Charla by satellite for the show, but once I became aware of the extent of her injuries, I traveled to see her in person at the Cleveland Clinic. I thought we'd have a better connection sitting together than meeting via television screen.
Charla's face was so mangled that paramedics who'd rushed to her aid had said there were no "identifying markers" to "determine it was a face." She was forever blinded by the tragedy. Her hands were so badly disfigured that one paramedic said "they looked like they'd been through a meat grinder." Doctors were able to save only the thumb on her right hand. That she's alive is a miracle.
Charla's outlook on life and her attitude about creating a future are a miracle, too. Her lack of bitterness, anger, and self-pity amaze me. I am in awe of her resolve to live the best life possible.
I must admit that I walked in preparing to see horror. And it was a shock, at first, when she took off the veil she wears to "keep from scaring people." (Though she knows her injuries are severe, she's unaware of what the world sees when it looks at her. Because she literally has no eyes.) But after being with Charla just a short while, I was no longer focused on her devastating scars. Instead, I sawher. Her resilience, her grace, her determination, her will to get better.
"Are there some days you don't feel like getting out of bed?" I asked. She said, "Yes…but I push myself, even when I don't feel like it, to take a walk and keep going. I just want to get stronger. I just want to get better."
I said to her then, and know for sure now: If this woman, whose world was shattered beyond imagination, can push herself to a stronger and better life, anyone can. As for me, I'm starting over. No excuses.
Now, go get you some!
LOVE IT!!!! I'm with you. xoxo
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