The color of your skin or your religion can exclude you from so much. Diversity is a natural part of some people's circles but not most. Diversity of religion, race, gender, background, etc...maybe what we should have in common is nothing...in that environment we can learn everything. The discomfort, the growth...

In the unfamiliar environment, I urge you to drop your defenses and simply listen with an intent to understand, not necessarily agree or disagree.  Expose yourself to the experience and then allow yourself time to process what you have learned. 

The universe is so much bigger than me. I humble myself before that realization. The more inward I look, the less my situation matters and the shorter I dwell on thoughts of insignificance. I am part of something much bigger than myself or you. If I have ever been upset about something, it doesn't boil up inside of me or lie dormant...I have it let go. Today. Moving Forward. Winning introvert life.

Watching the show Extreme Weight Loss, Bob, a former football player and current police officer hadn't weighed 220 lbs since he was 14 but he was up for the challenge.  He lost 228 pounds in nine months and proved that the near impossible was indeed possible even when enduring a knee surgery during those nine months.  Mental and physical grit got him there.  As I rang in 2017, this testimony reminded me of all the people who have told me that I put too much on my plate, that my goals are too aggressive, and that my goals must be conservative.  I have been guilty of telling others these things too.  Fear drives us to doubt our abilities, set small goals, engage in comparative thinking, stumble on mental blocks and lose focus when truly transformational opportunities present themselves.  Weight gain is an adversity for many, financial debt is an adversity, being in an abusive or unfulfilling relationship is a adversity....we face so many adversities.  My wish for you...and for myself...in 2017 is that we will swallow your pride and tackle some areas of adversity in our lives with an unprecedented fervor.  The word fervor means an intense and passionate feeling...it's possessing passion, intensity, earnestness, enthusiasm, excitement, energy, zest, or FIRE in our approach to accomplishing the impossible.  If you want something bad enough, there are NO excuses.  And when our Chris Powell shows up to motivate us, let us not turn them away  Instead, let us hold ourselves accountable to them and thank them for their willingness to be there by our side as we tackle our adversities.  In 2017, I am determined to be a better writer, to share more, to be a better partner, friend, mentor, example, and mother.  I am committed to healthy eating and fitness.  I commit to loving myself more and to tackling the self destructive habits I engage in.  Join me in living in the present and making each day in 2017 a day where we believe in ourselves and one another a lot more.