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gave us the chance to do the right thing.
She asked us to help her pick up the pieces. After cleaning up the glass, we
were able to continue enjoying our game this time, down at the city park!
Challenges help us to develop strength and
resiliency. However, there is another aspect of life's challenges to
consider.
Sometimes things break beyond fixing.
Certain mistakes are irreversible. Tragedy may take away our physical
abilities or even the life of someone we love. We might spend years
preparing for a career or building a relationship only to see it stolen by
circumstances beyond our control. Unlike shattered windows, we cannot
always replace shattered hopes, dreams, and relationships. However, that is
not the end of the story.
In times of disappointment, our first
course of constructive action may be to pick up the pieces. We need to
allow ourselves to feel the pain and move through the grief or sense of
unfairness completely before we can start anew.
Picking up the pieces is not giving up. It
is an act of responsibility and compassion toward the self a process of
cleansing the soul, putting the past in order, and releasing fearful
thoughts. It brings closure that allows us to move forward with acceptance,
forgiveness, and serenity.
Dag Hammarskjold (1905 - 1961), said,
"Life only demands from the strength you possess. Only one feat is
possible not to have to run away."
We have the strength to see life's
seemingly unfair demands in a miraculous new way. We can choose to see
blessings where the world would have us see only tragedy or regret. Instead
of surrendering our aliveness, we find renewed courage and new opportunities
to serve humanity.
Our greatest blessing is the discovery
that we not only have the strength to pick up the pieces of our own
shattered dreams, but also to help others rebuild their lives. We can ask
the Creator to outshine fear with thoughts of love and compassion. This
prayer can reveal blessings even in the toughest of times.
A close friend of mine who passed at a
young age once wrote, "We will learn to see life's miracles. We will
become aware of our spiritual kinship with all of mankind, picking up the
pieces when they fall."
Indeed, the hardest of times will teach
that compassion is one of the greatest miracles when dreams get shattered.
"Picking up the pieces when they fall" begins a journey to living
anew with love, courage, and hope for a bright future.
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© Copyright
2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational
author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration,
a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring
thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get
the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Brunkhorst
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