Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
I don't look like what I've been through.
After my initial video post, several people messaged me and said that they would have had no idea what I had gone through by looking at my FaceBook page. This was a conscious decision, and was how I wanted it.
I've always been mindful of what I present to the world, and this is especially true in social media because sometimes that is the only version of you that people get to see. I was careful when I was sick, making a very personal choice, not to post pictures or posts relating to my illness for two reasons:
1.) I knew that my circumstances were temporary and did not want to accept or display that which was not a true version of who I was.
2.) I didn't want people to pity me while I was going through the storm, but rather to celebrate me, when I came out on the other side.
With this in mind, I lived my life the fullest that I could, despite my circumstances and presented myself as I knew I should be. Dressing the part, so to speak, I posted photos of birthdays and outings, dinners and family visits.
I posted this picture, in February 2016, at the state championship Lego League tournament. I was heavily medicated, experiencing significant back pain, and had brought both a wheelchair and a walker for the trip. I was unable to drive, needed help with stairs and could not sit or stand for long periods. But to the rest of the world, I looked like a mom on an outing, being silly with her kids. That's who I was. That's how I saw myself. That's how my children saw me. So, that's what Facebook saw. But, what people couldn't see was what it took for me to get there. The determination it took to walk to the top of the bleachers, the strength it took to stand from sitting, the courage it took to leave the wheelchair in the trunk, the sacrifice I made to sit in pain all day so that my child felt supported. I refused to let my circumstances define me. Instead, I redefined them.
We choose what we show to the world, and we have our reasons for doing so. It's important that we focus on the positive and find small triumphs in even the most difficult of situations. This is not to say that others shouldn't post prayer requests or write posts related to your circumstances; I'm saying not to allow those things to define you. Even in our darkest times we must find a little light and hold onto it.
I don't look like what I've been through. Neither do you.
Get on Fire! 🔥🔥🔥
I've always been mindful of what I present to the world, and this is especially true in social media because sometimes that is the only version of you that people get to see. I was careful when I was sick, making a very personal choice, not to post pictures or posts relating to my illness for two reasons:
1.) I knew that my circumstances were temporary and did not want to accept or display that which was not a true version of who I was.
2.) I didn't want people to pity me while I was going through the storm, but rather to celebrate me, when I came out on the other side.
With this in mind, I lived my life the fullest that I could, despite my circumstances and presented myself as I knew I should be. Dressing the part, so to speak, I posted photos of birthdays and outings, dinners and family visits.
I posted this picture, in February 2016, at the state championship Lego League tournament. I was heavily medicated, experiencing significant back pain, and had brought both a wheelchair and a walker for the trip. I was unable to drive, needed help with stairs and could not sit or stand for long periods. But to the rest of the world, I looked like a mom on an outing, being silly with her kids. That's who I was. That's how I saw myself. That's how my children saw me. So, that's what Facebook saw. But, what people couldn't see was what it took for me to get there. The determination it took to walk to the top of the bleachers, the strength it took to stand from sitting, the courage it took to leave the wheelchair in the trunk, the sacrifice I made to sit in pain all day so that my child felt supported. I refused to let my circumstances define me. Instead, I redefined them.
We choose what we show to the world, and we have our reasons for doing so. It's important that we focus on the positive and find small triumphs in even the most difficult of situations. This is not to say that others shouldn't post prayer requests or write posts related to your circumstances; I'm saying not to allow those things to define you. Even in our darkest times we must find a little light and hold onto it.
I don't look like what I've been through. Neither do you.
Get on Fire! 🔥🔥🔥
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Get on Fire.
In both my vlog and blog series, I often encourage fellow Phoenixes to "Get on Fire."
After watching one of my videos, a viewer messaged me and asked me what that meant to me. This got me thinking, as getting on fire, really is two-fold.
On one hand, being on fire describes a crash and burn descent. When we consider the adversity that one faces when "on fire" - the pain, the fear, the intensity of the experience of the fire itself, while you are going through it seems unbearable. You are outside of the safe zone and everything you've had or worked for may be engulfed in the flames. It seems that within seconds, everything is gone and you are left vulnerable and afraid. Moreover, you are powerless to stop it. It's scary. So why would one want to "Get on Fire"?
That's simple. Because it has a purpose.
In life, we have to endure certain trials and no matter how careful, how mindful, how meticulous we are in our planning, there are inevitable heartbreaks, letdowns, shortcomings and accidents, that just cannot be avoided. These are fires in their own right. Yet, as horrible as they seem, they are necessary rites of passage of grand design that we may never fully comprehend. Without these experiences, we would not have the courage, the strength, the determination or the know how to get through the next fire, that will most assuredly come.
So when I am asked, why I would encourage someone to get on fire, the answer is: so that they can rise again, recognizing the courage and determination it took to do so. So that as they reemerge from the ashes of their circumstance they can proclaim and reclaim their position of power. So that one can recognize the phoenix within.
On the other hand, we use the same terminology "on fire" to describe one who is on the rise. When someone is making strides in their academic, athletic, professional or even their personal life, we say that they are "on fire".
So when I tell you to get on fire, I am telling you to embrace your circumstances because you will emerge victoriously. The fire does not define you, but it strengthens and prepares you for what is to come next - the ascent.
Get on Fire! 🔥🔥🔥
After watching one of my videos, a viewer messaged me and asked me what that meant to me. This got me thinking, as getting on fire, really is two-fold.
On one hand, being on fire describes a crash and burn descent. When we consider the adversity that one faces when "on fire" - the pain, the fear, the intensity of the experience of the fire itself, while you are going through it seems unbearable. You are outside of the safe zone and everything you've had or worked for may be engulfed in the flames. It seems that within seconds, everything is gone and you are left vulnerable and afraid. Moreover, you are powerless to stop it. It's scary. So why would one want to "Get on Fire"?
That's simple. Because it has a purpose.
In life, we have to endure certain trials and no matter how careful, how mindful, how meticulous we are in our planning, there are inevitable heartbreaks, letdowns, shortcomings and accidents, that just cannot be avoided. These are fires in their own right. Yet, as horrible as they seem, they are necessary rites of passage of grand design that we may never fully comprehend. Without these experiences, we would not have the courage, the strength, the determination or the know how to get through the next fire, that will most assuredly come.
So when I am asked, why I would encourage someone to get on fire, the answer is: so that they can rise again, recognizing the courage and determination it took to do so. So that as they reemerge from the ashes of their circumstance they can proclaim and reclaim their position of power. So that one can recognize the phoenix within.
On the other hand, we use the same terminology "on fire" to describe one who is on the rise. When someone is making strides in their academic, athletic, professional or even their personal life, we say that they are "on fire".
So when I tell you to get on fire, I am telling you to embrace your circumstances because you will emerge victoriously. The fire does not define you, but it strengthens and prepares you for what is to come next - the ascent.
Get on Fire! 🔥🔥🔥
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
A Transformational Journey.
Welcome to Life as a Phoenix.
This post marks the first step in a life changing journey, for me. This journey began long before I realized that it had. It's the journey of a Phoenix.
A Phoenix is a mythological bird that possesses magical powers. It is most famous for its ability to rise from its own ashes, reemerging even from its fiery death, to glory beyond its past.
The Phoenix is symbolic of what we all experience in life. We all have struggles, hardships and turmoil to overcome, and have to embrace our inner Phoenix to emerge from those ashes, in splendor and glory. It's like the old saying goes "what does not kill us, makes us stronger." In order to grow, we must experience some pain...our metaphorical fire.
So as long as we are alive, we should be constantly changing, growing and transforming, into more powerful beings. Every issue that we encounter, every obstacle we overcome, every victory that we celebrate, earns us our wings.
The purpose of this blog is to encourage and empower others to not become their circumstances, but to rise above them, with strength, courage and ferocity, as does the Phoenix.
Get on fire!
This post marks the first step in a life changing journey, for me. This journey began long before I realized that it had. It's the journey of a Phoenix.
A Phoenix is a mythological bird that possesses magical powers. It is most famous for its ability to rise from its own ashes, reemerging even from its fiery death, to glory beyond its past.
The Phoenix is symbolic of what we all experience in life. We all have struggles, hardships and turmoil to overcome, and have to embrace our inner Phoenix to emerge from those ashes, in splendor and glory. It's like the old saying goes "what does not kill us, makes us stronger." In order to grow, we must experience some pain...our metaphorical fire.
So as long as we are alive, we should be constantly changing, growing and transforming, into more powerful beings. Every issue that we encounter, every obstacle we overcome, every victory that we celebrate, earns us our wings.
The purpose of this blog is to encourage and empower others to not become their circumstances, but to rise above them, with strength, courage and ferocity, as does the Phoenix.
Get on fire!
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