Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Something Better Will Come Along

A couple of months ago after having a discussion with one of my friends she encouraged me to share more about the 10 steps connected to Forgiving For Living, Inc.,  In March I shared the overview, but so much has been in the news that took me away from focusing on discussing the steps, however, recently while reviewing the different posts on my facebook home page I ran across the following quote, "When you finally let go of the past something better comes along."  It was like a light bulb came on and I stopped dead in my tracks.  Why is it something we already know to be true takes a lifetime to understand? I think part of what hit me was the fact it ties into the overall mission of  "Healing Without Hate:  How To Forgive To Live"TM 10 Steps (and specifically step #4).

Step #4 is called RELEASE.  This step talks about the importance of letting the things that hold you back in your life go!  When I am speaking on this subject I often share an exercise that visually (and physically) shows the attendees the power of negative energy and what happens when we hold onto it.  For example, take your hands and ball them up into a tight fist and squeeze as hard as you can for about 10 seconds, then slowly open your hands with your palms faced upward.  As you open your fists, you will feel a light tingly feeling slowly releasing from your hands and really touching your whole body. 

When we hold onto anger, bitterness and unforgiveness we are giving life to negativity and things such as diseases, cancer and pain to grow in our bodies.  However, when we learn to let the past be in the past and forgive those that have offended us (so they no longer have power in your life), we free up our internal bodies to live a better and longer life.

What's interesting is when we think of our personal and professional lives,  the choices and decisions we make, will determine our future and ultimately our destiny.  If we want new things in our lives, we have to let go of the past so that the future has a door to enter.  As my grandmother would say, get out of your own way and stop blocking your blessings!

 Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

 Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Memorial Day & Hunger Games

This past week my son Freddie and I saw the movie, "Hunger Games."  I know this was a movie many of  you saw weeks ago and I am on the late train.  The story is set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and a girl from the 12 districts that make up their universe to fight until their death on live television.  The heroine in the movie, Katniss Everdeen, volunteers to take her younger sister's place when she's selected for the latest match.  There are many things that caught my attention in this movie, and like any type of "war" people hate death and ultimately have a compassionate heart towards mankind.

In the movie, Katniss who is from District 12, was helped by a young little black girl that is from District 11 ( the purpose of  "Hunger Games" is  one out of the 24 people that go in will come out a live) so for this young girl from District 11 to help Katniss from District 12, she is sacrificing the possibility of her own life.  A friendship develops and when the young girl from District 11 is killed, Katniss shows compassion towards her through a kind and loving burial.  This also sets the stage for Katniss to have purpose and have a heart to survive.
 
This week I wanted to share a thought regarding Memorial Day and the movie, "Hunger Games" stayed on my mind.  The two have a theme that is intertwined.  We all want to live for a purpose and to survive.
 
Memorial Day is a federal holiday set aside to remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  This holiday has evolved and is now celebrated in several ways from picnics, to fireworks and the decorating of loved ones graves.  As I continued to do some research on this holiday, I also learned something I never knew, blacks in Charleston, also known as "Freedmen,"  organized a May Day ceremony covered by the New York Tribune Newspaper.  Our history tells us that "our" loved ones also served and died in serving our country dating back to the Civil War.   Frederick Douglass said, "Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship."

Although "Hunger Games" was a fictional story, the theme of mankind caring for one another even in the worse of circumstances, is the same even in real life war.   Peter the young man from District 12 in the movie, made the statement that  he did not want to lose who he was, and  even if he was to die, he didn't want "them" (the ones in charge) to think they owned him. 
 
In closing, I want to say thank you to everyone who has fought and died to keep all of us free!
 
Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!
 
Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.


Monday, May 14, 2012

President Obama Says Yes to Same Sex Marriage

Last week the President changed the game when he sat down with ABC News' Correspondent, Robin Roberts to discuss his views and stand regarding same sex marriage.  After looking at  the interview, I decided to peruse through different articles to see what was being said.   When I saw the following title, "Same Sex Marriage:  If Not Now, When?  If Not America's First African American President, Who?"  I stopped in my tracks.  What a heavy burden to be placed on one's legacy.


The author of the article also quoted several influential individuals that spoke about taking a stand, or letting your voice be heard.   I read the piece from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that said, "There comes a time when one must take a stand that is neither expedient, that's neither safe, that's neither politic or that is neither popular, but he must take the stand because it is right."
 

What's interesting is the subject of gay marriage and gay rights really puts people on different sides of the fence, splits families and communities, almost like the American Civil War.  Actually, this is a type of Civil War.  What comes into play are moral issues, family, equality, civil rights, forgiveness and love to name a few.

As I discussed this subject with my daughter on Mother's Day, we had an open dialogue about how our faith as a Christian plays a role in our thought process, we talked about how if gay marriage is accepted, that means text books in our schools would have to be changed on how families are defined and inclusion.  It means sex education would be altered on discussing how we have traditionally defined love and procreation.  A lot goes into taking a stand on such an issue.
 

What I am discovering is that one has to be very clear on what they believe and use as their core and center when making such decisions.  This subject has a rippling effect that not only goes across the river, but will flow downstream to future generations. What does your heart say?


Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!


Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Mother's Day 2012

This weekend people across the country will celebrate their mothers and the women that have touched their lives in a "mother like" context.  There are those that don't grow up with their mothers for a multiple of reasons, but grandmothers, aunts, teachers and sometimes just that neighbor down the street will fill the shoes that can only be done by a mother's love.

Mother's Day is one of the most commercial and lucrative holidays for card companies, florists, and restaurants.  It's been stated that close to $6 billion dollars are spent annually on these items, including gifts such as spa treatments and jewelry.  Believe it or not, It is also considered one of the "holidays" where people go to church that only attend on Easter, Mother's Day  and Christmas.  Church also made it popular for one to wear a red carnation if your mother is still alive and a white one if she's deceased. 

I think it's wonderful to acknowledge mothers, I love the attention bestowed upon me by my children, however, why do we have to honor and uplift the love of mother's just once a year?  Instead of spending billions of dollars on things that perish, find out what's your mother's favorite charity and donate to a cause near and dear to her heart.  If your mother is deceased, then do something to help another individual in honor of her work.  Another idea since it is close to graduation, would be to donate money towards a scholarship in the name of your mother.  These are just suggestions that can have a profound impact on others and future generations. What better way to tell your mother you love and appreciate all that she has planted in your life.

Author, Honore de Balzac said:  The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.   Amen.

Healing Without Hate:  It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com &  www.forgivingforliving.org.   You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog:  Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.