Turning 50

It's really interesting how birthdays can make you stop and reflect. Especially when it's one of the "big" ones. As I sit and write this week's column the clock is ticking and I'm about to turn 50 years old. Truth be told, I really don't mind and I'm in a better place than I've been in years, but the thought of being a half century makes a girl feel a little old. What's interesting several of my friends and colleagues keep sending me little messages that say, "welcome to the club."

After reflecting on the comments, I began to think about what is this "club" and who are the members? First of all the fact that we've made it to the half way mark of a century is something in itself. When I reflect back on my own personal life and the fact that I was born in my mother's sixth month of pregnancy and weighing just a couple of pounds is a miracle within itself. Compounding other life challenges and beating cancer all mean that I should be thankful to be at this point....and I am!

Most of us that have reached this milestone have experienced life, marriage, sometimes divorce, children and possibly death of loved ones. Hopefully we've learned what is important not to sweat the small stuff. Taking care of one's health, enjoying and cherishing loved ones, and helping others are some of the greatest simple pleasures we can experience and yet we often take them for granted or let them slip away.

As I started sharing in last weeks' column, I am really on a kick about the process of reinventing oneself, while forgiving yourself for the things you possibly didn't do right. Most of us have heard the saying that you attract what you put out. So the question is what are you putting out into the world? If you say you want better health, then start slowly cutting back on the things you shouldn't eat and start slowly walking a little every day. If you say you want friends, then show yourself friendly. If you say you want success, then start today doing one thing that can put you closer to your goals. Remember you can't expect something new if you keep doing the same old thing. Reinventing means letting go of the unnecessary things and looking at life from a new perspective. For me the second half of life is going to be beautiful and happy!

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

The Need For A Coach No Matter Where You Are In Life

In life no matter how successful one may be, or even "appear" to be, I've learned it's always important to sharpen one's tools, learn some new things and listen to a coach. I feel like I've been going through a growing stage and "transition" for quite some time (let's even say a couple of years). What started as "downsizing" when the economy hit our company in 2009, has now turned into a whole new way of life.

The first thing I learned is less is not such a bad thing. At one time I was responsible for up to 7 employees, full overhead of a large office, workers comp, insurance, you name it. Letting go of some of that not only lightened my load, but freed up my mind to think on things that I really wanted to focus on (such as my non-profit, Forgiving For Living, Inc.). Furthermore, my life has changed because my children are grown (and my son has now moved to Australia), so the day to day mothering is not like it used to be. Let's say I am learning the joy of "skype" and "whatsapp" and "texting" in a whole new way! So I am in the process of "reinventing" myself and how it ties into the subject of "forgiveness" and helping others.

I recently read in one of my devotional books that when God is doing something in your life, we might feel frustrated or even confused, but don't get weary and stay open because with great things comes great faith and dependence on Him. I know He is leading me to a new cornerstone in my life and that it is important for me to not feel afraid. What's also true is this process or journey definitely includes the importance to forgive. Forgiveness is what helps to create an extraordinary life from ordinary people. I don't know about you, but I am ready to walk in being "extra" in a good way.

In closing, when I looked up the meaning of "reinvent," it stated that it is "to recast something familiar or old into a different form." It also said, "to create anew or make over." All to say, it doesn't mean what we were doing was wrong or bad, it just means it's time to take something we've gotten used to and tweak it into something better. I'm ready....are you? More to come on how we can reinvent ourselves and the power forgiveness has to get us there.


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

Reinvention

Coming soon....learn about how "Forgiveness" and "Reinvention" collide and mak your life better!

Blessings

Wendy

Sheryl Sherrod

This past week in the news we heard a lot about Sheryl Sherrod, the former Georgia Director of Rural Development. It was determined that she was unjustly forced to resign from her position after a segment of a speech she made at a NAACP event was placed out on the internet. The piece positioned her as a "reverse racist" in regards to a white farmer.

What's interesting is before all the details were put on the table she was asked (while driving her car) to "pull over to the side of the road and resign" and the NAACP at the time agreed with the forced resignation (they later retracted their position).

CNN and the Atlanta Constitution Journal correctly reported that the video was a misrepresentation of the full speech and that she should be judged on the entire speech. After all of these details, along wth other items that came to the surface, Ms. Sherrod was offered her job back.

The question is should she forgive those who jumped to conclusions before viewing and researching all of the details? Also should she take her job back? What's interesting is the white farmer she supposedly was racist against came out to her defense. Mrs. Eloise Spooner (the wife of the said farmer) even went as far as to say that Ms. Sherrod helped them save their farm!

In conclusion, I also found it interesting that details came out that Ms. Sherrod's father was killed in a racially motivated murder. when she was asked about this she said, "If I could move beyond race, if I could move beyond the ability to try to hate, and when you look at what happened to us, when you look at what was done, if I could move beyond that to a life of love and service, we all should be able to do it. And that's my message."

Remember...."Forgiveness is not an occasional act...it is an attitude!"

www.forgivingforliving.com

What does BP Need to do to Seek Forgiveness From the People of the Gulf Coast

Recently I had a conversation with a friend and we were talking about the various current events of the world and their relation to the topic of "forgiveness." Of course we couldn't help but bring up the oil problem along the Gulf Coast and what is BP doing to help remedy the situation. How are they dealing with the necessary healing and seeking forgiveness from the people of the Gulf Coast?

Give us your opinion on the steps you think BP can put in place to start the healing process???

Let us hear from you...

Wendy ~

Desiree Rogers White House Social Secretary

I'm sure many of you heard that the darling Ms. Desiree Rogers, White House Social Secretary for President Obama recently stepped down and she is being replaced by Julianna Smoot.

After coming under fire for allowing an uninvited couple, Tareq & Michaele Salahi entrance into a White House Affair back in November the pressure on her performance has been on! The question I want to pose is do you think she should have resigned or do you think she should have been forgiven and given another opportunity to prove herself?

The sticky part is this breached the security of our President....this is different than someone just sneaking into a local party. Then on top of things the couple placed photos from the event on their facebook page!

Give me your thoughts...

Blessings
Wendy

Forgiving When You Feel They Are Wrong

This morning on KJLH I spoke about the importance of Forgiveness and I used a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There's some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us!"

I went on to say that we need to be careful to show love and forgiveness to all because we never know when the shoe may be on ther other foot (our feet).....

I received a lot of text messages and voice messages after I talked about that because in the headlines right now in Inglewood and the LA area there's the whole piece about how Mayor Dorn of Inglewood resigned....and there were many who felt he deserved it and that they couldn't forgive him....well....my comment to that would be, forgiveness has nothing to do with judging if someone is right or wrong...or even guilty....it's about letting the system do what it is going to do and possibly even freeing oneself. The thing is....when someone does something wrong...and they know it....they will judge themselves....

What do you think???

Blessings
Wendy