mpowergen.com blog » Marissa’s Magic

A Time to be Thankful I’m Me

Administrator — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:29:59 +0000

As I have walked down leaf covered streets this fall my mind has continually conjured up reasons for gratitude in every element of my existence. Even the cracking leaves beneath my feet are a blessing I love. I gaze up as the trees let their branches breathe with the wind, free from care and worry, adapting to the change of season. While observing this change, I am thankful to be where I am and who I am becoming every day. That reminds me of how thankful I am to be who I am in a world where many tell me not to be.
I was thinking about this recently as my sister and I were having a conversation. She reminded me about a person in my past that took it upon themselves to inform me of everything they saw “wrong with me” and what I “needed to change in order to be accepted.” Needless to say this was not a very pleasant experience. It was also very one-sided and catered to the other person’s opinion. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love feedback. I appreciate when someone says something that inspires me to change in a loving way. However, with this specific instance, the information was made as an attack on me, while much of the supporting details of the argument were false.
The basic root of the attack came from a simple truth: I love to wear baseball caps. Now, if you think this is grounds upon which to harass my emotional health, then perhaps we should have a chat. But this person took it to the extreme. He told me in essence that in order for me to be happy and accepted by the world I needed to change everything about my appearance and look like I popped out of a magazine every waking second of the day.
Maybe I don’t want to do that. In fact, I know that I don’t. I could if I wanted to, but I love wearing baseball caps because I love baseball. If someone can’t love and accept me in my cap and jeans then I don’t want their love. Because to me, love and acceptance based on conditions of appearance is not love or acceptance at all. If for some reason people assume that I wear baseball caps because I can’t dress up, they are grossly mistaken (as this person truly was). I dress very nicely every Sunday. I also dress up when I am going out somewhere fancy. But, when I want to wear a baseball cap, I rock it. That’s part of me and who I like to be.
I’ll have to tell you it was hard for me to be strong in that way. After this person attempted to pierce my confidence with his words, I was afraid to wear my hat. But, then I learned how to love myself more than listen to the corrupted voices around me. I am thankful for that.
Gratitude fills my heart in the wondrous of ways as I realize the beauty of simplicity. This world is filled with leaves and streets and people who wrongfully judge you. It is filled with moments of hustle and bustle, reflection and connection. May we remember this holiday time that all that is around us can be seen as a blessing. Good things and bad things. We can learn and grow every second of this marvelous life. And may we discover who we truly are and embrace that with everything inside of us no matter what anyone else has to say about it.

I Used To Dream About the Life I am Living Now

Administrator — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:32:03 +0000

There is a song called “I Made it” by Kevin Rudoluph that I have a clip of on on my cell phone. Sometimes when I need to set an alarm, I pick for the song clip to play. I do this because I like to get the reminder of an ever-present truth in my life. The chorus goes a little like this:

I used to dream about
The life I’m living now
I know that there’s no doubt
I made it!

When my alarm went off today, and that was the song clip I had selected, I pulled my phone out and sang along to the words.

I used to dream about
The life I’m living now
I know that there’s no doubt
I made it!

I got to thinking about how I really am living the life I’ve dreamed about for so long. About a hundred different truths come to mind following that prompt…how I have learned and grown and loved and lived and how I am doing those things with each passing day.

So I ask you, did you use to dream about the life you’re living now?

Keep Your Eyes on the Road!

Administrator — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:54:29 +0000

Recently, I was driving through a difficult storm. The person I was driving with asked me whether I look into the lights of the oncoming vehicles as they come near me or if I focus on the path in front of me. I found this a somewhat funny question as I continued to drive as safely as possible in the harsh weather conditions. I told them that I see the lights of the other car, and then go back to paying attention to where I was going. He told me that was what I was supposed to do in order to be a safe driver.
The rest of the drive I thought about this little conversation, realizing how it could be applied to life. If we focus too much on the oncoming traffic, instead of fixing our eyes on our own path, we can easily be swayed off the road. However, if we keep our eyes and total focus on where we are going, we are more likely to reach our destination safely. Keep your eyes on your goals, my friends, so that even through wind and rain you can get to where you are going.

Yes! You Did it! Now, Don’t You Forget It!!

Administrator — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 01:03:03 +0000

Lately I have reached the point of completion in many projects or tasks which have basically consumed me for a long period of time. In most of these experiences, I work very hard and diligently in order to reach my goal by a specific deadline. So much energy, thought, stress and effort seem to go into each step bringing me closer to my final results.

Doing this requires a lot of discipline. Just being able to keep working toward a goal takes a lot of discipline and focus. Yet, in the end all that I put into something reaps results.

I have been thinking a lot about how usually right when I finish a project I move directly to the next thing without feeling that wonderful sense of accomplishment. I guess I get so caught up in whatever is next on my “to do” list that I just move on without taking much of a break to realize the completion. Later, after I am halfway through the next thing I stop and figure out that I really didn’t give myself much time to transition. While I am working on a project the end is all I seem to want. I want so much to be finished with the current obligation but when I am finished I don’t really celebrate. I think this is something I should change. SOOOO much effort goes into the completion of a project, so shouldn’t that much excitement come when the final assignment is turned in or the final step taken? I think yes!

So celebrate today for all you’ve done and all you are doing. Take time to remember your accomplishments as you continue to look forward to a bright and shining future!

I’m a little bit country

Administrator — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:35:41 +0000

My little brother HATES Country music or at least he says he does quite frequently. I, on the other hand, embrace the brilliance of Brad Paisley, the knack for words of Keith Urban, the touch of Taylor Swift and the just plain sweetness of J.C. Anderson. To me, Country Music often enlightens the soul and touches the heart. I like to hear the beautiful words of love shared so abundantly from their lips, and at times their spunky outlooks on life.

Although my brother hates Country Music, we somehow find a way to get along anyway. He listens to his Hip Hop, which I have some appreciation for, and I listen to my Country. I love that I love Country and I love that he loves Hip Hop.

Isn’t life about embracing our differences?

Find Yourself

Administrator — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:32:31 +0000

Brad Paisley is one of my all time favorite Country Music stars. I love so many of his songs and find them quite inspirational and relative to my own life and the way I feel about many things. There is one song that he sings, which is actually in the Disney movie “Cars” called “Find Yourself”. My favorite part is the final chorus:

We go through life
So sure of where we’re headed
And we wind up lost
And it’s the best thing that could have happened
‘Cause sometimes when you lose your way, it’s really just as well
Because you find yourself
Yeah that’s when you find yourself
I love security, I love things totally planned and perfect and I really like when I am absolutely sure of what is coming next. Does this sound familiar to you? Maybe you like the same things. I am definitely one who attempts to go through life so sure of where I am headed. Lately, I have also found myself “lost” or even “redirected” from the plans I have made. When this has happened (repeatedly), sometimes I get frustrated or disappointed or break down and cry because as much as I want to, I can’t control everything in my life. I can plan some things and I can always control what I do about the situations. This song has brought comfort to me in this ever-changing life, because sometimes it’s when you lose your way that you find not only yourself, but something far better than you ever could have planned.

Be Somewhere Good

Administrator — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:02:54 +0000

This week I went to a church class and the instructor said something I found profound. She told us that we are going to “be somewhere, so you might as well be somewhere good”. That’s really true. Time is gonna go by whether or not you make something out of it. You are going to be in a place all the time and it’s your choice where you are.

Sound Asleep?

Administrator — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:52:39 +0000

This morning I woke up early, for no particular reason. Sometimes that randomly happens to me. I don’t know why that happens, but sometimes I wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed before the sun. So, when this happens I do a few different things. I determine if I can get back to sleep easily or not. If I decide that I can’t, I often reach for my facebook. Yes, I sometimes catch up on status updates of my friends at 5:30 in the morning.

After checking my facebook sometimes I read or grab the computer to write. Wanting to write is almost always something that goes on inside me, even if its 3 am. Whatever I do next usually makes me tired, and if I have the discretion in my schedule to go back to sleep, I do that, but if I happen to hear that someone else in my house is awake too, I go hang out with them.

There never seems to be enough time to just talk. I don’t know if this is true for you but I have so much to say all of the time that there just doesn’t seem like there is enough time to spend telling my mom or sister or bff all the things that are happening to me. I think that is why during my “not asleep at three in the morning routine” includes hanging out with someone else who happened to be awake at the same time. I just love talking.

This morning was one of those talking sorts of days and I loved it. For some reason, it helps me to process things if I can tell someone else about them. They don’t have to give me advice about everything, but it just feels good to share some things, and feel like someone actually cares about your life.

So if you can’t sleep or even if you can, maybe it’s time to reconnect?

Extreme Home Makeover

Administrator — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:29:08 +0000

I don’t know if you have ever seen the show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition,” but lately it’s been one of my favorites. Because I have been home sick all week, there has been a lot of time to watch the show. One of the episodes I caught on Monday has to be my favorite one I’ve seen.

In this episode, a Marine who had lost his leg in battle, died and was brought back to life twice on the way to the hospital. He was a single parent who took care of his four young children. I loved watching the crew transform his house into something amazing for him and his family. He was so appreciative to them when really, they were at least as appreciative to him. The Marines who had been with him the day he lost his leg came to be there for him and to help with the makeover of the house. There were a lot of tears involved in such an emotional event, and I found myself choaking up too, overcome with the special sort of emotions one feels when watching such a presentation.

There is a special place in my heart for those who belong to the Armed Forces. All that they do to preserve our freedom and protect us always astonishes me. How thankful I am for those who wear uniforms and do what they do for us every single day.

So to everyone who serves our country, this blog is for you. The words “thank you” cannot even begin to express our gratitude for you.

Put Your Seat in the Upright Position

Administrator — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:04:59 +0000

Remember the last time you were on an airplane? The flight attendant probably went through her typical safety presentation before the wheels ever left the ground. She pointed out the exits, talked about when you could unbuckle and how your seat cushion becomes a flotation device. There is also that part of the safety instructions that talks about when the oxygen masks deploy from the ceiling.

And what is the instruction they give to you about that?

Put the mask on yourself before you help anyone else. If you are passed out, it won’t do much good for your three year old child to have a mask on first. No one will save you and you will be in trouble.

Isn’t that true about life? When we take care of ourselves first, we have better capability to take care of other people. When we get carried away in doing things for other people without care for ourselves, we lose our reserve and get in trouble. No one can save us.

My advice, is to take care of yourself. When you are feeling your best, and doing your best, the things you do for other people will be better than when you are hurting yourself by helping them.

So, like putting your seat in the upright position before the plane takes off, there are some things you need to do to take care of yourself before diving into another project.