Optimism Thought of the Week

Getting Burned

We may never realize how great we have it, until we know what it’s like being burned for the first time. Wisdom may not be from the one that is walking alongside of you, but with certainty it’s from the one that has traveled, to where you are headed.

That very first time that we are burned, it forces us to come to one conclusion, whether we gain wisdom from it, or we continue to burn ourselves. If we choose wisdom, this allows us to share our story with others, to prevent someone else from getting burned.

Can we truly say how great something is or how bad something may be, if we never have experienced it ourselves?

Photograph Courtesy of Evan Curtis

Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

A New Chapter

We rarely take the time to reflect on the closing of one chapter, while preparing for a new one to begin. There comes a time in our life where the old chapter must be sealed, in order to move on to a new beginning.

Your new chapter is built upon your experiences from the latter chapters, but is not meant to be the final story of your life.

The amount of chapters that we open and close depend on the experiences that life give us. The more experiences we have, the better the story becomes.

When does your new chapter begin?

Optimism Thought of the Week

Almost There

We never know how close we are to the next checkpoint in our lives.  At times the battle gets harsh and it seems as though it will not let up.  I have found when the battle seems as though it has taken the last breath out of me, at that moment I use all my energy to get up and stand once again.

Since we never know how close we are to the next great thing before us, we have to be very wise in choosing when to call it quits. The greatest things that has occurred in our lives were battles of sacrifice that never came easy, but once we faced them head on and defeated them, victory felt really good.

So you the reader of this blog, you’re almost there. We can’t see what tomorrow will bring, we rely on faith to do that for us. Our faith refers back to the battles we already have overcome, and gives us the courage to face tomorrow.

  – Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

What’s Next?

When we think of the following individuals; Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Walt Disney we think of innovators.  When I think of the big three I go beyond innovators, I wonder what would happen if they never would have thought, “What’s next?”

If either one of these innovators would have not dared stretched their imaginations, what would our world look like today? Now I want you to imagine if you were to stretch your imagination, what would your world look like today?

Is there something you have been wanting to do, but haven’t done it? Is today keeping you so busy that you don’t have a moment to daydream about tomorrow?   

  – Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

Elements in the Equation

In school were taught the concepts of algebra how everything in the equation matters in order to get to the end result.  We’re also taught that what must be done on one side of the equation must be done on the other side as well.

If we use the same concept about life everything that happens to us is part of the overall equation. The elements whether it be positive or negative will give us the sum that we are looking to achieve. Our life is like an equation, there are elements of both positive and negative, but at the very end it has a purpose.

The true test of the equation is that as much as we love the goodness of life, we must be prepared to face the rough times ahead as well.  Once you can solve both sides of the equation you will surely find your purpose.

  – Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

Flight Plan

Generally when we board a plane along with other passengers the plane has a destination point. Before boarding the pilot along with the co-pilot go over the flight plan, and check for storms coming along the way.

With the knowledge of the pre-trip, the pilots are able to determine the way they will approach their destination, and any potential threats along the way.

As the plane departs from the gate and taxiing towards the runway, it waits its turn before taking off. Once it reaches the main runway, it rumbles, and the engines are running full blast, and before you know it, you’re looking at the ground underneath you.

It’s important that each of us have a flight plan, and know where we are headed before we leave the gate. Once we are ready to take off, it’s just us and the ground below us. Remind yourself there will be turbulence, and storms along the way, but always keep your destination in mind. – Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

Waiting Our Turn

Have you ever found yourself on a runway waiting in line to takeoff, you’re anxious to get to your destination?  Generally, if you’re at a busy airport, you will find that the plane you’re on is waiting its turn to takeoff.  Once it gets the okay to takeoff, engines run at full throttle, and before you know it, the plane is ascending in the air.

Today some of us might find ourselves waiting our turn to takeoff.  We sit on the runway of life, and wonder how much longer it will be.  Patience plays a vital part in our overall success.  As we sit for our turn to takeoff, we must remember the importance of waiting our turn, and when we finally receive the word to proceed, the joy we will have once we takeoff.

  – Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

The Hand

When playing a game of cards it’s never as simple as it seems.  You’re not sure what your opposition holds, you’re only aware of the hand that you were dealt.  You look at your hand, and it looks as though you have been dealt a very bad hand.  The illusion is that my hand is so bad, but we forget how bad that hand of the person that is sitting next to us is.

The hand that we are dealt has value depending on how well it’s executed.  The opportunity will present itself to place the right card down, and trump the move you’re ready to make.

  – Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

Perform

If you ever watch a live performance of a symphony, you have your conductor, along with the orchestra, and the hosts of instruments.  Each member of the orchestra know when to play their part, the conductor is bursting with energy, and all the instruments come together, playing a wonderful symphony.

Life itself works as a symphony.  We look for cues from the conductor, we master the instruments which are our gifts and talents, and together we perform a symphony.  The more we use the instruments that are given to us the better our performance becomes.

– Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

Harvest Planning

It’s true that farmer must plan ahead in order to reap the best harvest when the season comes forth, the same applies when planning for our own future.  It’s very important to stop and visualize, on what you want your harvest to look like.  The more you plan for your harvest now, the bigger your return can be later.

The farmer never hopes for an abundance of crops, he knows it will take place, he plants the seeds well in advance, and waits patiently for the season to come forth, and then the harvest begins to take place. 

  – Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week

Open Minded

How willing are we on any given day to be open to any opportunity that comes our way without hesitation? If we can take this a step further, we have more opportunities then we may think every single day. We act on those opportunities before us, whether to accept or decline them.

Are we open minded enough to take on something new, in order to gain something greater than we ever have experienced?

– Glennel Hardy