If today we were to start fresh in the way we think and the way we see life, what would Chapter One look like for you? We’re like a book, one chapter ends, and another chapter begins, while some chapters are longer than others.
To bring this into a much broader perspective, people view us as they would a book. They learn from us, they observe us, and they take notes. What would Chapter One look like for you?
– Glennel Hardy
I enjoy hiking and reaching the summit and take in the view that’s before me. Reaching the summit takes will and endurance, as my asthma attempts to take hold of me. I know where I am headed, but I get distracted as I get a shortness of breath, and as I climb higher altitudes.
To override my negative thoughts of not succeeding, I look up and I stay focused on the summit ahead. We begin to slow down and lose focus of the summit ahead of us, when we focus on nothing more than our current condition.
– Glennel Hardy
Imagine flying to a destination that would generally take two hours, however on this particular trip it took four hours. Without the pilot realizing it, he had been flying without using the instruments on board.
If we have a desire within our minds, then we are equipped with what we need, if we allow our instruments, which is our talents, to guide us. – Glennel Hardy
It’s heard by many the importance of setting goals for ourselves. The purpose of setting goals enables us to form a path or a roadmap to our desired outcome. Our desired outcome does not always work along with our timetable. Our patience is tested when our goals are coming into play.
It takes courage and confidence to remain constant when it appears that nothing is happening. The important thing to consider is, things are always happening, even when it appears there is no movement, you’re moving. If you set out a plan, stick with it, we never know how close we are to the finish line. – Glennel Hardy
If you had the opportunity to draw out the design of what you would like your future to be, how large would your blueprint be? Will it be small enough to put on an 8 x 11, or large enough to fill a drafting table?
We have the power to determine and orchestrate the design process. Place your design in writing and don’t count on your memory. – Glennel Hardy
Is it better to be first, or is it okay to be last at times? This question depends very much on the situation at hand. I believe at times we are in too much of a hurry, and we set time limits upon ourselves, but what would our world look like, if we just opted out of being first, and become last.
Being last allows us the opportunity to observe those that went first, to discover what went well with those before us, and what can we change before we get up to the plate. Being last allows us to reap the lessons of those that went before us. – Glennel Hardy
If I were to ask you, if you can look beyond today, what would your answer be? Looking beyond today is not foretelling the future, but moving past of what’s happening in your life today. Are you able to see beyond the storm, or has the storm blinded you from what’s up ahead?
The challenges that we face in life, are all pieces of the big picture ahead. Without challenges there would not be triumphs, without triumphs there would be nothing to strive for in life. The more challenges we overcome the clearer the picture becomes. – Glennel Hardy
Every day are opportunities. In order to explore these opportunities it requires us to be open minded. Being open minded requires us to hit the “reset” button from our yesterdays, and reset our future for our todays, and tomorrows.
I had a habit of per-determining what my day would look like, and observed when it didn’t turn out the way I preferred, I was disappointed. I realized being open minded is key allowing opportunities to present itself before me. – Glennel Hardy
I started writing for my blog The Optimistic One on February 4, 2013. I was inspired by those dearest and closest to me, to generate ideas and inspire my readers. I never had envisioned writing, nor could I have envisioned having the opportunity to do what I love to do every day.
We don’t reflect as often as we should. We don’t take notice where we were at one point in time, in comparison to where we are today. We may allow our current circumstance or environment, to blind us from where we once originated from. This Thanksgiving take time to reflect, be grateful for the good and the bad. When we mix the ingredients of the good and bad, we experience greatness. – Glennel Hardy
At times it seems that the only time we remember to be grateful is either on a special occasion, or a holiday, or when an event takes place that causes us to reflect.
I believe that reflection should be exercised daily. I believe that reflection keeps us in check, in which gratitude flows from us abundantly every day. – Glennel Hardy
On occasion I enjoy attending a symphony. I enjoy the symphony because you hear and observe multiple talented individuals creating the perfect harmony. In order to create that perfect harmony it takes months of practice to achieve that particular musical piece.
At times we are not patient with ourselves. Our personal symphony will not have the perfect sound, until we learn how to master the instrument. We are that instrument. Success is acquired over time, and not in one instance. – Glennel Hardy
Most of the time it is hard to see beyond today. We make decisions based on today’s events, but not thinking of what impact this may have on us tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a result on the way we think today. Could we have a rough day today, absolutely, but can we have an open mind on our tomorrow? – Glennel Hardy
As we all know harvest time is the result of the seeds we planted when the ground was once barren. Believe it or not we all have started with barren ground. With the barren ground we plant the seeds in the area that we will like to see growth. Growth starts from the least of all things.
A farmer for example that plants corn, must decide where to lay the seed, after he has plowed the land. A great farmer sees potential in one or many areas, and therefore plants the seed.
Is it time for you to plant the seed in an area of your life? – Glennel Hardy
Constantly I believe in things that I yet cannot see. I generally prepare for things years before they even take place. I keep a journal of my most pivotal experiences, because whether the experiences are either good or bad, I will continue to grow.
There is always room for growth. We never come to the point where we know everything there is to know. Therefore welcome the growth, keep hold of your beliefs, and keep moving forward.
How many of you keep a journal of your experiences? – Glennel Hardy
Do we have experience something extensive in order to be grateful for what we already have? How much do we truly have to possess in order to say that we are happy? Happiness is accidental it can come at any time, and can leave without notice.
Joy is gratitude. Joy does not depend on happiness. If we can learn to separate joy from happiness, I believe we would not have to search for happiness, because our joy will keep us content. – Glennel Hardy
Until recently when I drove to work in the morning, I took one single route to get to work. I found this route to be the easiest and took the shortest amount of time. One morning while driving to work I was forced to detour. When I detoured from my main route, it allowed me the opportunity to take notice of new things I never knew existed.
The detour forced me on a different path, one that allowed me to find a new enjoyable way of getting to work. We generally have two paths, a path that everyone is hyped about, and a path that has yet to be discovered. Take the path that has never been discovered, and enjoy the journey. – Glennel Hardy
There were times in which I made a statement, and then later regretted making such a statement. Once the words come out of our mouth, we can’t reverse the action. The damage is done, and at times the relationship is destroyed with one hit.
My new method of choosing my words carefully begins with the stop light. The stop light when it’s my return to respond is always red. The red light allows us to receive the information, the yellow light allows us to gather an appropriate response, and the green light allows us to proceed. – Glennel Hardy
On occasion we will come across multiple opportunities on a single day. Some opportunities are presented in a way which is pleasant, and other opportunities comes in a format which is hard for us to digest, when it’s first presented.
The way in which we can open ourselves to any opportunity is the way we view it when it comes across. Opportunities are gifts, they are not promised to come in the perfect wrapping, but is designed to take us one step further, then where we now stand. – Glennel Hardy
I think we can all relate that at some point in life, those things or people we love the most, we have to let them go.
Whether you have been in a relationship that you hoped would have last, or the perfect job that you once had, at some point in our lives everything must come to an end.
The beginning will eventually come to an end, and the end will eventually bring upon a new beginning. In order to continue to grow we must experience new beginnings. People and events in our lives only last for a season.
I have learned that the people and things that were once in my life, carried me through the time that I needed them most. Each experience that we have, lead us to the next chapter.
We must decide when it’s time to let go, and let the new chapter begin. – Glennel Hardy
You ever reached that moment in life, that you wanted something really bad, and ended up not getting it. In your heart you knew it would be the perfect person, job or circumstance, but it never happened. I used to be discouraged especially when I thought everything was lining up in the galaxy perfect for it.
I would later come to realize that even though I thought it would be the best thing for me, it would have blocked what I have today. Even though at times we believe we have the perfect solution, sometimes our solution, gets in the way of our very best. – Glennel Hardy
The Optimistic One 