Uncategorized | lifesgoldenseason

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022

The Top of the Mountain

Our lunchtime view by Heart Lake in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

The journey between our feet and the top of the mountain can be our biggest obstacle.

Our vacation is far behind us but the pictures quickly bring back the memories. This particular day found us at a picnic area overlooking the frozen Heart Lake in Yellowstone Park. My eyes intently focused on the top of the mountains as I soaked up every single minute of this space of tranquility. It didn’t seem cold even though each breath we exhaled was proof of the cold temperatures. The peace that surrounded our little moment far exceeded the current climate. It was something I wanted to bundle up and tuck away in my heart.

I realized that peace is easy to sense when you’re sitting in complete comfort with all of your needs supplied and no obligations demanding your attention. It’s also easy to sense when you can simply stare at the top of the mountain and declare how beautiful it is.

BUT what if you’re looking at the top of that mountain as your desired destination and all you can see is the path between your feet and the snow-capped pinnacle? What if your life depends on you conquering that road and its obstacles in order to challenge your real potential? What if the desire to know yourself better outweighs the desire to remain complacent in this journey we call life? What if you can’t live with yourself if you don’t TRY to meet the challenge?

I ask these questions because I truly love to be in the company of people who cannot even look at that mountain without thinking of a way to scale its terrain. They hold a glimmer of adventure in their eye. One can see their “wheels” turning!

It behooves anyone to surround themselves with these types of folks. They have no fear of failure because the odds of succeeding are just as great if not more. Frankly, failure is way overrated. I believe failure only happens if you never put one foot forward. Instead, it’s about mindset, determination, courage, and confidence. It’s about DECIDING you can do it.

As I lowered my eyes I began to see the vast frozen lake in front of us. The mountains stand in their majesty holding their own difficult course. But what about the journey before the mountain? The lake itself held one danger after another and it had to be conquered en route to the mountain?

The voyage before the mountain top experience can be the scariest and offer defeat.

Okay – enough – my point is this. Life is meant to be lived. Your life, my life, and everyone else who holds breath in their lungs. We are creatures with potential beyond anything else on this earth. Many times that potential is squelched because we find a comfortable spot and set up a lifetime camp while the view of the mountaintop becomes so familiar we don’t even look at it anymore. The longer we camp in one spot, the longer and harder the journey seems to present itself. It looks too hard to conquer and we get all tripped up in the nitty-gritty details until we talk ourselves right out of any possibilities of embarking on any new expeditions.

I leave you with this encouragement. Take a good and hard look at your mountain. This time, devise a plan to start moving toward that mountain top. Even if you have to navigate the frozen waters of fear and doubt. Each step you take is one step closer to success. More importantly, each time you take a step forward, the potential within is coming to the forefront. Excitement and courage begin to take the place of fear and doubt. Stamina strengthens and the muscles of faith begin to ignite! Release that potential inside yourself that has been there all the time!

It is true that “life is but a vapor”. Make sure you LIVE IT and by all means

Enjoy the Journey-VB

Check out some of our latest music released this year! It too holds a mountain top experience!

It's in the Music — https://lifesgoldenseason.com/its-in-the-music/

May 20, 2022May 20, 2022

In the Waterfall of a Golden Season

The power of the waterfall .
Yellowstone National Park

Do you feel like you’re in the waterfall of a golden season? Well, read on as I explain!

Waterfalls have always intrigued me. Kind of like fire. They are mesmerizing. I can stand there all day and stare at it while it does what it does every day whether or not anyone is looking.

My husband, being the generous and loving person he is, gave me a two week vacation to Cody, Wyoming for Christmas. First of all, he knows I absolutely love the mountains. Second and most importantly to me – he did the planning so I wouldn’t have to do a thing but get in the car.

The two week journey was scheduled for the last two weeks in May. I got in that car and didn’t look back. The world (or at least my world) has been moving faster than my mind can keep up. I am a processor so I don’t operate at full capacity when on overload for an extended period of time.

It feels good to be in a slower paced environment where one can realize there are parts of our land that still seem untouched by man’s hand.

This raven sat by the waterfall as a friendly greeter. There are many mystical and spiritual meanings in different cultures regarding the symbolism of an encounter with a raven. I simply enjoyed sharing my french fries with him as he shared his space with me.

It is certainly refreshing to see people soaking up the mountain air. The folks in this part of the country have a great appreciation for their heritage. I have a great appreciation for their appreciation. The mountains have a way of penetrating my soul and it seems that is a common thread among the natives and several of the visitors we have crossed paths. The only words I can think of to express what I see is “folks tend to breathe a little deeper in the midst of nature”.

The waterfall reminds me how small we humans compare to the power of natures own natural abilities. It runs with a mighty force propelled by the melting snow in higher elevations. Everything in it’s path must adjust to it’s speed, depth, and boundaries.

I can’t help but apply the same principles to this golden season as I organize a life timeline for the person I am writing about in the next book project. It’s quite an aha moment to see one’s lifespan on one single page strung along a list of dates. Much like the waterfall – we will have moments when circumstances caused by other elements will make us run faster than usual while outside of our comfortable boundaries. It may even seem so deep at times we wonder if we’re going to drown in the process.

There is hope though! The season is eventually going to change and allow you to catch your breath as the gushing waters lend only a tiny stream and eventually a solid duration of tranquility as ice on a frozen river.

I leave you with this encouragement. Evaluate your own life timeline and make the needed adjustments for it to portray the legacy that matches the desires of your heart. Take the time to stare at a waterfall if you need inspiration! You never know until you try it! Whatever it takes to make each season a golden memory.

By all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

I would love to share a season of my life with you! You’ll find it on my Book Page. My favorite read is one written from the most transparent part of an author’s heart. That was my goal with Escape from Darkness. I hope you find some common ground in our journeys.

April 28, 2022May 20, 2022

THOSE MEMORIES FILLING MY MIND

Photo by **Girl with red hat on Unsplash**

Those memories filling my mind just won’t let me go. I have found myself in a place of very deep reflection these past weeks. (which really isn’t that unusual for me). I had another birthday this month so maybe it truly is “life’s golden season” that brings back nostalgia. I have also been binge-watching old childhood television shows on ROKU. Those TV shows had good morals, humor, and life lessons. Of course, it could be the research I am doing for my next book. Maybe it’s hearing the lyrics in music before it was so overproduced and polished. The days when music was written from raw life emotions or world events.

I don’t have the answers but I do know I am not the only one that seems to be reminiscing about the good ole days.

Frankly, I am beginning to believe that somewhere in the past 50 years we have become such polished people we have either forgotten or never knew how to be our authentic selves. It’s funny because when those rare face-to-face meetings occur with someone who brushes the world view to the wayside and instead lives out of a place of genuine purity – I am enthralled and even envious.

When I go down that deep hole of reflection and introspection I usually find a place in my daily routine that simply needs a change. Sometimes it’s an easy transition and sometimes it’s gut-wrenching.

For example – one little tweak of a schedule can bring hours of relief in a day. That’s easy.

However, changing a false mindset can literally feel like losing a limb. I was raised on a farm. Hard work, integrity, and honesty were deeply instilled values. We worked hard, played hard, and rested hard. I liked country living and watching the sunset from the porch. I liked being barefoot in the mud. I didn’t recognize it then but the freedom of the outdoors did something for my soul.

We probably assumed the days would never change but they did and many of us changed with them in pursuit of a “better” life. The hourly wage and 40-hour plus work week took the place of sunsets and family dinners. I now better understand why I was terrible at punching a clock! It didn’t allow me to witness those beautiful things that happen outside the constriction of a schedule. Like dropping everything to watch a horse foul or a litter of puppies enter the world.

It seems many folks are looking over their shoulder to search for something they lost along the way. I leave you with this encouragement. All is not lost – it is a part of you that only needs resurrected. Show them the things they may not know like a family dinner. Require all electronic devices to go into lockdown for a moment on the porch as the sun explodes colors in the sky on its descent. Reach deep within yourself and let those creative ideas flow. How can the world possibly be complete without your contribution of beauty that only you can give?

Change is a good thing and we mustn’t grieve the past BUT we must remember we all have something to teach and we all have something to learn. Give of yourself as a teacher and a student and you will most certainly

Enjoy the Journey – VB

The Latest Release Right HERE!! It’s a dream that came to life in my writing.

April 7, 2022May 20, 2022

Have You Shared Your Story?

Have you shared your story? I absolutely love to hear people’s stories.

The current fast-paced world seldom lends time to listen to an entire thought from someone else let alone their entire story. Some of my favorite memories include listening to stories told by my Mother, Dad, Granddad, and friends. Now that I am older and most of them have transitioned to heaven, I have a much greater appreciation for their stories. It makes me want to go back and listen more intently to each one of them while looking them in the eyes with my full attention.

Listening in general is a lost art. The explosion of technology has replaced the evening gathering of families around the dinner table and things like the hot summer porch sittings with a glass of tea in hand – listening to the frogs’ chirp. This heart misses those times and silently wishes the world would slow down enough to appreciate each other’s presence a bit more.

I recently read All Over but the Shoutin’ written by Rick Bragg. His story entails his journey from Possom Trot, Alabama to his success as a writer. It’s not only inspiring, it will move your soul.

Each one of our stories has the same potential to inspire and give hope to those around us. I believe if we would only look a little closer it would be evident that each of our stories connects to someone else’s. I could relate to Rick’s love and honor for his mother.

I too have a mother that had a story. A story that began in 1921 on top of a mountain in Plumlee, Arkansas. Her journey carried her to many states as my Grandpa moved the family with his ministry and writing career. One year she bound the archives of his writings and added a brief summary of her written story to the front of one of the books. I would have never imagined how precious that gift would become to me through the years.

In her own handwriting, she included dates, a few short stories, and even a medical history of her generations. These are things we do not think of as valuable until they are.

The point is that these things only transpire if we invest our time to make them happen. There has never been a space in history that has given us the ability to research, create, share and archive as we have now. Our stories should not go with us on the day of our last breath. A piece of us must stay on earth to instill hope, reflection, and wisdom to those who are seeking.

I believe it is important to share our history with our families and friends and be equally willing to listen to their stories too. The truth is, even though a story is unseen, it can prove to be the most valuable influence in the lifetime of the receiver. Once heard, it will plant itself in a memory available for retrieval for the rest of your days! The richness of life lies under those things we strive daily to maintain like mountains of debt for big houses, cars, and the decaying junk we thought we just had to have.

Me and my Grandson walking together. He’s a big part of my story!

I have one grandson. The week he was born I started a journal of his time spent with me and his grandpa. My entries are as if writing him a letter. The pages are beginning to fill with heartfelt words of encouragement and wisdom from those moments. I tell him things his squirmy 8-year-old self doesn’t have time to hear right now! One day he will cherish the words and prayerfully hear the tone of love in my voice as he reads the journal. Perhaps he will be sitting outside on a hot summer evening with a glass of tea as written memories unfold into a pleasant journey of his own story. My hope is he will be inspired to write his story too and continue his portion of the massive connection of mankind.

I leave you with this encouragement:

Record your story. Write to your children or grandchildren. Be transparent as you record your story leaving no stone unturned. The golden seasons of life are meant to be told. Tell the story as if you were the most important person in the world – because you are and by all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

Blogging is a GREAT way to tell your story! It’s easy to get started with a little assistance right HERE!

March 24, 2022March 24, 2022

Freedom vs Wholeness – Are they the Same?

Freedom vs wholeness – are they the same or is one needed to obtain the other?

I recently joined Kelsie Jo Hillis on Picturing Purpose Podcast to review my book Escape from Darkness. The conversation inspired me to revisit a few of its main topics such as gaining self-worth and the real definition of wholeness.

I am very thankful to Kelsie Jo for the podcast chat. I hope it encourages each reader to explore the concepts of wholeness and freedom. (Two of my favorite words)

Freedom will pave a new road of adventure for you while wholeness gives you the courage to walk it out!

You know healing has happened when you can discuss your past from an objective view instead of a totally emotional standpoint,

I noticed that I didn’t start sweating and breathing really fast when we approached the hard places of conversation. I commented at the conclusion of the podcast how glad I was to have written the book from the place of raw deliverance. I truly didn’t hold anything back because I wrote it in the heat of my healing. There really is no better place to connect with people than from the place of walking out of pain. They need to hear the tears and feel the desperation for freedom.

Transparency was a real obstacle for me. It seemed my life was full of secrets. Somewhere in the healing process, I realized the “secrets” were nothing more than shame transformed into a vice of insecurity. My belief system had become propped up with an infrastructure of insecurity and low self-worth.

Insecurity will shut you down. It will keep your feet planted in a cesspool of fear and uncertainty. Simple decisions can become difficult to manage and you could analyze your way right out of opportunities. Viewing your life through the lens of unworthiness can keep you trudging through life like you’re wearing concrete boots. Daily living can seem like a major and tiring task.

The question I raise today is this: do you see yourself as ENOUGH to pursue freedom in this chaotic world of high demands and constant stress? Sometimes I feel my shoulders up around my neck because I’m living for what I need to do next in my day.

The current world requires we make moment to moment intentional decisions to protect our peace.

So why is wholeness important? We must see ourselves as worthy enough to take the time in each day to protect our inner peace. It takes courage and strength to combat interruptions and distractions with bold grace. Courage and strength rise up more frequently in the pursuit of becoming whole.

I found a new person hidden under the rubble of stress and trauma once I dedicated time to run my race to wholeness. The first few steps were nothing more than tiny steps of faith because I had never seen myself as enough. Smart enough. Talented enough. Pretty enough. Worthy enough. My perspective changed as time and discipline ran their course. YES– I will schedule a monthly massage. YES – I will spend an hour each morning with a book or pen and paper. YES – I will protect myself from hitting the emotional ditch.

I walk toward my dreams but with total awareness that it is a JOURNEY and NOT A SPRINT!

Everyone has a different journey to walk. Even if we were all headed to the same destination of freedom, the route is different for each one of us. That is exactly why I encourage folks to tell their stories. There are nuggets of hope in each story.

The truth is FREEDOM IS BEAUTIFUL. It allows the real you to begin to shine and get brighter each day.

I leave you with this encouragement. Find that secret place where you can actually hear yourself think. Ask yourself “Do I believe I am enough? “ Your answer will lend a good starting place to begin a new self-care routine. Practice saying YES to yourself. We all have room to expand and by all means

Enjoy the Journey- VB

This blog was a stepping stone in my freedom and wholeness walk. Maybe it would help you too! Here is where I got started. It’s easy and affordable and introduces you to a network of wonderful people.

Don’t forget to check out the podcast!

July 29, 2021July 29, 2021

Are You Disciplined?

It’s SUMMERTIME! We are no different than the rest of the earth’s inhabitants. We can thrive in the sunshine, grow our gardens and stockpile food for winter, lay on the beach and stare at the clouds, eat banana splits on a hot day, or enjoy time with friends by the pool. The list is endless and it sounds fabulous! Are you disciplined?

Do you have the discipline to make it all happen?

The month of July moved extremely fast in my personal world. I was moving fast right along with it and doing very little of my above dream list. Some days actually moved faster than I could possibly run.

However, even in the midst of this fast-paced world, I am taking mental notes and pondering some questions that may be beneficial for many of us.

Is it totally necessary to RUN from daylight til dark?
Is there a way to trim obligations to allow for more down time?
At the end of each day, what is TRULY the most important thing in life?

Well, those are big questions that deserve answers from each of us. The truth is this. IF you don’t manage your life, someone else will. The demands on your personal self-created culture are monitored by your own discipline.

Our 7-year-old grandson stayed a few days with us this summer. I noticed that discipline was not his favorite element of the visit. (although he doesn’t get too much of it from his MiMi :)) Simple things like washing your hands, brushing your teeth, eating your dinner, and taking a break from the IPAD seemed like major events in his world. I can easily relate to him on a different level.

The answer to question number one is simply NO. It is not necessary to fill your day from daylight till dark. You can only do what you can do BUT you don’t have to do MORE than you can do.

A brush with death in 2015 has kept me continually aware of when my plate has become too full. I realized the value of life in one moment after a bad motorcycle crash. I knew my priorities would be changing before the paramedics even arrived. Now, when I feel myself reeling out of the boundaries of where I am my best self, I simply readjust.

I am certain I don’t have to remind anyone that life is precious and ultimately short. Yes, the days fly by but they each hold time that has not yet been captured. The answer to question number two is YES! Obligations CAN be trimmed. It may take a plan of action to achieve the goal BUT it can be done.

It has taken two years to phase out some of my previous obligations (including workload). I scaled back from working 40 hours a week for someone else to investing more time in our own personal dreams and goals. That includes writing this blog. Starting with only an hour a few mornings a week to where I am now, one entire day a week. I still work for someone else 20 hours a week, but contract work is managed around MY life instead of theirs.

Question number three can be difficult because it varies for each of us. It depends on what season we are occupying. I am in a golden season of understanding more than ever the value of relationships. 2020 was a rough year on a global basis. The fear instilled in folks close to me and abroad can only be overcome by keeping what is most important to us continually at the forefront of our vision.

For example, I will rework my schedule just to have a morning coffee with a friend. I will work hard for several days in a row to clear 4 days of uninterrupted time with my grandson. I will purposely make a Saturday morning available to browse a farmer’s market and catch up with my friend and music partner at a favorite coffee shop. My husband and I have weekend obligations at church so “date night” morphed into “date morning”. It can be anything from a game of golf to breakfast on the deck.

These are a few of my latest epiphanies of life. If you have already achieved your ultimate life – don’t change a thing!

I leave you with this encouragement. Don’t take anything for granted. Take a deep look at these simple questions and create the life YOU enjoy. It may not seem like it but the truth is there are answers to every obstacle you face. Start seeking out the wisdom to build the life you want and make a disciplined plan to make it happen. I for one am determined to stop to smell the roses and

Enjoy the Journey – VB

Blogging WAS one of those dreams for me….UNTIL I made up my mind. It all started right here. A SIMPLE CLICK. It’s just that easy.

There’s more of my story in my book “Escape from Darkness”. Find it here.

May 6, 2021June 3, 2021

When the Storm Arrives

This blurry pic was taken in real-time a few days ago as this tornado went over our neighborhood.

Be sure you are living on purpose when the storm arrives!

This tornado was caught on camera by a distant bystander as it made its track over our neighborhood. At the time – we had no idea that someone from afar was making a record of the storm we survived because we were busy doing just that…. surviving.

It’s been on my mind all week. The fact that one minute we can be doing life and the next minute there can be a total upheaval that threatens our survival. Catastrophes do not fail to bring our heads out of the clouds and challenge us to put priorities in order.

Something like an unexpected weather event can loudly let you know that “YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL”. The lights were knocked out in a moment and 80 MPH winds blew with no mercy. We sat in our dark safe room and waited for the storm to pass. It took less than 10 minutes to destroy roofs, gardens, houses, and beautiful long-standing trees. Deep-rooted trees that have stood season after season were quickly brought to the ground.

Neighbors were suddenly in constant communication offering each other assistance, tools, and shelter. Life, as we had lived it that day, was interrupted. We had to quickly pivot to adjust.

I have a bookshelf in my office that stays updated with my most recommended books. Robert Smith’s 20,000 Days and Counting has never been cut from the top 30. His quote “The amount of hours in a day represent the time that is potentially available to you…each moment is but a dab of paint you can apply to the canvas of your life”.

You see, I believe in living on purpose. I believe each one of us has a perfect destiny that includes a very intentional function for our allotted time upon this earth. I also believe that each one of us will eventually bump into the “aha” moment in our lives where we start searching for that specific design that we were created. Some find it quicker than others. Some wonder if they’ll ever find it while others don’t even realize they are already living it. I use to search for the “method” that provided the “fastest route” to my perfect life!

Each day and each life event has brought me to this conclusion. There is NOT a “get to destiny quick method.” Life is a journey of growth. We grow into our purposes. We’re like a fine wine that reaches full fermentation after several weeks. It just takes time. That time consists of many moving parts that contribute to our overall wholeness.

There is no way to predict when upheaval is coming our way. The storms of life offer opportunity to learn certain principles that help shore up the infrastructure of daily living we have built with belief systems, perspectives, ambition, physical and mental health, and relationships. It’s a broad field to keep nurtured and protected. Sadly, sometimes it takes a beating from unexpected events.

I was sad to see our neighbors and friends overwhelmed with recovery from the storm. I was sad to see nature disrupted.

Yet relationships were enhanced and we all know each other better. There have been many smiles, texts, tears, and gratefulness exchanged. Homes are already being restored and uprooted trees are now being used for other purposes.

Life is for sure getting back to normal but it’s a new normal. A normal with added experiences, a new level of appreciation, and an additional chapter to our life stories. We’re all a bit stronger and much more thankful. The next time a storm arrives may not be less scary but we will be more assured that we can handle it!

I leave you with this encouragement. Take a deep look at your present infrastructure of daily life.

Do you find joy in what you do each day? Are your relationships rich with friendship and love? Will you be the first to help your neighbor if their house falls in on them? Are you the one who takes a distant snapshot of another’s storm so they can understand what they have been through? Do you seek to understand the truth in the peaks and valleys of life? Do you fully engage in life’s adventures or do you self protect yourself from the potential risks?

Learn to live out loud. Seriously —

Enjoy the Journey – VB

P.S. Blogging is my outlet to the world. It gives a voice a vehicle to be heard. It also allows thoughts to become influential. I believe the world is waiting for the many voices that haven’t been heard. Start like I did — it’s a click away.

April 22, 2021June 3, 2021

IS THERE A DRAGON IN YOUR STORY?

This image literally gave me chills. It represents an all too familiar image of a trauma-filled past that had to be confronted.

The last few blogs have focused on the condition of our soul. Today I want to share my thoughts and some of my own experience in dealing with the healing of a trauma filled soul.

A common word used for our past is “DRAGON”. There are books galore in the self-help section that help guide you in the process of “slaying the dragons of your past”. One of my favorites is “Your Brain is always Listening” by Dr. Daniel Amen.

I absolutely love books. They are a great way to put us on the path to awareness. However, the day will finally come when you have to apply what you read. A person has to seek deep into their own emotional crevices and take the path that works for them.

I became an advocate for counseling after 2 years of diligent emotional and mental work while sitting on the couch of a well-trained professional counselor. I penned that journey into Escape from Darkness: A Perspective from the Couch. I really didn’t begin writing the experience with intention of binding a book. The many unedited tear-stained pages filled with multiple words straight from my soul became a dumping ground for toxic sludge I had carried with me for years. In fact, the thought of sharing those deep ancient secrets with ANYONE was terrifying at the time.

This is an excerpt of a letter I sent to my counselor during the healing process:

“I’ve been thinking about the ability to live “from heaven to earth”. Living out of heaven’s perspective – instead of my own thoughts and ideas. I’m certain it would take away this wimpy unworthiness that continually grabs me by the heels. I am fearful of loneliness and isolation. It’s like I’m looking at a gap that I have to leap over to get to the other side and I am afraid that I’m going to fall through it. It is so deceitful.”

……The distractions that bombard me are familiar thought patterns that I actually interpret as something I need to survive. Sometimes they even pose as deep dark secrets that could surely bring my fate if ever exposed.

………A few days ago, the dragon I once feared with my entire being diminished to a mere cloud. I understand the reason it had grown to such a looming force in my mind. Much like a violent storm – it picked up the debris of tragic situations and eventually grew into a cloud that took on the face of a dragon. A beast that found me in my sleep and in my wake.

This, my friends, is a clear picture of how those dragons are created and of the baggage they carry.

I am grateful I wrote these words from such a raw place so I can share them with you. Facing my past was hands down one of the most courageous things I have ever done. I will never down play the true strength it takes to untie from trauma.

Words cannot properly express how surprised I was to find out that once “my story” was out of my head, it morphed from a “dragon” who continually taunted me into a mere tool of encouragement bound up neatly with my name and a title on the cover.

Everyone has a story. Some include dragons and some do not but nevertheless, there are stories that have not been told. Not everyone will write a book or a blog but nevertheless, the story still remains and it should be told in some form or fashion. The world we live in today yearns for encouragement and hope.

I leave you with this encouragement. If a dragon lives in your story– pull your sword of courage and slay the thing. Use the process that works for you to turn it into a helpful tool for society. The opportunities for sharing are endless.

Be that rare someone who can be trusted. Trust happens when someone else can see over the mountaintop that you are only beginning to scale yourself. Trust happens when their voice of hope rings down from the top as an encouragement to put one foot in front of the other. It is a great comfort to hear a gentle voice coming from a place you can’t yet see. Be that voice and by all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

Do you travel, cook, love pets, tell stories, design clothing, or want to encourage the world? 🙂

START SHARING YOURSELF THROUGH BLOGGING!

IF I CAN DO IT…YOU CAN DO IT!

IT’S ONLY A CLICK AWAY!

DO IT TODAY!

April 8, 2021June 3, 2021

Is your soul in good condition?

Another great pic from my friend Lindsey Ellen Simon. This picture is from the Badlands of South Dakota. My old stomping grounds. Its barrenness represents a deep look at the condition of a soul that needs refreshing. www.wildfreeadventure.com #badlands

Closing words from the last blog were “The way we manage our dollars is a reflection of the true condition of the soul. We will either invest from a prosperous sight using wisdom, caution, and faith or scatter funds beyond our means from a place drenched in fear, lack, and uncertainty. Sounds like a good topic to address next time. “

It certainly is a good topic! Our individual stewardship has never more important than it is right now in this weird time of global economics. Things as we knew them are changing right before our eyes. The news can be the scariest place for information but yet most informative once a person sorts through the weeds of hearsay and outright deceit. We can quickly get on information overload and not even know which way to turn by the time the long-awaited “stimulus” reaches our bank account.

At the end of the day, what truly matters is the condition of our soul. I want to approach the meaning of the soul from an objective view for the sake of my point. The soul is simply the part of you that consists of your mind, character, thoughts, and feelings. Collectively, those four things affect our decision-making in every situation we face. Personal development in all these facets will make you a very wise decision-maker at the very least and break you free from your own internal prison.

I can relate to watching life from “behind the fence.” It seemed as though that track was headed toward a destination I would never reach. Photo Credit: Lindsey Ellen Simon

I took a great interest in the condition of my soul when I realized how much it was influenced by my past on a minute-to-minute basis. My past had left me looking through a smokescreen of poverty and lack. This greatly affected the way I navigated the world in front of me. For example, there are folks that have been so focused on the monies recently given to stimulate both personal and local economies, that the shelves at “big box” retailers are frequently left barren merely for the fear of lack for future days.

Don’t get me wrong- I enjoy receiving a check in the mail as much as anyone. However, the time spent awaiting its arrival included strategic planning. You see, money is only a tool. It will go where you tell it to. It will also blow right out of your hand like a feather in the wind if you loosely embrace its significance.

Have you considered the thought that this year’s stimulus checks were enough to create a passive income if deposited in the right spot? I mean put it in a place that keeps on giving! This is where the condition of your soul becomes very important. A soul free of clutter will see opportunities as they present themselves! A soul free of clutter will ebb and flow like a lazy river without fear through the seasons of change! A soul free of clutter will even change the course of the river if needed! A soul free of clutter will be like a magnet to fertile fields to plant your seeds! Finally, a soul free of clutter will work as hard as a well-defined athlete to become in pristine condition!

The true condition of a soul is not hard to discern. It reveals itself through behavior. We are all on the same common course of personal development. People of ALL levels will one day face the condition of their souls. We all come to the place in life that forces us to look at what circumstances have sprinkled our past and conditioned our responses. It is a very personal journey and can only be addressed as we become aware.

Finally, this pic from one of Lindsey’s wild adventures represents the freedom to be all you can be.

I leave you with this encouragement. Let this written piece remind you to stay aware of repetitive behaviors that reveal the condition of your soul. Ask yourself the hard questions. Are my decisions made from a place of fear and lack? If so, provide your soul some education and let it know there are other options. Napoleon Hill’s Think & Grow Rich is a great place to start. You will be surprised how someone’s personal testimony will suddenly open a different window of perspective and change your course to a prosperous potential! Be willing to listen and apply AND by all means

Enjoy the Journey–VB

Interested in blogging? You simply have to start! I encourage you to start right here. There are folks waiting to hear what you have to say!

This is my story of my own escape from a personl internal prison.

March 25, 2021July 29, 2021

A Prosperous Soul

This pic was taken on a road less traveled in Ireland in 2017. It represents the totality of prosperity and freedom to me!

Today is a perfect early spring day. I used the early morning hours to enjoy the view from my office. Sipping on a cup of hot tea and watching the geese use the pond as a bathtub made my heart happy. It reminded me of the value of freedom. Freedom to be who we are designed to be. Freedom to choose our own perspectives. Freedom to choose a life of abundance. Freedom will cover a very broad territory depending on where you are at the moment.

Another pic from Ireland. Space and beauty as far as the eye can see.

It has been one year since the world was shaken by a pandemic. I believe we learned some things as a global community. The shutdown brought uncertainty, fear, and isolation. The world was shaken but closer to home, each one of us had to deal with it on a personal level. We were forced to slow down and look at what we value the most. The confinement challenged our views of the true definition of freedom. Something as simple as watching the geese enjoy an early morning play in our neighborhood pond has made me reflect on how my own views have changed in a years time.

At this moment some of us may not feel the freedom to travel to other countries yet. The rules have changed and we have to decide how to fit into the infrastructure’s guidelines. These pics of our last real vacation were taken in Ireland in 2017. We traveled there to explore my family roots. While the look back at the pics refreshed the memories of “freedom without boundaries”, they also reached deep into my own aspect of “Prosperity”.

The trip to Ireland was steeped in conversations with the natives of the country. The folks we engaged with held a deep knowledge of the history of their land. They lived simple lives with little chaos and much family time. Monetary wealth was at the bottom of the priority scale and it was relevant in their lifestyles.

The castles hold secrets from the deep history of the land. Their dungeons and secret rooms remind me of the hidden places in our hearts.

I came home with much to ponder. The culture of the Irish helped me understand on a deeper level that the things which matter most in this world do not come from the riches of the pocketbook.

Unfortunately, most folks think of prosperity in the terms of assets owned. Prosperity is a rich word with a deep meaning. The definition begins in one’s heart. It begins with the distance of your vision. In other words, can you see past your own toes? Can you see where you are at the moment? For example, when the news of the shutdown reached your household – did you have an innate knowing that “you and your family were going to be okay?” Did the road map of your vision take you to safety and peace? Or did you choose the road most traveled and dive into fear and media updates?

This is actually a **MAIN** road but less traveled! A road **less traveled** will always be more narrow.

Truthfully, in the beginning, it took me some time to get off the fence and completely embrace peace. The prosperous side of my soul eventually spoke louder than my own analytical thoughts. I finally reached the pinnacle of the truth that this thing was not something I could control anyway. The prosperous side of my mentality consistently pointed me toward the riches that exceeded any bank account on this planet. The riches of peace, health, friends, and family. These four things make you a prosperous human. The restrictions of the shutdown challenged every one of those elements of our freedom. Just like my Irish friends, it is our choice to bathe in the freedoms of our true wealth.

I leave you with this encouragement. Revisit some good times of the past to refresh some stagnant places of your soul left from the residual of last year. Make a list of the riches you possess. Make notes of the places where you are experiencing total peace, the physical health of your family, the list of those friends that stick closer than a brother, and the family that you belong. Express gratefulness for your list of wealth. Finally, start a plan to improve or refine any of these areas if needed. Be sure to include your monetary status too. After all, it is a part of the definition of prosperity. It just isn’t the MAIN objective to our wealth or status.

I actually love money. We must choose to steward it properly. It is a tool that not only moves the things of this world but also partners with love, empathy, and compassion to provide hope in the desolate place in the heart of another. I love to manage it and I love to generously give it away.

The way we manage our dollars is a reflection of the true condition of the soul. We will either invest from a prosperous sight using wisdom, caution, and faith or scatter funds beyond our means from a place drenched in fear, lack, and uncertainty. Sounds like a good topic to address next time.

Touch base with your family today with an awareness of your prosperity and by all means

Enjoy the Journey – VB

P.S. Writing brings me great joy. It also brings me great joy when others share themselves through writing too. It’s not hard to get your stuff out there for others to enjoy. Click here or here to see how I got started! These folks are fabulous!

My book is available on Amazon. “Escape from Darkness“