I Believe

I’ve been told my whole life I am “opinionated.” I believe that I was born that way. I spent most of my childhood pushing the boundaries and making sure that what I had to say was heard. I stayed in trouble with my dad because I always had to have the last word. I can’t tell you how many nights my mother kicked my shins under the table trying to get me to keep my mouth shut. I don’t take offense to being labeled “opinionated,” but I have to admit that it carries a somewhat negative connotation. Though there are times when “opinionated” probably applies, I prefer to consider myself as someone willing to say what needs to be said. Sometimes it works out and then there are the times that I end up with my foot in my mouth. I’m still a work in progress.


I have strong opinions about many issues. Believe it or not, there are some opinions that I keep to myself but there are others that I willingly share. One of my strongest and deeply held beliefs is that we have a choice in how we live the life that we have been given. We can choose to live in the light and presence of God, manifesting His love for us wherever we go and whatever we do and take the risks, or we can choose to hide in the shadow of doubt and fear, never risking to venture into the journeys life has to offer. I believe that the only answer is to take the risks.

I believe a lot of things and I know that others have the ability to express those beliefs far more articulately than I. Consider the following “I Believe” statements:

I Believe…

That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words; it may be the last time you see them.
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
That we are responsible for what we do; no matter how we feel.
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and still have the best time.
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.
That no matter how bad your heart is broken; the world doesn't stop for your grief.
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything they have.

                                                                                                                                              (Source: Inspirational Email)

I believe that you should find a friend and begin a series of thoughtful conversations around some of the “I Believe” statements. I have and though I have enjoyed the quality and depth of the conversations, I have also enjoyed rediscovering that what I believe not only ads value to who I am, but why I am. I believe in myself,

Copyright © 2011 Judith Bell

Resolving Resolutions

Everyone is talking about them. Yahoo, MSN and Bing wrote about them. Local newscasters ran a story about them. Most people considered them. I don’t like them.

People have started the New Year by making resolutions. The root word of “resolution” is “resolve” which webster.com defines as; “to deal with successfully; to find an answer to; to make clear or understandable.” How is it that we believe that on January 1st of each year that the problems, issues or behaviors that have plagued us for years can all of a sudden be resolved by making a resolution? Interesting. However, interesting as that may be it is even more interesting, at least to me, that “resolution” is defined as “the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones.” Now, there’s a thought…before determining to resolve something perhaps some analysis is called for.

I stopped making New Year’s resolutions years ago. I was one of those people that set unrealistic goals in January, thought about them in February and forgot about them by March. Resolutions didn’t work for me. Instead, for the last couple of years, I have chosen to use the first two weeks in January to spend some time reflecting on the last year, analyzing if you prefer, the events – both the good and the bad – that were significant and meaningful and write a “life lesson” about what I learned as a result of the experience. I still have a week to go, but I thought I’d share a few of my life lessons from 2010.

1. There really is opportunity in everything if I take the time to slow down and appreciate the experience.
2. Life is much easier lived with a “get over it” attitude.
3. Receiving graciously isn’t selfish. Gracious receiving is an act of believing in the giver, appreciating the moment and fully
    enjoying what is given.
4. Asking for help won’t kill me.
5. It is impossible to stay mad at someone if I laugh.
6. Even when I don’t get what I want, I get something.
7. Sometimes a little is a lot.
8. There is always a story waiting to unfold. My job isn’t to write the ending; my job is to enjoy the story.
9. The GPS lady makes mistakes and MapQuest isn’t always right. Knowing where I am going makes for a shorter trip. Updating  
    my route is always a good thing.
10. My plan, as good as it may be, isn’t always the only plan before me.
11. Every choice has a consequence.
12. There is a good reason and a real reason for everything I do.
13. If I don’t want to get stung, it is best not to whack the hornet’s nest.
14. There are benefits of letting go of the things I don’t want to let go of.

At the end of the second week I’ll pick the ten most meaningful life lessons, print them on business cards and keep them on my computer desk to remind me throughout the year that a lesson has already been learned. I’ve already been there and learned from it. I recently ran across the following quote. “It doesn’t matter where you have been; it only matters where you are going”. (Brian Tracy)

I don’t believe that. It does matter where you have been. It is an experience that has influenced where you are now and will, more than likely, influence how you move forward. Past experiences, if and when we let them, help move us toward new destinations – both literally and figuratively. Martin Burber got it right when he said, “It serves me well to remember that all journeys have a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware.”

Life lessons help prepare me for new journeys and destinations. They help me remember where I have been, what I have already learned and help prepare me to start each day looking for the opportunity that awaits me.

Happy New Year!

Copyright © 2011 Judith Bell