LIFE LESSONS
by Regina Brett, 90 years old

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Change the way you think.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

8. Release your children when they become adults, its their life now.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.

16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Just because you believe you are right, doesn’t mean you are. Keep an open mind.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

33. Believe in miracles.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial- Washington, DC (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial will be dedicated in Washington, DC this weekend (Sunday, October 16) so I thought it fitting to pay tribute to this American hero.  One of Webster’s definitions for hero is, “A man noted for his courageous acts or nobility of purpose, esp. one who has risked or sacrificed his life.”  This definitely applies to Dr. King.  I am humbled and amazed by people who are so focused on and committed to their purpose and reason for being, that they are willing to sacrifice their lives to accomplish it.  Not many are willing to do that, and that’s especially true now.  Something sorely lacking in our leaders today is true commitment to purpose, because compromise is so much easier. But that’s the difference in faith and fear.  A person of great faith knows that if they are commissioned to do something whether they are here to see the outcome (the evidence) or not, their contribution is necessary in order to achieve the desired result, such as getting others to the Promised Land.  Moses comes to mind.  I am willing to bet that those who are called to make the ultimate sacrifice have been assured that their sacrifice is not in vain.  That’s what faith is, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  And so it’s necessary to remind ourselves that the road less traveled is necessary from time to time in order for humanity to become the best that it can be.  Some of us are not even brave enough to take the necessary stand in our home to lead our loved ones to life.  Imagine taking the lead in attempting to bring about significant change in a nation or for a people.  I know that many of you are leaders.  You don’t have to be a Martin, Moses or Jesus, but do those things that you know you should do even in the face of adversity.  Be bold enough to take a stand and hold fast.  Martin did and for that I am grateful and honor him.

Miss Cee

Excerpt from Martin Luther King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, April 3, 1968

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now; we’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life – longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the Promised Land. And so I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything; I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. “

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Good Morning to you, no matter what time of day that you receive this message.  I say Good Morning because it is time for us to wake up and see all the new and great things that God has for us. Its time to wake up to the fact that we are the image and likeness of God and that we operate in the all good.  So I say to you this day…

Wake up to LOVE
Wake up to JOY
Wake up to PEACE
Wake up to FORGIVENESS
Wake up to PROSPERITY
Wake up to ABUNDANCE
Wake up to SUNSHINE
Wake up to CREATIVITY
Wake up to THE MOMENT
Wake up to NEW IDEAS
Wake up to FREEDOM
Wake up to LIFE

Again I say Good Morning and WAKE UP to your purpose and the genius in you.  I see it!!

Affirmation
I open my eyes to see the all good and the all GOD.
I am the chosen one!

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Chevaliers on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, July 2011

Hello Midweek Massage family.  It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to you.  Good to be back!  Hope everyone had a good summer and that you somehow got a vacation in.  I actually went on a real vacation this summer and what a wonderful experience.  It made me realize how important vacation is.  It’s not a selfish thing, it’s actually necessary.  One of Webster’s definitions for vacation is “a period of time for pleasure, rest or relaxation.” Some of us really need to learn how to do that.  We are so busy going after stuff: promotions, the big house, fancy cars, more money, etc. that we forget to take care of ourselves.  The Bible asks, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul,” but let me put it to you another way.  What does it profit a man (or woman) to gain the whole world and lose their health, husband or wife or special time with your kids?  There are a number of things that we could fill in there, but you get my drift.  I am not telling you that you shouldn’t pursue the desires of your heart.  Quite the contrary, I am simply saying that balance is needed.  You know that work-life balance thing that we talk so much about now.  You can’t even see where you’re trying to go unless you pull back from time to time, rest and get focused.  You could also use that time to get to know your loved ones better.   Heck, you could get to know yourself better!   It’s fall again and we’re back in the full throes of work.  I am anyway.  This is an extremely busy time for me, so I am really glad that I had a break this summer; a time of pleasure, rest and relaxation and I did have all three.   As you prepare for this new season, let’s put things in perspective. Pursue your dreams with gusto, but give yourself a break now and then.   Make a decision to do that.  It will make getting to where you’re trying to go much easier and you’ll enjoy the journey so much more.

Miss Cee

“What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?” Selah    (Ecclesiastes 1:3)

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I coach high school basketball and one of our team mottos is “I am because we are.”  The reason we use this quote is because we want the team to recognize that you are better as an individual when the team does well.  In order to reach your full potential as a player, it is important to focus on the success of a team.  Great players get recognized for their talents alone, but the greatest players get much more recognition when they use their individual talents to make their team better.  When you as a player can make your teammates better and cause your team to win, you will be praised and recognized at the highest level.

Recently when this quote came to mind I thought of how appropriately it applied to my relationship with God.  The “I AM” would be me and all of the talents and gifts that God has blessed me with, and the “WE ARE” is God and I together,  and all that we can accomplish as a team.  I find that I am much more happy and effective in my life when We, God and I spend time together creating my life’s game plan.

I find that “I AM” much more confident and courageous when “WE ARE” connected to the word of God and all that it promises to us.  I am blessed and prosperous when “WE ARE” working together as a team and I recognize that God is always with me and in me.

“I AM” gifted, talented, happy and abundantly prosperous because “WE ARE” one.  “I AM” the most effective in my life and my integrity is at its highest level when my union with God is operating at its highest level.  When my team (God and I) are successful, I am the most successful and I am truly recognized for all of my abilities, talents and gifts.

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE! Ask God how you can be a better teammate.

AFFIRMATION
I am He and He is ME.
Know that God lives in you and as you!!

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This past summer my children Andre, Ashley and I developed a new tool to challenge us to always be our best and elevate ourselves to the next level.  The tool is called EXTRA and the way it works is that we have to do something extra each day that sets us apart from the people that we are competing against or simply something EXTRA to improve who we are as people and children of God.  We have to find ways each day to set ourselves apart from the majority or the norm because we want to be EXTRA-ordinary.  Some ways we have found to do this is for example, to do Extra wind sprints after football practice, practice shooting for 15 EXTRA minutes after practice, read 20 minutes a day more than what is required for school or work and a very important EXTRA is spending time with GOD in prayer and meditation.  Our EXTRA tool is also a challenge for us to be servants and to always do EXTRA to serve God and the people around us.

So today I encourage you to put a little EXTRA into your life by being…
Extra-humble, extra-loving, extra-happy, extra-special, extra-blessed, extra-organized, extra-disciplined, extra-determined, extra-hard working, extra-intelligent, extra-ordinary.
I know that I am EXTRA thankful that I am able to serve you with the Mid-Week Massage (MWM).  Have an EXTRA special week.

Affirmation
I am extraordinary in the eyes of God.
I was put here to do great things and I have all I need to be great!

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Have you ever been handcuffed by the shackles of fear?  If so, then welcome to the club.  There have been so many times in my life that I let fear stop me from receiving a blessing that the Lord has for me. So many times that I have not done something because I’m too worried about what someone else might think about me.  So many times that I have sat back and watched other people receive my blessing because I was too afraid to step forward to claim what was mine.  Simply put, I was a punk.

So I implore you to stand up, step out on FAITH and BE BOLD.  Take a chance and be different.  Do something outside of the box. See how great it makes you feel and how it begins to change you life.  Separate yourself from the crowd, be different.

Marianne Williamson said it best in her poem, OUR DEEPEST FEAR:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world. 
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

So stand up, release the fear, BE BOLD and Play BIG!!

Affirmation
I am bold and courageous
God is always for me and not against me.
All things work together for my good.

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GOD’S INSPIRATION

As I stand on the soil of the original man,
my emotions erupt as I ponder God’s plan

He created the blueprint for every flower and tree,
the inspiration behind it was amazingly me

Life is a journey not a hundred yard race,
perfection is found when we move at God’s pace.

The roads that we travel to Him they will lead,
roads of love and forgiveness,
roads void of all greed.

To God be the glory for all that we do,
because the plans that he made
were all made for you.

AFFIRMATION
I AM intelligent
I AM creative
I AM prosperous
I have it ALL

By AD Love

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I just returned from a life changing trip to South Africa. I was on a Mission Trip at the Lily of the Valley Orphanage just outside of Durbin. This orphanage is home to 123 African children from the surrounding community. The kids in the orphanage range in age from 3 to 18 years old and 85% of them are HIV positive. Yes, you heard me correct, 85%. You see, this is the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has erupted in Africa.

Often when I speak to people, whether it is a large or small group, I start off by talking about how bad the circumstances were of my life when I was growing up. However, after spending two weeks with these children, I have vowed to always look at the bright side of my life.  The things that I grew up thinking were unbearable, now look like a day at the beach compared to what these kids face each day and have faced in their young lives.

I know that in some of your minds you are saying, “It can’t be that bad.” Well,  let me tell you some of the things I learned while I was there. In addition to 85% of the kids being HIV positive, many of these kids have also lost both of their parents to HIV. A large percentage of the children have been abused, and in the case of the young girls, the abuse was sexual as well as physical. A large factor in the many rape incidents of the young girls is the myth that a man with HIV could cure himself by having sex with a virgin. Also, many of the girls were already involved in prostitution and drugs. Several of the babies were found on the streets because their mothers would deliver them and simply leave them somewhere to die. On top of it all, the level of poverty in the communities where these children are from makes our poverty stricken areas look like Beverly Hills. I won’t even comment on the education, or lack thereof, that they are receiving.

In my two weeks in Africa, God showed me at least once a day how blessed I am and how blessed we all are to live in the good ‘ol USA. So when you think your life is bad, just think of the children and people of South Africa and what they have to endure each day.

You are blessed and your life is good and you should start thanking God for it!

Affirmation
God is my source, I am abundantly blessed in every area of my life!

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