The Gray Area… is the place between black and white. It’s the place where truths are discovered, hurts are healed, tears are wiped, and love wins.
It’s the place that tore me apart, made me whole, begged me to stop and forced me to go.
It’s the place where hatred was laid to rest, forgiveness was born. Where the glistening of the pavement, and the sounds of my feet hitting it… set me free.
It’s the place where dreams are made, wishes come true, and miracles do exist.
Yes… I love color. I love all things beautiful and bright… but may we never forget the simplistic value of what we learn in between the black and white.
She took a trip deep inside her. She didn’t pack much for this day trip. She wasn’t staying long… her past asked her to sit, pull up a chair, and stay awhile.
She smiled softly with an all knowing that the overthinkers, the overwhelmers, the doubters, all the cunning games of her mind would soon enter the room for a visit too.
She allowed them all to sit and one by one she gave them an opportunity to pitch their deal of opportunity to her… if she chose to stay.
As she got up to leave they spoke quickly and desperately, asking why she was leaving so soon.
“I’m a transient guest today,” she answered.
“I respect what you have taught me. I acknowledge the things I cannot change, and I will never give up and allow you to hijack the contentedness that I cultivated from the cracks of light that you barely let in.”
My past is impermanent, my presence is joy, and my future is whatever I want it to be… and so is yours.
Know that the places we must visit from time to time are necessary. That sometimes to “become” we must “unbecome” first. That the dark places deep within us are often softer, and kinder than we think.
The greatest of your strengths are often built from the aftermath. Settle for nothing less than what brings you warmth, brilliance, and passion.
“Shut the door on your way out,” the past screamed… and with her eyes she spoke:
“Think twice about inviting me next time… good day.”
So much of what of what I write about comes from the experiences, trials, and uneasy places I have visited within myself since I was a little girl.
We are constantly being told be grateful, be thankful, count your blessings etc.
But what if you feel that life makes it impossible to do so?
I can promise you that life will always bring trials and experiences of unfathomable circumstances. I know in my own self-discovery that many painful days where I begged for answers of clarity… have always ended with “Be still… have faith… and find a way to seek thankfulness… even still.”
Blessings come in all forms. And even in the times where we think they are not present… seek to find something exhibited in your day… guiding you to simplicity and contentment.
As we enter this Thanksgiving holiday, let us all remember that some of us will face challenges of unknown severity.
One of us will we be faced with difficult family dynamics. One of us will shake with anxiety of not picking up a drink.
One of us will feel alone, afraid or not worthy of receiving grace. One of us will have just awoke from years of self inflicted wounds. One of us will still feel the unbearable pain of the absence of a loved one who is gone.
Be kind to yourself, and allow for adjustments. Search for the thankfulness in simply showing up for yourself… with a willingness to try, and to want better.
Blue skies are a gift to be thankful for. A warm smile is a gift to be thankful for. A text saying “I’m here for you…” is a reason to be thankful.
To reach the summit or peak of life is not just a one-time experience. We must give forth an effort daily. Climb, rest, repeat.
Distractions continually will try to disrupt our footing and move us to a place of unbalance both mentally and physically.
We gain resilience when we choose not to let the loose footing of our lives define us, halt us, or destroy us.
You will without a doubt hear negativity from someone today. You will be tempted, frustrated, and persuaded to get off the trail of your goals, good works, and beautiful visions.
Don’t be fooled… be wiser, be steadfast, and deliberate in your awareness of where you are headed.
Whether we are running, walking, hiking, working, or at home… let us meet this dawn with a joy-filled spirit. Let us release all the toxic moisture of those people, places, and things that try so hard to overtake our spirit.
Inspire someone today to welcome themselves home… to not give up on their quest to be better… to live better.
May we all find the summit of this day.
Don’t give up today, the view from the top is worth it.
She stood raw in front of the mirror, shaking from the sicknesses inside her. She was tired. Her head pounded as the liquid poison was trying to escape her cells. Her eyes red… barely open from puffiness of crying herself to sleep, begging for anything or anyone to save her from herself.
“You can’t reason with us,” her demons spoke up quickly. “You’re lost, you’re fat, you’re a drunk, and you will never be loved.”
She looked at her sneakers that had settled where she last kicked them in the corner of her room… laces twisted, so bright and beautiful. She turned around, paused… and then turned her head back to the corner.
No, she thought… I’m delusional.
She looked again and the inner voice of those shoes said… and she heard:
“We love you, we believe in you. Give us a chance.”
She untangled the laces, slipped them on her feet like Cinderella… feeling a tad nauseous, and with the room spinning… she opened her door.
With newfound hope in her heart… she turned back to the mirror and whispered:
“You’re wrong, demons… keep your eyes on my feet, keep your hands to yourself… ’cause we’re about to set out and change this world.”
Take yourself to the next level today. Go higher and soar. Take in only that which brings you love, peace, strength, and light. I believe in you.
Follow along as Suzanne Swanson takes us through her transformation from addiction to athlete. Find support and healing in your own life! We’re sending Suzanne’s blog updates via email along with a daily dose of motivation. Don’t miss the next post… delivered straight to your inbox.
What can you do today that sets you apart from typical crap we face… especially on a Monday!?
Keep Running is such a great mantra for me. It can be delineated in so many areas of life.
There are never-ending reasons life gives us to bow our heads quietly and feel defeat.
We get easily annoyed by traffic, people, overthinking, the stress of our work.
Stuck in our home life, our addictions, our shortcomings and struggles… we simply forget to keep going.
Perseverance, practice, and promise give us hope and a reason to always believe that what we do matters… integrity matters… the dreams and aspirations that live inside you matter…
Take today… this day, Monday, as a chance not to stop and start over, not to sit with deep regret, not to judge yourself for what you did or didn’t do… but simply to keep going…
Keep Running.
You will be amazed at how much love this universe has for you.
You will be overjoyed when you watch the seasons of your being blossom into vivid greatness.
Whatever tries to halt your progress today… turn your head, root your feet and just “keep running.” ☀️
I am so overjoyed to announce that along with my blog page, I now have a safe space to share, inspire, love, and grow!
Why not wake up today and decide today is the day you change your life?
Why not wake up today and decide today is the day you cut the excuses?
Why not wake up today and decide you are going put to rest doubt and fear?
Why not wake up today and forget the scale, forget the harsh screams of others and just be wonderfully you?
Why not wake up today and smile and wave at all them haters and naysayers?
Today is yours. The work is hard, and the road may be long, but the journey, every paved and unpaved mile will teach you something valuable. Set out to find gratitude in each mile.
Have acceptance in each setback, and have hope for every victory yet to come. Someone is watching you.
Show them kindness, teach them love, and let them in on your successes.
Bitterness need not apply. Now let’s go smash some pavement… after all, it is Wednesday!!
She awoke one day in her usual frame of mind. Her head pounded from booze the prior night. The processed crap she had eaten just before laying down did not comfort her as promised… only left her feeling more empty and digusted.
She slightly remembered her repeated promise to herself only hours before that someday things would be different.
Fear roared louder and louder, telling her she wasn’t strong enough to change. Fear invited itself in to set up camp in her mind, expecting to stay for the long haul without question or hesitation.
Courage had other plans, and waited ever so patiently to surface. Courage held her hand and led her inward.
“We’re going deep,” Courage whispered… “We may be gone a while. But when we come, back fear will no longer live here.”
“Are you sure I’m ready?” she mouthed.
Courage took a big inhale and said:
“We’ve waited our whole life for this moment. Onward, Love… the end. 🌸🌷🌿.
What fear is holding you back today? Inhale… exhale… onward.
Follow along as Suzanne Swanson takes us through her transformation from addiction to athlete. Find support and healing in your own life! We’re sending Suzanne’s blog updates via email along with a daily dose of motivation. Don’t miss the next post… delivered straight to your inbox.
Seek the simplicity of life. Stop and admire God’s awestruck beauty. Give special thanks to all who have set roadblocks… and those who have lifted them.
Practice what you preach. Make your bed. Make peace with yourself. Tell toxic people they’re un-invited, and set the table of your life with only those who bring you hope, goodness, and insight.
It’s never too late to start over. You’re not a lost cause. You have a gift. Use it. Be still, be alert, and be ready. Life is waiting for you.
My road has taught me something so valuable. That I matter, my ways of being matter, and you matter. The view finder of this road this morning was a gift. Find yours… and know it was meant to teach you… period. The end.
Some of us today will wake up with a sense of uncertainty.
We will walk down the hall with the same inner conflict we have every day since we can remember.
Some of us will wake up today hungover, ashamed and with a deep disgust within ourselves that we yet again let substance win over our truest longing for sobriety.
Some of us will wake up hiding the cookie package, crumpling the chip bag, hearing the screams of defeat echo that “you’ll always be fat and unhealthy.”
One of us will have woken up after standing up to a bully, deciding that today they will no longer have power over you.
One of us will have prayed for the first time ever… hoping for just one miracle teetering on the brink of a rock bottom.
One of us will wake up and draw the curtains open for the first time in a decade… unsure if the anxiety will let them outside for even just a minute.
One of us will need a friend today. One of us will have a huge victory, and of us will no doubt have a setback.
Whomever you are, wherever you are… draw the shades, let the light in, let the bad shit out. Own it, claim it, trust it, and move through it.
Rise on up… show your face to the morning.
Show up uninvited to all the places within you trying to hold you back. Today matters, and so do you .
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