"Insert Yourself"

GOD knows I miss my Mother so very much.

As I do throughout the course of EVERY day, I think about her and I'm constantly reminded of her presence in the things that I see, in the things that I hear and in the things that I do. Which brings me to my Ramona thought.

I remember as a young boy when my Mother was teaching me the way, she implored me to "Insert Myself." It was very simple in her estimate. If I walked by something that needed to be done, then I should not pass by it before doing it. If I saw something that needed some attention, then it was my duty to see to it that it received the right amount of attention. If there was a way for me to "Insert Myself" into the process that would ultimately afford the chance to 'make a difference,' then it was my obligation to do so and 'make that difference.'

I remember walking into the kitchen one day and I noticed some dirty dishes in the sink. My Mother asked me how come I didn't clean them. "Well Mom, I didn't dirty them. I cleaned my dishes, the ones that I dirtied before these new dirty dishes came along."

And that is exactly what she meant by "Inserting Myself." If I saw something that needed to be done, do not simply ignore the fact that it warrants attention because I am too selfish to give it my own.

It did not nor does it much matter who was responsible for what, if something needs to be done, then "Insert Yourself" in the process to make sure that it gets done.

As a lad, all I thought about was the fact that whomever dirtied the dishes should bare the responsibility of cleaning them. But, it was much bigger than that!

My Mother was instilling something bigger than the physical labor of cleaning a couple of plates, although at the time, that is all that my young mind could see.

Along Life's path lies a plethora of opportunities to "Insert Yourself" in the process to be representative of advanced reciprocity. You see, you will not just have to "Insert Yourself" because the knife cuts both ways. At some point in time, someone else will take it upon themselves and clean a couple of dirty plates that you too have left behind.

Do not wait to be told what to do, when you already know. Take the initiative to "Insert Yourself."

Her presence in the things that I see, in the things that I hear and in the things that I do. Since so much needs to be done, maybe that was Ramona's way of ensuring that I would always think of her as I do, throughout the course of EVERY day.

GOD knows I miss my Mother so very much!

Where will you "Insert Yourself" today?

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"To Never Betray Again"

Such a powerful statement that requires acknowledgment of an initial betrayal. At some point in time haven't we all had the feeling of some sort of betrayal that we could not fully wrap our thoughts around?

But when I think about how Jesus was betrayed, my alleged "betrayal" is nothing short of a figment of my imagination. Who am I to think that I am so mighty, that someone actually betrayed ME?

The actual betrayal is not what stung the most, it was the process of actually following through with the betrayal. Somewhere down "Betrayal Boulevard" I'm sure there were plenty of exits that could have been taken instead of barreling down the strip, recklessly ignoring the stop light, the stop signs and all of the other warnings that spelled out CAUTION!

Yet still, full speed ahead, to one day slamming on the brakes so hard that you bump your head in an attempt to upright your body behind the steering wheel, "To Never Betray Again."

What a way to put a screeching halt to your misdeeds of the past, your personal and selfish agenda, your breathtaking actions to avoid the inevitable dead end that was right on the horizon.

Now, doesn't it feel good to "Be...Better?"

With the revocation of reckless abandon, I now acknowledge you stop light! I now see you stop sign! Beyond the tip of my nose, I now see the caution without even having laid eyes upon its presence.

All, "To Never Betray Again."

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Be...Better"

There are a lot of things in Life that we could be.

There are a lot of things in Life that we should be.

But there is one thing in Life that we ought to "Be...Better."

Wouldn't you just hate to disappoint yourself by accomplishing absolutely nothing throughout the course of your Life? I mean now that "Fear" is in the rearview, there is nothing holding you back from achieving all of your long-term and short-term goals, right?

With zero intentions on crawling back into that rut disguised as a comfortable bed, watching Lifetime as your Lifetime passes you by, now creating a Lifetime each and every time you try.

We all just want to "Be...Better."

Continuing education because you now understand the importance of it, all so that you can "Be...Better."

Working hard to pay down and off your debt, to make room for the new you, just so you can "Be...Better."

Purging the toxins out of your system and the toxic out of your Life, all so that you can "Be...Better."

Rejoicing in the victory as opposed to normally wallowing in the sympathy, well on your way to "Be...Better."

And when I author each and every one of my Blogs, I am acknowledging that I am a work in progress and that I too can stand to "Be...Better."

Since perfection permanently eludes us, whatever your purpose, whatever your focus, whatever your goals, we can ALL stand to "Be...Better."

Starting today, "Be...Better!"

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Fear"

When we run from ourselves, there's a good chance that we started out not 'walking in worship' which meant that we were probably 'crawling in confusion' from the onset of our existence.

With family members like "Fear," chaos, closed-mindedness, shitty attitudes, hopelessness, despair, animosity, hatred, ignorance, jealousy and selfishness, it is no wonder why one roof can easily house up to three generations of a single family. "Fear" has us too afraid to do ANYTHING!

Do not walk IN "Fear" and do not walk WITH "Fear." Beauty and the Beast is what we look like hand in hand with the spirit of "Fear." The same spirit that GOD does not co-sign.

"Fear" is an abusive relationship that can and will offer you permanent scars for the rest of your Life should you choose to remain committed to something that offers you nothing, but more of the same, "Fear."

When you terminate that relationship with "Fear" you will begin to 'crawl with confidence.' Like a baby, you will be able to 'furniture walk' by holding on to something other than "Fear." You will be able to 'stutter-step' your way to a 'beautiful stride,' that "Fear" would have otherwise admonished you for. You will be able to pace yourself in a glorious 'sprint to success.' And finally, you will be able to 'run Life's marathon' by releasing that "Fear" anchor that has kept you down and out for far too long.

And to think that "Fear" was holding you back from all of the things that GOD already knew that you could do.

"Fear" has held you back from all of the things that GOD has purposed for you.

"Fear's" inventory has kept you well stocked, all too eager to replenish you with all of the "Fear" that you can consume.

This Blog: littered with 16 "Fears."
Your Life: littered with how many "Fears?"

Put "Fear" in its final and rightful place...in the rearview!

It's time: Now go catch up with yourself!

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"By Now"

Have you recently or ever for that matter, reflect back on the not-too-distant past and thought that you should be further along 'the way' than what you are "By Now?"

Do you ever ponder the possibilities of how things would be different had you chosen to do things differently than what you did as if those things are the sole reason or reasons why you are not farther along "By Now?"

Monday morning quarterbacking is essentially admitting that hindsight is 20/20. But what about the day of the game, when the past has yet to surpass the present?

All of the doubters and naysayers will attempt to have a field day with your choices in Life should you so choose to not disappoint them with your stagnancy.

Most importantly, that internal doubt-whisperer that is always in your head, whispering in your ears, what you wouldn't normally allow to manifest, but because you chose to not disappoint, appears to be right all of the time. It is not that you can't or you couldn't, you just didn't try.

So those whispering thoughts didn't know what you wouldn't do, they just saw that you didn't do and keep reminding you of that fact.

Do you still think that you should be farther along 'the way' than what you are "By Now?"

Then silence the doubters, the naysayers and most importantly that internal doubt whisperer by simply doing something about it.

One day,
One week,
One month,
One year from now, ask yourself:

Have you recently or ever for that matter, reflect back on the not-too-distant past and thought that you should be further along 'the way' than what you are "By Now?"

Make that change today before the past surpasses tomorrow's future.

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Controlling The Outcome"

You ever say just enough to say that you said just enough to void any (what may be perceived as) unwarranted questions relative to you and your situation without planting a seed of doubt but questioning the reason for the doubt that others may have, that you already understand to begin with?

I know no one that has not been guilty of this. When opinions, thoughts and feelings matter, our goal is to simply "Control The Outcome." We want to control what people think and how they feel about us. But in doing so, our controlling efforts have a tendency to backfire.

The only thing that we can control are our actions and our efforts. The information that will generate the thoughts and feelings that we are attempting to control is just that, 'information.'

Once we release that information, we are no longer in control, hence the very reason why we are guilty of 'withholding' information, in an attempt to "Control The Outcome."

What we end up struggling with is the fact that we do not own the copyrights to the stories, even if they are OUR stories, when they reside in the public domain.

Don't fear the information that composes the soundtrack to your Life. The less control we exhibit, the more confidence we illustrate.

Whether we withhold, omit, deny or flat out lie, the information does not change, so our control is even less than what we initially thought.

Do not add to the definition of 'information,' just leave it as is. Should the information no longer represent who and what you are, take what you can control (your actions and your efforts) and allow it to work wonders on your behalf.

You will no longer want, fill the need or have a desire, to be "Controlling The Outcome."

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"I Love You!"

When I first fell in Love with You, I felt completely and utterly compelled to relinquish all of me, just for You. Although I must admit that it was not a fair trade, for my value was not even on the market scale until I started to measure my microscopic accomplishments against Your great shadow.

Although an exercise in futility, I became abundantly aware of You being in a league all of Your own. I'm humbled that You would Love someone like me, someone that cannot measure up to You with my greatest effort and on my best of days.

But my purpose was not to measure up to, but to benchmark against You to ensure that the path is to Your liking.

You taught me how to Love that way by leading through your example. Like me, some may not measure up, but You still Love them the same. And that is a small component in the bigger scheme of things, as to why I Love You the way that I do.

I am because You are.
I have because You gave.
I live because You beat, within my heart.

Thank You for loving me as I am, so that I may in turn Love as they are. The most perfect form of leading by example I have ever known.

You saved my Life and I will always Love You because of that very reason.

For as long as I have breath, I will breathe Life into every testimony, to serve and acknowledge the power of Your name.

Thank you LORD, "I Love You!"

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"The Same Energy"

It is very hard for people to see you in 'the light' when for so long they were so accustomed to seeing you in 'the dark.' When you become reacquainted with these same people, you might be accosted with "The Same Energy" that you previously left them with. And even though that seems light years away from who and what you are today, that is indeed what you left them with when "The Same Energy" once represented who and what you were.

Be careful and remain steadfast in response to "The Same Energy" that is no longer the type of energy that put into the world and exhibit through your actions. Historically speaking, we go with what we know.

But since the past no longer represents stagnancy on your behalf, allow your growth to shine through in your actions and convert the "The Same Energy" of old into the "The Same Energy" of new, so when they see you again, they will approach you with "The Same Energy" that represents who and what you are today.

The onus to convert the negative to the positive rests squarely on our shoulders because during our 'growth spurt' we took full responsibility of our past indiscretions while holding ourselves accountable for them.

But there is no infinite loop with respect to winning them over. You "Forgive Yourself" (http://allthebestallthetime.blogspot.com/2009/04/forgive-yourself.html), understand and demonstrate your worth and you keep moving. The only person that you owe is 'you.'

And now, it will be very hard for people to see you in 'the dark' when they are so accustomed to seeing you in 'the light.'

Like a knife, "The Same Energy" cuts both ways.

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"With Your Whole Heart"

Have you ever committed to doing something to only wind up doing that something half-hearted? Truth be told, if the numbers were calculated, your efforts would prove to not even be half, but rather fractions, quarters and thirds.

So I ask myself, "Corey, what if YOU ran the numbers and found out that GOD only Loved you in a half-hearted fashion, that wound up actually being just fractions, quarters and thirds? How would that make YOU feel?"

I dare not go there, for I need GOD to Love me with HIS whole heart and not a part or fraction thereof. I need for GOD to Love me when I'm too foolish to adequately Love myself. In fractions, quarters or third, that cannot be accomplished.

When I fall short, I need for HIS Love to make me tall.

When I fall down, I need for HIS Love to lift me up.

When I have lost my way, it is not my GPS, but HIS Love that gets me right back on track.

When I feel weak, it is not my gym membership that makes me strong, but HIS Love.

On all of the highways and byways of Life, where I need to see a sign for guidance, I need for HIM to Love me with HIS whole heart.

HIS example is reason enough for me to commit myself to someone other than myself and to something other than what "I" want and to do it with my whole heart.

I implore you to go all out, in a whole-hearted fashion, in all that you do, "With Your Whole Heart," starting with Love.

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Guest of Honor"

Nobody "feels" your pain?

No one is "listening" to your whining ways?

Did you not get what you wanted, when you wanted it?

Did the mailman put your million dollar check in somebody else's box?

Are you "publicly" going through trials and tribulations that you are all too happy to marinate in?

I ask you, where is your "Trust" (http://allthebestallthetime.blogspot.com/2009/07/trust.html)?

In lieu of your "Trust" are you now soliciting sympathy to draw attention nigh?

Well nothing happens to us that we do not allow.

Please keep in mind that when we wallow, we are only as deep as the shallow.

So, stop throwing yourself these elaborate pity parties, where you are the "Guest of Honor."

Get over it and get on with your Life, RIGHT NOW!

Love and My Mother are My Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are My Motivation!
Love and My Mother are My Celebration!
Love and My Mother are My Dedication!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey