Charmin' Life

My cousins visited this weekend. One of them is in her twenties and has such a tremendous insight to life with so much gusto that you can’t help but get sucked into her passion. She’s married to a wonderful young man who is…well, bigger than life. Anything he thinks about he gets because he believes it. He’s Mr. VIP! When I say this I mean it. You meet him and immediately get bombarded by optimism and motivation. Having her here alone as she shared stories about Mr. VIP (Rami) I was completely mesmerized. This young generation (of my own kids’ ages) is truly aspiring for more than when I was their age. They KNOW that there is no wasted time to get from here to there. Things need to be done NOW. I love that. My cousin, Tatiana, was in the military. She is phenomenal (helps that she has amazing parents). Her husband, Mr. VIP, is truly on his way to becoming a younger Tony Robbins…well, maybe just for me and that’s perfectly acceptable.Things are changing. We aren’t waiting to retire to do the things we always wanted to do. Those in their twenties are coming into the adult world with an idea of how they want to live their lives. In my generation it has taken two decades to finalize those thoughts and still wonder, “Am I on the right track?” And, this is fine. Time is an illusion. It slips through our hands when we try to control it.Tatiana shared a quote from her husband, Rami, “Everything you want for your life is a conversation away.” I sat there, opened mouth, holding my breath, finally making her repeat the words slowly. This is manifestation. This is the power of intention. If you can’t converse with another you can’t learn or move on. Everything in life is only one word away. WOW! Isn’t that fantastic?We are taught not to ask for help. We have been conditioned to work things out on our own. Vulnerability has been passed along as a weakness. I find myself opening up more and more. Just writing and sharing has taken me beyond my own expectations. Why? Because ‘everything I want for me is only a conversation away.’ Plain and simple!What do you want? How do you want it? Who will you share your life’s passion with? What will it require for you to get there? What is your greatest fear? What’s the worst case scenario? Go to those dark places you refuse to visit inside and ask those questions. Share them with others. Life is not meant to be a struggle alone. You have others with you.I recently met a man at the grocery store check-out line. He asked why I was loading up on so much toilet paper. I have an issue with toilet paper (this is maybe a little personal for the blog but go with me on this). I only buy Charmin brand. I have been rich and I have been poor but I will not settle for any other brand. When it is on special I get a lot of it. I have an illogical concern of running out of my toilet paper. Silly, huh? What he noticed was that I bought a different brand in bulk (which is for the motel/retreat center). In his curiosity I saw some judgment. I explained that my ass couldn’t handle anything else other than Charmin. He laughed. My openness surprised and probably shocked him. There was a few but’s (and not the ones you wipe or sit on) and I explained to him this, “I know what I want. I know what I like. I know I have to work extra hard to get those few things I won’t substitute or change. These are the things that mold me, break me when I am in fear, and the things that humor me when I am in joy.” The older gentleman laughed, smiled, and truly got it. He got out of line and went to get some Charmin. What changed? I don’t know. Perhaps he wanted to feel the same simplicity of my joy. Conversations are contagious. Make them great. Share…even in such ridiculous moments of being way too opened with a stranger. I am who I am. You are who you are. Make no excuses for the life you live and it's authenticity. And, that my friends, is beautiful. We are all connected via words, a glance, a touch, and a story.Even though Mr. VIP wasn’t here this weekend his stories became mine. And, I am forever grateful! Sometimes you are the teacher and other times you are the student. Life is a classroom!