I've Been Running On Fumes

Hello Beautiful One,

October was a hard month and 2019 has been a hard year. I've seen so much out of myself that was out of character. I've noticed my own pain and how much I was willing to make others feel that pain. It is true, "hurt people, hurt people". It wasn't until I watched my cousin bury his son that I really started to pay attention.

My cousin Raymond was 18 years old and now he's gone. So much life left to live and yet his life was taken. I thought and think about what was going through my head at 18. SEX, college, and getting out of my crappy high-school were the biggest things on my mind. What a fool I was. Ever since, I noticed that I have been running on fumes. I never took time to reflect. I never stopped and took a breath.

After this death in my family, I finally took the breath that I needed to take years ago. I took a look inside and found my truth.

Life is precious and at the center of life is God. It is by faith we move and by love we breathe. I have introspectively seen what value I once held for life and it makes me sad. We are alive to improve the human condition with our gifts, our voices, our talents, our...EVERYTHING. We do this in hopes that we may ignite the fire in someone's eyes as they go out and ignite the fires of others. It is our God given right to leave the world better than we found it. I don't want to live another day of my life dimming my own light, not when death is right around the corner plotting my end.

Obviously I'm not saying go out and spend your life savings! I'm challenging you to do what you know you do best. There's a gift you were born with, a talent no one else has, and I'm imploring that you use it. Your gifts are meant to be worked, like a muscle, and shared for the world to be inspired. Yeah, you may see someone on YouTube with that same talent but everyone is different. Don't let the sun hit your face another day without using what you have. My Grandma had many sayings and for this post I'll use one of them:

"In life you are dealt a hand, whether crappy or a winning hand, use the hand you've got to the best of your advantage. History is written by the winners and legacies are left by the champions."

I move forward in the name of my cousin Raymond Carlos Hill Jr. I won't spend another day ignoring life. I won't live another moment forgetting to improve the human condition. My light will shine brighter each day and my life will leave a legacy.

This is your challenge this week:

Make every moment count and realize that you are alive to inspire. Spread goodness, embrace love, create change, and most of all be patient with yourself through the process.

Keep your head up, be encouraged, and know that you are loved. You are a member of the Free World: a world without shame, without fear, a world where being who YOU are is expected. Be patient with yourself because everything is a process. Remember life is a marathon not a sprint. You'll make it through this week!

**Oh yeah! The plug: Don't forget to subscribe to my website for all updates on everything that I'm doing including my blog!**