The Power of Love

"A heart that loves is always young." ---Greek Proverb

During my trip to Las Vegas, my beautiful, younger sister purchased and gave me a little book. This book is small, but has some great information. I learned long ago that transitioning from living by default to living by design took a great deal of change in my thought process. I needed to break free from those that were negative in my life and from things that were causing me to entertain negative thoughts. Eliminating people and things in your life that cause these thoughts is not easy; in fact, at times it has been extremely difficult and sad. There are casualties along the way, unintended casualties and the loss can be extreme. This loss of unintended casualties can throw your life into crisis or chaos. How you channel your emotions during this crisis or chaos can make all the difference in the world in your own journey.

Fortunately, for me this channeling came out in the direction of increased exercise and better eating choices. I learned in counseling that many people do just the opposite during times of crisis. In the past, I am sure I also did the opposite. Changing your thought process is a wonderful and beautiful process. Sadly, many around you cannot handle this changing and decide to distance themselves from you and your change. I have found it very interesting the amount of people that have been negative towards my metamorphosis, from a super morbidly obese person living by default to a thinner person living by design. When you undergo such extreme changes in your life, you quickly learn who your true supporters are.

However, not all things in this process are sad and difficult. Many things are simply amazing and wonderful. You meet new people that are the most supportive and positive people you will ever know. You attract a more positive and enthusiastic support group. In addition, many people you knew from the past that really wanted no part of your life when you were negative; suddenly want to be part of your new life. If you think about that for a moment, you (or I) were the negative person they removed from their lives.

Yesterday at work, I had an experience that gives an example of this. There is a coworker that years ago were a very negative person. Two years ago as I began my journey, I came across this person and they were, really going on about how they wish someone would die so they could be rid of them. I looked this person in the eyes and said; you know, you are one of the most negative people I know and you drain the life from me. Please do not speak to me unless it is positive. This person had made many comments about my weight in the past and was not a very kind individual. During the past few months as this coworker watched from afar how my life was changing they would make the occasional comment about my weight loss or improved attitude. I worked the night shift last night and as I was getting off work, walking from the vehicle to the office, he cut me off to speak to me. He said, Todd, you have really changed and everything you do is positive. Earlier today, I observed you take an issue that was not yours and completely handle it on your own without complaining or turning another employee in for not doing their duty. The last time someone discovered the problem that person charged into our building, started screaming, and nearly caused a fight. You entered our building, said hello to everyone, joked with us, and then just took care of the problem without one negative comment. I was so impressed that after you left I filled out an accommodation and made sure the General Manager knew how you handled this situation. Amazing how one change to positive behavior brought about another change of positive behavior in someone else.

The book The Power by Rhonda Byrne calls this the power of love. I recommend the book, but simply it is the power of love. Love is positive and if we love things or people, we attract that back to us. According to this book, if we are experiencing negative things in our life, it is because we do not love enough. All great things in our life are a result of love according to this book. I looked back on the past twenty years of my life and put this theory to test. I have suffered my share of negative, painful experiences in the past twenty years and I wondered if I loved more would they be non-existent. The answer is yes, and no. It is love that could have prevented many of these things, but it would have required an outside party to show me this love as well as me practicing it in my own life. When I did not experience this love and encountered harshness instead, I responded with negativity. This resulted for those that dealt the harshness, experiencing their negative response (my reaction) to non-love. Sadly, I incorrectly responded with harshness of my own in many areas of my life. This resulted in my own negative experiences over the past twenty years. This manifested itself in weight gain and other areas of my life.

Two years ago, I realized I needed to change my life and make changes to eliminate this non-love from my life. Unfortunately, as I progressed and improved my life; it was too late for many areas of my life. However, I think it is a very positive thing and the future is very promising. Rarely, does an individual be awarded a start-over to build a life of positive energy, surrounded by people with an enormous capacity for love. I will be more thorough in those I associate with and allow into my life in the future. I will be diligent in my desire to make sure my support groups and those I surround myself with are positive, enthusiastic and optimistic people. The types of people that will cheer for you, instead of criticize you. The types of people that see you on a bad day, reach out their hand, and ask you if they can be of help.

The Power of Love, it is real and it will result in getting back what you put out.

"I get the best feeling in the world when you say hi or even smile at me because I know, even if its just for a second, that I've crossed your mind." ---Author Unknown

"Live the life you've dreamed" ---Henry David Thoreau

"I believe in the sun even if it isn't shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent." ---Source Unknown