Hallelujah

"Patience and perseverance have a magical affect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." ---John Quincy Adams

Our lives are filled with challenges, trials, difficulties, disasters, and the occasional crisis. It is these experiences and the way we react or our actions that define us. Heartbreak, sorrow and sadness without them we would not know joy, love, happiness and optimism. The thing about the difficult times is that in time and with patience, they always turn back to the good and happy times. When we are experiencing these difficult times, it seems like we will never climb out. Then one day something happens or someone comes along and it raises you. It raises you from the ashes of despair that were once glorious moments.

I am grateful for my trials and difficulties as they have educated me and allowed me to peak inside myself and find what I am truly capable of overcoming. Today a woman asked me how I lost so much weight. She continued with the occasional tear that she has been on a yo-yo type of weight loss cycle for 20 years and is now the heaviest ever. She was firm in her request of my secret. I looked at her and said, I know your tears. My secret is this, live one day at a time. Have more good days than bad days and walk. Again, she asked for my secret weight loss program. Again, I repeated; live one day at a time and walk. She said, no what did you do to lose all that weight I want to know your secret. I said I just told you my secret. I added, develop a strong why for why you want to lose weight. Then simply live one day at a time and make sure you have more good days than bad days. Exercise and drink plenty of fluids and in time we reverse the damage we did. It really is that simple. The mental part is where we have the difficulty. The most important thing to remember regardless of our trials and difficulties is to do your best. Do your best, love yourself and let your light shine.

Lyrics:
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

"Let this be understood, then, at starting; that the patient conquest of difficulties which rise in the regular and legitimate channels of business and enterprise is not only essential in securing the success which you seek but it is essential to that preparation of your mind, requisite for the enjoyment of your successes, and for retaining them when gained. So, day by day, and week by week; so month after month, and year after year, work on, and in that process gain strength and symmetry, and nerve and knowledge, that when success, patiently and bravely worked for, shall come, it may find you prepared to receive it and keep it." ---Josiah Gilbert Holland

"Difficult times always create opportunities for you to experience more love in your life." ---Barbara de Angelis