"Flatter me and I may not believe you.
                            Criticize me and I may not like you.
                            Ignore me and I may not forgive you.
                            Encourage me and I may not forget you."   
                                                   -- William Arthur

There are m any things a person can do or say that will either build us up or tear us down.  Too often people are quick to judge, criticize, and even ignore another person.  Someone they call a friend.  So when someone comes along and flatters us and gives compliments we tend to not believe them and say things "yea right", or "only to you" and the like.  Throughout the mix of negativity, it is so hard to believe something positive.  When someone consistently provides us with negative feelings obviously we begin to feel negative towards them.  I've seen it happen, I have even had it happen to myself.  Someone I held in high regard provided a fair amount of negativity and now I look negative towards him and have a hard time even considering him a friend of mine.

On the flip side of constantly negativity and putting us down, when we have constant compliments and encouragement, we begin to find it harder to live without that person.  A few friends have consistently encouraged me to do various things, people who have provided strength through times of struggle and tribulation.  Those are the people I cannot imagine living my life without, the people who bring positivity into life are those I can never forget, even if we have parted ways and drifted apart.  It is the people in your life who motivate and encourage you to accomplish your dreams, or even encourage you to break through a comfort zone, or learn something new, that make the biggest impact in your life.  I sit and think about the people who mean the most to me and it those who have done just that.

There is a saying "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar."  We are creatures that thrive off of positive vibes, so why do we spend time being negative and focusing on the negative. So what if our friend likes fast food and we don't, we shouldn't make a big deal out of it telling them how bad that food is for them.  We certainly should not be constant grammar police with our friends , we may think we are helping, but it is annoying Take time each day and think which do you project more.  Do you lift people up and give positivity more, or do you criticize and bring them down more?  . 

                  "Choices are the hinges of destiny." ~Edwin Markham

It is amazing how much our lives revolve around the decisions that we make.  One small decision can change the course of a life for either the good or bad.  We never know what course those decisions will take us.  If we did the decision making process wouldn't be so difficult.  Each possible decision has a different possible outcome, that's the excitement where will life take me next?  I spent some time recently just reflecting on past decisions, I do not regret any of them because either good or bad, they all brought me to the place I am today.  Made me into the woman I am today.  When reflecting I can help but wonder how things would have been different if a different choice was made; would things be the same?  Would I be happy?

 

Recently I made a decision.  This choice was placed to me several times within the past 6 months or so, and I was adamantly against it for several different reasons. The person who posed the decision was very persistent, so I agreed to pursue something and see where it leads.  It is terrifying not knowing where my decision is going to take me?  Of course.  But while it is scary to face something so completely unknown and not know what will happen, how things will play out, it could also be the best thing that has ever happened.  It could possibly be something I have prayed about for so long.  I am looking forward to what life has in store for me.  It is exciting, thrilling, and yes scary, and even crazy all at the same time.  No matter what happens with the choice that I have made in this matter, has already changed my life.  In my mind the change has been for the better.

 

You never know what will happen based off of one small decision, but once it is made, we shouldn't look back.  Decisions made today shape what tomorrow will bring, they can never shape what has already happened.  We can only learn from them and change bad decisions into something good.