This Little Light of Mine...



It is that time of year again and I have decided that I won't bore you with my New Year's resolutions...they are pretty much the same as every year.  Lose weight, be more organized, blah, blah, blah. 

I have decided to change my focus a little this year...instead of worrying about my resolutions all year (ok, let's be real here-two months-tops) I am going to just try to be a better ME...a little bit, every day.

Before staying at home with my children, I was a teacher.  I taught in an area that I probably would not go to at night.  My students were difficult and challenging and I wouldn't have had it any other way. 

I am a sucker for teacher movies.  I can't get through one without bawling my eyes out.  Some of my favs: Lean On Me, Dead Poets Society, Dangerous Minds, To Sir with Love, and who could forget Stand and Deliver...inspiring. (What's cal-coo-lus?-sorry I can't think of this movie without this line in my head:))  I am also a sucker for a good speech and coaches are the best at this...Remember the Titans, Hoosiers, and more recently Coach Carter.

I just watched Coach Carter again this morning and wanted to share my thoughts with you on a specific part:

 

I found the original quote by Marianne Williamson from A Return to Love:Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles

 

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

 

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

 

You are a child of God.

 

Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

 

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

 

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

 

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

 

So, as you go out into 2013...

do not be afraid to let your light shine...

it won't look the same as someone else's,

it may not even look the way you want it to, yet...

that's the beauty of it...

 

God meant for your light to BE the way your light IS...

 

Do and be what inspires you, play big, carpe diem, "rage against the dying of the light"(Dylan Thomas)...

 

and I hope you have a fantastic New Year...not just for a day, but all year long...