Giving meaning to the UPPER ROOM
The year 2009 is half spent and it is worth taking stock of where we are. It is time to evaluate the goals we set at the beginning of the New Year. While some of us have done a great job at accomplishing our set goals, others are still caught up in a never-ending struggle and it seems like we will not have a success story by the end of the year. There are those who have had the opportunity to mend broken fences and turn over a new leaf in their relationships while there are those of us who are still stuck in the bitter mire of either un-forgiveness or unhealthy relationships.
At a personal level, I have had experiences this year that have propelled me towards growth. With each passing day. I have had opportunity to confront the ugly while appreciating the beautiful that is me. As I thought about writing this article, the question uppermost in my mind at this time was, ‘what does this column mean to me: and most importantly what does it mean for all the beautiful women (and men) who are either expecting babies or are already parents?’ I am currently reading a book lent to me by a special friend and the various themes expressed by the author spurred me into thinking critically about this column. For me. UPPER ROOM is a special part of me. It is the place I come to connect with mums-to-be; it is the place I share who I am by way of words. It is the place I experience growth in a deep .and meaningful way. Over the past few months. UPPER ROOM has evolved into a sale place of finding me and urging each one of you to join me on the path of personal discovery.
As I went through the book, 1000 Pocket Positives: Inspiring quotations to Enlighten. Refresh and Uplift by Jan Sutton (2003), snippets of quotations caught my attention. At that very moment, I felt I needed to use the quotations provided to define UPPER ROOM, hoping that as you read them, you would be inspired to become the person you were created to be. Each time I think about the beauty of being pregnant, I marvel at the uniqueness of each woman. I also understand that some of us carry pain within our souls and need to experience healing over time. Then there are people in our lives who make up our relationships and we are continually faced with the need to take risks in order to experience equality so to speak.
In addition, as we go through life’s path, we are confronted with the reality of who we really are. We are then called to embrace various opportunities with optimism so that we can experience life in all its fullness. It is only by doing so that we can begin to cherish the music of life which each one of us must endeavor to listen and dance to in order to experience meaning. I therefore dedicate this edition’s column to you as a mum-to-be. As you read the quotes below, may you be stirred towards greater meaning in life even as we look forward to the remaining part of the year.
U-P-P-E-R
Uniqueness
No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances might be, you are special, and you still have something unique to offer. Your life, because of who you are, has meaning—Barbara De Angelis
Pain
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender heart—Henri Nouwen
People
There are three types of people in this world: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. We all have a choice. You can decide which type of person you want to be. I have always chosen to be in the first group-Mary Kay Ash
Equality
Instead of getting hard on ourselves and trying to compete, women should try to give their best qualities to men • bring them softness, teach them how to cry-Joan Baez
Reality
There is no reality except the one contained within us. That is why so many people live an unreal life. They take images outside them for reality and never allow the world within them to assert itself—Hermann Hesse
R-O-O-M
Risks
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live—Leo Buscaglia
Optimism
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence—Hellen Keller
Opportunities
Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them—William Arthur Ward
Music
Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife—Kahlil Gibran.
END: PG25/16