DelaneyGates.com

Capture the Moment

I don't think I've told anyone this before. 

Seven years ago,a few weeks after our son was born, when Jason and I were both exausted from multiple nightly feedings, I found myself half falling asleep sitting in the rocking chair in the corner of our room, knowing that despite being so very tired, someday I'd give anything to be in the same position again.

Wow. Run-on sentence, much?

So, I closed my eyes and tried to take in everything about those quiet minutes as I could. The way the rocking chair creaked ever so slightly, the sound of the quiet, the smell of our new baby's hair, the way he felt in my arms, the peaceful, innocent disposition he had...

And you know what?

Seven years later, those moments are still so vivid in my mind. Capturing that time with my little boy and tucking it away in my sensory file was one of the best gifts I've ever given myself.

So, if you find yourself in a happy moment with a loved one, close your eyes and capture it. Years later, you'll be thankful you did.

Photo courtesy of Ruggles Stitch. Click on it to visit the Etsy shop filled with plenty of embroidery goodness!

Stay Alert, Stay Alive

 

"Stay alert, stay alive."

It's a military thing.

A common mantra, if you will, among soldiers.

However.

It could mean more.

Keep your senses alert to what is going on around you.

Take in everything.

(Especially the little things.)

And.

In turn.

Keep your soul alive.

Keep the inspiration flowing.

Keep the ideas evolving.

Into something great.

Stay alert.

Stay alive.

The photography is my own. Flowers On My Desk.

Your Gift

Your Gift- that one thing you do which everyone compliments you on...or which makes your heart warm on dreary days when nothing else can- THAT Gift. Do you know what It is? Have you found It yet? The Gift you KNOW was bestowed specifically upon you from a Higher Power. The one you've happened upon that you KNOW you could never go back to not having. You were blessed with It for a reason. It's up to you to find out why! It's up to you to do your part to impact those around you in a positive way and contribute your Gift to society. Use your Gift to improve the lives of others, whether you seek payment for it...or not. Even if you are fortunate enough to make a living from your Gift, you nevertheless should share your Gift with others who cannot repay you. Sharing your Gift while expecting nothing in return will uplift your soul in a way like no other. And, it will make your heart happy. :)
 

Is it YOU?

I awoke in the middle of a deep sleep last night with the quote below on my mind. Somehow, I knew it was meant for someone, though I don't know who. Furthermore, I have no idea how I thought of it in the first place! I do feel like the thought was given to me as a gift from someplace up above to share with someone who really needs to hear it and it makes me feel happy that I was chosen to do so.

"It's okay to initially not know what to say. At times, both your sentiment and the person on the receiving end merit short incubation." -drg

What do you think...was it YOU who needed to hear it?

Have a lovely weekend.

When Intuition Speaks...

Please take 90 seconds and read this. If you do, my missed opportunity to help a fellow human being may not be in vain:

I had the opportunity to help a man today, and instead of acting upon the strong sense of obligation I felt right at that moment, I brooded on it for the seven minute car ride home, was overcome with tears, and then went back. But it was too late. He was gone.

You see, we had just been inside Walmart buying new yoga mats, our traditional UFC fight night treats for tonight, among other things we didn't truly need. Upon exiting the parking lot, I noticed a man standing next to a minivan which had all the doors and windows open. He looked to be in his early thirties and was holding a sign which read "Have 4 kids. Will work for food."

Quite honestly, when I usually come across situations such as these, I think to myself, "Stop putting your hand out and use it to go shake a hand...at. a. job. interview." But this guy wasn't asking for money. He wasn't even asking for free food. He wanted to work for food.

Furthermore, I'm always skeptical whether or not all of the copy on the sign is fact...but the guy was standing next to his minivan. And really, who would drive one of those unless they did, in fact, have kids..you know? Anyway, enough backstory...

So, I saw the guy holding the sign and immediately something inside me KNEW that I had to help him. Call it intuition. Call it the good Lord whispering in my ear. Call it whatever you want to. The reaction I had was strong. Instead of asking Jason to turn the car around. I sat. And sat. Teary-eyed. Letting it bother me. For seven minutes until we pulled into our driveway. At that point, I knew I couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling I had any longer. I got some food together. (You know, kid-friendly food. Peanut butter. Milk. A loaf of bread. Orange juice. Etc. I thought if this guy truly had children he needed to feed, these things would last them longer than anything else I could give.)

I floored it back to Walmart, and by some miracle I wasn't stopped by a police officer. But when I got back to the parking lot, he was gone. I broke down. I had an opportunity to help someone and because I didn't listen to my intuition *righ then*, the opportunity was lost.

Thankfully, I did learn a lesson. Also, I hope that in reading this, my experience wasn't in vain. Maybe one of you reading this will have the opportunity to do your own good deed, and because of reading this, you won't ignore your intuition...your obligation to impact someone's life for the positive. So please, if you feel the need to help someone, DO IT right then. Maybe no one else will. Maybe YOU were put in that situation during that place and time because you were MEANT to help.  If you don't, the opportunity to do a good thing for a fellow human may not present itself again for awhile...