“Honor the things that make your heart sing”

This would be my mantra for life. My saying. The one phrase I hold close to my soul and reach for every time I find myself in the midst of a difficult decision. I believe everyone needs to discover their very own mantra. I found mine one day in the PA Amish country. It was emblazoned on a large wooden sign that now hangs in my office. I was on the tail end of having to make some serious decisions for my life and there it was – sent from God – no doubt made by someone with a name of Amos or Levi.

HONOR THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR HEART SING.

Ok, so what did that mean to me??? Simply enough, choose what makes you the happiest no matter what. For me, that meant pursuing my dreams in TV. I opted to leave the 9 to 5 bank job and take the TV risk. Getting back into painting which is something I have always loved to do. Spend more time with my children. Put myself at the top end of my “to do” list for the first time in my life.

My word – believe. I have it everywhere in my home. It is in paintings. On signs. On refrigerator magnets. It is held on banners by ceramic angels. It is written in sand in a black and white photograph. It is even in a frame above the commode in my guest bathroom – for my boys – BELIEVE you CAN put down the seat! I cannot walk into a room without reading it while being reminded of its significance.

Believe – in myself and all I am capable of doing in this world. Believe – that God has given me a mission in this life and in His time He will show me exactly how I am to go about achieving it. Believe – that there are no accidents. That everything happens for a reason and that good things will always transpire from faithfulness – even if at the time they seem like very very bad things. Believe – that my Ryan has a serious heart defect for a reason. Believe – that my precious daughter, Stephanie, is severely autistic for a reason. Believe, that my youngest son, Nicholas, is also autistic for a reason. Believe that God will take care of all of us. And by golly, He HAS.

Star – that is my symbol. Not because I think I am a star, like some kind of diva, but rather, I am reminded that it is in the darkness when the stars shine the brightest. I remember that I could be a light to someone else. By shining, I could make another person’s day. Besides, I’d surely rather spend my life with a bright light. I chose a starfish to be representative because when my dear friend, Thomas J. Kec passed away 6 years ago, he took part of my bright light with him. He called me his brightest star in the galaxy and now he is mine. We loved starfish and not long after he passed away I was at the beach in Maryland and I found the most perfect purple and orange starfish in the water. A rarity, indeed. I threw him back – can you believe it!

Discover your mantra, your word, your symbol. Keep them close to you. Hold tight to dreams and find what makes YOU happy. Never make choices based on what others will think of you – unless you plan to get naked and jump in a fountain somewhere in broad daylight and your friends try to talk you out of it!! Honor the things that make your heart sing. Believe in YOU. Feel like a shining star.

You get ONE life. Are you making the best of yours???