Determined Spirit

One need only look to nature for that which inspires one to stay determined to stand with a robust spirit along the road map of life.

I waited patiently while I watched the vibrant red flowers come to life on a Florida Bottlebrush tree. (And I am not a patient person!) Each day a little more red would rise on the flower's journey to reach full bloom of its color.

I learned from the Bottlebrush flower that even though there are times when I may feel lost and without direction if I but stay the course I shall reach my destination with my sunshine spirit intact.

Determination
©Ruth Cox

Directionless feeling
Devalued
Darest not to despair.

Dedicated notion
Devoted
Driven never dauntless.

Delirious spirit
Determined
Drawn toward debonair.

   

Grow Your Own Bottlebrush Tree

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Amazon.com and may earn sales commissions via purchases made through links on this article.

This poetry and prose is part of the 26-Week ABC Challenge of emotions. This week's topic begins with the letter "D" — in my case, for DETERMINED. (As well as a few other letter "D" emotions.)

Read all about the ABC Challenge and join us right here on this blog each week as we write about emotions from A to Z.

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I Think I Can Meet Challenges Feeling Confident

Believe You Can Sign

Sometimes more easily said than done, the best way to meet a challenge is by facing it head on with an "I can" confident feeling.

Ease Fear and Self-Doubt

Often the uncertainty of a life circumstance can leave us lacking confidence in ourselves and others. However, there are things we can do to ease our fear and self-doubt.

• Over the years I have had plenty of practice to perfect the appearance of feeling confident. I have mastered this by walking with head, heart, and shoulders held high, even when life throws me a curve ball. 
• When I catch myself wavering in my confidence stance, I seek a bit of sunshine and solace from my resource bank: my trusted friends and family, a walk with my canine companion, and the strength held within from a lifetime of survival.
• Think back to a life challenge that you have previously experienced. Recall what it is that pulled you through, enabling you to come out the other side feeling confident for the next mountain to climb. (Yes, there will forever be challenges!)
• Trust others as one of your greatest resources. Get out there and cultivate relationships with those who build you up rather than pull you down.
• Much like The Little Engine That Could in books for kids, an "I think I can" attitude can propel us to push past our fear, enabling us to try. Read the book again and again and you are sure to feel your self-doubt dissipating with every turn of the page.

Get By With A Little Help From Friends

I Knew You Could!

With a little help from trustworthy friends we can move from I think to I know I can. The friend who supports us with an "I knew you could" assurance is a good friend indeed. These are the life companions we need to reach out to when our confidence needs a boost.

When challenged, I know I can feel confident — with a little help from my friends. All I am required to do is to ask and I shall receive that which I need.

FundRazr for Valentino and Ruthi

That said, here is my present life challenge and I assure you, I am feeling quite certain that my needs are being met in order for me to move forward with confidence.

This article is part of the 26-Week ABC Challenge of emotions. This week's topic begins with the letter "C" — in my case, for CONFIDENT.

Read all about the ABC Challenge and join us right here on this blog each week as we write about emotions from A to Z.

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Is life balanceable?

Life is a balancing act, somewhat of a jigsaw puzzle, with the scales of justice seemingly not always on our side, not always factual nor fair.

Is life balanceable? is probably not a question to be asked nor answered by one who considers herself a perfectly balanced Libran gal. Yes, that would be me!

But of course, now that I have asked the question, I must try to deliver an answer. Unfortunately, we may be here writing and reading for hours, days, or more before that occurs, as first I must weigh all sides of the query, one alongside the other, in order to determine a factual and fair response.

My gut instinct would be to burst forth (with a bit o' sunshine, perhaps) an emphatic Yes! On the other hand, outside forces often fan the flames of life desires in such a way that a missing piece or two of the puzzle may render the balancing act difficult, nigh impossible, to achieve — should one believe.

I choose not to be a believer of impossibility. In all fairness I have weighed the facts of life to be balanceable indeed.

Sure, there are flames of fire forever looking to burn the bridges upon that which we plan as our life path. But at the beginning and at the end of a day — there is always a bit o' sunshine to be found!

Gut instinct wins and life shall be balanceable upon the scales of justice.

Note: Special thanks to a few special friends who are tipping the scales of my outlook on life with their jigsaw puzzle expertise.

Perfectly Balanced Libra Postcard by abitosunshine
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This article is part of the 26-Week ABC Challenge of emotions. This week's topic begins with the letter "B" — in my case, for BALANCEABLE.

Read all about the ABC Challenge and join us right here on this blog each week as we write about emotions from A to Z.

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Anticipating Spring Renewal

Each year at this time I always seem to have birth and rebirth in mind, anticipating Spring as a time of renewal for all living things.

On a walk with my dog this afternoon I spied an almost colorless single daffodil growing wild in a neighbor's yard. Through an array of growth of twigs and twining things, I envisioned the beauty her garden would bring come Spring.

Nearing home, I decided to sit in the back yard with my dog for a bit. I noticed the neighboring Plum tree beginning to come alive with its white blossoms. As I took a picture of a branch against the cloud covered blue sky, I felt as though I were sneaking a peek into the future with my cell phone camera's eye.

I sighed, "Spring is near," as I glanced at my dog Valentino sitting at my feet, eagerly anticipating the treat he had come to expect for his good behavior while I took photos. As Valentino munched on his Good Reasons dog treat gift from a friend, I smiled.

Anticipating Spring Renewal of Living Things
(Click the picture for a larger view.)

I knew change was in the air, more than just a seasonal thing. I knew that a major life move was soon to take place for me and my canine friend.

As I thought about our future together, again I smiled. For I also knew that no matter the anxiety I felt over a major life change I was sure of one thing ... My dog and I would be anticipating all that this new life adventure might bring — Together.

This article is my first in the 26-Week ABC Challenge of emotion identification and creative expression through poetry and prose. In case you had not yet guessed, the topic began with the letter "A" for ANTICIPATING.

Read all about this ABC Challenge and join us right here on this blog each week as we write about emotional things from A to Z.

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Gray Matters Of Mind

Sometimes a black and white picture paints a thousand shades of gray matter in a mind and spirit.


GRAY MATTERS OF MIND
©Ruth Cox

Black and white must
Leave room for gray
Matters of mind
Growing in gust
Trees of life sway
Sol spirits bind
The living trust
Mid an array
Of kith and kind.

I am linking this picture and poetry up with ABRACABADRA for Wordless Wednesday.