Inspiration: Five Years From Now…
“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Inspiration: Five Years From Now… Be all that you can Be Mandala (EOF All Rights Reserved ©)
What would you say to the person you were five years ago? Five years ago, I had accepted a wonderful opportunity that included lots of travel and a relocation to California. I had said yes on many levels; my decision was a resounding yes to growth and to life. What wasn’t apparent or mentioned at the time was that, months before, I had completed a fantastic NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) course, overcome my 9/11 induced fear of flying, and walked on fire with Tony Robbins. I look back and I’m grateful for pushing past fear and trusting the promptings within. I have no regrets.
#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge. The #Trust30 Prompt : What would you say to the person you were five years ago? What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?
California opened doors to new friendships, experiences and life lessons. I learned that taking risks in life can be rewarding, and can help us be stronger, focused, and in touch with our higher self. My faith grew and with it came tremendous grace that saw me through some difficult times. When I look back to the person I was then, I say bravo, and I am reminded that for everything there is a season. My family stayed in NY and my commute, back and forth, meant time together was never wasted, and trips we took together were cherished; memories we continue to hold dear.
What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years? Since then, I’ve relocated back to NY and, as my journey continues, I would give myself the following words of advice… Perhaps a bit more succinctly; If need be, I will elaborate… What would you tell yourself? More below. 🙂
✿♡✿Be Courageous
✿♡✿Be Adventurous
✿♡✿Be Grateful – for family, friends, people’s grace, God’s grace…
✿♡✿Be Happy
✿♡✿Be Healthy
✿♡✿Be Loving & Loved
✿♡✿Be Creative
“There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Inspiration: Five Years From Now… Gratitude for the good to come...
✿♡✿Be Free
✿♡✿Be At Peace
✿♡✿Be Active
✿♡✿Be Blessed & a Blessing
✿♡✿Be Abundant
✿♡✿Be Prayerful
✿♡✿Be a Beginner – Have a Beginner’s Mind
If there is one thing this exercise brings to the fore, it is that we must live our lives with inspiration and great courage now. There is no room for wasted moments or regrets as time vanishes, yes time does fly, and with it, our days of youthful dreams and wishes are shortened. Each day becomes one less day to meet the world and make a difference. Let’s get to it! What are your thoughts? What would you say to yourself in five years? What have you learned from the last five? Do share! Thank you. 😉
This post was inspired by a prompt from RalphWaldoEmerson.me:What would you say to the person you were five years ago? What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?
Positive Motivation Tip: Live your life now with courage and abundance so, five year from now, you’ll have no regrets.
Related articles
- #Trust30 Pledge (gpangie12.wordpress.com)
- WWW Wed and Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts (postadaychallenge2011.com)
- Musings: Life in Two Parts… (eof737.wordpress.com)
- Ralph Waldo Emerson: Self Reliance Prompt #5 (miriamgomberg.wordpress.com)
- Reflections: 15 Minutes To Live… (eof737.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Photo of Mandala from my personal collection via Keith Allen Kay, and Thank you plaque at Guadalupe site via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Five years ago was a lifetime ago for me Elizabeth. What would the me I am now say to the me I was then? I would say..congratulations for being brave and doing what was best. To the future me I would say..congratulations for finding you, for being ready for the next adventure and for riding the wave of believing!
Thank you for your inspiration!
Chris
Congratulations too! I echo your words as I had to be brave and push through my fears. Here’s to an inspired life and many more opportunities for growth and adventure! 🙂
We are constantly changing and growing…if only we will allow ourselves Many are so afraid of “change” that they would rather be unhappy in the life they know, instead of reaching for something different, but unknown.
I’ve become more empowered as I get older…and have done things in the last year (skydiving was the least scary) that five years ago I would never have contemplated doing. I look forward to the next five years with eager anticipation and admit that there is some amount of anxiety, something I never would have owned up to before. 🙂
Thank you Eliz, for a post that always makes us think and strive to be the best we can be!
Kudos again on your skydiving! Change can be very scary especially because ti doesn’t come with guarantees but we must press on…
There is some trepidation for all of us as we can’t gauge the unknown. A little bit of it is a good thing to help keep us human and humble TY too Viv! I miss seeing you online… and I understand the family requests. Time spent on the internet can become excessive. 🙂
I would say: you can get through anything.
And so you will… and me too. TY! 🙂
I have a hard time thinking about the future and the past. I let go and let God so that I won’t waste this exact moment in time. I want to live in the here and now so with that said, this question was not one of my “cup of tea.” Forgive me. Once again you have an outstanding viewpoint on this topic.
I hear you… no offense taken. Just like some make 5-10 year plans and New Year Resolutions, there are others who don’t see the need to do any of it… It’s all good as I don’t believe there is only one right way to live.
As the saying goes, man proposes, God re-purposes. We can still choose to see that it doesn’t hurt to imagine and dream great things for ourselves. TY for your support Jackie! 🙂
This was a very good post. As I am now in the midst of making decisions, it seems all my life I was always able to just go with the flow with my choices. Like you mentioned “I’m so grateful for pushing past fears and trusting my promptings within. I have no regrets. I would tell this woman fighting our battles, living our dreams, makes one stronger, taking risks is what helps us to become the woman we are today.
Thank you Penny, I sense that a lot of our journey is similar and that’s why you understand the things I don’t say… Yep, we press on with our dreams and trust that it will all work out. 🙂
I agree with Jackie on this one. I am always striving to live in the moment so I have no desire to visit the past or the future. You can’t change the past and, try as you might, you have no idea what the future holds.
I understand your reflection though.
Thanks!
Thank you Barb, I know you do. We don’t have to live in the past but we can definitely acknowledge it. Being present doesn’t mean shutting the door on everything else; we still have history, goals and plans… even our blogs are informed by events in our lives; past, present and future. I honor all. 🙂
When my nieces graduated from HS this Spring . . . I gave them a series of quotes designed to instill courage and confidence:
* There is as much risk in doing nothing as in doing something. ~ Trammell Crow
* When we are unwilling to risk anything, we risk everything.
* Nothing ventured, something lost. ~ Neale Clapp
* Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbors. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~ Mark Twain
Lovely. I take it these were the same quotes given to you on your journey? Where are your nieces going to college? They must be excited! 🙂
A few years back, I wrote a 5-year-plan and then I hid it away for safe keeping. A lot of the things in my plan have come to fruition despite myself. I believe at this very moment I am unconsciously planning the next five years, that’s why I pay very close attention to my thoughts and ideas no matter how ridiculous they seem.
Yes and I believe you. Do you remember Shakti Gawain’s book on Creative Visualization? It does speak of the power in writing things down. I did it after my dad passed away and most of what I wrote came to pass. There is a powerful unconscious that guides our path and that is why our thoughts and wishes do matter; no matter how trivial they may seem to us or others. Another thing I learned growing up is to keep your dearest wishes close to you hearts; especially the specifics. 🙂
Five years ago, I was such a different person! I suppose I would tell my 5 years ago self not to take everything so seriously. And to my 5 years from now self, don’t forget the little people! Ha!
I like that Rosa; especially the line about the little people. The socio-economic divide is such today that the “haves” have much more than the “have-nots.”
While we can all say life is not fair, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t treat each other with dignity and fairness. 🙂
I would tell myself of 5 yrs ago: Take your time don’t let anyone push you and listen to advise then do what you think is best.
5 yrs from now I would say: Wow, old girl, you are still alive and well!
Terrific! And may it come true for you. 🙂
Five years ago, my son was born. I would tell myself that these will be the hardest five years you have ever lived. When you receive devastating news, embrace it, learn it, face it and fight it. It will be the best five years you have ever lived.
For the future me, don’t waste time.
You have made me wonder more about you, Elizabeth than what you have answered here. I am sorry for your difficult times but difficult times can make you thoughtful, strong, wise, more compassionate and smart. You are all those things. 🙂
Exactly, and you have been a class act living by those guidelines. I think we all need to have that future advice on our fridge door… Don’t waste time!
As for me, please don’t feel sorry for anything, as I am quite at peace and recognize that difficulties shape our character and strengthen our faith… That I know for sure.
TY! 🙂
I had to laugh at this topic. Not because it was funny, but because………… wait for it…………. five years ago I was ADAMENT I was not dating any men with young children! 😆 Now, when you have picked yourself up off the floor laughing, let me tell you at our MRT appeal hearing, I happened to mention this and the Member said “Your not too good at sticking to your rules, are you?”
So I have no idea what I will say to my future self, but to my past self I say, “Live without rules”. Life is a bit like the stockmarket – no risk, no reward.
I took the risk and reaped the rewards – even if there were a million pairs of jeans in the wash tonight. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm – and yes, we’ve discussed it! 😀
Well, we all make predictions that sometimes don’t pan out… I’m not laughing because you guessed wrong, but my laughter is joyful because you found love in the center of chaos… A good thing! You took the leap and all is well. 🙂
Yes, do keep those chore divisions going 😉 I like the life without rigid rules idea… 🙂
Don’t worry so much. You’ll always find a way through is what I would have said, and I did
Hi Peter,
Thanks for stopping by…. We always find a way through in life… Yes, we do and that makes all the difference. 🙂
five years ago, 2006, I joined the flickr photo pool;
my first photo, online has 12,793 views in the meantime and 202 comments!
what to say?
have trust to join the world wide web communities!
it is a positive way to do so …
Good for you… I think I joined Flickr 5 years ago too… with different results there 😆
I’ve done great here. We get what we put into it, no? Lots of positive out there for sure. TY! 🙂
thank you, Eliz, for inspiring me. of course I’ve mentioned you there …
Thank you too for the shout out Frizztext! I appreciate it … and I love that photo of the shaggy dog and curious cat at the window. 🙂