Bloom Where You are Planted

Hello Ladies and Gents,
 
I hope that this newsletter finds you well. Although I am on vacation in the Sunshine State, I want to tell you a story that I hope inspires you to live your best life even in the worst of circumstances.  I hope this encourages you to move forward with your dreams.
 
Alex was in a relationship that did not help her. Her honey was more salt than sweet. He was less supportive than a pair of stilettos. They had been together for five years and she really loved him. They had been married only a few months when she noticed that he enjoyed being alone more than being with her. It did not help that they had a set of twins who demanded more of her than she was willing to give. She worked full-time at a job she loathed more than a bee sting, but it paid the bills.

In still moments, Alex found herself daydreaming of a better life. Where her children were grown and her man was gone for good. She wanted desperately to launch a small baking company catering for special events. Alex had been a baker since she was 7 and it was certified by her winning the best pie contest at the local fair 5 years in a row. When she went to college it was her baking skills that she relied on for the extra money to help her stay above water. After meeting Everett, whom she believed to be the love of her life, she quickly forgot about her first true love and gave herself over to her new love. Everett was passionate and loving in the beginning. But the days of him being cold and distant were too much to take.

As time went on, the stress and strain took over her being and Alex found herself in the hospital hooked up to every monitor known to man. Tears began to fall from her eyes. How could I be so miserable? Nothing is as I have planned. In that instant a nurse came in and shared a lesson that changed her life.

She said to Alex, "Baby, I see women come in here all the time with stress related illnesses and you are no different. My heart goes out to you and as such I want to share something I learned a long time ago." Alex listened intently and sat up to hear her words. The nurse told her, "Life will never be what you want it to be. You will always be too bored, too busy or too crazy to live how you want to. Learn to bloom where you are planted."
 
She left Alex to ponder those words. As she meditated on them she understood that life indeed has ebbs and flows and she was always better when she went with it. She knew that life might not be absolutely perfect, but she could still bloom in the adversity of being in a job she hated, with busy twins and in a relationship that had long stopped fulfilling her.
 
Coach Char what the heck does that have to do with me?

Simple, I know that life is not always easy. You have stuff that has the power to keep you stuck. You have relationships that do not suit you or help you grow or support you. You have co-workers who are less than cooperative and maybe a boss who is jealous of your talents. I understand that life is hard. It can sometimes make you forget that you are a winner. Winners win no matter where and no matter what! Can you flourish in a dry place? Absolutely! All you need to do is make the decision to do it and commit to doing it. You would be surprised by the people who have bloomed when planted in the most dire of circumstances and you can do the same.
 
Know that life doesn't always give you lemonade, but you can take the lemons you get and make your own lemonade. Alex found the strength to leave her unfulfilling relationship and start a business baking sweet treats for all occasions. It wasn't easy, but before she could move forward she had to bloom in the dire circumstances that she found herself to be in. Once she learned that the only thing that mattered for her success is her ability to take action no matter what was going on, Alex began to have success.
 
I want you to know that life will not stop until you die and perfect is a perspective, but you can have better if you try. Remember to bloom where you are planted.
 
Abundant Blessings,
Coach Char