Karla’s Korner: Concrete Strength

Karla’s Korner: Concrete Strength

Concrete Strength…

Inner strength is defined as “integrity of character, resoluteness of will; mental resistance to doubt or discouragement”. Every once in a while I find myself intrigued by everyday ordinary things that most would overlook, ignore or simply not notice. The wanna be writer in me is always searching for inspiration, seeking ideas from my surroundings. Every once in a while if I pay close attention inspiration trips me up like a crack in the sidewalk; it comes from what I would consider an odd source. American rapper Tupac Shakur shared his thoughts in a poem “The Rose that Grew in the Concrete”Continue reading

Karla’s Korner: Adjust Your Sails

Karla’s Korner: Adjust Your Sails

Adjust Your Sails….

Elizabeth Edwards wrote, “She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails”. Edwards was faced with more than her fair share of obstacles, life storms if you will and each time she chose to face the storms and figure out how to overcome them without losing herself in the process. Losing her son Wade at the age of 19 was just one of the life storms that could have destroyed her will to move on; to continue to live a purposeful life. Edwards found herself adjusting the sails of her life boat on more than one occasion but each time she was not only able to see herself through the storm but to become a better person not only for herself but for her family and those close to her. When faced with breast cancer in 2004 she found herself adjusting her sails toward a positive attitude attempting to beat the cancer. Unfortunately, in 2010 Edwards lost her battle with breast cancer but always remained gracious, hopeful and positive. Continue reading

Karla’s Korner: The Roots of Life

Karla’s Korner: The Roots of Life

The Roots of Life….

So there I sat alone in a secluded booth at Ruby Tuesday’s waiting for my dinner companions to arrive. I was a bit nervous as I had not seen them in quite a while. Sipping tea and scanning through social media to pass the time I wondered why it was that I was so out of sorts. After all I have known these two men my whole life. Glancing toward the door as they arrive I wave to catch their attention greeting them as they sit down across from me. These men are my brothers; one three years older the other three years younger. At first the conversation was a bit strained just as our relationship has been for quite some time. But somehow the differences and the distance we had between us began to fade and I realized that I had missed them and I believe they had missed me too. The reason behind our visit didn’t matter as much as the fact they had agreed to drive 40 miles to meet me because you see it was because of me that our lives had become disconnected. The distance between us was a result of my own pride and as my grandfather would say bull headed ways, but in the midst of my mistakes and self-inflicted troubles I found it necessary to swallow my pride and reach out and in turn they reached back.Continue reading

Karla’s Korner: Finding Ourselves in the Quiet

Karla’s Korner: Finding Ourselves in the Quiet

Finding Ourselves in the Quiet….

Sitting in my quiet spot, the corner where I allow my thoughts to flow through my head and heart like a creek flowing through the mossy floor of the forest I find myself inhaling a bit deeper embracing fact that I am alone on Easter morning. The circumstances of my personal life lately have not been what I would have ever imagined but none the less it’s mine and I must own it. One of the most welcome yet difficult parts of each day is the quiet time, that time where reality resonates and causes me to think, to sort through the options or opportunities that lay in front of me; making decisions is tough. As much as I wish sometimes the quiet time would disappear, I realize that it’s in that quiet time that I can listen to my heart, feel my soul and meditate, pray and focus on what it is I need to do but what happens when the words elude me? Where do I go to find the words I need to explain my heart when I just can’t find them? It is in my quiet spot, the corner where I allow my thoughts to flow through my head and heart like a creek flowing through the mossy floor of the forest that I realize it is okay that I don’t have the right words right now. Being quiet and still is all I can manage at this time and that is just okay. In time the rights words will appear in my mind and heart but for now it is the quiet stillness in my corner that I breathe in and breathe out; it’s all I can do and that is just okay.Continue reading

Karla’s Korner – JUMP: Being The Best You Possible

Karla’s Korner – JUMP: Being The Best You Possible

JUMP: Being The Best You Possible

Television personality Steve Harvey recently shared his thoughts about life and the importance of living it to the fullest. In his viral video, Harvey says that every successful person in this world has jumped. You cannot just exist in this life, says Harvey, you must jump into life, embracing the gift you possess and using it to achieve success and more importantly happiness.Continue reading

Karla’s Korner: Artful Living

Karla’s Korner: Artful Living

Artful Living….

Academy award winning actress Helena Bonham Carter once said “I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home. Or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. And the way you feel. Life is art.” Often we see art as inanimate objects, pictures, statues or sculptures that adorn our homes, offices or museums; objects that often hold a high price tag. But what if we viewed life as art? What if we looked at those things that can’t be seen or touched rather felt and lived in a way that our very existence became art; the shining beauty that I believe it’s meant to be.Continue reading