Poor Dorthy running around in that short dress and shinny shoes. Everyone knows that by the time she reached the tin man her feet were killing her. From the moment that house touched down the only thing she had to eat was an apple, that she didn't even get to finish. Once she reached the wizard things didn't get any better - he sent her off to kill the witch that had been trying to kill her since her arrival. So off she goes, with no real weapons. Just a cowardly lion, a heartless man made of tin, a mindless scarecrow and a very tiny dog. While watching that as a child I thought, she was very brave, much braver than I.
And then we find out it was just a dream, a horrible nightmare. A nightmare that helped her realized there is no place like home. Making it clear that running away was the worst thing she could do. If only every nightmare had a clear message.
I have loved this movie for so many reasons, most of them childhood memories that still make me smile but, watching this as a adult has made me think about number of other things no child considers. As a child the movie fascinated me, terrified me, and made me want to fly some where over the rainbow. As an adult all I can think is "that poor thing". When I think about the fact that this was all a dream I have to wonder, if she was a real girl what would her reality look like?
In this dream neither she nor her companions needed the wizard. When push came to shove they all found what they needed - what they have been looking for was right inside them. Like Dorthy - the answer, the key, or cure to what ailed them was with them through out the entire journey. But, I wonder - had they not taken the journey where would they be? With the exception tin man - who would have been to rusty to move on his own - they all found out something about themselves fairly quickly. The scarecrow went from barely walking to skipping down the yellow brick road and the lion even though he was clearly afraid found the courage to promise to protect the young girl.
This I believe can be credited simply to the change in their surroundings which supported the reality they where in. As an adult I can't help but think about these two things: How our surroundings effect our reality and How the impossible becomes possible with small changes. In their cases the changes were not that small.
As for Dorthy and her reality. While I know she was just a child or more so a teen - and we know that reality changes with the wind for teens - I still have to have to ask why did she not know that the power to go home had been with her the whole time? She held the keys to her happiness or was wearing those keys on her feet - poor thing. Still she was a teen who, much like many of us adults, wondered, whenever there was a rainbow “Why, Oh why can't I?” - find those keys myself.
I am sure you have heard it said time and time again “you can’t love someone else if your don’t love yourself” or “no one will ever love you as much as you love yourself”. Oh, that is unless you factor in a mothers love (we will save that one for another day). It has been said to me and by me more times than I can count. To be honest I am not sure if the saying is true – for everyone that is. For me I have to say I can think of times when I was sure it was love, like when I wanted to run away but the love for my children made me stay. I am pretty sure I was very low on the to "be-loved list" in that case. Never the less, I do remember loving myself at some point – just not has much has I loved everyone else in my life.
I remember when I first realized how much I loved my husband – a feeling like nothing else. Yet I will admit that even then the feelings for myself was not what could be called mutual. And the answer to your question is – No, I did not think I deserved to be loved (only selfish people think they deserve things – another one for a different post). In my reality love was something you give, to get and it came from someone else, and it was based on how much you gave. You shouldn’t have to ask for it – if you gave enough you would get it in return. That was just how it worked. Don’t ask me what enough is - I never learned the answer to that.
I’m not sure where I picked up that belief, but it was a strong one and it shaped all of my relationships and interactions with everyone I met. If you are a responsible person with a family – working long hours and then coming home to finish you work day, before falling to sleep on you sofa – beat – you don’t have room in your life for much. Most people struggle day-to-day to prove to others that they love them. Running when told – jumping when told and not forgetting to ask how high. To prove – without asking – that they deserve love in return. Trying their best to prove this to their parents, their children, their spouses and friends. To their extended family and even their hardly there family. It is enough to wipe you out.
For some people keeping that up is just too much, something has got to give. The easiest way to free up space is to start from the bottom. You do remember where I told you I was on that list. How can a person who does not love themselves feel love? How can they know love? I believe it starts from a memory. Yes, at some point I stopped loving myself but, I never said that I never ever, loved myself at all. And it’s a good thing that the memory survived. Because at some point I got tired of having a “prove your love” to do list two miles long that I wasn’t on. New habits formed, beliefs changed and slowly I made it back on to that list.
Slowly I worked my way up that list and the strangest thing happened – when I reached the top – the love I had been looking for was right there in the spot next to my husband, my children and no longer distant family members. Whenever I thought about doing something nice for someone else – not to prove my love to them but simply to say I love you, that nice thing was something we could do together. I also found that those I love, loved doing the things I loved doing, simply because I loved it. There was room in my life for me to love everyone including me.
In my reality loving myself made loving everyone else easier. I was no longer angry and depressed. I no longer felt obligated to please everyone in order to get love in return. I was a happier person and those I loved got the best of me everyday and I began to get the best of them. Yes, some of those people on that list got left behind, with the anger and depression. They should never have been on this list to begin with. They were actually only put on the list as a way to justify the anger and depression. I could count on them to keep me down when I was down. It was only right that they went when the anger and other bad habits went.
I added a few new habits, bright ones that attracted that love I was taught never to ask for and better than that I made it clear to everyone that I deserved to be loved and if it wasn’t clear in my actions well, I just asked for it.
I am Cynthia Williams and My Reality there is no relationship stronger than the love affair I am having with myself.
These word said in the right context can be the most loving words you will ever say. You can not MAKE me happy. Happiness is not something anyone can give. Happiness is a choice. Yup a choice. The truth is anyone can try as hard as they can but never come close to giving or bringing the happiness you are looking for. It is a state, a state of mind, a state of being.
So, is it fair to expect your partner to be your only source of happiness in your relationship. The truth is they can only take part in the happiness you allow yourself to receive. If you are with a person because they make you happy – if they are the only source of happiness you're able to tap into, you have set yourself up for disappointment. Even if you believe you are destined to be with this person for the rest of your life, the slightest change can disrupt your happiness. If you are not the type of person who can be happy just being you and you rely on others the bring you joy, life is probably not has full as it can be for you.
Happy couples are happy people when they are with their partner and when they are alone. They are content and it is not based on the relationship they are in. Their relationship is only a part of their happiness. These are also the same people who are able to move on when a relationship ends. They recognize that what they had was only one page or chapter in the story that is their life. The grieving period is much shorter for them. They share their happiness and are happy to be a part of the happiness their partner has to share.
So ask yourself are you working on making yourself happy, just has happy as you would like your partner to be? Would you be able to enjoy spending the day alone? Must you do everything thing together? If you are unable to spend the day or do something with your partner, would that ruin your the whole day for you?
The answer to these question will help determine just how happy you an be.
Well what’s wrong with your hose? No hose, what about a bucket? Don’t have access to water? So what if you don’t. Maybe your lawn is starting to brown and there may be more bald patches than you can count but you do have a lawn and that means you are blessed.
Let just say that the person you are so envious of IS living a full and happy life – maybe they ARE completely happy in every area – what can you do about it? Well, spending time and energy comparing your life to theirs is the last thing you should be doing. You should be focused on your own grass.
One place you can start is by taking a good long look at where you are in your life. Starting here can be uplifting believe it or not. I don’t mean get out a ruler and start measuring your failures or weighting the things that have been disappointing you. If you can only think of one good reason to be you – hell one great reason to be you then you are off to a great start. If you can find one, you can find another - it may take some digging but you may find more reasons to celebrate your life than you expected. If you find that you are not where you want to be – don’t waste time being jealous of the neighbor, friend or co-worker who may be completely happy (or not). Instead take that energy and invest it.
Here’s how to keep your own grass green and healthy:
1. Do your homework – Do you know your grass? What type of grass is it? (Take time out to get to know who you are and what will make you happy). Not all grass is the same. (Not everything is for everyone).
2. Invest in the right tools – A well keep lawn requires the proper tools. (Should you be taking that class you have always wanted to take? Maybe it is time to join that gym you have said you would be joining?)
3. Lawns need plenty water and lots of nourishment as well. (Find a friend or support group something that will help you stay focused and positive). Be careful what you use on your lawn – chemicals can be harmful. (Get rid of the people and stay way from the places and things that are toxic or doing harm that could interfere with positive forward movement).
It is hard to find time to be jealous of someone else when your busy with your own life. This year make it your business to put yourself first, meaning – do the work needed to grow your own patch of thick green grass. It may take some time - a few days or maybe weeks but, once you get on a roll you will find that going after what makes you happy will become easier. The only thing you will feel when looking at your neighbors grass will be joy. You will able to take in its beauty and appreciate it.
I am Cynthia Williams and my Reality will be growing sweet bell pepper this year
There are people out there that just can't seem to keep a relationship going for longer that a few months. Some people are lucky and can go on for a few years before crashing and burning. You know the type - after every break up they sit around looking confused - they were just sure they had the right one this time. In the mean time you are shaking your head - just as confused - only you're wondering *what the hell they are thinking? How could they not see this was not going to work out? All of the signs were there but they didn't see any of them. What's worst is you have picked up on a pattern that they seem to over look every time and you don't know how or if you should say something.
Why is this clear to you and not clear to your friend? Well, what you have is a classic case of someone not being in touch with their reality.
It is hard for those of us who are looking for love (in all the wrong places and in some cases even the right place) to accept that they may well be the reason for all of their misfortune when it comes to relationships. If in their hearts and minds they see things much different from the rest of the world - what is there to change? For instance - take a guy - a good guy who just keeps getting taken advantage of by all of his girl friends. He can be the sweetest guy; always helping others - quick to come when called. Paying bills and helping out with children he hasn't fathered but still ending up alone. You may ask yourself (and him) what is he doing wrong or you may just think he has really bad luck. You may feel bad for him and even try to set him up. Nice guys like him shouldn't have to put up with women who don't appreciate him, right? Well, he should if he wants to.
My question would be what's going on in his belief system? What does he believe about himself or others that is the fuel that is keeping him going? What were his relationships with family and friends growing up - what was he taught about women or about his role in a relationship? He may not be aware but his reality - the way he see the world and the world he really lives in could be two very different things. He may be clueless to all of this - he may be totally unaware of the connection but, he is the connection. He may not be consciously picking these women but he is picking them. Being oblivious does not make you blameless. OK, I am not saying anyone is at fault - lets just say maybe there is something he could do or change in his life - in his belief system that could put a stop to this.
It comes back to something pretty simple. What he knows to be real is the engine that keeps him going - all the while he is in the wrong lane. Poor soul, he may be a sweetheart but the world is full of people who could care less. If he was in touch with his reality he would be prepared and could see the people who would take advantage of him coming a mile away.
I am Cynthia Williams and My Reality is my Armor.
I come from family where marriage is optional. My mother and father did not marry but my mother did marry another man when I was about 14. They split as well – it was not what anyone would have called the perfect marriage. What I remember of my mom and dad’s time together was nothing like fairy tale either. What I learned from my mother was how to insult and belittle, bruise then crushed and how to curse a guy out so bad I could bring him to tears. She was my hero. See she didn’t take no stuff and that was how I was going to be with my guys (note the plural use of the word). I did not trust men and expected them all to try something funny. It didn’t help that I was way to young to be in a serious relationship with any body and the lack of supervision and sound advice kept me from making wise decisions. And then I met my husband and something happened. He was nothing like most guys I knew – nothing like the men I knew either - he was different and I was not ready for who he was.
We settled down – very young with an unplanned family - we married and did our best to play house as grown ups. Most, I would say 95% of the time we were the love birds you hear about, but perfect it was not.
We yelled - well, I yelled and screamed often, had great make up sex and then we would repeat – never knowing what the argument was really about. They were so few and far between we often forgot there ever was an argument. Till one day he left. Yup, just like that. I had no idea what happened. We were telling each other “I say this all the time” but, neither one of us could remember pass talks, conversations or shouting matches. All we knew was we’d had enough. We just wasn’t sure what we’d had enough of. Our arugements were not making any sense and we were just tired.
It was a long fall and before we knew it, we where spending Christmas a part. Me in South Carolina and him at his mothers. We had stopped fighting and there was no shouting, just a puzzled look and a lot of trouble explaining what went wrong. Oh we could remember all the mean stuff the other had said but, never why it was said or what it all meant was beyond us. The only thing that was clear to me was how much I missed him - I had no idea but he felt the same way. And then one day my mother say to me “what do you want?” I told her I wanted my husband back – she said “go get him”. I started to write a letter trying to apologize but I couldn’t, I didn’t know what to apologize for. I realized I wasn’t listening – I never listened. I yelled and he would clam up. So I had not clue what I had done so wrong. There was no other woman - no other man. Our bills were paid on time and we had great sex. If it wasn’t money, sex or another person then why were we fighting? My husband had no clue as well, it was beyond us. Oh there were small things we thought it could be but honestly they were just small things that could have been worked out, if we wanted them to.
I was speechless for the first time ever. So I decided to introduce myself to him and tell him what he would get if he took a chance on me and he did the same. A few week before our anniversary we were trying to work it out - we were talking but most importantly we were listening and learning and reliving the love we shared. Not much had changed we were still the same people only now we were listening to each other and learning even more. About our hopes and our dreams and our fears.
The years have passed, this December we will have been together for 20 years and with each passing year I’ve learned to say what I mean as lovingly as I can, to be clear and not forceful – that is unless it is really needed. We truly live in two very different realities sometimes, but we often go on joy rides through them together. No body knows me better and vise verse. I listen very closely to what he says and for what he’s not saying. Then I respond at the right time with the right words – I have had a lot of practice.
We are by no means like the Cleavers there are days when I just shake my head and he does the same but we have learned the secret to a happy marriage is knowing not to say anything – sometimes all there is to do is just listen.
I am Cynthia Williams and My Reality Listens to him.
How many times have you heard someone say either of the following: “Sure, in your world.” or “Yeah, on your planet.” Most people get offended whenever they hear those words but, in some cases it’s true, we do live in our own world or on our own planet. This is not always a bad thing. Coming to grips with what you view as real could be the key to achieving happiness and satisfaction in your life.
I once saw an interview of Warren Buffet – he was asked something to the effect of – how did he come so successful? He gave credit to a number of things but the one thing that stood out to me was – he never listened to what others told him coud or could not be done. He never let others doubts get in the way of his goals. He took chances others never dreamed of and was told he was making mistake after mistake but, he believed in himself and what he knew to be true. Needless to say he knew a thing or two that others didn’t and because of his belief in himself he is now one or the riches men in the world.
I am sure he was looked upon as being more than a little crazy while taking what others believed to be huge risk but, what others saw as a crazy risk he saw as a oppurtunity for success.
Also being interviewed at the same time was the rapper Jay-Z (given name Sean Carter). His rise to the top had a much different beginning. Jay-Z was a drug dealer, turned rapper, turned music mogul. He maybe one of the richest rappers in the history of the business. How did a kid from Marcy projects grow up to become part owner of the New Jersey Nets and many owner companys bearing his name? Well, failure was never a part of his reality. He credits having to struggle to make it day-to-day doing what he had to do so that he would never have to do it again. He took the struggles that were a real part his life and use them as motivation to become the man he is today. But for him becoming a successful rapper was not enough he wanted to be a force to be reckoned with and became a pioneer of sorts the first to do the very things people said could not be done.
For both of these men, what could not be done was a part of the reality they dreamed they would do. They ignored the doubts others had and used the struggles of their everyday lives as fuel – as ammo and kept moving forward never looking back.
When I say to people – What’s your reality? – they normally respond with what do you mean? Sometimes I have to do a little explaining and give a demonstration of how it can affect ones life – putting a straggle hold on your hopes and dreams – I usually get their attention and the idea does provoke questions. It is often eye opening, even life changing. The reaction to learning that your beliefs have been the main road block in your life can bring on a bout of depression. I can often see the darkness move in before our conversation is half way through but, when I explain the upside to understanding your reality and how any and every mistake or wrong turn can be used to jump start them into a reality that is in line with the life they say they what to live, the sun starts to peek through and light smile begins to show.
The best part of introducing one to their reality is hearing them say “SO I’M NOT CRAZY FOR WANTING SOMETHING MORE, SOMETHING DIFFERENT?” It is like a load has been lifted and they can finally breathe. They begin to question everything and everyone. They begin to see things a little clearer and can relate to those they have never been able to understand. For some of them - for the first time in a very long time - they begin to plot out the future they were told is not real or just a dream. They begin to trust themselves and take risk they were too afraid to take before being able to tie their beliefs to their actions or lack there of. Those who express disbelieve or doubt become the fuel needed to excel and succeed. Life becomes more than worth living it also becomes worth celebrating.
Both Mr. Buffet and Mr. Carter learned this well before I and are living proof that if it is a part of your reality than you can live it.
I am Cynthia Williams and My Reality is keeps challenging me.