Acting Up

“I want to stop surviving this life and live it fully.”

I made that remark several times in 2011. While I was hoping against hope, I felt like I was merely treading water in so many areas of my life. It was all I could do to keep from drowning. I just wanted to survive through the day.

But I am tired of surviving.

I am ready to thrive.

Today my choice is to EMBRACE it all.

Embrace – willingly let my heart, my mind, my soul experience whatever comes my way. I am choosing to surround myself with the offerings of each day. Instead of clinging desperately to survival I will loosen my grip. I will throw my arms open wide and embrace the moment.  I am certain the good will be sweeter, the bad will be raw – but not defeat, and the ugly something from which beauty can (eventually) grow.

I sent this text to a friend a few days ago:

Sometimes things just happen to you – enjoy it! Or laugh, or roll your eyes but embrace it!

Little did I realize I haven’t been taking my own advice. But it is time to embrace what life brings my way. To allow myself to feel the pain and sadness, to allow myself to relish the joys and laughter. To roll my eyes at the ironic and quirky, but mostly to embrace this gift that I have been given. I am alive. I am loved. I have purpose.

Hello 2012…I welcome you with open arms.