Life has pain and challenges.  What do you do when you encounter these difficulties? Suffering or experiencing misery and blame is an option or rising above the pain and difficulties is another.  It is your choice.

Recently, I decided that I wanted to run a half marathon: 13.10 miles.  Training brings pain, soreness and the occasional really bad run.  Some days there are obstacles in my path every way I turn from a sick child to a heavy thunderstorm.  I can look at these situations as “signs” that I shouldn’t do the things I set out to do or I can take the challenge and go forth with courage knowing that I’m rising above the trials.  Each week as I run more distance than the previous week I’m so thankful for perseverance and goals.  It is tempting to make excuses for myself, excuses like: I do a lot of things like raising and homeschooling eight kids, run a household and several businesses so I don’t have the time or energy to run.  When it comes to our goals and dreams are we unstoppable?

I love the quote by Virgil, “Fortune sides with him who dares.”  To have a successful happy day, week, month, or life, we must be courageous, bold, adventurous, and fearless.

Michael Jordan reminds us: “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up.  Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

When you encounter pain or a point where you feel discomfort in your growing process do you stop?  Do you call it quits?  Sometimes it is an indicator to slow down or change the way you do things, trust that it is part of the growing process and allow yourself to grow.

We are like rubber bands.  When we grow and progress in any area or get past any obstacle in our lives it is like we are stretching to new heights.  We’re stretching beyond our limitations. Once we’ve stretched, learned and gained the wisdom from those experiences we can never go back to the previous shape.  You are a better person with what you’ve learned through the growing process.

Astound yourself with what you are capable of.  Do not give up even if obstacles are put in your path.  Ask yourself, “What is it that I need to learn from this experience?”  Once you’ve recognized what you needed to learn, you have then elevated yourself above it.

Elevate Your Day.  Elevate your life.  Rise above the challenges and difficulties and create the life you want to live.

~Shiloah Baker, Editor-in-Chief

This month’s Home and Family magazine issue will help you by sharing ideas for cooking with seasonal produce, new ways to improve your home, family, and life, letting go of what is no longer needed, and more.  If you aren’t a subscriber yet, don’t miss any more fun, intelligent, and informative articles…subscribe today!