Overcoming Our Smallest Hurdles and Our Greatest Mountains

This past weekend I had the opportunity of attending my Area's Mary Kay Fall Advance. The week before I wasn't sure I would be able to make it at all due to work conflicts. But thanks to my Senior Director and Director, they helped me find a way and I am so grateful they did. Who knew that camping outside with a few dozen Mary Kay ladies would be so much fun and awe inspiring. This weekend was not only inspiring, but motivating, and rejuvenating. 

The theme this year was overcoming obstacles and WOW don't we all face numerous obstacles in our daily lives from small hurdles to the greatest mountains. Some of those obstacles can be caused by us, others or even just pop out out of nowhere. And as we know life isn't all about the cards we were dealt but what we do with them.

I learned so much this weekend, that I want to share as much of it as I can with you! We are all at different points in our lives so some things may make an impact and others may not, but I hope I can share with you at least one thing that can get you up and over your hurdles or mountains. 

The first person to share her story, obstacles and wisdom with us was Monica Garcia (Adrian Garcia, who is the sheriff of Harris County, wife). She shared some phenomenal points:

• We can't continue to receive blessings if we aren't grateful for what we already have! 
• There are 4 steps to success: 1. Decide what you want (Have a mental game plan) 2. Write down your goal (write your dreams down on paper like you would a grocery list) 3. Develop a plan of action 4. Set your dream in motion and BELIEVE
• Remember: Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve!

My senior director shared a piece of advice that I think will forever change my life. As women we feel responsible and guilty for all of those around us, our children, siblings, parents, friends. We feel like we have to help people out of a tough time, and if they can't get out of it then its our fault, it is something we did wrong... BUT this is along the lines of what she shared- Don't take on the burden of someone else's failures if you aren't taking the glory for their successes. We are all here to help each other and that is what we do but we can't pile on ourselves the responsibility and guilt of everyone else around us, we have to give others the opportunity of being accountable for their own lives!

Jennifer Bouse, is a Top Mary Kay Director from Springfield, Missouri and WOW she struck change in me with her experiences and story. In the past few years she trained to run a marathon, and she related that to our life in general and in Mary Kay. Here are her awe inspiring points I wrote down:

• Whether it's a short or long race, it's your race and only you can run it.
• Whatever your race you are running, you WILL finish but you have to persevere.
• We never accomplish our race alone. (Many people that run keep a list of names of the people they are running for or those that helped them get so far, they acknowledge that though only they could run their race the obstacle was defeat-able with the help of others.
• Hebrews 12:1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked our for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
• "On Your Mark, Get Set, Go": On Your Mark- Know your goal and mission. Get Set- Remove all distractions in your way. Go- Explode toward your dreams.
• Every accomplishment starts with a dream

She also shared my favorite poem of all time, The Race, which is applicable to us all. We all have moments in our race where we fall and are faced with the choice to give up or get up and finish our race. 

Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face, 
    my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. 
A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well, 
    excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell. 
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race 
    or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. 
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son, 
    and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.


The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire, 
    to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire. 
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd, 
    was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.” 
But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip, 
    the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped. 
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace, 
    and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face. 
As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now. 
    Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.


But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face, 
    which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!” 
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all, 
    and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall. 
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win, 
    his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again. 
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace. 
    “I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”


But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face 
    with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!” 
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last. 
    “If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!” 
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten... 
    but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again. 
Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye. 
    “There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try? 
I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.” 
    But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.


“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all, 
    for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. 
Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place! 
    You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!” 
So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit, 
    and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit. 
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been, 
    still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win. 
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again. 
    Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.


They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place, 
    head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace. 
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place, 
    the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race. 
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, 
    you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd. 
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.” 
    “To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”


And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face, 
    the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race. 
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all. 
    And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. 
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face, 
    another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”


After this I unfortunately had to leave to go to work and I missed my mother, who is my director, share her story and wisdom but luckily I got to read some of what she shared and I have to share. I have been by my mother's side through her obstacles and she is now on the upside of them, which makes me so proud that she was able to share her story and how she is still working and overcoming them. Sometimes it is easier to share and help others when your obstacle is long past but when you are still in your battle it is not always the easiest to share with others but it can make the biggest impact on others. I am so proud of her for battling her obstacles and being open to others.

I am not sure if she shared all of this or not, but her words are beautiful and I want to share them in their raw form.

"Progress doesn't always come quickly.  Progress may seem excruciatingly slow.  There will be times when you attach to things and situations that you want, which will make it difficult to be fully in the present moment.  It’s impossible to be mindful when you’re dwelling on the past or obsessing about the future. I've experienced it countless times in my own life.  The more I want something, the more I fixate on not having it and wanting to get it.  Once I release the attachment and focus on being grateful for what I have in the moment, my life seems to shift, and progress seems to happen naturally.

You may want to give up.  Like with any worth while journey, you will feel like giving up and throwing in the towel multiple times.  But it is during the time when you feel most frustrated that you are often on the verge of a breakthrough.  Our lives are very similar to the season.  We go through cold, dark winters, and joyful, expanding summers.  It all comes and goes.  It’s the ebb and flow of life.  When you realize that the challenging times are there to help you grow, you will automatically feel more peaceful and relaxed.

You might forget that the journey is the destination. 

Always follow your dreams even if they lead you down a few dark alleys.

Before you reach your destination, you’ll find yourself going through the wilderness.  There’s some survival skills that you’ll need to master to take you through the wilderness journey.  While in the wilderness, your faith will be tried and tested.  You’ll become humble. Your vision for your life will get clearer.  You’re in training for your purpose.  You’ll lose some friends, because there’s some folks who are only with you because of how they think your journey will affect them.  Don’t worry, they’re a little confused.  Walk on. Continue on your journey. Soon, you’ll be approaching the mountain.  Get ready to climb.

Without difficulties, life would be like a stream without rocks and curves…about as interesting as concrete.  Without problems, there can be no personal growth, no group achievement, no progress of humanity.  But what matters about problems is what one does with them."

Finally on Sunday, there was one final talk that was truly the best ending to an already phenomenal weekend. Allison Noll is a sister director to my mother and she shared the growth we receive from our obstacles. Honestly everything she shared was so amazing that I didn't even write anything down because I was just in awe the entire time.

I was in tears the whole time but they were tears of relief. She shared about releasing all the guilt, anger, any emotion that is holding you back from peace. In all honesty, if we truly do not forgive others for wrong done to us, if we don't release the guilt from choices we made that weren't always the best decisions, only takes out the best of us. We have to learn to let go, we have to believe we deserve peace, we deserve the love of others, of our God, and we most importantly deserve to love ourselves. 

She led with a video that I want to close this blog off with. Every time I don't feel good enough or worthy enough I am going to watch this video. When this video was playing there was truly not a dry eye in the room because I think it hit each woman to their core and I hope it does to each woman that watches it because that means you are seeing truth and love. You deserve to feel whole, loved and beautiful. Set who you are free! Who You Are is Enough!!!