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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Mirrors All Around Us


I am a firm believer that what I see around me is what I've built. When I see my children being sweet to each other by preparing each others meals, getting each other extra blankets, and sharing their clothes with each other I feel very proud as a parent and I think all kinds of positive thoughts about the parenting skills of myself and my hubby. However, when those same children start bickering with each other, I feel horrible because it reminds of what they have seen their parents do around the house. Like a smart wife, I've tried to find a reason that it's all my husband's fault, but in reality I always have to come back to me being a part of the equation as well...sigh. 


I am what I have built around me. I speak into existence what I see, I consciously write what I see, and I sometimes unconsciously think what I see around me. It all comes to fruition as a reflection of me. 

For the most part I have a very good life. Yes, I've been pinching my pennies, getting bill extensions, and cutting out what I thought were essentials, just like a lot of us are today. All of that is a reflection of me overspending and under-saving.  However, I am well-provided for, and that is a reflection of my reliance on God. 

Yesterday, I went to visit a girlfriend I hadn't seen in a while. We were brainstorming about how we could work together, since she is recently self-employed. I didn't think we could, but by the end of the visit we came up with an idea that we thought could work. She said something to me that made my day. She said "I love you, and I'm glad I have you in my life, I admire you, and all that you do." Hearing those words made me realize that I've been putting in good work in my life. I realized that I am making good things happen in my life, and that I am bringing and keeping good people in my life. 

Sometimes, I reach out to people who are supposed to be close to me, and I don't get the response that I am looking for. I am now accepting, that those people may not be a reflection of me anymore, and I am becoming more and more okay with that everyday. 

Now my dusty floors and dresser piled high with clothes are also a reflections of me, so I obviously still have work to do. 

Look around your life at the people, the things, the love the hate , and see what you've built.  

8 comments:

Wonderful Star said...

I just had this discussion with a friend about my children being a mirror of me (the good, bad and ugly) so I work on myself constantly knowing that what surrounds is a reflection of what I brought to be around me. Keep doing what you do and Congratulations!

j

My Inspired Reality said...

Loved your post. So true that things or people are not constants in our lives. They keep changing, evolving. So do we:):) Which is why the reflections keep changing too:)

Unknown said...

it's such a wonderful feeling to have those realizations such as the one in the last paragraph. and to be accepting of it!

and i appreciate the post in general. thanks for gracing us with you wise words. :-)

Unknown said...

This is a great post and so very true. Sometimes people are with us for a season or two and then it is time to move on.

I agree that what we have around us is a reflection of who we are and we can make adjustments accordingly if necessary.

MBB Founder and Editor Denene Millner said...

Well said, my love. Well said. I'm all about keeping it moving when it's not working, and putting in 100% when it's worth it. Good luck on the new business venture, and don't beat yourself up over the other work you gotta do... none of us are perfect. That's the beauty of it all!

Jennifer said...

This is a really cool post to reflect on (no pun inteneded!) I have noticed that have some really great people around me and I like what you said, maybe some move on because they don't reflect me anymore...and like you, the laundry and the piles of paper on my desk, in my case, indicate that yep, there's work to be done!

T.Allen said...

Great post Brooke. Letting go is certainly not a strong suit of mine, but in the coming weeks you'll come to see that I have been working on that too. While you and I have never met, I like what I see in the mirror as a result of knowing you. Thank you.

Jewelry Rockstar said...

Thanks Tameka. I was just telling a woman the other day that, although I have not met my blog friends in person I still feel that they are true friends. You were one of the people foremost in my mind when I said that:)