Never Give Up

Hello All,
Last night, I was watching Chopped, a cooking competition on the Food Network. Four chefs begin with a mystery basket of ingredients. They must use all of the ingredients in some way. After each round, the chef with the worst dish will be chopped. One of the chefs was a 26 year old from New York City. He had been cooking since he was 15 and suffered from Fibromyalgia. He also battled depression and low self esteem. He walked into the competition already defeated, telling himself that he could not do it. At the same time, he desperately wanted to win and prove to himself that he was worthy.

During the first round, he struggled. He was nervous, couldn't think straight, and simply forgot how to do things he does everyday. He told himself that he would eliminated, so "why am I even trying?" His appetizer looked awful and it seemed that he was going home. The judges told him that he was better than that, and he needed to find a way to put his doubts in check. At the end of round one, another chef was eliminated because she forgot to use one of the ingredients in the mystery box.

Round two began, and he put his game face on! With his main dish, he blew the other chefs out of the water! No one could believe the turnaround. He proved that he could win the competition. After the final round, he did win the competition and $10,000. You could tell that he hadn't smiled like that in a long time! As I watched him, I was so proud of what he accomplished. He fought through adversity, his pain, and his doubts to achieve his goal. All he needed was someone to say, "You are better than this."

Sometimes, the odds are against us. It looks like we are out of the game. But, if you can pull enough strength to tell yourself, "I am better than this...I can do this", change starts to occur immediately. Change refuses to let us give up. Change shows us that we are capable of doing the impossible.

Never give up!

Archuleta

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Hello All,
You've heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", but have you really taken the time to understand the importance of the message? I recently found an old picture of myself, and began reminiscing about what I was doing at that point in my life. When I compared the picture with a more recent one of myself, I realized how the pictures told me about myself and how they were a window into my life's journey.

The first picture showed a teenager who was hurting inside, but happy on the outside. The second picture showed a "30 something" woman - successful and thriving. In looking back at my life, I pondered how I got to where I am now. I got here because I stumbled, and I stood back up, and I fell back down and I got back up. I made really fabulous decisions and then I made some really poor ones. But the pictures that I am looking at today show that a journey of growth is possible, if you'll awake to who you are, awake to what you feel, awake to the ways in which you've fallen short, and awake to your success.

Pull those old photos out and go back in time. Lessons for the future!

Be Blessed,
Archuleta

I'm Use To It

Hello All,
Lord knows that I don't have any patience! Obviously, I was taking a nap when He graciously bestowed that trait on everyone else. At an early age, I can remember huffing and puffing at the mere thought of having to wait on someone else for anything. Having to halt my plans, or change them altogether, just sent my little self into orbit! Why? Why is patience so hard for me to come by? I never explored it until recently. You see, God has been forcing me to deal with the issue. He has been placing certain people and situations into my life that force me to take a look at this issue and deal with it.

There are many scriptures in the bible pertaining to patience. One in particular that stands out for me is 2 Peter 1:6, And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness. It is God's desire for us to be like Him. Although His ways are not our ways, by being faithful and obedient to His word brings us closer in agreement with Him. Therefore, our actions are pleasing to God and we are much happier.

God is letting me know that I need to practice having greater patience. By doing so will bring me closer to Him and will shape me into a better person - the person that He needs me to be. Thank you Lord for what you are about to do!

Blessings,
Archuleta

Even If He Doesn't Do It, You Know that He Can

Hello All,
God is not obligated to do anything for us. Even though we may pray and read the bible, go to church on Sunday and Bible study on Wednesday. We do those things in order to strengthen our personal relationship with Him. We should have no ulterior motive in our praying and seeking His face. We know that He is able to anything that we ask or think. But that doesn't mean that He will.

God wants our first and our best. He is interested in our obedience and faithfulness. He wants us to trust Him and answer when He calls.

God is God all by himself. He doesn't need our help in figuring anything out and making anything happen. We read our bible and pray in order get closer to His purpose for our lives and to help us in our walk.

Be Blessed,
Archuleta

Learn to Park

Hello All,
Last Saturday, I arrived at the Plaza Library in this blazing Kansas City heat. Luckily I snagged a decent parking space in the garage. After spending a good three hours inside, I made my way back into the garage. There on the windshield, was a sheet of notebook paper that simply said, "Learn to Park". It was written in my favorite color of purple, and on narrow ruled notebook paper. Wow, a person after my own heart! I laughed at the note, loudly! The thought of someone taking out the time to taunt me about my parking skills, which are not bad by the way, was comical. It made my day, so I folded the note and put it in my bag. A momento if you will. Lol. Was this stranger really mad at me? Or, could this guardian of the parking garage just need to find something better to do with their time?

It made me think about how people haven't learned to stay in their lane of life. Sometimes, people are not satisfied with what God has given them to do, so they begin placing themselves in everything else. Too eager to "assist", and not eager enough to mind their own business. If you are a librarian, don't try to be the academic advisor and faculty director! It's important to know your tasks and do them to the best of your ability. Stepping outside your lane only steps on toes and causes trouble.

The person that put the note on my car had no idea that I am writer and love this kind of stuff, or that they would be the subject of a blog entry! I clearly got the last laugh!

Be Blessed,
Archuleta

It's Not Over Until It's Over

Hello All,

Why is it that we feel the need to write the end of the story before it actually comes? When a loved one is sick, why do we let fear of death take over? Or maybe if your marriage has gone rocky—why do you automatically think the worst? Perhaps your company is downsizing—have you already started packing your boxes, convinced you'll be let go?

Sometimes we get so anxious. We're so worried, we're so insecure, and we're so full of fear, that we write the end before the end has come. It's almost like something we're doing to try and prepare ourselves for pain.

Remind yourself that it is not over 'till it's over. You don't know what will happen, so why do you always prepare for the worst? That's not wise, and it's not preparation. What it begins to do is drain you from all the energy and force and power that can go into creating a new moment of destiny.

Be Blessed,
Archuleta

What are you really saying to me?

Hello All,
I admit, when someone starts asking me a lot of questions, it gets on my nerves. As a matter of fact, my last good nerves. Especially, if these are questions that I have already answered. I begin to feel as if I am on the witness stand required to give a detailed account of my actions. "What is the big deal?", I say. "What is YOUR problem?" I say. As I started to ponder on this, I realized something. There just might be a problem, and the ball could be in my court to help resolve it.

Sometimes, particularly in relationships, people can get insecure or concerned about a host of things. Instead of just saying what has them feeling this way, they make a big deal out of something else! Dancing around the issue, and just creating more strife. It may take a lifetime to get to the root of the problem. I realized that the questions about one thing, may be a cover-up for something else. I will ask some questions to try and drill down to what is really being asked to me. Hopefully, by taking time out to calm down and show consideration for the other person's feelings, a resolution can emerge. That's what real life is all about.

Be Blessed,
Archuleta