The Unspoken Word

My brother, Chaz, prepared dinner for his wife last night. After a day's work what better treat to come home to. My sister, LaToya (we'll just call her Master Chef of the South), can "burn" in the kitchen like no other woman her age I have ever come across! Oh it's that serious trust me. If I visit ATL and don't really want to go anywhere because I would rather wait for her to come home and cook...you know you have a chef in your midst!

I'm not sure what his signature dish turned out to be but it turned out quite colorful and well presented at that!

 The same time my brother was in the kitchen in his home in Atlanta, our folks prepped dinner together last night here in GR. I thought that was a very sweet way to spend Valentines Day; a shared moment to express love and appreciation. Fortunately I was able to step in this moment right when the food was done..oh how delectable it was!

Both of these moments made me think about how much our actions play a part in our love relationships. A simple meal or the act of helping can go miles farther than a quick dose of roses and chocolates. And I'm not just talking about relationships with a spouse or significant other but with friends, extended family, etc.

I spent Valentines Day out with my girlfriends enjoying jazz, wine and an all around good vibe. Granted my vibe was temporarily interrupted by the unexpected intrusion of my very recent "ex" waltzing into my happy place (..with a Valentine's Day date to boot). Yeah...nice. It was one of those moments that I was glad I was with people who love me and I love; you need support when things like that occur. I went on to enjoy the rest of my evening despite the lurking thoughts in my head of the two of them sharing that moment together and the possibility of whatever may have occurred later on in the night. (And of course women always check out the other woman and think to ourselves, "Seriously?! Really?! I mean..come on!")When I awoke this morning I gave myself two options, (1) dwell on what happened last night all day long, let it steal my peace of mind and put me in a perpetual state of Pissed Off or (2) let it go and realize that his choice doesn't determine my personal value, worth, and beauty. I choose the latter. You know, I can't control what anybody decides to do. And sometimes things cross my path that are unexpected and make me think, "What the *&^$!" But I can control how I handle a situation.

I feel like using this occurrence as an opportunity to get closer to God and get some things worked out in me that need changing. Some things you just don't have the emotional capacity to handle alone. I'm thanking God for the promise of his ever present strength right now. It's not always about what I feel I want to say but rather what needs to be quietly spoken to me.

Living Authentically,
G