Reflection in the mirror

As I stare in the mirror this new person stares back at me. She is very different than the girl who used to stare back at me 8 years ago. This woman has a smile that shows she is so thankful for the life God has blessed her with. A smile that chases years of happiness ahead. Her eyes give a brief glimpse in her past of pain once endured. She stands strong today.  Once misunderstood and lost, now hopeful and settled.  She whispers to me the words, ”Thank You”. It is then that I realized that deep sense of gratitude wasn't just for her current destination... It was for the journey along the way.  Those experiences both bad and good created this new person now staring back at me... So the girl from 8 years ago is never forgotten, it just took a while til she found me....

My road to a smoke free life

So today it has been 24 hours since I had my last cigarette. I've been using the Nicorette Patch. I have to admit it fell off while I was at the beach today, and even tho temptation was there; I stood strong and didn't give in. I've been smoking since I was 12 years old and in the last 10 years smoking a pack or 2 per day. So to just quit like this is definitely a major accomplishment. I'm very proud of myself, even tho its only been a day, I feel like this was the hardest day and hopefully it only gets easier the more I resist temptation. I just couldn't live with the thought of getting cancer or some other illness/disease because of my smoking habit, and leaving my children here without me. They are my life and have been asking me to do this for years, I just never had the will power; or at least I thought I didn't. So as I lay my head down this evening and go for day 2, I can honestly say the thought of inhaling cigarette smoke isn't as appealing to me as it was a day ago; if that makes any sense :-)

Inspiration

Inspiration by the light of day, Inspiration to make me pray. Inspiration in my willingness to give, Inspiration to move on and live! Inspiration to tell my story, Inspiration because there is no glory. Inspiration comes from deep within, Inspiration from sorrow and sin. Inspiration makes this real, Inspiration is how i feel. Inspiration can come from rain, Inspiration takes my pain.

Ian Kennedy