Often we think of all the ‘what-ifs’ and ‘could have beens’ ‘should have beens’ and allow them to prevent us from being happy in the present moment. I think if we all learned to choose to shine in all situations, we would be so much happier.
The author, Sue Monk Kidd writes the story about her daughter, coming home from school in early December, telling her mother she got one of the great parts in the Nativity Play.
“What part did you get?”
“I’m the Star of Bethlehem!” the daughter says proudly.
“Well, what will you do?” Sue asks.
“I just stand there and shine.”
Choose To Shine
I choose
to live by choice, not by luck
to choose to focus today, not look back on yesterday
to be grateful for all I have, not yearn for more
to make lasting changes, not never-ending excuses
to listen to the wisdom of my heart, not the opinions of people who don’t matter
I choose
to make a difference, but not be used
to reach out in love, but not be taken for granted
to listen with understanding, but not be drawn into drama.
I choose to be creative
I choose to be brave
I choose to live in the Light
I choose to shine
“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” ― Anne Lamott
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Image of flowers in light bulbs via Shutterstock
Choose to shine, what a wonderful thought! Lovely verses, Corinne. Just loved them. Thank you for sharing. 🙂 <3
I choose to shine also Corinne! I choose to live in this moment because it’s the only one we’ve got. I also choose love because where would we be without it?
Lovely and inspiring. I really like the pretty photo at top! What uniquely displayed bouquets.
Excellent words of wisdom to start out the new year. LOVE the lighthouse analogy! Best wishes for 2017 and beyond, Corinne. 🙂
Inspiring poem.. choose to be grateful without yearning for more.. really very important Corinne.
Yes choosing to shine is what I want to do too.The lighthouse quote is amazing. In difficult times its even more important to spread hope and light.
I think it’s all a matter of choice isn’t it Corinne? We can choose to shine our lights or shed darkness and dourness. I want to be a light shiner and cheerleader for the people I meet.
Be a Lighthouse- itself carries a lot of meaning. To shine and being an inspiration is like carrying a baton. Thanks for inspiring me.
I liked that little girl’s perspective about her role as the Bethlehem Star. Also, the Lighthouse quote – Standing tall and shining. Choose to shine in my way is what I aspire to model for my son. I think I would write down the lines of that poem on paper and stick to the wall so as to not lose sight of it.
Being the light house is something I would love to, very well written Corinne! Loved reading it. Yes it is important to shine- and shine from within!
I choose to be creative I choose to be brave I choose to live in the Light I choose to shine
Loved these lines Corinne. Its very important to live in the light and take our light wherever we go.
The child must have been real happy to just stand there and shine.
“I just stand there and shine.”
beautiful. x
Truly inspiring. Beautiful poem,Corinne. 🙂
It is indeed our choices that makes our lives different. I choose a happy life. 🙂