Fighting Through The Pain

"We Have Two Options Medically and Emotionally: Give Up or Fight Like Hell" 

~Lance Armstrong

On this day I am remembering my friend.  As I stare into the picture above it is hard, to not become fixated on her eyes and her undeniable beauty.  I keep asking myself.....Phyllis what are you thinking?  How were you feeling at this moment?  When I reflect back over the conversations and life experiences that I had with her....I realize that I was not curious enough....I didn't take out enough time to really find out what is buried in the depths of her soul, what sadness and pain she experienced during her journey.....Don't get me wrong we had our girl talks, played tennis together from  young girls through our college years, experienced some 1st experiences together, and counseled each other on the phone.....But in the last moments leading up to her death and my last encounter with her face to face....I realized....I missed out on so much more of what Phyllis brought to the table.  

The day I finally got up enough courage to go down and visit....the car ride was a challenge...tears poured from my eyes...I pulled over several times because I could not quite get control of my emotions....just the thought of my friend being near death was overwhelming...I really did not know what to expect.  The reality is I have never seen the transformation of an extremely healthy person  to a person that is in the process of state of transition....and this person just happens to be one of my friends.  On this day...I learned more about the substance of Phyllis than any childhood...teenage....or woman conversation ever gave me.  I walked in fully ready....so I thought...to put on this strong facade and composed demeanor....then I heard her piercing voice from the back room....Inga is that you?  Give me a minute!!!  A nurse was getting her ready....oxygen machine making a beeping sound...and her mother was pacing back and forth checking on her progress.  I completely lost it again....Lack of understanding and the presence of the nurse sent me into a tail spin.  Finally, I could go back....there she was.. my loud friend....Hey Girl!!!...as only Phyllis could say it.  She was in the bed and smiling, oxygen on her nose, and a little drowsy from her pain meds.  I sat down and she immediately began asking me how was the trip, how was I doing and then..about 10 minutes later..she began going over the plans for her funeral....tears poured down my face...she said, "Grab a tissue so that we can go over it!".....Never complaining or giving her current circumstances much attention.  I tried to replay all of our conversations and I realized...she never complained...always giving God the Glory...always fighting for another day...but Never did she complain.   Never in my life have I witnessed a person Deep in the Valley of Life...smiling, fully aware of their circumstances, still praising God, and consciously instilling principles and life lessons into every person that she encountered.

Phyllis's fight with breast cancer, the way she carried herself throughout the entire process, and even how diligent and purposeful she handled the plans of her death....gave me a new definition and symbol of strength.  She defines for me, Fighting Through The Pain!  She taught me and of course I am still learning....that pain lies in the Valley...there will be ups and downs...the hills may seem hard to climb...but the sun is on the other side of the mountain...I must Keep Movin to get there...but even in the midst of being at the bottom...there must be Planning, Peace, and Perseverance. 

My friend taught me...in the valley...Plan, have Peace, and Persevere.

#KeepItMovin

Forever Loving You My Friend, Phyllis

~Inga Harmon-Cunningham

Transcending

"The Key to success is to focus our Conscious Mind on Things We Desire, not things we Fear."  ~Brian Tracy

In the KeepItMovin platform there is an important step.  O-Overcome....as stated in many books, speeches, seminars, and quotes the author is asking or trying to motivate the audience, to Overcome the obstacles or perceived obstacles that prohibit a certain action or the accomplishment of a goal.   I have found that there are many outside obstacles in life, that we may encounter...but within the KeepItMovin Lifestyle...yes....yes...I said Lifestyle....O is to Overcome Yourself.  You/We are our greatest obstacle!!!

This week we must move by Transcending.

According to Webster Dictionary...Transcend is to be or go beyond the range or limits of or surpass.

My husband asked me about the topic for this week, after noticing the photo above.  He immediately suggested that I use a different picture that would depict a person rising or climbing instead of using a skydiver....that eventually would come to the ground.  In my mind the journey of the skydiver is very significant, not the end result.  The picture above depicts many images that can be applied to all faucets of this Journey we call Life.  Transcending is about
1. Overcoming your initial fears
2. Jumping out into this bountiful world with Faith and Intention
3. Experiencing and being vulnerable to the many ebbs and flows
4. Looking around and enjoying the beautiful scenery while on top
5. Bracing for an inevitable fall
6. Perseverance, Resilience, and Endurance to dust yourself off and do it again.  

....Because if by chance You STOP...the many beautiful landscapes and experiences that you missed the first time will Slip Away.  
#KeepItMovin

~Inga Harmon-Cunningham

Showing Thanks In The Midst of Re-Building

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

My family and I had a very symbolic, reflective, and fun Turkey Day!  Many of us all traveled back to the home site of my maternal grandparents.  This site is now bare, moist dirt.  It was extremely strange not to see the worn down, yet memorable structure that I am accustomed to seeing in years past.   As I stared into the now blank space....I pictured my grandmother calling for me, as my cousins and I ran back and forth in the house....smelling homemade biscuits and fat back cooking in the morning.....watching and listening to my mom and aunts gossip and play cards...one of the most amazing things I remembered from the visits was the thought that my grandparents seem to be one of the prime center pieces of the city.  Through my eyes as a  child and the location of their house...made me feel surrounded by all that could possibly be happening in this small city.

As I stood there staring at the blank, wet Earth....everything seems empty at first.  As my aunts and cousins surround me...my perspective changes.  The roof, walls, flooring, and even the foundation of the house was torn down and removed.  Just as a glass crashes to the ground....the overall structure is broken....after cleanup the large pieces are collected...many of the small pieces are swept up during the cleaning process....but there are always fragments that remain.  I am immediately reminded that all of us standing here are remnants of my grandparents that passed and the demolished structure.

Its funny how many of us find comfort in having a fragment of something instead of rebuilding and releasing fragments of the past in order to gain something whole and viable.  Many of us would rather have a piece of a relationship, part time friends, a position that is no longer serving us or using our skill sets, a marriage with fleeting intimacy, sadly love ones whose lives are no longer viable, or structures that we can no longer occupy.

Look closely at the people, situations, job positions, careers, and material things that are being tore down or removed from your Life.  Be careful how you walk through the area that is being tore down, broken, and cleaned.  If you walk through unprepared you may pick up fragments, you may re-introduce yourself to the pain and complacency of what was broken.....Be prepared to step high, be focused, and by No Means Stop!!   Re-Build and express Thanks.  

Nothing in Life can be built or even renovated without something being torn down  ~Inga Harmon-Cunningham

#KeepItMovin

~Inga Harmon-Cunningham

I AM........!

.....With Power and Conviction say,  I Am!

Whatever follows I am will be.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What are your goals?
What do you want to be?

These list of questions can go on and on.  Many of us have encountered this line of questioning from a young age.  These questions lead us to think in future terms and try to force us to plan for the future.....almost dismissing the Present.

The Real Question is, Who are you?
Who Am I?

If you look around your current environment... there are many people, professionals, objects, and natural creations that manifested as a result of VISION.

Vision is one of the most important steps in the acronym MOVIN and in life.

Before anything can be created, manifested, obtained, accomplished, transformed.....One Must SEE It First!!!
What do I mean by that??

Your subconscious mind must play out this vision or idea before your inner eyes,  so that your movements and Energy flow in sync with the vision.

When Energy, Focus, and Vision meet....Destiny is Realized.

Every morning....speak strong...bring the I Am from the depths of your belly....Say it like you mean it and fill in the blanks.  I Am...!!!!

After today, no longer say, I will or I will be....only...I Am

#KeepItMovin

Inga Harmon-Cunningham

In All Thinigs

1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul states "In Everything Give Thanks"

This week I witnessed a prolific speaker.  This minister was dripping with the Word and insight.  I found his clarification of the scripture simple yet very profound.  In the scripture above he pointed out that many of us are not able to Give Thanks and be grateful in our lives because we are waiting for material things to arrive, financial increases, substantial movement with our jobs or businesses, and even peace and happiness in our homes.  

Many of us are reading the scripture as "For All Things Give Thanks" but the word was written "In All Things..."  This is a game changer, especially if you are like me....waiting for Things and Improvements to occur, prior to Giving Thanks.

If you look at the man in picture above....He is surrounded by brush.  There is no one else around.  He seems to be in the middle of his own circumstances.  If the wind blows the brush may Move slightly or swiftly depending on how the current.   But in many of our current circumstances the wind is still and our situation seems to lack movement or progress.  Going back to the original scripture..."In All Things Give Thanks"  In Your current situation, be thankful and curious.  If there seems to be a lack of movement in the brush around you...Ask Yourself...Is there lack of Wind (Progress) or is it the limited Lens (Perspective) in which the circumstances are being Viewed?

If you don't see Movement....Close and Re-open your eyes...This time with a different Perspective.

#KeepItMovin

Inga Harmon-Cunningham

Introduction To My Pain

My heart feels heavy....as I inhale and exhale the weight seems to increase.  Tears well up in my eyes, because the pain can no longer be contained internally and must flow.  I swing my arms back and forth in hopes of alleviating the tightening in my chest, caused by the tension and brokenness of my heart.  Fast flowing followed by slow flowing tears cascaded down my cheeks.

I keep hoping and praying circumstances will immediately change, and the pain will end.  Unlike the many other facades of my Life....this circumstance or situation.....I can not seem to push past.  This time my Keep It Movin' mantra is not working.  I meditate every morning and pray at night.  Finally my conclusion is...I must Identify the true Source.....I must Realize that, there may not be a Solution....I must Find the Lesson....and the only way to Accomplish the previously mentioned Steps....is to Get Introduced to My Pain.....Get to Know It and Heal!!!

#KeepItMovin

~Inga Harmon-Cunningham