Perseverance - The Road Less Traveled

Everyone seems to want things the easy way. We live in a world of instant music, movies, food and faster travel than ever. We have truly become a nation of instant gratification and more and more people are forgetting what it means to work to accomplish things and the meaning of perseverance.

Perseverance is what is behind every great accomplishment. Thomas Edison didn't consider his failed attempts at creating the perfect incandescent light bulb failures, he merely said that he knew what didn't work. Another saying that Edison, who did very poorly in school loved to quote was ,"Inventors make a lot of "F's"." He looked at every failed invention as a learning experiment and Edison demonstrated pure perseverance.

If you have something to accomplish in your life draw on the successes of others that have persevered against many obstacles in their lives. Thomas Edison for example was deaf and left school because he did so poorly. He considered his deafness a boon to his creativity because noises from the outside world didn't interfere in his work. If you have a disability or other situation in your life that you feel is holding you back, find something positive in the situation such as you're a stronger person, you have empathy you didn't have before or you have learned a new skill to help yourself; and most of all, persevere to enjoy your life to its very fullest.
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Having Hope - Holding Hope

Sometimes we may feel hope is all we have. We hope a situation will turn out well or we hope someone will get better but what is hope really? Hope is a belief and a thought that you put forward that is actually a show of positivity when used in this manner. When someone near to you is very ill with a disease like cancer, you will find sometimes hope is all you have to hold onto and the knowledge that the Divine will carry you through. This will help you hold on to hope and ride out the worst situations.

When you're angry you may hope something rotten happens to whoever wronged you, they get splashed by a car passing by or step in a present a dog has left on the walk - but you really don't mean those things after you've cooled down. You may even hope your rotten thoughts don't come true - that again is using hope.

Above all, never lose the ability to hope. Try to see the positive in every situation and you will that your positivity is catching. Teach other people the value of hope - it's always an option!
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Learning from the Past

How many of us really learn from the past? How many of us really learn from the mistakes of others or even our own?

When you were younger, your parents and elders often gave you heartfelt and well meant advice and nine times out of ten you disregarded what you were told and went your own way and nine times out of ten found you in a real pickle because you didn't listen to the learned wisdom of those that had already been in the same spot you were in.

Hindsight truly is 20/20. How often have you looked back and thought, "If I only knew then what I know now!" and it is very true. You could have saved yourself a lot of hard lessons in your life up until this point by simply listening, but what would you have learned. It goes back to an old tried and true adage that goes something along the lines of, "A wise man doesn't stand in the way of a lesson being learned" and that basically means to let someone take a light knock from life that you can clearly see coming with experience, but be there to keep them from experiencing the hard knocks if you can avoid it. Children must fall on their bottoms more than once when they are learning to walk and through doing so learn balance. You protect them from obvious dangers such as sharp corners on tables and furniture but you let them fall on their bottoms and get up again as they learn to walk and then run.

The same principle can be applied to watching someone you know learning a life lesson - give them well meant advice and if they don't heed it - just make sure you're there to help them up when they fall on their bottoms and help them learn to walk and then run - they'll thank you for it later!
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Sticking to It

A saying coined by Josh Billings says, "Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there" and those are very true words.

It's worth considering when you feel overwhelmed or as though no one is beside you when you're trying to accomplish something. It can be simple self improvements such as a weight loss program or it might be deeply personal such as stopping a bad habit such as smoking, drinking or drug use. Other changes you may have a problem sticking to is your faith when times are hard or something unfair happens in your life such as the loss of someone near to you.

Those are some of the situations you can find yourself in when it can be hard to stick to something, that is when you must look deep within yourself and shut your ears to anyone that is making negative comments or shut yourself off from negative people who insist on you having a piece of chocolate cake for dessert or just one beer with dinner when they know you are trying to make positive changes. These people are not good for you and they will make it hard for you to stick to your changes. Recognize who is good for you in your life and associate with the positive
only.

You will find your lifestyle changes are easier to maintain and you won't feel overwhelmed or sabotaged in your efforts - instead you'll feel accomplished.
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Know When to Walk Away

Have you ever had someone in your life that just needed help all the time? It seemed they were always going from one crisis to another.

One week they didn't have enough money and you loaned them some to get by and then they were on the outs with their boyfriend or girlfriend and you thoughtfully listened to their woes. When their job was unfair and they had to quit, you were a good friend and you made meals and even offered a place to stay with you if needed.

Soon, you find you are at this person's beck and call and they want and need your undivided attention, soon your thoughtful listening turns into resentment and you start dreading every single phone call or email because you know there will be a crisis that you will be either expected to solve or drop what you're doing and listen. This is when you need to step back and figure out what you're getting out of this relationship and decide if it is time to walk away.

Learning when to walk away is a finely learned art that many people haven't had the chance to perfect. When you feel you are being taken advantage of, it is time to consider walking away. Sometimes, when there is no one to catch them, some people will finally stand on their own two feet and shock of shocks, they indeed can do some things on their own.

You won't be hurting anyone by bowing out gracefully. If you feel this person may turn anything you say into an unnecessary confrontation that will generate more drama, simply become busy. No matter what the perceived crisis is, simply have work to do or some other duty. If they show up knocking at your door - do not answer it.

It is hard for many people to learn to stand on their own two feet but once they learn they will learn they create most of their own problems by their actions and learn to be more responsible.
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Accepting and Believing

There comes a time when you need to accept something for the way it is and stop beating yourself over the head about and also believe that you will be okay because you will always be taken care of.

Think back to all the troubles, trials and tribulations you have been through in your life. At your darkest moments when you felt most alone, when you look back do you realize that you were being carried and held by the Divine? Whether or not you're a praying person, you were helped along and given strength of spirit.

When you look back do you see that you were given a life path change with every bad time that you had? If you are on an improper path that is bad for yourself and bad for others by indulging in negative behaviors or worse, not living your life at all, you will be given a shock to "shock" you into getting back on the path you were meant to be on. Not everyone has the same path, even the path of the person you love and are closest to will be markedly different from your own.

Our paths will cross with many people throughout our lives and you must be accepting of other people's paths and believe that your own is the right one for yourself. It's easy to know. If you know in your heart that you're doing the right thing with your life, you will feel it. If you feel anxious, ill or stressed, you're not where you're supposed to be in life.

The secret to finding your path is to ask. Just ask and then be ready to be shown. Once you ask the Divine to show you where you need to be, doors will open, it's up to you to walk through them.
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Seeing Through the Eyes of a Child

Try to practice seeing the world through the eyes of a child. If you're lucky enough to have a small child around, ask them what they think about certain things. When you go out and meet people, ask a child what they thought of the person. Often times their answers will be profoundly simple and very accurate. Children tend to take people and things at face value and as adults we become very jaded and cynical as time goes by.

If you don't have any children handy, remember the things that gave you pleasure and wonderment as a child. Try to view the world through open eyes that aren't clouded by fear or prejudice. As a child, you were open to all experiences and people; as you grew older you developed definite likes and dislikes about people, places and things. Throw that to the wind, even if only for one day.

When we lose our ability to find wonder in an inch worm crawling on a leaf or the miraculous beauty of a rainbow after a storm, a little part of us dies. It also means being accepting of the people and situations around yourself. Change the things that you are within your power to change and accept the rest of the world with the ease of a child.

Now that you've read this piece, go out and find something wonderful in your day today!
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Messages from Leah Olof

Messages from Leah Olof

September 25, 2006

The following message is from Leah Olof, the Heavenly Healer. Asking the world for prayer, for this message was given to her by Heaven.

"Sandra*, the whole world is about to erupt in change, the way people think and carry-out their lives." "The United States must take action, as never before to defend itself". "Do not give any attention to the world or it's path was said long ago as was said in the bible". "However, you must know what the bible was really meant to say to it's followers before deceit changed this message to what it now says".

"Jesus was soon re-established the original text that was given by God". "You will heal all that seek you my dear, and say Thanksgiving to you by angels and saints". "This is the time my dear that I have been referring to for many years, and everything is about to take place at once." "You are feeling the Power of Our Lady so strongly, everywhere you go, and this is why you are in such a state of being". "Our Lady will show you everything and wrap you in gold and red from Heaven". "This will help you realize what is happening to you." "For you have given your heart, your body, and your soul to God, and the transition is like a re-birth, you are crying from the inside leaving your old self behind, as you now know it".

"When this is finished you will all understand, and rejoice". "Results and answers to prayers are about to happen now". "Heaven has your life in control and you will be guided more and more each day". "Our Lady of Fatima will show you in a supernatural and physical way, how your life is about to change, my dear, once again since Fatima". "Our Love and Power are upon you now."

***"Sandra" is Leah's formal name. When Leah receives messages from Heaven, they always speak to her as Sandra.
 posted by Friends of Leah   

Healing Your Mind, Body and Spirit

When you are ill, your body is not only sick; your mind as well as your spirit can be ill.

Have you ever been around someone that made you feel ill or gave you an instant headache? Those people project negativity and the ill reaction you get is your own self-preservation telling you to steer clear. People who remain in bad jobs, bad relationships and unhealthy lifestyles are the most prone to illness that will affect every part of their body, mind and spirit.

Your body is among the easiest to be healed. Then you must work on your mind and spirit. Your mind must become strong and you must not allow negative people nor negative situations to be brought into your life. If you want to be taken out of a situation and you are not sure which way to turn, ask the Divine for guidance. You will be given a doorway to go through - take it.

Your spirit may feel broken after a devastating illness. Through belief and prayer it will come back to you as well and when you return your mind, body and spirit to a strong state, maintain it through positivity and belief that you are loved and will be taken care of.
 posted by Friends of Leah