Tuesday, October 25, 2011

How Broccoli Slaw Changed My Life!

If you were to ask me two years ago if I'd be working from home, doing what I love and feeling complete happiness today, I would have probably rolled my eyes and made some kind of cynical remark.  I didn't dream big and I didn't know how to create my future.

Then unexpectedly, the most unimaginable thing stepped in and changed my life.  It made me smile more, laugh more, live life more to its fullest.  Thanks broccoli slaw for changing my life.



How can a little sliver of green goodness cause such a stir you ask?  It forced me to do the things I always wanted to do.  You see, I am a huge teeth person.  If I meet you, I notice your teeth.  That's just how I am.  I love a pearly white set of teeth. I love to see a beaming smile.  It's really not about your teeth at all, it's about what I wanted for myself.

When I looked in the mirror, I didn't like what I saw.  I wanted to have a beaming white 'grill'.  There were ways to get it, but I could never invest in myself in that way.  I couldn't justify it.  Then, one night, broccoli slaw intervened.  A single bite and I heard something pop.  Reluctant and hesitant, I made my way to the mirror to experience the horror I had felt.  I chipped my front tooth and I had a wide gap in the middle of my front teeth!

I had no choice other than to get it fixed.  A visit to the dentist over the course of the next two months and I had a beautiful set of pearly whites that I had always dreamed to have.  Instead of compromising my smile the way I had learned to in the past several years, I took advantage of every situation to grin and beam.

I became more confident and I wanted to smile all the time.  I invested in myself more so I could smile more.  I looked for opportunities to smile for the camera, rather than just show a toothless grin. 

I began to take chances, pursue my passion, serve others, make a difference.  I took every opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and smile while I did just that.

When life intervenes, you can either view it as a setback or as a temporary hiatus to greater things.  There is a ALWAYS a message to learn in life every life situation.  The beauty is looking back at your journey and being able to pay that message forward.

My message?  No, it's not 'eat more broccoli'.  Although I think that's important too.  Don't put off things that you have always wanted to do.  Don't wait for someday.  Someday does not exist.  Do today what is going to make tomorrow great.  Smile more.  Live more.

5 comments:

Greg Barth said...

Very well written and love the message! Keep the posts coming!

Sarah Grace Hefner said...

Great post today! So true! :)

marciferous said...

I love it - very inspirational, thank you! Now to just find what my passion is... :)

The Corner of Inn and Sane said...

Can you gimme your recipe for broccoli slaw? It looks so yummy.

Sister, we need each other! said...

I LOVE this stuff... for my dressing I use 1/2 cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper. I sometimes toast sliced almond and add it and sometimes add grilled chicken! My 2 year old LOVES it!!

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