Hearts, Hopes, New Heights

I was volunteering at a transitional home for women. The lady I was working with was getting out of prison in a few weeks. Even though we had talked many times, I still felt we had not connected. It was as if there was a wall between us. I asked what her plan was upon re-entering society. She did not have one. She had no goals, no vision, and no inspiration.

To help her gain some clarity and sense of direction, I asked what she enjoyed doing while growing up. She couldn’t answer. I asked what she would do if she had unlimited financial resources and the freedom to do whatever she desired. We sat in silence. Finally she came up with an idea. And then another.

I asked her to put her thoughts into a story. She started slowly, but eventually the words flowed. It was obvious they were from her soul, and not her head. She was telling her story with so much detail, I could actually visualize it myself.

At first she tried to fight the tears, but realized it was useless. She cried, laughed, and simply connected with her soul. She said over and over it was the best feeling she had experienced and had never connected with herself in such a way. She said she actually had feelings of hope.

Her changed attitude was truly an inspiration and a gift for my soul.

(We often forget to really listen to the hopes and dreams of others, and even ourselves. Sometimes just listening to the heart of someone else can inspire them to achieve new heights. And it’s amazing what it can do in our own lives as well. — Toni)

Lisa Ralph
Chief Inspiration Officer, Empowerment Coach, Cheerleader for Change
Crimson Phoenix Coaching
http://www.rewriteyourstory.com

More Than Just Fresh Air

A few years ago, I was on a service trip to Kentucky with my youth group. We were working on a trailer-home where a single mother lived with her children. My father was one of the supervisors for the trip. He was teasing me saying that because I was a girl, I couldn’t do real work.

After I assisted my father and one other student in remodeling the bathroom, I decided to begin a job of my own. However, I was completely unaware of the impact I would have on this woman.

She only had a solid storm door for the front door of her trailer. This created two problems. She could not let in fresh air or watch her children play outside without letting bugs into her home. As it was summer, the trailer was quite stifling without the front door open. Not even giving it a second thought, I removed the old door and replaced it by hanging a new screen door and a storm door with windows.

As soon as I was finished, I walked away only to turn around and see the woman smiling from ear to ear as she opened and closed the door repeatedly. She would open the door and shut it without saying a word just doing it over and over. She turned around and said to me that she could actually keep her door closed but still watch her children play which meant more to her than a million dollars.

I was so proud of myself because the smile on that woman’s face made all the work and all the comments seem miniscule and I just enjoyed making her happy. I have carried that moment with me for many years. Every time I think about it, the pride of my accomplishment inspires me to take on new challenges.

– Kelly T, Indianapolis