“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
I possess gifts that will last forever.
Maya Angelou once said “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” There’s so much truth in that. When you think about your fondest memories in life, and even the not so fond ones, what guides those memories are the emotions behind them. You remember the happiness of family vacations to Disney World, or the fear and sadness of September 11. In fact, for memories that call up so much emotion you either remember more details because you want to always be able to recall that feeling or you block out details trying to prevent yourself from feeling the same terror again. Either way, the things we feel and the things we make others feel, always tend to outlive us.
That means you are everlasting. A piece of you lasts longer than you do. When I think about the ones I love most who I have lost, the memories of how they made me feel are what keep them close to my heart and with me always. Does that make you feel differently about the emotional footprint you’re leaving on this world? Does that make you consider your place amongst others as bigger than you could imagine? I hope it does. And I hope it reminds you of how special and important you are. If on this day you are questioning your worth and the if and how of people valuing your presence, please let me affirm you and help you embrace your power.
Affirmation 1: You are necessary. If even for a second you doubt your place in this world, I want you to cancel it. Recall Noah and his ark and how God brought the animals onto the ark. Every single creature he intended to be here now, was on that boat. Every single one. The snakes, and spiders, and centipedes, too. Even if we don’t know or understand their purpose, God does and he brought them along. Even the ones that had wronged him (let’s not forget what the serpent did in the garden of Eden) they were allowed to come forth as well. If God did that for the tiniest of his creatures, surely His purpose for you is far greater.
Affirmation 2: You are love and you are loved. I’m a firm believer that love is the biggest emotion we have. It outweighs everything and can fix a multitude of things. Even the scripture says “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) So as big and all encompassing as love is, understand that people love you. That God loves you. And YOU should love you. Embrace and pull from the greatest, everlasting emotion.
Affirmation 3: You are unforgettable. As long as you walk this earth, you will continue to impact people. With your smile, your kind words, your thoughtful gestures. Even your bad attitude or negative moments will be impactful. But remember what I said about how people deal with their memories. They cling to the positive and try to bury the negative. Be the memory people want to keep reliving. Be the reason someone else has a good day. Be love.
I hope you find happiness and peace on this day, and that you continue to walk in your light and love. I value you, and you are unforgettable to me, even if I’ve never met you or if I don’t know your name. Your presence is felt here, in this space and I love you for being with me on this journey. Keep conquering daily.
EMBRACING EMOTION: THE BLOG 