Carmela Dutra's Blog - Posts Tagged "future"

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”



One of the most powerful speeches in world history: the “I Have a Dream” speech. Just saying that brings a chill down my spine. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message to the world was not just to fight racism and segregation.

His goal was to make people believe that each individual has power, and anything can be achieved peacefully. Words, feelings, and actions to live by….

Every day brings on challenges. Challenges unique to each individual… However if everyone reflected on the words he spoke, and then acted on at least a few…… How much different would things be….

Dr. King set his goals in a time when people were being hung for sharing his opinion. Still, he was not afraid. He got many death threats while leading the civil rights movement, but this did not stop him, because he knew that giving into fear was the biggest threat to the civil rights movement.

Today is time to reflect on these things, to look at all this speech accomplished. Maybe not then at that moment in time, but decades later. What it means to you, and what you hope it will mean to others in the future.

Dr. King said, “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”



Wishing you all a little to Adventure today!

Carmela Dutra
Author of Lorenzo the Bear Series

www.Lorenzothebear.com
Twitter.com/Lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
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Future Phobias

Can you believe that January is almost over! Where did the time go!? 2015 flew by in a flash, and now January 2016 is almost gone? Things are moving so fast, it’s hard to keep up with everything! I’m sure you’ll likely feel the same way as you’re embracing the new year, taking on the challenges of life, family, resolutions, etc.

Since early December I have been somewhat quiet on social media, you might be wondering why. Or perhaps you are thinking yes those weekly emails have stopped alerting me to a new blog! Either way, allow me to introduce you to the reason why as of late I have been almost nonexistent in the social realm.

Meet the newest member of our family, Levi!

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He came a whole month early, which took us entirely by surprise! I have been settling into my new role as a mother, spending quality time bonding (you know during those 2am feelings, and again at 4am lol). Thus is the reason I have been almost MIA since December, a pretty good reason I would say.

As all of us know and will likely agree (and has recently been impressed upon me), life is full of unplanned surprises. By knowing and accepting this, we can start to overthink everything all could possibly come our way. Being that we are imperfect humans, this can be a real struggle for some. I know for myself, I like to have everything planned out to the T! Alas, that is not always possible (again see the above paragraph) and I have to roll with the punches of life.

That being said, I resolve to cast aside future phobias, and the unnecessary worry about what might be. I resolve to just roll with it. Okay yeah sure this time of year everyone makes their resolutions, and by March-ish I will guarantee that most will have given up on the resolutions, or simply forgotten them. I can speak from personal experience in this area. However, in addition to the other resolutions that I’ve already put down on paper, this is one that I am moving to the top of the list.

Being a new mother I can’t afford to fret over the things I can’t control. Am I going to screw him up? Am I going to be too strict, or too lenient as a parent? How will I know what to do, and when to do it? When you start to think about it the list is Endless! And really, in the end what is it going to accomplish? Nothing! There I said, and I will say it again. Big fat nothing! Zip, zero, nada!! Worrying about things beyond your control does not add anything to your life, in reality it only takes away. description

So that’s it, I am choosing to cast future phobias aside. I will not allow them to have any hold on me. And this encompasses every aspect of my life beyond being a mother. What if I don’t get my next Lorenzo book finished before school is out in June? How will I manage everything and still have time for myself? What happens if I let my photography fall to the wayside and don’t book any clients this year?

Wouldn’t you agree with me when I say it always seems as if there is something new to worry about. It’s exhausting! But what if we choose to not do it anymore? What if we choose to just let it go? Whatever it is that is holding you back from peace? What if you just let it go and stop worrying about it?

A country song once said: Life’s a dance, you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.Don’t worry ’bout what you don’t know, life’s a dance, you learn as you go.

And that is life! You can’t control everything, and you can’t plan for everything (again I refer you to the above paragraphs), sometimes you just have to dance and let things come as they may.
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So as hard as it may be, let’s just stop. Let’s try really really hard not to lose sleep over the things we can’t control in her life. Let’s stop worrying about the things that might happen, and just focus on what is happening. Before we know it 2016 is going to be gone, and 2017 will be here. Lets enjoy 2016 and all that it holds, because I have a feeling it is going to be one for the books!

Cheers!

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Letter to my younger self

Oh if I only knew…..

Words we’ve all heard and said ourselves, many times over I’m sure. A group of us bloggers decided to take those words and run with the idea to create a blog hop, where we write letters to our younger selves.

It’s thought-provoking, and cathartic in a way to reflect on the past and see how yourself has grown now way in the present life. It also allows you the opportunity to reflect on the past.

Be sure to check out the awesome bloggers listed below who share their letter to their younger selves. You too can join us easy peasy! Let s get started shall we…

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A letter to Carmela,

Oh boy, where do I start?? I want to give you some prolific advice but I’m finding it rather difficult to do so, and this is for two reasons. First, because I know us, and we are very stubborn. There are times when I do something simply in protest to being told I can’t do it. Not all of the time, just some of the time. So if I know myself, and if I tell you not to do something, well… then chances are you most likely will do it just to prove a point.

I will be the first to say that I’m a type a person who will cut off my nose to spite my face. So I guess what I would say is that stubbornness, when wielded wisely can result in wonderful blessings! So many people say stubbornness is a bad thing, but if you want something badly enough and are prepared to work towards the and result, it will happen.

The second reason would be that mystery in life is a good thing! If I start telling you too much about the future then it will take the mystery out of things. As you grow, things are going to happen that you were not going to see coming. Some good, some bad, and some will catch you entirely by surprise!

So instead of telling you of all the important things to expect, I guess the way I’m going to give you advice is by giving you a few things to keep in mind. This way I don’t take the mystery out of things, and I don’t bring our stubbornness and to play. Let’s face it we have enough stubbornness to go around and then some, why add to it.

First and foremost, never forget the relationship that you have with God. That is what will get you through every difficult trial you will ever face in life. You’re going to face some devastation, but with every rain cloud comes a beautiful rainbow!

You will have the tendency to look at the glass as half empty with the dust of the remains of what once was. Which is totally fine! Negativity is apart of life in this system, and sometimes you have to feel a little down to fully appreciate the good around you. However, it’s also OK to look at that same glass as half full. Focusing on the prospects that lie ahead, the good that you have, and the blessings you have experienced.


Thanks for reading the letter to the younger me! To finish reading the letter to my younger self, and for more letters to a younger self, please visit my blog site. www.ablogforyourthoughts.com
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