the Long and winding road

I believe it was Mark Twain who said that anger is an acid that does far more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured, and it is profoundly true. The more YOU hate someone, the more YOU suffer. It doesn’t affect the person hated nearly as much.

It’s pointless. Feelings of negativity and anger require energy..energy
that should be used to generate joy and happiness. Anger is a manifestation of fear..most often a fear of losing control. THAT is the number one human addiction: control.

I’ve learned that living in the present moment and focusing on positive things around you while releasing the anger of the past is the key to living the life we’re meant to live.  Letting anger go begins with forgiveness..not for anyone else, but for yourself. Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past can be any different..not necessarily that it was okay for it to happen. Refusing to be angry and letting go of anger from the past is done so that YOU can be free, accept the power that is within you, and allow that power to move you forward in life.

Amid the copious emails I received this past week from some unknown attempting to push me further into debt, a short but powerful email caught my eye. It was from the internship coordinator at the T.V. station I applied to intern at this summer. Usually I wouldn’t share a personal email but it went:

“HI Cody! Just wanted you to know that I have all the paperwork I need for your application. The deadline to apply is March first, but you were smart to get yours in early. As a journalist, I love someone who doesn’t wait until the last minute to make deadline, and it gives you an edge. I’ll be in touch after deadline.”

I visited this Atlanta television station in October and liked what I saw but knew immediately I would have to work hard to get an internship there after the internship coordinator told me when I met her that it’s one of the most highly competitive in the nation and only eight will be chosen. Hoping all of the hard work pays off.

I don’t know where life will take me after graduation but from this point on during moments of prayer and deep reflection, I will say, “Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.”

I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I know there is a vision for my life that is greater than my meager mind. This is only the beginning, and even a simple email can give you encouragement at just the right time.