BE WILLING TO DIE FOR YOUR WHY

Will Smith is one of my all-time favorite actors. He embraces every character from every role that he acts as and leaves nothing to be questioned. He takes his talent, as he has notably stated before, and he beats on his craft until it becomes fine tuned.

This morning I was listening to interviews that Smith did years ago and two points stuck out to me. I've heard these interviews time and time again because I actually listen to motivational speeches during my workouts. However, this morning, these interviews struck chords in me in a different way.

Will Smith once said, "Greatness is something that truly exists in all of us...I know who I am, I know what I believe, and I’m willing to die for it."

I think we can all just let that sink in for a moment or two.

In another interview Smith said, “The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, but if we get on the treadmill together there’s two things; you’re getting off first or I’m gonna die. It’s really that simple.”

Hearing this, repeating this over and over, it makes me emotional.

I've said for years that there are two keys to accomplishing your goals; know your why and be determined to never give up. At the end of the day your determination to persevere is propelled by your why. Your why is what you look to when you feel that you are on the brink of quitting. When you get to a point of no return you remember why you started in the first place.

Why is not the number on a scale, why is not the number in a bank account -- your why fuels you with passion to fight against all odds. On your weakest day, your why makes you stronger. On your lowest day, your why causes you to rise to the occasion and KEEP GOING!!

Why isn't so much what pushes you, but what are you willing to die for? When we are willing to give our all, no matter the cost, and continue in the pursuit of our beliefs with passion -- you've found your why.

Your reason why will never stop you from living -- in fact your reason why will tell you to NEVER GIVE UP!!

Do that -- NEVER GIVE UP -- your reason why is counting on you.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

YOUR SORRY MOM

Dear Gracie,

I’m sorry. 

I’m sorry I can’t give you all that you could ever want. 

I hope you see I do everything I can to give you what you need.

I’m sorry that I can’t be the very best.

I hope you see that I still strive to be in everything I do.

I’m sorry that I've failed more times than I can count.

I hope one day you know that this is sometimes how you learn to succeed.

I'm sorry I can’t provide for you like other moms do for their children.

I hope one day you know that I choose and love being home with you every day.

I’m sorry for the times I’ve had to say no. 

I hope you see that the no days are what make the yes days so much sweeter.

I’m sorry I don’t always get it right.

I hope you see that my wrong days are the days I learn humble humility.

I’m sorry mommy isn’t perfect, but mommy is perfectly imperfect.

I hope you never strive for perfection because you, too, are perfectly imperfect.

One day, baby girl, you will know the sacrifice, the hard work, the heartache, and the guilt that comes with being a mother. One day, I hope you understand that mommy only wants the very best and I try to give that to you in every way possible. 

I’ll NEVER be sorry for having you — you gave me life when I wasn’t quite sure what was left. You give me that every single day.

I hope, one day, you see that love doesn't lie in the size of our house (especially since mommy and daddy have a new dream in mind), the number of toys you have, the amount of clothes we own, but in our hearts.

Just so, Christmas isn't defined by the type or amount of decorations we have around the house, the amount of money we spend on gifts or the number of presents you have under our little 24 inch snowman Christmas tree. ((That flamingo is a whole other story.))

I hope you remember the times that mommy stops to give the homeless man our food, the moments when we go to a drive-thru and purchase food for the woman who doesn't have a warm meal to eat. Those are the memories I want to instill in your little mind and put on your heart. I pray I show you these things each and every day and not just during the holidays.

I love you more than you will ever know and pray I am doing all God would have me do in your life. I don't get it right all the time, but for the most part -- I'd like to think I'm doing alright.

Imperfectly Yours,

Mom

THE WHEELCHAIR OF A CHILD

My heart has been moved, but being a mother — my heart is broken. My eyes have filled with tears too many times to count. Last year, we all know the story of me giving my daughter CPR and her living. However, I can’t imagine the feeling a parent would have when their child is diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer, an ugly word NO ONE wants to hear. Cancer, a cure only found through hope, research, doctors, medicine, needles, blood and trust in people you don’t even know. Cancer, the word no parent wants to hear and no child should have to endure. I had the opportunity to breathe life into my daughter, parents here don’t have that opportunity, they can only hope. While leaving the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital I came across this wheelchair. 

A wheelchair that a child once sat in before taking their last breath. A wheelchair that a parent once broke down in receiving news that their child wouldn’t see tomorrow. A wheelchair that, if it could speak, would tell you the story of the 4-year-old girl who pretended it was a race car through the halls of the hospital, her home. That wheelchair has held the most precious of lives, I feel so small compared to that wheelchair.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie