Inspiration

The Halves & The Half Nots

by Danielle N. Hall

7/6/2016


All this week I’ve had on my mind a famous line by Chuck Brown: “Whatever you do big or small, do it well or don’t do it at all.” This is one of those simple, yet profound statements.  My late grandmother had another way of saying it that may not be suitable for all audiences, but even from her creative way of expressing the same message, I understood the importance of striving for excellence.

What we input has a direct effect on the output we yield. The “Halves” are those who engage in half-hearted efforts and will later find that their output leaves something to be desired. The job gets done, but there are some elements missing that could’ve enhanced the outcome. The “Half Nots” are those who put their entire hearts into what they are doing whether they are on a mission to buy a greeting card, completing a major work project, or any other endeavor.

Sometimes, when we don’t understand the value of certain opportunities, we tend to fall in the category of the “Halves”. For instance, I can recall while being in high school being afforded the opportunity to take college courses as a part of the HI-SCIP (High School College Internship Program). The first semester, I enrolled in a psychology class and I enjoyed it. I paid attention, learned much, and applied myself. I earned a B in that class. The 2nd semester, I was enrolled in a World History class which wasn’t of interest to me so I took a half-hearted approach and squandered the opportunity. I earned a D: an outcome that certainly left more to be desired by me. 

That experience was both a learning and a teaching point for me. I just recently shared with my children the contrasts in the outputs based on my inputs. I’ve learned to not waste valuable opportunities by having the mindset of the “Halves”. If I am going to do it, whether it’s big or small, I’m going to do it well or not do it at all. Consider me a “Half Not”.

In which of the two groups are you?

Decisions, Decisions

by Danielle N. Hall

6/27/2016

“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.”–Roy Disney

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This is a small, practical example of selflessness. However, I’ve found that making decisions of the like have yielded great blessings!  Don’t hesitate to be a blessing…the results are priceless!

Philippians 2:4 (NKJV) Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 

The 5 Words That Blessed My Life

by Danielle N. Hall

6/14/2016

I’m sure many of you have had some interesting, memorable interactions in the workplace. I tend to have them in my everyday life…in various settings. I guess the real reason I’m not drawn to amusement parks is because each day of my life is an adventure. I’ve got a host of stories to share! I’ll admit that I wasn’t as welcoming of some experiences, but maturity has caused me to embrace a Romans 8:28 mindset: I truly accept and believe all things are working for my good and for His glory. 

One story I’d like to share is from a workplace experience I had in 2005. If I could describe it in a picture, I’d say it was a….this:

I was in a season of transition, yet a state of contemplation. My mind perceived that change was necessary, but my heart hadn’t quite accepted that it was time. This is because I’m usually not a quitter. A wise person once told me that a season is an appropriate period, but a moment is an appointed time. While I was preparing for the inevitable as best as I could during that season, a request came my way that initially shocked me, but it was just what I needed to make it clear to me that it was time. This was the request made to me in 5 words: “I want you to quit.”

Let me be VERY real: I was offended…ESPECIALLY since I went above and beyond my call of duty and there was no explanation behind the request. However, I was also relieved because I had already been searching for another option and I had an interview scheduled on the next morning. In hindsight, I view those 5 words as God’s way of telling me it was time because He knew that even though I was frustrated, I probably still would have had trouble leaving because I’d consider all of the great experiences I had at that establishment. 

Now that I’m older and wiser, I recognize that what we need may not be presented in the most appealing packaging. If I hadn’t heard those 5 words, I may still be painfully sitting on the fence. The moment had arrived and I would’ve missed it. It takes maturity and the right perspective to understand and embrace the following about life:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 

Some of the greatest blessings that I’ve received came wrapped in peculiar packaging, but I’m grateful. I’ll leave you with this final note:

#SHIFThappens

Unnecessary Roughness 

by Danielle N. Hall

6/2/16

MOMENT OF THOUGHT:

Just before reaching the office this morning, the phrase “unnecessary roughness” crossed my mind. It led me to begin to think of how we are sometimes too hard on ourselves. This unfortunate fact can be attributed to (but isn’t limited to) past rejection or hurt from others, embracing the standards of others, or having a propensity to please people. In these situations we tend to lose ourselves and the inclination to love ourselves.


MOMENT OF TRUTH:

For years, I focused the majority of my energy on comforting and loving others and sacrificing for them. It took some time and courage for me to decide that I was going to start making sure I invested in my own happiness and well-being, too. The above picture represents one of such investments. It was taken at the Red Door Spa on my birthday last year. I’ve made an executive decision that this would be a consistent treat for me. Sadly, though, when I initially made the decision I actually felt a little bit guilty and I started to beat up on myself. This is because I’d grown accustomed to neglecting me. I began thinking about how finances are limited and how that money could be better utilized for a household need. Then when I began to reflect on how relaxing and rejuvenating the Red Door experience was, the guilt started to fade away. There are other ways that I’ve been less than kind to myself in the past, but I’m learning to be more loving and caring to me.

MOMENT OF THANKS:

There is a multitude of ways to be kind and gentle to ourselves. Consider the following activity that I thought of this morning:

Write a “Thank You” note to yourself. This may be a little unusual because often when we reflect we focus on struggles, headaches, heartaches, and bad choices. Today, however, I encourage you to do something strange for a change. While you write, sing to yourself the following lyrics: “Loving you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful.”

Unfinished Business

by Danielle N. Hall

5/25/16

Have you ever been working really hard and making great progress, but then you wind up tripping up and experiencing a setback? It is quite possible that a minor detail with major impact was missed: a loose end. 

MacMillan Dictionary defines loose ends as “the final details or parts of something that you have not yet completed or dealt with”. Considering this definition, a loose end represents a lot. 

PAUSE AND PONDER

What minor detail in your life have you not completed or dealt with that can cause a significant setback? Here are some examples:

Unpaid parking tickets

Failing to adjust the clocks during time changes

Forgetting to pray before making a major decision

Forgetting to apply deodorant 😊

Not calling to make payment arrangements 

Not scheduling that annual physical

Not calling that relative who was placed on your heart

Closing, but not locking doors of the past

These are just some examples of small details that can have a significant impact. When you think of an untied shoestring, it doesn’t start out as a big problem, but after a while of walking on loose ends, you will notice that a bit of unraveling begins to take place and trying to relace an unraveled string can be a pain.

FINAL THOUGHT

Haste makes waste. It would be unfortunate to have gone full speed ahead and have invested much time in doing great things, but have a small bit of unfinished business that comes to the forefront and causes a setback. Let’s examine our lives and detect and tie up those loose ends so that our labor will not have been in vain.

Wait Well

One of the hardest things to do in life is wait…

“The common man prays, ‘I want a cookie right now!’ And God responds, ‘If you’d listen to what I say, tomorrow it will bring you 100 cookies.”–Criss Jami


Romans 8:25 (AMP) But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure. 

May God grant you the grace to wait well for your 100 cookies!

Out of the Woods

by Danielle N. Hall

5/14/2016

There are those nervy few who find it exhilarating to play with fire. If I can be honest, I felt that way at one point in life…living on the edge and being impulsive to the point of fault. If you dared me to do something, I’d oblige. Fortunately, as I grew older I also grew wiser. Most importantly, being a mother has heightened my need to protect and be protected.

My children are precious to me and the thought of the presence of any danger to them puts me on warrior mode. Yet, before God allowed me to birth them, I lived life a bit on the wild side. I had spontaneous thoughts and spontaneous actions to follow. Every time I reflect on my “then”, I thank God for grace! If we are honest with ourselves, we can say we’ve done some unwise things. This is where I’ll insert the praise break starter “BUT GOD…!!!” 

When you mature, you recognize that life is about more than fun. I’m certainly not suggesting that you can’t enjoy life…it’s a gift and who wants a gift they can’t enjoy??? What I am saying is when fun is your focal point, you can miss out on some of the greatest things life really has to offer and you can find yourself being caught up in unnecessary peril. I speak from a place of experience.

I vividly recall an incident from my adolescent years. I was at a bus stop and decided that I didn’t feel like catching a bus that day and I wanted a ride. One showed up and without reservation I hopped in the car. I then found myself in an abandoned apartment building with a man who had a briefcase with God knows what in it. We went upstairs to one of the units. There was a dresser and a bed in the unit. I checked out my surroundings and I spotted an ink pen on the dresser. I remember thinking the following: “If this man touches me, I’m gonna use this pen in his eye to defend myself.” Here I was, in an abandoned apartment, with a very strange stranger, and was contemplating how I was going to defend myself: how frightening! That was one time I can say that I truly feared for my life. Fortunately, I got away unharmed and untouched.

This account is a prime example of spontaneous thoughts followed by spontaneous actions that turned out to be unwise. Now before casting judgment, to understand one’s choices, you must consider his/her experiences. Refer to one of my previous posts entitled “Dirty Little Secrets and The Little White Lie.”  https://daniellenhall.com/2016/04/26/dirty-little-secrets-the-little-white-lie/

The beauty in this is that I’m out of the woods and I’m still here today to share the story with you so that you may think before you act. What may seem like it’s harmless, or is just fun, can be more detrimental than perceived. Again, I’m older and wiser and I’m a mother. With any position there is an accompanying level of responsibility. In my position as mother, I understand the importance of considering consequences before acting. I endeavor to stay out of the woods. The same is true with my position as a Christian. I’m not professing to be perfect…I do falter at times, but I try hard to practice what I teach/preach. I believe our examples are impactful messages. 

Here’s a final thought:

Proverbs 9:11-12 (VOICE)

Lady Wisdom: “Through me your days will be lengthened, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, wisdom is its own reward. If you mock what you don’t understand, you alone will suffer the consequences.”

Every Little Step I Take

by Danielle N. Hall

5/2/16

(Photo inspired by Nesha Danae)

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I woke up this morning with these lyrics playing in my head: “Every little step I take, you will be there. Every little step I make we’ll be together.” All day long, I kept hearing them!

In recent days, so much has been happening so fast and, while I feel like I’ve prepared for this moment, I still have a little hesitation when it comes to walking in open doors that have been placed before me. I don’t want to make the wrong decision, but I also don’t want to neglect opportunities that God is presenting because of fear of the unknown.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m not alone in feeling this way. I’m convinced that a moment you’ve been both waiting for and preparing for has arrived and, because it seems surreal, you may be a bit hesitant. Having said that, I believe the lyrics that were playing in my head were a subconscious encouragement to myself. I thought it only fair to use it as an opportunity to also encourage you.

Upon reflecting on those lyrics and pondering things that are before me, I was reminded of this: “The steps of a good and righteous man are directed and established by the Lord, and He delights in his way and blesses his path.” -Psalm 37:23 (AMP). David declares that “You enlarge the path beneath me and make my steps secure, so that my feet will not slip.”-Psalm 18:36 (AMP). When I consider His Word and His track record, I can attest to the fact that my path has been blessed and He has provided a sure and secure way for me. Not only is this true, but I can also say with great confidence that every little step that I have taken, He has been there.

When we are in a state of hesitation, we can encourage ourselves with this confession: “The Lord God is my strength my source of courage, my invincible army; He has made my feet steady and sure like hinds’ feet and makes me walk forward with spiritual confidence on my high places of challenge and responsibility.”-Habakkuk 3:19 (AMP)

Be it in boots, heels, tennis shoes, sandals, or loafers…if it’s time to walk in the open door, be bold and take that step: being comforted by knowing that every little step we take, He will be there!

 

Dirty Little Secrets & The Little White Lie

by Danielle N. Hall

4/26/16

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I can’t believe what “he” did to me
It’s truly a crying shame
Who is this “he” you might be asking
Well, there are too many to name

“He” touched me when I was little
In places that were meant for my spouse
I was nervous AND I was afraid
Yet I remained as quiet as a mouse

“He” asked me “Are you ready?”
Inside, I had screamed “NO!”
I wanted to run, but was paralyzed by fear
And I could not manage to go

“He” didn’t have a knife
Nor did “he” hold a gun to my head
“He” stood there ready to conquer
But used manipulation instead

“He” whispered in my minor ears
And said “If it’s all night, it’s all right!”
The next day we entered a secluded place that was void of both safety and light

“He” kissed me and then “he” asked
“Do you want me to put it in?”
I was very confused, yet I refused
However, the next day “he” tried again

Now, this time I didn’t refuse
And decided “Ok. We’ll try.”
Once again I’d been manipulated
But now by another guy

When it was over, I thought to myself
“Ok. I made it through.”
Later I thought: “What in the world have I done? What did I get myself into?”

I actually thought “he” loved me
How silly was I and what was I thinking?
I was in too deep, and in a deep sleep…
Was intoxicated, yet I wasn’t drinking

Exposed to so much before it was time, but convinced I had things under control
To myself I had lied. I was broken inside, but on the outside I appeared to be whole.

My smile is now real and there’s a difference in how I feel.
What I’ve shared is a piece of my “THEN”
My history had me bound and holding my head down, but NOW I’ve gotten my smile again

That monster called “he”, may have stolen something from me…something that wasn’t for the taking
But God’s restored the years and dried those inner tears
Inside my heart is no longer breaking

I’m daily renewed with a new point of view
I’m still here to tell my story
Those bad things that happened will work for my good and, somehow, God will get the glory

I could be bitter, I could be depressed
As a matter of fact that was the old me
I’ve gotten my joy back and a new hold on life
I thank God I’m totally free!!!

The secret is out…no more shame or doubt. From now on I vow to be bold.
I will hold my head high…in spite of the fact…
This is one of the hardest true stories I’ve ever told.

If Only for One Night

by Danielle N. Hall

4/20/16

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Some of you may be familiar with the following lyrics:

“Let me hold you tight…if only for one night

Let me keep you near, to ease away your fear

It would be so nice…if only for one night”

These lyrics, so smoothly sung by the late and great “Luther”, were presented as an offer that could hardly be refused. While the lyrics are comforting, the truth is, I don’t have access to Luther nor was he even talking to me…lol

I’m convinced that most everyone has someone, or something, that they have a yearning for. Night after night, for years, I tossed and turned and turned and tossed…missing and wanting this one thing: REST.

I had grown accustomed to only getting a combination of a very few hours of broken sleep daily. I was a functioning insomniac!!!  In an effort to be transparent, I have to acknowledge that suppressed memories, worry, stress, being consumed with others’ issues, a bit of fear, and burnout had caused to me to have many nights void of rest. Over time, it began affecting my health in many ways…some symptoms were lightheadedness, intermittent blurred vision, memory challenges, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, and irritability. I would still function, but my mind and body screamed: “IF ONLY FOR ONE NIGHT!!!”

Then it finally happened…I made a decision to release that which was keeping me from getting what my mind and body craved. Make no mistake about this…deciding is just the beginning of the process.  We then have to actually do the work. I found a few new comforting lines:

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

I began to rehearse these words and then they finally took root and THEN my “one night” became numerous nights. What I’ve come to learn is that we often suffer for an unnecessary lengthy period of time because we have a tendency to depend on finite things, but God in all of His infinite wisdom has provided what we need in His word.

What’s been keeping you up at night? Is it stressing about finances, worrying about a loved one, fear of what’s gonna happen, or holding on to memories of traumatic experiences? I encourage you to “let Him hold you tight…if only for one night. Let Him keep you near to ease away your fear. It would be so nice…if only for one night.” I’ve learned to rest in His arms and on His word. Here are some that may help you:

Psalm 94:19 (AMP) When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comforts delight me.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMP) You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast that is, committed and focused on You—[in both inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You with hope and confident expectation. Trust confidently in the Lord forever He is your fortress, your shield, your banner, for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.

REST…and may your one night become many!