2017 ECLIPSE: What's Blocking Your Sun?

Today is a day that will forever go down in history for many of us.  When our kids are older, they'll probably remember exactly what they were doing for the Solar Eclipse in 2017.  The reality of this thought is what caused me to make the last minute decision to check my kids out of school and drive North were we'd be right in the path of the total lunar eclipse... a once in a lifetime event!

Even though it took only an hour to get there but about 3-4 hours to get back--because everyone else had the same plan apparently--it was well worth the journey.  I'll never forget that experience with my children and I'm sure they never will either.

On the drive home I passed a sign that said, "What's blocking the sun in your life?"

Like many I was already in deep thought since I'd just witnessed an astonishing phenomenon, but seeing that sign took me even deeper.

If you've been following me on social media, you've probably noticed that I've been living my life to the fullest lately, even more than I previously had.  In just the past week I've flown for the first time on a plane, visited "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" in Orlando, climbed mountains and hiked with my boys through Talullah Gorge where I also slid down sliding rock into the deep lake below, and camped in the wilderness at Camp Rainey Mountain.

Don't worry, I haven't been diagnosed with a life threatening ailment... I've simply come to the conclusion that life is much too short to be living for anything other than... well... LIFE!

Every moment I get to make memories with my family; try things I've never tried; experience, see, and learn all there is to discover on this beautiful earth is a moment I don't want to take for granted and the more I practice this lifestyle, the more I couldn't imagine it any other way!

The concept of living life to the fullest has likely crossed your mind on a regular basis but so few of us actually begin to walk in this notion.  So the question is, what is stoping you from shining as the bright star you were created to be?  Is there something or someone standing in your way?

If you wake up each day simply to go to work, make money to take care of your bills, eat, sleep, then do it all again, you are likely experiencing some sort of blockage.  Unless of course you just love getting up and working hard all day to make ends meet, pay taxes, and pay for a house you barely have time to live in.

Now I know what you're thinking, "I have to work!  Bills have to be paid!".... and that's all well and true... BUT, have you ever thought about consolidating your bills so that you aren't working so hard living paycheck to paycheck?  Are there things you can live without?  Is there some way to make that thing you REALLY love to do the same thing that pays the bills?  Even if it isn't paying much at first, are there some ways you can downsize until it's making more than enough?

I know that minimalistic living isn't for everyone but have you ever thought about how much more time you could spend with the people you love, or doing the things you love to do, if you didn't have so much stuff or need so much money to pay for it?  If you didn't have that fancy car or furniture you're still paying off, what would you do with the extra cash?

Remember this... no one has ever come to the end of their life and thought, "Man I sure wish I had made more money or had more things!"

So why not start now thinking about the things you wish you had more time for and start making more time for them... even if that means making more time for yourself.  As they say, where there is a will there is a way!  So just do it... start today!  (Promise I did not mean to rhyme there.)

You must move whatever it is that's stoping you from shining!  Whether it is your own fear, your past, or even someone you love holding you back, you've got to decide what's most important and live your life shining despite any setbacks!  Don't get to the end of your life and realize you never really lived!  Start living today because each amazing moment of your life only happens once and then it's gone!

Until next time!

~ Vitelle

You Can't Save Them All

Tonight I'm writing about a harsh reality that has taken me years to come to grips with, and honestly sometimes I still don't want to admit it.

I'm being reminded of this fact as I sit here watching one of my favorite Netflix shows, The 100.  I love this show for so many reasons but the main one is simply because it is the greatest representation of human nature that I've ever seen.

As humans, our need to survive, willingness to do whatever it takes for our families, eagerness to want to do what's right, and frailty in the face of unavoidable decisions that must be made throughout our lives, we are all bound to make mistakes, have regrets, win some and lose some.--Tis the journey of our existence.

For the most part we try to do the right thing and in most cases, even when not everyone agrees, we make our decisions based on what we think will turn out best for ourselves, our loved ones, and if the circumstance allows, the majority of all people.  Regardless of who we are or where we come from, we are all wired to survive.

Many of us on the other hand are wired with something a little more than just our own natural survival instincts.  Some of us are consistently insistent on saving everyone else even if it means sacrificing their own well being.  Those of us, myself included, who suffer from this need to help, heal, change, set in motion actions that can change the world often have a hard time facing the fact when the instance arises in which there's "nothing more they can do".

I say "suffer from" because some of us can't sleep at night from the constant knowledge of there being people who need us.  I speak for myself when I say, I can't rest in my comfortable bed when I know someone else is huddled under a bridge with their children.  It's hard for people like us to come to grips that this is reality and there is literally no way to change this for everyone.  Yet we still strive each day and do our best to at least change it for as many as we can.

The unhealthy fact is that if we let our need to save consume us, being that there will always be so many who need saving in this world, we can lose our own health, minds, and happiness in the process.  I've let myself get to this point too many times before I realize that if I'm out of commission because I've literally burned myself out, who can I help at that point?

You've heard me say so many times that you must put the mask on yourself first in order to help anyone else.  Let me also add that once you've done this, you can only help as many as you can help.  The goal is to always do your best, never give up, and when the journey is over, don't live with regrets for the ones you couldn't save, be at peace with the fact that you did everything you could do and likely set into motion for others to follow in your footsteps, aiding millions more because of what you started.

Another matter of fact--you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved.  In the charitable world, especially dealing with homeless individuals, there are many who simply do not want your help.  Some of them don't even know why.  Perhaps bitterness?  Pain?  Whatever the cause, if you're like me, you can become so obsessed with helping that one person who continues to refuse your help that you miss out on all the ones you could have helped in the meanwhile.

So two facts I consistently repeat to myself so that I can rest assured I've done all that I can do each day...

1.  You can't save them all.  Just do your best.

2.  You can't save anyone who doesn't want to be saved.

When you come to grips with these two truths, you will gain peace of mind to continue on your heroic life journey knowing that you are performing at your maximum ability to aid as many as you are able.  You are serving the purpose you where put on this earth for--the one that pulls at your heart daily.  The rest, you must understand, can only be left in the more capable hands of God.

Peace to you my friends!  Until next time! XOXOX