"You don't need anyone's permission to love who you want to love, and to create what you want to create, and to show up how you want to show up. Live how you want to live... and then lovingly tell the world to shove it. They will deal... Give yourself the freedom of a big, brave, authentic life..." - Kristin Lohr

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and enjoy the dance." - Alan W. Watts

"You have to die a few times before you can really live." - Charles Bukowski

"The trick is to enjoy your days. Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead." - Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Our childlike self is the deepest level of our being. It is who we really are and what is real doesn't go away. The truth doesn't stop being the truth just because we're not looking at it." - Marianne Williamson

"...don't close your heart...from the possibility and please don't stop believing. hope is a beautiful thing...you're beautiful..." - r.m. drake

"Don't talk yourself out of wanting something, just because you haven't figured out how to get there yet." - Abraham Hicks

 

"Sometimes you have to let your feelings breathe." - perry poetry

Don’t be what they expect you to be. Don’t let the opinions of others overtake and saturate your soul. Don’t become what they want you to be.

It’s ok to be different – in fact, it’s BETTER; EMBRACE it! It’s ok to be exactly who and what you are – you should always be true to YOU. It’s ok to live your life the way that makes your soul sing – anything else is NOT ok.

There will be many who do not understand you, but it doesn’t matter. The best way to make the difference you were created for is to accept and embrace that and live your life how God places it on your heart, for nothing else will ever feel “right” and in the end, it is only between you and He.

Words: © Rosie Chee

"The cost of not following your heart, is spending the rest of your life wishing you had."

"There is something to be said about a person who does not allow negativity to overtake their soul, no matter how many rainy days their heart has known." - j. iron word

Image: Rosie Chee​

If there is ANYthing that the events of these last few days have reiterated (the start of it all the day I went to see your memory, buddy, and the night I returned to my first home and took this pic #gonebutnotforgotten), it is THIS: Life in this lifetime, is finite and fragile, and people even more than the illusion of. So despite everything that happens or may happen, give yourself permission to live a brave and bold, beautiful life. One that dares greatly irrespective of the odds or feared consequence, no matter what others may think or possible warnings against of that little voice in your head. For every moment is a chance that will never be again, every person a blessing that may never be gifted again, every opportunity the door to a world that may never be offered to you again. And taking that risk, shutting out all the naysayers or doubt, seeking the stillness of soul and heart colluding to bring to the ultimate conclusion, is worth EVERY moment, the beauty of possibility and potential far greater than mind might imagine. Live your life. Take the risks. Love your journey. Make it UNforgettable. Live it so much, and be present in it, that the ones your soul loves, and the souls yours encounters, become indelible footprints on your heart and inspiration on theirs. BE the difference. As much for YOU as for them. And live so much that it cannot ever be forgot who changed it forever, or when.

Words: © 2019 Rosie Chee

Strength isn’t about power or might. Sometimes strength is simply smiling at another when you don’t “have” a smile or just being there to listen when you’re exhausted and want to do anything but. Strength is not always “seen”, but it is always FELT and you never know who is observing.

You might never know it, but YOU could change someone’s life. You could be the catalyst for them looking into the mirror and searching deep and asking themselves what they truly want out of life. 
You could be the one they look up to and aspire to “be like”, because they see what you do and know a little of your story. You could be a “reason” in their life that inspires them to become BETTER.

It might not seem like you are being strong sometimes, but what is and what is seen are not always the same thing, and people are so very influenced by impressions, even when they come to learn the “truth”, and sometimes the truth makes them take a few steps back and think and “see” more.

When it feels like you have none, draw on Him. There is a never-ending supply of strength and grace waiting for us if we just ask for it. In the times when we don’t feel strong or want to be, then it is time to let His power be the strength we need. Remember, STILL being here, is strength and you never know what that means or “tells” others and the impact that a single ripple can make.

Words: © Rosie Chee

Our lifetime is made up of many journeys. Journeys that make and break us, shape and mould us, past and present determining what we shall become in the future, the most important of all that of our soul, the path to spiritual enlightenment, the metamorphosis of our innermost core as we traverse the journeys of life. Each journey we take in the physical has spiritual ramifications and often affect us far more than what the world can see, turning our souls inside out, upside down, twisting and contorting it until we are not sure we will ever be able to recognize ourselves when we come out the other side of the purging fire.
Each journey we take and every person we cross paths with leaves a footprint on our soul, teaching us valuable lessons and to show us how significant we are in the fabric of the universe. Love and loss, success and tragedy, ecstasy and pain, are all tools of the world to touch us, to create the destiny of our souls, the tumultuous journey that will leave us tempered like the rarest and most beautiful of diamonds, born of the greatest pressure and heat, crushed beyond life itself and shining forth a brilliant light from an indomitable spirit.
With strength and purity of heart we will survive anything, our soul’s journey one that is never-ending, each step one step closer to becoming the highest being and ultimate version of us that we can aspire to.
Words: © Rosie Chee

Your life is NOT yet over. There is STILL air in your lungs, even if sometimes they feel like someone has crushed them beneath the weight of the world. There is still hope in your heart, even if sometimes it feels as if you’re clinging to it by the MEREST of slivers. There is still faith in your soul, even if sometimes you wonder why and ask yourself what you are holding on FOR.

There is still LIFE in your life, even if sometimes you cannot see the way or know what the next step to take is. There are multitudes of POSSIBILITIES swirling around you, just waiting for you to open your eyes to see them for what they are; to see them standing there in front of you wanting you to see them, as you want yourself to be seen.

There IS love out there for you. It might have had folded arms and guarded smiles, but it IS there; as cautious as you because it has been hurt over and over, scars it wears proudly because it still has the courage to believe that it WAS meant for this life, beauty that only another soul who sings the SAME tune can see and appreciate.

Life is FULL of infinite possibilities. Endless opportunities call YOUR name. You could walk in ANY of myriad directions. You could traverse far MORE than one ocean. YOU could live a life of untold wonder and unimagined joy. You just have to SEE it. You have to realize it and understand that it IS there for you. You have to be OPEN to it. You have to step INTO it.

Taking that FIRST step is always the hardest. Walking AWAY from what you know for what you don’t is always apprehensive. Opening up your heart and soul again for something new is always a RISK. But all the risk in the world is WORTH it, because without it, you would never truly know what it is like to be blessed, to live happiness, to experience peace, to grow and evolve, and to REALLY live.

Words: © Rosie Chee

Those who inspire others often inspire, not because they are perfect, but because they are NOT. They have struggled and OVERcome insufferable odds, refusing to give up and stay down, living testimony to others that there IS hope. Their stories inspire because they are REAL people who lead real lives and yet manage to achieve "the impossible" when most would make excuses.

No life is "perfect", but things do not have to be "perfect" to be happy, successful, or blessed, and sometimes the way we "deal" with life and the things it throws at us "make" the inspiration others "draw" from. Even when they do not know your story, whether you want them to or not, are aware of it or not, the impression one might get can be powerfully influencing.

If one were perfect there would be NO inspiration, for there would be nothing "worthy" to admire. But when one is IMperfect and has no fear in admitting weakness, there is strength in that vulnerability, the risk to "expose" to scrutiny, for there is courage in such risk and willingness to let others see that "battle" and people relate to REAL.

Words: © Rosie Chee

"DON'T BE ASHAMED OF YOUR STORY. IT WILL INSPIRE OTHERS."


Before you ever make assumptions about someone or judge them for your opinion or perception of their actions and "being", make sure you take time to "know" that person as they are now and the soul beneath the skin. Just because something is rarely spoken of, or in some cases yet to be revealed or "admitted" allowed, does not mean that it is not or has never been. Just because it appears "easy" does not mean that it is, nor does a smile mean that everything is "fine". There are many reasons why one does not share every story they have lived, and yes, sometimes it is because they know how they are seen and do not want to shatter the illusion that others have of them, like I until this point, even as my life was never the "perfect" many thought and I not the "Ice Queen" my adopted "masculine armour" presented to all but the rare souls I had then let into my world.


"There are so many things the world doesn't see...Very few know of my past and any abuse - it's not something I'm proud of or ever wanted anyone to know; maybe because I think the world sees me as "strong", when that is not something a "strong" person allows or endures. Yet I refuse to see myself as a victim...Sometimes what makes us strong is what we go through and we don't know how strong we are until we ARE. There is irony in that...we can hide the truth from [even] ourselves so well we do not realize we have hidden it until something "triggers" an emotion or response that hits us like a flood and we are overwhelmed at its existence. The world sees strength and confidence when they look at me. They see positive encouragement and motivation and passion. They do not see what "drives" that, or the events and emotions behind the purpose for their happening and being...illumination is only painful because it is cleansing us from the inside out, reshaping and recreating us as we learn and grow through the flames...courage building in the vulnerability to be able to shine light on that darkness before others." - Rosie Chee (taken from post - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153330777369132)


I can now freely speak of this, and many other things, and not just because of how much I have learnt about how I am perceived or others see or "think" me, but because I have realized that being "perfect" is "cold" and regardless of how true or not it is or has been, even though it can and does inspire others, it also creates a barrier of unapproachability and feeling of intimidation that prevents genuine connection. Little do many realize how much I have been and lived through, or what I continue to deal with and endure, but it is certainly not "nothing" and those who know and have seen have some fathom of understanding of my true heart and how much I do feel and care, the depths and experiences my empathy and relatability stem from, but also just how much it has taken for me to be able to be so open and continue choosing to keep my soul true to its heart. But this is but one thing and I digress. The point, I think, of resharing this, as it "popped up" as a "memory today" of posting, is that, "EVERYONE HAS A STORY", but also that you never know what someone else is or has gone through, and so before you go assuming based on your own capacity or limitations, don't. We are all here to help each other, some of us to "live more" because we have the "strength" to, but also so that we can be living testmonies of grace for others and while our darkness and the demons in it may be our strength alongside black-winged angels, be the light that others see and need.


Words: © 2018 Rosie Chee