Gratitude Rock

I was in a deep conversation yesterday with a close friend and we were chatting about both of our daughter's situations and it brought me back to the post that I wrote the other day about being positive and not allowing the negatives in life hold you back to doing what is good in this world.

After sharing this information with him, I could see his attitude completely turn around. He had been dwelling on the negatives of his situation and not focusing on what blessings he should be grateful for having. I told him that I found a rock that sits in my Jeep that whenever I look at it, it reminds me to thank God for all the amazing things that I am grateful for. My rock allows me to start my day off on a good note instead of waking up and dreading all the negative issues at hand.

I am not really thinking of much when I first get up and go through my normal routine of taking vitamins, eating breakfast, getting dressed and getting in my Jeep to head to work. It is funny how that works as we have trained our minds to do a simple day in day out routine. However, as soon as the car door shuts, the thoughts of life start and I am sure it does for most of you as you head off on your normal work day. But, now that I have my rock in my cup holder, I pick it up and start thanking God for all that I am grateful for. If a negative thought comes in to my mind, I quickly shut it out with more positive thoughts by saying, "Thank you for... Thank you for... Thank you for...."

Blaring some uplifting music also puts on a smile. There is no better way to start off the day with some uplifting music and shouting to the Lord what your grateful for. Everything is positive on my way to work and it has completely changed my days around so much. Normally, we all dwell on the one thing that we want to change in our lives and it causes us to be in a bad mood. That one thing causes so much pain, that we can't get it out of our minds. Even if we have to face the negative issue at hand, it doesn't have to control our attitudes or get in the way of helping others by being positive.

So, look at it this way...If there is one issue causing you pain, there must be a million other things in your life that don't, so smile and be thankful for those things and your new attitude it will completely change your mood and your life.

God Bless,

Adam

Negativity or Strength

Some people have asked me lately how I can be so strong after losing my daughter only a short year ago and after replying to a Facebook message today, it dawned on me as to why that is the case.

I feel like the time that I would spend crying out to the world to comfort my sorrows is wasted time to share God's love, strength and beauty. When you think of God's image, do you see Him crying, complaining, angry or anything negative, or do you see Him as strong, filled with love and filled with all the right words to say to anyone with a question?

Do I miss Kayleigh? YES!!! Do I long to hold her one more time? YES!!! Do I ever cry when I think about her? YES!!! BUT, something I have always kept in the forefront of my mind is a guy that I used to work with back at Frito Lay nearly 14 years ago. Every time I saw him, he had a smile on his face. Everytime I asked him how he was doing, he would say.."I am truly blessed." There was no way this guy could be in a good mood every single day, let alone any single day because I know exactly how I and everyone else felt working the same exact job he was doing.

When I finally got the nerve to ask him why he was always in a good mood. He said because I have Jesus in my life. This was long before I ever became a Christian, but it stuck with me from then on. I always told myself, I wanted to be like that guy because I view him as a strong and happy person. Honestly, no matter what the sad/depressing/angry story is, it only is going to bring someone else sorrow or anger or pain. Not to mention, who really cares if you are in a bad mood when the universal question of asking how someone's day is going is as common as changing your underwear. Well, maybe it is...for some of you. lol

Look at these two differences....How do you think it will affect you if someone continued to cry out all there problems to the world. You may listen for a while, but then it actually wears you out and then before too long, you are ignoring or hiding from that person because all they do is whine. Now...how would you react to someone who knows that only God is the one who can fix their problems or atleast lead them to a specialist who can fix their problems (In which you still don't hear about it). You would see this person as positive, strong, uplifting and maybe you would want to be more like that person because isn't anything negative in this world considered sin??? Fear not and trust the Lord. Isn't that what God tells us.

Now in no way am I perfect at this, but I have learned through experience that you don't have to be perfect at anything...just try your best. I have and always will try to live a life without negativity as it gets you nowhere and it prevents you from doing the great works of God. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying Kayleigh is a negative one tiny bit...but I am not going to let my selfishness of wanting her back in my life so bad that it ruins my day or causes me to harm my body or others through depression when I could be touching other lives with God's word. A day wasted crying over the fact that she is no longer here is a day wasted to lift another soul up to see the great things our Lord is made of. What if someone watching you, reading your words, or seeing your actions was on the fence of giving their life to Christ. Am I going to be a drama queen and show that person any kind of weakness when I need to be acting in the image of our Lord? NEGATIVE GHOST RIDER!!!! (For all you Top Gun fans)

I keep in mind that the life we live on earth is but a grain of sand compared to the life we will have in eternity. Waiting 60 more years (hopefully) to save so many more lives here on earth seems like there is actually not a lot of time left, but eternity allows me to spend every waking moment for the rest of my life with Kayleigh and my family who has gone before me. I can wait as it will just make the homecoming filled with much more anticipation than it already is....and when I get to Heaven, then I will let the tears "of joy" flow.

Last but not least...Kayleigh touched more lives with God's word without speaking a single word of her own. Aimee and I may have written this blog, but without Kayleigh's strong heart and determination, you wouldn't have been touched by her story. I give Kayleigh all the credit, but then it tells me I have a voice of my own and I have ways to reach others, so what am I going to do that amounts to the blessing my daughter did for so many others? You might say it's not a competition, but if God made me an athlete and a competitor, then Kayleigh certainly set the bar high for me to achieve such an ounce of a blessing she has been to others.

So, my first step has been to release things that hold me back from being the best Christian that God created me to be. Negativity was certainly one of them and I hope it is for you too because this is about Kayleigh...and nothing else.

"Kayleigh, I am so proud of you for the life you lived and the lives you touched. You have given me a newfound strength and I am beyond blessed that God gave you to me. I know times are tough down here, but just know that I love you so much and I will not allow any negativity change the way I share your beautiful story. You are a gift to all of us and it is all about you on this blog. Because of you, we have been able to touch more and more people's lives. Your story has helped me be more selfless and change people's lives through fitness and Mommy has been able to touch people's lives through her blog and on Facebook. We will never let your story subside sweetheart as your strength and determination will touch more and more lives until the day that I see you in Heaven. But even then, I know there will be others who will carry on your story. You are just that special my sweet butterfly. We ALL love you so much!"

God Bless,

Celebrating Kayleigh - Balloon Release for May 11th

I can't believe we are approaching one year since Kayleigh went to Heaven. Time has flown by so fast as it feels just yesterday when we set off those pink balloons in to the air to remember our sweet little Kayleigh.

Thanks to Bo Dean, he has put together a special evening for me at 6:30pm next Tuesday over at O2 Fitness in Mayfaire. He has gathered many of my clients and friends to celebrate Kayleigh's miraculous journey by letting off pink balloons again with notes attached to touch more people.

We would love for all of those who joined in last year to do the same and send in your photos so I can post them for all to see. I still have tons of photos from last year that I would like to have put into a video montage with some songs. I will probably incorporate both years, so if you want to have your photo in the video, email it to me at: AdamFreemanPT@yahoo.com Niecey if your out there and want to help again, I would love your assistance in making this video.

If you live in the Wilmington or surrounding area, please come and join us. The address to O2 Fitness is: 980 Town Centre Drive - Wilmington, NC 28405.

I want to really thank you all for your support and never ending prayers over the past couple years. It has been a blessing to have such a wonderful group of prayer warriors through the ups and downs of this journey. I can't thank you all enough on how much it means to me.

I am forever grateful!

God Bless you all so very much!!!