Lizé 4 HOPE

Happiness Openness Purpose Enthusiasm

This coming year I'll be Seventy Eight Years old. In 1989, I was thinking so much about what I wanted to do in life, for me and the rest of the world. My creativity came up with a mnemonic called SHARE; this would mean that we would think about, how all of us could Share Hope Awareness, Respect, Empathy, with ourselves and others. We all need to practice giving to ourselves and others, this shared meaning. Even though there were my many hills and valleys in my life, I valued helping others as much as I could. It gave me joy to encourage others, yet I didn't know how to include myself. I was blessed with six children, the five who remain know me very well; they are some of my prize teachers.

That was true, in 2016 when my youngest son answered the sought out question, I had been asking for much of the last eight years. In the last nine years, I had been challenged with so much grief, living alone for the first time, and as much as I tried, I was broken and could not rescue myself. Yes, my family and friends tried to help; but as someone might say about us seniors, we would fall and couldn't get up. That was how I'd been feeling for so long. One day my son James came over and I asked him a question. He knew all about what share meant, since I had a SHARE license plate, owned SHARE, Inc. and had many SHARE Websites; Thanks to my son Philip, who provided them for me. My will says, when I croak, my son James would inherit all that had SHARE on it. I asked him a question, what did SHARE mean to him; he replied, "take care of your own needs". WOW! I never thought of that.

As a child, I was taught take care of others, not, take care of your own needs. I must admit, that I thought sharing with others would not only help them, but would enable me to get rid of low self esteem. It didn't, and I was puzzled. I began to think of all the minor things that I didn't do for myself. It is hard to admit, but looking back on it all, I thought others would go out of there way for me. So instead of asking for what I wanted, I'm sure I resented not having my needs met. One great thing is admitting that I made a mistake. When I take care of my own needs, I am more capable of taking care of others. It took 77 years for me to really know this; it came from my youngest son. I am ready to move forward living senior years, with a new beginning. Now, my son James will benefit from having SHARE early, before I croak.

My home is here in Louisville, "Derby City" Kentucky and my license plate was meant to be hope, yet it was already taken; my license plate is 4HOPE. My new website, provided by my first born son Philip, with his Directory One, will be Lize` 4 HOPE. The mnemonic means Happiness Openness Purpose Enthusiasm. These are quality that I will have within my life, if I take care of my own needs, and not be afraid to ask others, to help if needed. I began my career as a Life Experience Consultant. In my fifties, I went to college so I could acquire my degree as an Occupational Therapist. This past skill, practiced in so many setting, helped me get an understanding of what went on with customers, employees and management in the business setting. It has taught me how to look at life holistically in myself, my relationships and in daily life. As I retired from Occupational Therapy, this skill caused me to look at my choices with abstract thinking. Before I was black and white, however most of us live life in the grey; the collections of our choices, negative and positive, make us who we are today. You can see from Transitions Within how I explain some of my journeys in poems.

Much of my life has been hills, valleys, reflection and self-growth; perhaps a lot like you? We all want to make a difference, not just in our lives but also in the lives of others. As an Author in Remember To Remember books you will see many choices. In Life Lessons you will be able to see where a simple idea can--help you help yourself! Also in the Speaker you will see how my personal and professional growth expanded my understanding of decisions, and now I can go forward, while I take care of my own needs, so I can take better care of others. This will provide much happiness, the need to be open to whatever happens in life, with a purpose to truly help others, as we help ourselves, we can encourage enthusiasm in our daily lives. When we have hope in our lives, nothing is impossible. Go for it!