One summer I rented an apartment in a small district of Rome called Trastevere. The name Trastevere means “Across the Tiber”.
On the first day of my Rome experience I decided to go for a little stroll along the Tiber River. When I turned around to lock my apartment door, I took a mental picture of the big blue door, the number 9
plastered above it and the somewhat boring parking lot that surrounded it.
It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
What I neglected to do was bring a map or names of the surrounding streets.
“I don’t need it,” I said to myself. “I’m not going that far.” And off I went with my mental image of the big blue door with the number 9 plastered above it.
I turned right, then left, then another left and began walking along the Tiber. I came to an adorable center square with a big, beautiful fountain and lots of restaurants. I chose one, sat down and ordered my first meal in Rome.
For hours I watched the people walk by and smiled as I heard them speak Italian… such a beautiful language.
The lovers were walking hand in hand.
The families were pushing strollers with adorable dark haired babies in them. I sat there feeling so Italian while I said, “Buona Sera” to everyone who happened to look my way.
The church bells began to chime. 10 bongs told me it was time to go home. My tired, traveled body needed some sleep. I paid the bill and began walking back to my apartment.
I walked along the river, turned right, then another right, then a left to what was supposed to be the parking lot with a big blue door and the number 9 above it.
But, what I now know about Rome and Trastevere is that everything changes between 3pm and 10pm!
There were now restaurants that had shot up out of nowhere with dozens of fully draped tables, hundreds of people, busy waiters, musicians and the bustling vibration of Italy at night.
What was not present was the big blue door
and the number 9 plastered above it.
I stood in the middle of these “instant”
restaurants and began retracing my steps.
Yes, I was in the correct place. I asked one
of the waiters if he knew where the big blue
door was. He looked at me inquisitively and
said, “Come?” (Which means, “What?” in Italian.)
“Well,” I began, “It’s a big blue door and it
has a number 9 above it” I repeated. And while I am hearing these words come out of my mouth I realize how pathetic I sound.
I walked around for nearly an hour retracing
my steps over and over again. A taxi driver
was going by so I flagged him down and asked him to take me to my apartment.
“What’s the address? he asked in broken English. “Well, it’s a big blue door with this huge number 9 above it.”
He shook his head and as graciously
as a busy taxi driver can, shrugged his shoulders and drove away.
I stood there lost in the middle of Rome with
no big blue door and no number 9 plastered above it.
At that moment I made a very wise decision that has impacted the rest of my life…
I decided to BE GREAT.
Even in the midst of acting irresponsible and
not brining the map or even the address, I decided to see myself as “Great”.
I said to myself, “even though I feel like an
idiot; I am powerful.”
“Even though I feel alone; I am divinely guided.”
“Even though I feel frustrated; I am enough.”
Standing in the middle of that self-induced chaos, I decided to love myself. And in that moment I prayed a prayer of gratitude to God. “Thank you for creating me whole and complete, perfect in your image. I am divinely guided.”
Before I spoke the “Amen”, I opened my eyes, looked up and saw a big blue door with the number 9 plastered above it! It was there the entire time; ‘hiding’ behind the “instant” restaurants.
I am grateful for that experience and many
others where I’ve made some dumb choices in my traveling, business or life. Forgotten
keys or prospects, incorrect pronounciations
or misspoken words; all of these “mess-ups”
gave me the opportunity to love and accept
myself NO MATTER WHAT the circumstance.
The most powerful force in the entire world
is LOVE.
When you bring LOVE, PASSION and ENERGY to a project, a client, a prospect, a child,
a relationship, you meet with success.
Every time.
LOVE always wins…
And one of the most important aspects of love is: SELF-LOVE.
Growth begins with Self-Love.
Forgiveness begins with Self-Love.
Happiness starts with Self-Love.
Service and true transformation begins with
Self-Love.
And “Self-Love” is a DECISION.
What about you?
What circumstance, rejection or failure
are you STILL HOLDING on to?
The MIND makes things up. The MIND makes
up that if a ‘bad’ circumstance happens,
then life is bad (or you are bad).
The MIND makes up that if it has a moment
of happiness, life is good and you are good.
Self-Love is NOT tied to circumstances.
It is NOT tied to other people’s opinions.
Self-Love is not tied to your pin level or your accomplishments.
Self-Love is a DECISION…
A DECISION to Honor the Creation called “You” just because “You” exist.
What would your life look like if you stopped
collapsing feelings with being?
In the midst of a self-induced problem,
you can “feel” stupid, alone or frustrated
and “be” powerful, connected, and divinely
guided.
Take a stand for yourself. Know who you are and whose you are. Decide who you are being in spite of any feelings and choose self-love.
Declare yourself whole and complete, powerful, a divinely guided genius… And you will be.
Lisa Jimenez M.Ed. ~ Citizen of the World
www.Rx-Success.com
This is a Chapter from my newest book,
“Wheels Up!” How Travel Ignites Your Spirit
and Transforms Your Life.”
