Actions speak louder than Words

It's that age old "saying" that we have all heard a million times.
Think about it....
Actions DO speak louder than words!!!

And no matter how many times we hear it, we still.... or at least I do - WANT to believe and see the best in people and their words.  Maybe it gives me hope for humanity... who knows?!!
But I have always found myself to be a pretty trusting person.

When someone gives me their word or promises to be there or do something - I guess I put stock in that and trust them. 
I TRUST their words.

And sometimes, the actions to follow don't coincide with those words.

Yet still........ I keep the faith and see the best in people.
Whether it be the same person over and over again.... or someone I just met
I just try to believe that there is good in everyone.

At least I always have....
And I guess I do still HOPE.
But then I ran across this quote and I got to thinking.......
YEP
yep.... how very VERY true.

And it doesn't pertain to just men in the literal sense (although all the man-haters out there can definitely take this and run with it!  ha)   Hey I just speak the truth  ;-)
Anywho....
THIS quote pertains more to life and what we see in people (mankind) as a whole....
Here it is .....
the profound quote to leave with you today!!!

 As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say.  

I just watch what they do.  

~Andrew Carnegie~

There are so many men people out there that profess over and over "I am this" or "I am that" or "I want this" or "I want that"

and I am learning........ NOT to put stock in that.

Sure I am still somewhat trusting and hopeful.  Yeah - I will still see the best in people.... I am filled with love and hope and optimism.  But it doesn't mean that I'm a pushover.

(and you are sorely mistaken if you thought I was!)

It also means that the actions that I SEE now and pay MORE attention to, mean so much more to me than the 10,000 words and empty promises you can spill.

Words can temporarily fill you with love and make you feel sooooo special.  

And words can temporarily break you into tiny tiny pieces in an instant (I have a teenager at home.. I KNOW!)

BUT there is nothing in the world better than someone actually SHOWING you every day that you mean the world....  not just saying it - but showing you.... actions.... over and over again.

Even if the words hurt sometimes... the actions have shown you otherwise.

And THAT is so much more comforting than just empty words.

That is what I watch.

That is what matters.

And when I focus on THAT........ I have never felt so positive and hopeful regarding everyone and everything in my life!!  I am blessed  :-)

And so are you.  

You just have to choose to see the actions that count and refuse to listen to the words that don't!

a change is gonna come..

Time marches on....
things change...
people grow and change...
people that have meant the world to you - change and move on and your left standing in the dust wondering where they went and what happened.
It's just life.
Sometimes I find myself sitting around wondering WHY?!
why do things have to change?
why do people that mean so much and have affected you in so many ways, disappear?
Why?!
I know why.
I understand why.
It IS just life.
People come in and out and they leave footprints in our lives.
They shape us.
They challenge us.
They change us.
and when their time is done, life moves on and we are better for having known and spent time with them.

But some days, I just want to stomp my foot and demand that the hands of time turn back and take me back to a time when things were simple.  To a time that I thought would last forever.  To a time that I thought would never change.......
No - they weren't really simpler times, but it's funny how when life moves on and things have changed, you look BACK at times like that and NOW they seem easy... they seem simple.  You know NOW that things dont' last forever, but when your in the moment... it just seems like they will.

And although - I can look back at some things and it brings a tear to my eye and I wonder why things have to change, at the same time - I CRAVE change.
I'm an Aries - what else can I say?!  I crave change.  I crave growth.  I crave new things and new experiences and I guess I crave a life that proves we are moving forward and changing and growing.  I crave that.  I want that.  Something new.  Something to challenge me.  Something to FORCE me to grow.

So when I look back and am sad because things have changed, people have changed, time has marched on - I look up and give thanks for that.  Because without change, without experience, without the challenge that life gives us every day - we would never grow and we might never meet the new people that have shown up to shape us even more.
When I get like this.... when I get all antsy and anxious and craving something new, some change, some new challenge - this is the time that I know God is working on me.

When you look around and you see change and growth all around you - you KNOW he is working. You KNOW there is a plan and there is no feeling like it in the world.

THIS is the time when I KNOW he is reminding me...showing me... CHALLENGING me to remember - that I have to put all my trust and faith in Him...