“Stand up straight. Stand tall” Those words echo in my head from decades ago. They are the words of my mother, as she watched her eldest daughter sprout up, towering over her own petite 5’2” frame. I knew what she was trying to tell me; at the time she was concerned my height would cause me to adopt a stooped stature. What I didn’t know then was how important those words would become to me later in life.
Standing tall has helped me succeed in all I tried. My various journeys seemed less troublesome when I listened to those words. Mom’s words kept me strong and confident after a stroke invaded my brain and my body in my sleep one night.
Struggling to make it down the narrow staircase in our home with a paramedic steadying me on one side… “Stand tall”, I heard in my head. At that point I still really didn’t understand what was happening to me, but I obeyed the words.
I’m here living my life as I choose simply because I listened to those words every time I heard them, no matter what I was doing. It’s how I’m sitting here, welcoming you to this, my new blog – the launch of my re-vitalized writing career.
My youngest step-daughter gave me a gift of a small plank of driftwood she’d found in Point Pleasant Park following Hurricane Juan (one can only imagine how many turbulent miles that board had traveled before Stephanie rescued it from the shoreline). On it she inscribed with the prophetic words of Lao Tzu. The Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I read that quote every day.
We all travel many journeys each day. With this blog, while we keep the words of Lao Tzu in mind, I’d like us to explore those journeys, the challenges we encounter and the strengths we develop after taking that first tenuous step. It is my hope we can make this an interactive experience, whereby we learn from each other’s journeys.
As we look at those journeys, challenges and strengths we’ll see how the view (our perception) has changed .The development of new strength develops a new you.
STAND TALL & STAY STRONG
Sandra M. Meers
Standing Tall 
Beautiful! Well said! XoXo
lPenny,dear friend. We’ve completely understood each other since we were 13 years old.
Oh Sandra, my friend…you have had some rough seas but it’s so great to see you doing this!!! As you know I hade my stroke November 2009.. It’s been a bumpy road but I am determined to make the most of my life….The Good Lord blessed me with this challenge and I will take the good days with the bad!
Trina, our battles have been a bit parallel. Strong faith and understanding spouses ave made the difference for both of us. God will never give us a mountain we can’t climb!!Take good days with the “not-so-good ones
–Sandra
i always knew you could do it! you’re inspiring hon! ❤