STOP!

STOP! To start
STOP! To listen
STOP! To learn
STOP! To grow
STOP! STOP!! STOP!!!.

So many people have asked me, "Ala why did you stop being outspoken? Why did you stop being opinionated? Why did you stop speaking about everything you were known to speak about? Why did you get inactive in this area of your life that used to be hyperactive? "

Usually, I say nothing but deep down I knew the answer. I knew it was time for me to wind down, I knew it was time to STOP.

It was time for me to STOP talking, leading, speaking. It was time for me to STOP doing a lot of things without tangible results.

I had to STOP to start listening to myself. I had to STOP to start listening to God and my reasoning. I had to STOP to start listening to the world and its trends (you never know how to tackle a system if you do not know how the system operates).
I had to STOP to start listening to my elders, criticisms, my critics and the walls around me.

I had to LISTEN to learn.  I had to LISTEN to learn how to act and react in different situations. I had to LISTEN to learn to say the right things at the right time and know the right words so I can say the right things.
I had to LISTEN to learn to know when to encourage. I had to LISTEN to learn to know when to listen. I had to LISTEN to learn when to involve people or stories of others to encourage another.

I had to LISTEN to learn to GROW.
I had to LISTEN to learn to GROW in the area of my finances. To learn to GROW in the area of my spirituality. I had to learn to GROW in the area of loving my friends, making friends. I had to GROW in the area of socializing. GROW in the area of influence. GROW with respect to being the best God has called me to be. GROW in the area of fulfilling purpose. To GROW in everything that had to do with growing.

I am glad I STOPPED and I'm ready to GROW up again and again
I've learnt, and I'm still learning. I've listened, and I'm still listening. I have grown and I'm still growing.

Life is in stages. I have gotten to the stage where I think I can still STOP, LISTEN, LEARN, GROW through the process of listening, learning and growing.
I have grown to STOP, to listen. I have grown,  to STOP to learn. I have grown to STOP to grow and keep on growing.

STOP when you need to
STOP to START.

My Thoughts.

©Ala O. Wilcox

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