“When grace moves in… guilt moves out.” – Max Lucado
Cheers Beauties, I’m back after a long hiatus. I’ve missed you! It feels AMAZING to be back.
Not long ago, I wouldn’t have taken such a long break. I wouldn’t have given myself permission.
I would have told myself an old story – one filled with overwhelming guilt and a whole lotta “shoulds.”
I’ve learned that guilt and oodles of “shoulds” feel heavy.
Grace feels light.
The nice thing about Grace is you can give it to yourself any time.
It’s free. It’s infinite. It’s powerful.
Most of all, you deserve it.
The beauty of Midlife lies in its freedom – freedom to give yourself permission.
Think of it like one gigantic, endless permission slip – permission to be yourself. If you’re anything like me, you just might find an entirely new SELF.
Last year, I changed my middle name, legally, to Grace.
Why?
Because, I didn’t want to be far from Grace.
I knew I would be in need of Grace – not once, not twice, but many many times.
This crazy game of life brings with it many challenges. Challenges bring stress.
Grace is pure magic when it comes to stress.
Stress ls like a pressure cooker.
Grace is the release valve.
When I was younger, I was terribly hard on myself. I expected perfection. Anything less deserved a beating. Oh, not that kind of beating but the inside kind – the one no one else knows is going on except for you! The one that twists your insides into knots. You know, those voices inside of you constantly reminding you that you’re never enough.
There’s something about getting older that seems to soften the edges – tone down the voices.
With age, comes Grace.
This holiday season, there is one gift you can give yourself at any time – a gift that’s priceless – GRACE.
After all, what is Moxie without Grace?
Fortunately, we go hand in hand.
Need More Moxie?! See all my Moxie On Monday’s!
16 comments
Eileene Dillman
This is one of your best posts. You have grace and you give grace which is so important. I am beyond happy for you to have found a tranquil And beautiful place to live. You deserve the best this world has to offer, as we all do. You are a fierce hero in my book dear friend. God bless and stay well.
Catherine Grace O'Connell
Thank you so much, sister. I was a bit “rusty” having been off for a bit. Truth was we had a lot of tech issues between a plug in and Go Daddy and had to be patient til Mike had the time to fix it all. So, last week was my first week back at it. It felt so good. This was came to me as most of my posts do. They seem to write themselves. The easier they flow through, the better the post is how it usually goes. I do love Grace as I have been in need of a lot of it and I know I will continue to as well. Sending you so much love this holiday season!
Lisa Selwitz
There’s an amazing 4-part documentary called OBAMA that was just on this past week on MSNBC. I believe the second segment showed him in the community and the lead up to him singing. It was so unexpected, and just the PERFECT gift to offer that heartbroken community. It made me do an ugly cry. So worth watching if you can find it on demand.
Yup, Grace is perhaps the greatest gift you can give someone. (Other than a parasol… 😉 xo
Julie Reinwald
Perfect. A couple of years ago, I selected “Grace” as my word of the year. I cannot live peacefully without it. Love this post!
Catherine Grace O'Connell
So glad you did! You know I love GRACE!!!
Anita
Oh Catherine, this is the best Moxie on Monday thus far. Grace is a beautiful gift that we must treasure. I’m so glad to see you in peace. It’s written all over your face.
Catherine Grace O'Connell
You made me smile! I love that you loved this post. I did as well. Fortunately, we are in need of a lot of Grace on this planet and it’s infinite supply. Sending you so much love my friend!
Nieman Steve
Happy for your move, changing middle name…but “Amazing Grace” second line––”Saved a wretch like me”…really?? Way more than wretches! How ’bout dream weavers? Reality co-creators? Don’t mean to condemn the song vibration over one sour lyric…but…more evidence plain-and-simple of mind corruption by invader maleovents who have tricked us into dreaming THEIR dreams! Victim/victimizer thoughtforms permanently trapping if we let them. But good news––starting to figure out how this travesty occurred, resolve the karma and close this experience. So we never get duped out of dancing our dance again!
Catherine Grace O'Connell
I hear you, Steve. Many of the Moxie’s have a song. The songs aren’t posted for the literal lyrics every time. Sometimes, like this one, it’s just for the beauty of the meaning behind Amazing Grace. I don’t take the “wretch” part literally. For me, it means the times when we are in darkness or struggling and looking for some light or some Grace. Thank you for commenting!
jodie filogomo
Grace was my word of the day last year. It’s a hard one but I’m getting better at it.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Catherine Grace O'Connell
Forgive me sister if I responded twice. Perhaps you left this comment on social media as I know I commented to you that if you won’t give yourself some GRACE, I have oodles of it to give to you as you deserve Grace and so much more! I love you.
Joan Lazarus
Wow! Just WOW! Glad you are back with such power and grace. 🥰
Catherine Grace O'Connell
Thank you so much sister. It truly feels AMAZING to be back with such wonderful souls as you! I greatly appreciate all the love and support. I wish you a blessed holiday season full of GRACE!
Lisa Selwitz
Amazing Grace! Amazing Catherine Grace! You look like a Maxfield Parish painting here! So ethereal and light! Grace is a great gift! (Shoulds are overrated, anyway…)
This post reminds me of the eulogy in Charleston after a mass murder of congregants in a black church. Obama is giving the eulogy and breaks into Amazing Grace. It’s so moving, I think I will always remember it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAMVr-C7Jhk
xo
Catherine Grace O'Connell
What a lovely way to return with such beautiful comments. I appreciate you so much. I saw him singing Amazing Grace but I didn’t see how he led into it. I can’t wait to watch. I adore him! Grace is such a beautiful gift, isn’t it?
Lisa Selwitz
There’s an amazing 4-part documentary called OBAMA that was just on this past week on MSNBC. I believe the second segment showed him in the community and the lead up to him singing. It was so unexpected, and just the PERFECT gift to offer that heartbroken community. It made me do an ugly cry. So worth watching if you can find it on demand.
Yup, Grace is perhaps the greatest gift you can give someone. (Other than a parasol… 😉 xo