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Monday, July 25, 2011

Connect-the-Dots

Growing up did you enjoy the little activity books as you were traveling with your grandparents? My grandmother went and bought an activity book and inside the book were pages of fun things to do. Coloring pages, search words, find the hidden objects and my favorite was connect-the-dots. Each page you would follow the dot from number 1 to 2, to 3 to 4 and so forth, and it made a picture from the lines you connected with the dots. Sometimes you could color what you connected.


Everyone is unique and so is life. The picture within this blog is a connect-the-dot picture. Now we can normally think we can just go from 1 then 2, 3, 4 and so on, but this picture is unique and comes with a set of instructions (I will list at the end of the blog). Assumptions and expectations and can make a mess out of life.

Save the picture and reopen it in paint. Now try connecting the dots as you think they should go. In the end, we just make a mess out of the picture. There is no picture but a tangled mess of lines.

Ever felt this way in your relationships? Drawing conclusions as you think they should be connected? It is easier to draw than it is to wait for the picture to develop in your mind and then reproduce accordingly. I admire artists who can just see the image and reproduce their thoughts of the image on a blank canvas.

When we do not follow the instructions we lose out and make a mess out of our life. In relationships, we can think we are going to get hurt or do not want to invest because we think we will be like the picture and turn out to be a mess. The key to any relationship is setting healthy boundaries. Setting boundaries are the keys to a healthy lifestyle. One can assume where those lines are supposed to be drawn, but until you receive the instructions do not start drawing just yet. 

Let the person know where your boundaries are and hold yourself and them accountable for those boundaries. Then begin that relationship with them and providing detailed information about you that you wish to share. When communication and instructions are followed you have a beautiful connect-the-dot picture.

Be careful not to provide too much information or not enough that can mislead that person into a direction they should not go. Try connecting those dots. Before you began connecting-the-dots on this picture did you study it? Did you notice there are extra numbers or missing numbers? Did you create the image already?

When we begin to try to do it on our own we will add too much or not enough in our life. We make a mess or we cannot reach the goal we set out for ourselves. Before beginning on any endeavor or relationship, sit back, meditate, reflect, and listen for the moment. Gather all the facts before assuming or drawing to conclusions.

When you make a mistake, you may not erase it completely, but you can reconnect. Reconnect with a lost love one so the picture can be complete. Is someone having a bad day at work? Reconnect with them with a simple hello and smile. Are you in line waiting to be checked out? Connect the dots with life and draw a picture of fun, laughter, enjoyment and most of all a complete picture, drawing the right lines of conclusions creating a picture-perfect relationship.

Are you ready to start connecting? If you need help connecting to your life and other relationships then connect with me via email and let’s draw together. Below are the instructions to complete this unique connect-the-dot picture:

Start at 5 Draw to: 53, 52, 51 Move to 19 Draw to 18, 11 Move to 57 Draw to 58, 68

Move to 3 Draw to 52 Move to 8 Draw to 4 Move to 87 Draw to 89

Move to 53 Draw to 55, 56, 57, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 24, 21, 19, 44, 42, 41, 21

Move to: 2 Draw to: 4, 6, 7, 5, 3, 1, 2, 26, 31, 34, 33, 36, 37, 32, 29, 30, 48, 51, 81, 74, 72, 71, 106,

105, 104, 103, 101, 97, 90, 89, 65, 59, 66, 88, 87, 79, 68, 66, 67

Move to 81 Draw to 78, 108, 107, 86, 90

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)