by Susie Dahlmann

Christmas is the one season of the year where hearts open and true love is shown and expressed. Kindness is offered though gifts, a loving gesture, a special holiday card, or just spending time together. We are alive with joy, generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and love. The world feels perfect, as if we stepped into Narnia. We are peace filled, as we experience a world of magical lights, new fallen snow, and the wonder in a child eyes when they see Santa.

For many of us, the holiday season also brings challenges. For me it is the anniversary of my precious daughter Jennifer’s death seven years ago. Her birthday is December 21st. Jennifer Noel Dahlmann, the joy and love of my life, is one of my greatest gifts from God. So my opportunity every year is to pray for god’s strength as I live out gods love in my broken places; creating new magical memories.

Our challenge daily as we reach higher is to maintain that spirit of love for more than a season, knowing that it is not the destination in life that is important, but the journey. May your journey through this holiday season be one that truly reflects Gods love!

Remember:
Yesterday is but a dream
Tomorrow is but a vision
But today well lived makes
Everyday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this dream!

Happy Holidays
Love, Susie & the Reaching Higher Staff

Thanksgiving Blessings

The season of Thanksgiving turns our hearts and our minds to the power of gratitude in our lives. As our ancestors harvested their crops to feed their families, they thanked god for all he had provided to bless and strengthen them.

Reaching Higher reminds us all that we must plant great seeds for our lives to guarantee a bountiful harvest. It is our choice as to what seeds we plant. Seeds of compassion, generosity, acceptance, love and forgiveness will give us a rich harvest. God wants us to be abundant, and to live a life of joyful blessings!

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to challenge yourself. Call an old friend. Reach out to someone in need. Choose to forgive a family member and break down walls. Spend extra time with your least favorite relative. Together, let’s turn our attention away from what we don’t have, and focus instead on what we do have. Let’s take the time to thank god for all the blessings we can often take for granted.

As you race through the stores searching for bargains, remember that the real race that God calls us to is the race to love one another.

With Love to You and Your Family,

Susie Dahlmann

Join us November 12 in Novi where a special evening awaits you. Wear your favorite party dress and be ready to have some fun, as we enjoy a lovely dinner, live auction followed by music and dancing.  Fun for a GREAT cause!

Reserve your spot now! Call us at (810) 220-8812 or e-mail here info@reachinghigherinc.com.

September 8, 2011

Every day gives us opportunities to let go of our will and trust god.  Recently I went in for my annual “older-woman checkup.” Monday as I was leaving the office I received a call from the hospital: they needed me to come back for another scan.

All the blood left my body and fear moved through my being like a dark cloud.  I didn’t even remember what I said to the nurse.  I canceled my plans for the evening and decided I was going to make a great healthy dinner for my husband and have a quiet night at home.

Suddenly, much of what I do every day seemed unimportant.  The “busy-ness” stopped as I rested in the simplicity of life.

The next day I was blessed to have clear scan and I walked out of that Doctor’s office with a renewed vision for my life.

The things I was worrying about fell to the wayside, and I felt excited just being alive.  I was happier – and grateful – just to be in my day.  Joy filled my being.  Nothing in my life had changed, I was just changed by my experience.

The fear I had faced gave me a great gift.  Every day, too, is a gift.  The way we unwrap it is our choice.  Something tells me we all should be having a lot more fun!!!  Make today count!

~Susie

Periodically, our Founder and Vision Keeper Susie Dahlmann will share her thoughts in this blog. Enjoy!

August 26, 2011

This past weekend my husband and I saw “Ernie” at the City Theatre in Detroit, a play about Ernie Harwell, legendary announcer of the Detroit Tigers. This wonderful production involves Harwell and a young boy who spent his entire life in a wheelchair, who comes back as Ernie’s “angel” to help recap the innings of his life.

As a small child, this boy had an opportunity to go see a game at Tiger stadium. Harwell took the time to personally escort him around the stadium in his wheelchair. He made sure that he received an autographed ball, and made extra effort to help him feel special any way that he could. This child never forgot his kindness, along with thousands of others who have loved and admired Harwell for generations.

As I left the play, Ernie Harwell’s example helped me to remember what is really important in life – the small acts of love that mean so much. Ernie Harwell was a simple man who loved god and people. Life sometimes goes so fast that we forget about what really matters. It isn’t about what we’ve achieved, how much money we make, or the things we’ve accumulated. Life is simply about love – and the opportunities are around us every day.

Love, Susie

I am good person.

I have integrity.

I do what is ethically right and good.

Whatever life puts before me will be useful experience that will make me stronger, wiser, & more tolerant.

I am strong enough to understand and make allowances for other people’s weaknesses, and their behavior towards me. Other people’s behavior is about them, not me.

I focus on the joy of living my life and helping others where and when I can.

I am what I eat and drink, so I eat and drink good things.

I am what I watch and play and listen, so I watch and play and listen to good positive things.

I take exercise which I enjoy. I walk when I don’t need to drive or take the bus or train.

I smile and laugh whenever I can – life is good – getting caught in the rain reminds me that it is good to be alive to feel it.

I forgive other people. Deep down everyone is a good person, just like me.

I am a compassionate and loving, caring person.

I am a good person.

I am.