Preparing to Prep 🎨💪🏻

*** Because of a family situation, I decided to publish the blog a day early today… 🤍

You will see Warrior prepping for battle below with his face paint back in ‘93. We prep all the time without fully realizing it, don’t we? I know you do. It doesn’t always have to be a physical act either. Warrior didn’t just get his body ready for a match but his mind too. I tapped into this last week with finding a place to just be but look at all the other stuff that makes up our daily lives. We prep before a meal, before heading out the door, when company comes, a vacation, a date, and oh~~~ the list is endless friends. You can think of many examples of areas where you need to prep ahead of time because it’s what we do. Sometimes though, what happens when all your prep goes awry, what then? I’m not talking about losing a wrestling match here like those WWE Superstars but us others who prep and then it falls apart.

I remember prepping for a blind date years ago, but he canceled. Of course I was disappointed, ☹️ but no one wants to hear my past dating woes of yesterday here. I’m sure some of you have been there, any hands raised? 🙋🏻‍♀️ I bet many of you also had those holiday dinners whether you host, bring a dish somewhere, or just prep for pizza. It all matters. Maybe those dishes won but maybe that smoke alarm went off in your kitchen. What are your prep moments? I don’t have to think hard about them all the time. When it does work and you win the match, isn’t it great? Of course, because all your prep paid off and you became the victor.

Fans know how much Warrior prepped for much in his life, whether he was in a wrestling ring or not. He prepped his body for fitness, he prepped his mind for chiropractic studies, and he prepped his gut instincts to choose what he felt was best, despite naysayers. No, we will not have a few of those but our gut will always be there guiding decisions as we move through life. Warrior’s heart was also prepped when he finally attained that family he desired while continuing to move forward with new traditions. We all know that not everything will come together with a cute bow 🎀 on top easily or a belt raised in triumph. Warrior knew that and yet still prepped anyway because he had that ambition to succeed with other business decisions as well. Some plans are big and timely but others are smaller and require our prep every day. Even when I was a teacher, much work ahead of time was needed. There were some days though when the lesson just wouldn’t work. 🤦🏻‍♀️

As parents, we can prep our kids for experiences all we want but in the end, they will need to be the ones as they age who make their own choices. We prep them to do things independently, make friends, study in school, work hard, get a college degree (if they can) and then eventually find a career they love. Not to mention, possibly gaining a significant other by their side through it all. Is every prep step worth it? We will say yes but ultimately all we do to prepare needs to be learned by them and then applied. Will they? That’s where we have to release that control and trust that everything we prepped them for will be remembered. It’s all up to them, though how they make their place in this world despite challenges of letting go his parents. I know it’s HARD readers. I have those young adult children to help prep still but it’s not like they are young kids anymore.

Let’s get back to wrestling here, especially for my non-parent friends. Are you all prepped before let’s say~~~ watching any content or even when going to a WWE event? Is it all you expected it to be or are you surprised a little? I bet not everything is figured out by you as we know wrestling has its share of unexpected twists, correct? You do all your work ahead but have no idea on all the emotion or outcome that could play out, especially in person or at a meet and greet.

I remember watching the syndicated shows as I did for those many years and yet still came away with some shocking moments. You regular readers on here know those involving UW but there were of course several others. Never a dull moment back then for sure. Prepping for me became difficult as I have shared trying to watch “ Superstars” or “ Challenge” in multiple rooms or even on my small pocket TV. It even became my little fibs to Mom so I could watch WWF and eat breakfast later on Sunday after church. Oh, the things I did and yep~~~ all prep work which was awkward for me after my brother left. Don’t forget though, the opposite is true too. I’d celebrate the wins of the good guys (naturally) and cheer when those managers got thrown around for their no good interference. As fans, we aren’t prepped to know results like others behind the scenes will know but we can prepare. At least I did.

The future is unknown but here’s a new thought. What if, just for even a day or so, we didn’t prepare or prep much at all? I know, I know that seems impossible. We still have to live our lives but not over scheduled where everything is made out in advance. Do you think you can do that friends? You know on here, a message I’ve written often is to “ go with the flow” and it’s true. Just for a little bit~~~ at least try it. Let loose and have some fun if you can to see where the day takes you. No preparations, no prep work, just whatever comes your way. Take a day if if not an hour with nothing planned. Are we that overstimulated in our lives to not be able to give ourselves nothing ahead of time? For me, it would look like not thinking of what to make for dinner, not scheduling my errands on certain days, and not watching my fave shows on their nights like I do. Those are just some examples as yours may look different than mine.

I’m not saying to NOT plan or prep the big stuff like appointments because there are things that have to get done. A vacation won’t plan itself. Your meeting at work more than likely needs you there. No one wants their laundry piled up for weeks. We can’t neglect our chores but just maybe carve out a few times to not prep something, anything and see. It isn’t going to be an area in your life that will be huge like a wrestler not prepared for a match but choose yours. No speech planned, no list to make, no text or whatever to send. No prep, period.

We can and should do what needs to be done warriors, but slow down if you are able and to not always look ahead. Wrestlers may not be equipped to do that but we can. Warrior did find some moments without distraction and we need it to. Prepare and prep but then be OK if some if not all gets thrown out of the ring or gets burned in the oven. You can start again tomorrow, face paint or not…

🤞🏻☺️🙏🏻

Peel Those Layers 🎨

*** This post is a day early so Warrior Tuesday today. Our dog is having ACL surgery tomorrow so my mind will be elsewhere. Send her prayers!! 🐶🙏🏻***

I know, I know… I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again. Even though I LOVED all the colors Warrior used for his mask over the years, I liked when that paint got peeled off so I could see him underneath. Yes fans, I realize that paint was so iconic to his character and some didn’t like the unpainted look for a time. He wouldn’t be the Ultimate Warrior without it, right? I get it- believe me warriors.

Did you ever start peeling off chipped or cracked paint and just had to keep going? It was driving you nuts!! I’ve done that before and am doing it now with my nail polish. Maybe some of you aren’t bothered by it at all but of course this just really isn’t about paint. You know that if you’ve read my posts before. The Ultimate Warrior had his masks, we all have ours in a way but let’s get to the real stuff underneath. I compare it to peeling an onion. You can say orange but an onion has more layers and will make you cry! We gotta do that to get through it all. The peeling and the crying.

Do you feel the need to “peel off” or “peel away” what no longer serves a purpose in your life? Oh boy, I’ve been doing this for years now and it’s still going on. I mention some things in my book Spirit and Belief and how I was moving away from old habits, people, food, and yes- even beliefs. It’s part of my awakening and we all have our own versions whether or not you consider yourself spiritual . Warrior had his too. We have to peel off the old to make room for the new. That’s how it was for Hulk Hogan ( yes, he’s mentioned here again) when he “peeled” off his Heavyweight title to make room for the NEW which became the Ultimate Warrior as champion. Yes, it was hard for him to do that. We all probably know the stories but it’s hard for US to peel off stuff or situations we become very attached to. We hold on so tight because we are afraid of anything new. Does this sound like you?

Even the simplest things can be difficult to peel away since they have been with us so long. Routines can be hard enough to change but what about relationships, jobs, or a big life decision? Yeah, those require much more from us and lots of peeling. When I peeled back my paint of layers, there never seemed to be an end. Once I thought I got thru one, more kept coming. It’s for life warriors, it really is. We have to keep peeling to get to what we truly need. Literally, you’d get to the inside of that onion but I’m talking about life issues here of course.

I’ve had to peel away these physical symptoms to find what really caused them and it isn’t typical at all. I am more educated now about the realness of my layers and am still learning all the time. It doesn’t have to be negative at all although our fears tend to take over. It is teaching us something and we, as warriors will fight on thru those layers. I bet you even know what some of yours are. I know Warrior did also as very few saw underneath to his true self. Maybe you just don’t connect to something much anymore yet still the paint remains. It could be crumbling or fading but you keep it because it’s yours. It’s familiar, comfortable, and convenient. You know what I’m saying, don’t ya?

Those layers could go deep and be stuck so hard, nothing can get it off. It will be a struggle but if we stay the same, we won’t grow. Rooms in our houses need new paint over time, a car might, and yes the Ultimate Warrior needed new paint too. I know some people that never change much at all and are perfectly content. I do keep some things the same for a bit but then get bored and need to mix it up. Us warriors are not robots as you may know. Change is part of life with all its painted layers. We feel it all- the ugly, bad, good, and great which will come. We just have to believe it’s underneath that painted face or even onion.

We do need to start over in new ways and we’ll know when that is. Sometimes, the signs are right in front of us but we ignore them. Other times, we realize those signs are pointing us in a new direction that will be better for us even though we may not know it then. Warrior leaving the business of wrestling comes to mind for me here but I can connect my life too like I always do.

Keep peeling those layers so the real you can shine through. That paint will come off if you work hard enough. It may not peel as easily as the Ultimate Warrior’s mask but once it does, a new colorful you will take its place. Throw that smelly 🧅 away and enjoy a good cry. It’s exactly what you need to see the truth behind those layers you fought against.

P.S. That photo above of U.W. was taken during the Royal Rumble of ’90 when he and Hogan were in the ring together. A “what if” moment of last week! I hope this post was “a- peeling” for you (: Stop crying!!!

www.spiritandbelief.com

*** Check out my website for book info on how Warrior’s energy inspired me to tap into my psychic gifts more. It’s filled with short stories, humor, my awakening moments, and more. I also write a more spiritual blog there as well so check those out! Thank you for your support. 💖

*** Find me also on Facebook, (some U.W. groups) Twitter, and YouTube. 💙🙏🏻🙋🏻‍♀️✍🏻📗