POSITIVELY "A"

A is for my introduction. Always positive. I am a 45 yr old single mom of a beautiful 24 year old army soldier. SHE is MY HERO! If anyone their Momma proud. It is her! She is my one and only and my inspiratuon.

Always remaining positive is something I focus on. You see, I am also fighting to get a new lung. NSIP(non specific interstitial pneumonia), a connective tissue disease and auto immune disorder have taken an entire lung. I believe we can all be positive no matter what we face and we don't need to worry about the little things in life. They are JUST little.

Tired and Scared, but Hopeful

 

 

Tired and Scared, but Hopeful. Mixed emotions build inside of all of us, I know I'm not the pioneer but when it occurs within me, I tend to take it personal.

Tired due to my own constant pushing against my body to be better, to do better, and due to my people pleasing personality. My tiredness is of my own making because I know what my limits are but I seem to find myself guilt ridden if I don't push hard enough until I am at the point of exhaustion. It's my own fault, I know it. I just have to accept that about myself or change it.

Scared. Fear of the unknown and what answers will come from the next round of medical testing. natural reaction for any of us. Guess what? I am not the pioneer of this either. I say pioneer as a reference to the fact that I KNOW I am  not the only one who has been through this, or feels like this but there is one thing I chose to make a difference within me. I remain HOPEFUL! Even through the tears, the hopeless feeling I get at times, the times when I can't always be strong. If I don't make it seem like Sunshine And Roses it's because IT'S NOT!

The good thing is, I choose to not lose hope, even through the pain I feel, or the guilt. I have hope. Even through the tears I used to fight off, I let them flow today and let the pain go. This is the time to pick myself up, put my BIG GIRL panties back on and press forward. It can be done. With a positive thought as small as a ion, it will grow and be strong again. You can just never give up. Let go of what is not possible and focus on what is. Make conscious decisions to not predict a negative outcome or possibility, but a POSITIVE one!

 What other choice is there?
What do you have to lose?

What to do when you reach a fork in the road...

 

 

 



There is only so much a person can take right? How do we survive when whatever we are faced with seems to much to handle? How do you feel "okay" on the inside when all you want to do is scream, feel sorry for yourself, and cry? Well, I can't say that how I handle things is for everyone...all I can attest to is the fact that it works for me

Happiness is an inside job. This is a true statement. I talk about "choosing" to be happy each day, appreciating what you have at this moment, and doing my part. The simple truth is that I am human. I fail miserably at KEEPING IT TOGETHER sometimes. These are times that I let people who want to love me, Love Me! I have been single most of my life and raised a beautiful successful daughter with help from friends and family, I know when it is time to let others help. This is how I recharge so I can return the favor and share my smile, my positivity, and my words with those who need it.

I don't believe my situation is any worse or less important than anyone else's. Let's be honest, even on the worst day you can remember in your life...can you NOT think of someone else's situation that would be or feel worse??? I ALWAYS CAN! Think about what being responsible for yourself means. It means having the freedom to make your own choices and be willing to face the consequences. It means feeling mad, sad, or scared about your current situation and getting past it to focus on what you CAN do...not what you CAN'T! This last suggestion I offer, help someone else!
Yes....in the midst of your pity party or frustration and sadness, do something nice for someone else. It is amazing how random acts of kindness can go more viral as someone's YouTube video.

Each morning, chose to make your day easier. Try to be positive in a negative situation and be a blessing to someone else today. Even just holding the door open for someone can make changes in directions you may never witness...just know they happen.

Live, Laugh, Love...

FRIENDSHIP is a wonderful experience in life. To me, they’re not the same and all unable to replace. Now, I am not saying they are not some that come and go, but the ones we treasure are the ones that stick it out forever. A dear friend of mine once said,"People are either in you life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime." This statement is so true. I have found that over my years of being an extrovert, I have some that remain in my heart and my thoughts forever, and some that chose to walk away and vise versa.

In any case, no experience in my opinion is wasted as long as you learn from it. I have learned that true friendship is not based on how many times you see these people, how close in contact you stay with each other, or who does more for who and when. NONE OF THESE THINGS VALIDATE LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP!!!  I am blessed that I have friends I don't speak a word to for days, months, or even years...but as soon as we do, there it is!!! The co nnection. We all have lives to live and hurdles to overcome. We are only cheating ourselves if we love with condition. I am lucky enough to have more friends than I can fit in one collage of pictures and even luckier that I don't have to dote on them or call them weekly or DO anything....we just ARE. I have a huge appreciation for that today and I don't think there is one person I could thank or do enough for any of them that could show the appreciation I feel.

You all know who you are and not a one of you expects "honorable mention". I just feel lucky that you KNOW we are friends. Thank you for being a part of my journey...We Still Have A Looooong Way To Go!!!

Choose Happy!

It's funny how there are days when I just don't want to get up and get moving. Some days I honestly am sick of looking at the positive and want to sit in my shit and feel sorry for myself. Each time I do this, I notice one word pops up...CHOICE, It is my choice to decide how my day goes. It is my choice on how I want to perceive things whether it be in an optimistic manner or a pessimistic one. I really have no one to run this ship I call my life except me.

 

The good news is....that makes me the "QUEEN BEE", or "HEAD VOYAGER"! I am responsible for my daily tasks, attitude and outcome. Therefore, if things are going crappy....it's up to me to change it around! It's not because of what my parents did or did not do. It is not because I have been handed a humbling disability, or because someone made fun of me in 3rd grade. Every day is a new start. Life is about 10 % of what happens to us and 90% of how we deal with it. If I lay around and play the victim and just give up, I will reap what I have sewn.

 

 

I have "tools" that I use when I have those "giving up" days. First, I realize...there are a lot of people out there far worse off than me! Next, I allow myself to walk through the sequence of events if I choose to be negative or positive. Usually about half way through the negative cycle, I snap out of it and pull myself together and head to what is positive. I change my attitude and take action! Some days are easier than others and there are days where most of it is spent "still deciding" on the choice of optimism or pessimism. It's up to me!

 

Do you struggle with the choice some days? What do you do to get yourself out of it?

 

Friends, today is a great day to choose HAPPY!!! No matter what the weather or circumstances are, or how much people seem out to "get you". It is up to YOU! Find your happy place and pass on the positive outlook to others. Let's make it CONTAGIOUS!

 

 

Super Powers....Activated!!!

  


The way I was raised was by no means normal but I was raised with a  lot of love, thought, and consideration for others (almost to a fault). I learned that no one owes you anything, you earn what you want, and kindness gets you further in life than anger or bitterness. Pretty much, everything I ever needed to know in life, I learned by the time I was out of kindergarten! It's what we do with these guidelines on a daily basis that matters.

I had the pleasure of witnessing an act of kindness. We woke up to about 3 inches of snow. While it has it's beauty, it also brings responsibility. I watched as this couple got out and not only plowed and shoveled their driveway and sidewalk. they did 4 other houses as well. It gave me the warm fuzzies inside. It made me start thinking about random acts of kindness and paying it forward. That kind of thing isn't just for the holiday season you know! It's not unusual to go to a grocery store and see perfectly able people ditching shopping carts, or the person who will treat someone they don't even know with little or no respect. I often wonder...is traditional customer service dead!  

The good news is...the answer is "NO"!!! We just have to open our eyes and look for it. There are people with morals and manners out there and they are exercising these deeds daily. It just depends on what we are looking for. What I am saying is, if we are focused on the negative...that's the view that will be most predominant to us. If we focus on what is positive, then we see it. I have am fortunate enough to have "positivity" as one of my characteristics ( I call it one of my SUPER POWERS). We all have them, it's a moment to moment choice whether we use these SUPER POWERS for good or evil. I can choose to be "snotty" to someone, or "selfish", and the list could go on but I do know when I use them for GOOD...the outcome is better. Not just for the one the power is used on.....but for myself as well. 

Be a good person today, focus on the good in the person that irritates you the most. It is an interesting experiment that has a POSITIVE result.
 

Why not today???

  Today's thoughts have inspired me to write. Many "bumper sticker" quotes have run through my mind. " Use the good china today, you don't know if you will get the chance to use it tomorrow", " Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today"...you get the idea. We have all heard a ton of them throughout our lives for certain.

  It seems we are guilty at waiting for something to change or be prosperous before we take action. I have found myself caught in the rut lately. I think, ' Oh, I will hold off on that until I get my own place', ' I don't want to do this or that until my health gets better'. It's almost like I forget there is a way to enjoy and do these things today and still work toward my accomplishments BEFORE I get to the FINISH LINE. Life is not a race and we are never guaranteed more than this moment right here. If we hold off and don't enjoy things, we may never get the chance.

  I say, take a little risk and have faith today. Use Grandma's old china today and not wait for the "special event" before you bring it out. Don't be afraid that  you may chip a plate or make a mistake.  That is how we learn and HOW do we learn if we do not try??? 

  I know this cannot work for EVERY situation in life, but we all have common sense and know how to respect others. As long as what we try doesn't hurt ourselves or anyone else....I say "WHY NOT"??? 

  It has been awhile since I have written and I thought, 'Oh, I will start again once I get a working computer' (when there is one I can use just fine, just wasn't mine)...or 'Once I get my own place and my health is more stable...then I will write again." Today, I decided I had heard myself say that ENOUGH! I want to do and enjoy this moment, this day, this season and I deserve to! So Do You!!!  I had the inspiration and stopped long enough to share today.
My suggestion: anyone who can relate to this to just try it. It made me feel better.  Positive thoughts come with positive actions!