embrace it

Love this way too much not to share. This is essentially what I tell myself everyday.

“She’s not the type of girl to wait by the phone,

she won’t cry, she knows it’ll get her nowhere,

she’ll laugh a lot and often, and she will live her own life.

She would like you to be a part of it,

but she will do just fine without you.”

-via: i am blessed.

As a single mother, it's natural to get lonely and want a man to come home to, give him an embracing hug, cook dinner for, and talk about the the everythings and the nothingness of the days events. But, in my heart of hearts, I believe everything happens for a reason. If a guy I am really into doesn't stick around, it's just an oh well. The right one will. Until then, I am still going to embrace the great blessings in my life with love and happiness, because why be upset about something that wasn't meant to be.

walk the talk, baby

I read this article by Martha Beck yesterday in O magazine. Basically, Martha says we see reflections of ourselves in others, and by recognizing this we can make improvements to our own self.

"I can't believe my kid has been smoking pot—I'm so upset, I've had to double my anxiety medication."

I couldn't help but let out a giggle after reading this statement.

Address a letter to someone, then let your emotions fly, express your truest emotions about them. I've done this for a few months after I decided to make a conscious effort not talk about people behind backs. Instead of bottling up my frustrations of how I felt offended or mistreated, I release it on pen and paper. It definitely helps.

Martha suggests after doing so, cross out the name you intended it for, and put your name in its place. Re-read the letter and take it in. It's likely that the things that get under your skin about others, you do as well. What a way to get to know yourself in a new light!

I plan to do this, it seems like a great chance to make personal progress and become the best version of you! :)

credit

Are You Happy?

Thought this went along with yesterday's post. I dig it. And it made me giggle.

Change

One of my all time favorite quotes. It really moves me

'After enduring an emotional bout of downpours, it is seemingly effortless to continue an empty indulgence of self pity. One gets locked up in dark days of his or her internal misery. But when one catches a glimpse of the orange fiery ball of illumination hanging gracefully in the brilliant blues and whites of the sky, the beauty of the world sheds light in the soul. Tired and decaying from the deep depression drowning all emotions, one must battle the despair with optimism. The mind is a powerful weapon, and by believing with one’s entire existence that the world is wonderful, it will come to be. Just change the way you think about it.'*

The way we perceive things plays a huge role in our ultimate happiness. Someone can constantly question his or herself with, "why did this happen to me?" "what did I do to deserve this?" "why me?!" But in reality, what's done is done. Hindsight's 20/20, but unfortunately for our current generation, time travel has not been invented quite yet. So we can continue playing the victim, or we can change the way we think about.


After discussing with a friend how I am truthfully thankful for enduring the trials and tribulations I've been faced with, for I could not be who I am today without them, I was close to tears when he replied "No that's not true, you really did not deserve any of that." Thoughts buzzed around in my head "he is right! I didn't deserve that! why did I have to be so belittled? why was I saw degraded?" My mind instantly began replaying traumatic scenarios of my past, and I started to feel hatred. I was falling back into becoming the victim again. I had to shake myself out of it by changing my thoughts.

So, that's the most inspiring piece of advice that has impacted my life. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. But If you don't accept something the way it is and are able to change it, of course go for it and try to change it! If the best guy of your life walked out under the impression that you didn't care enough for him because the fear suppressed your ability to express your true love for him, express it! If you aren't getting a raise because your boss feels you aren't ready, prove it to him! If you think your home decor is drab, fix it up! Ha. In any circumstance, think to yourself of Mary Engelbreit's quote and choose the option best suitable.

Good day, sir. :)



*the first paragraph is an excerpt from an essay written for my composition class. The topic was positive thinking. I felt it connected to this post. :)

What Good Have I Done Today

Benjamin Franklin wrote this daily schedule. It's published in Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography and Other Writings. I love it. Simple, but completely efficient. I adore the personal questions on the left hand side. I'm inspired.

And here's a few quotes from Benjamin himself:

"He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals."

"Write something worth reading or do things worth writing."

"It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness and I pronounce it as certain that there was never a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous."

"There was never a good war, or a bad peace. "

"Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content."

"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning."

"Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones."

As it's the new year and all, I thought it appropriate to post my "resolutions". However, I don't call them resolutions I call it my "Daily To Do List". I wrote them down and hung it by my lightswitch by the front door. A sure reminder every day before leaving. So. Here it is.

1. Wake up with a smile. :)
If you slept in, if you woke up early,
if you're late, if you're alarm hasn't rung,
if it's sunny, if it's raining, if it's hot or if it's cold.
Wake up with a smile. Because, hello! You are waking up!
And that in itself is something to smile about.

I walked up to an older man at work a few days ago and routinely asked if he was having a great day. He smiled and said "Every day above ground is a great day!" It made me giggle that way he said it, but how true it is!

2. Be Grateful.
Appreciate everything for what is is, or isn't.
When you get a big tip at work.
When you don't get any tip at all.
When you get dumped.
Or when it works out.
Everything is a learning experience
making you into a better person.
And that's something to be grateful for!

3. Laugh
When you lose your only pair of contacts,
When you step on and break your only pair of glasses,
When you superglue your hands together trying to fix them,
When you have your first date with a new guy the same night,
Just laugh. Even if it's not funny,
Because sooner or later it will be.
And if not, think to yourself
"What are the chances this would actually happen to me?!"
that in itself is pretty funny.

"One who laughs at himself will never cease to be amused" I heard this in 7th grade and thought to myself, "well then I will always be laughing!" and it's proven to be true thus far.

4. Be Kind
Help at least one person a day
was the first goal.
But that proved to be realtively easy.
So new goal, help as many people as you can
in all the ways you can.
Just make someone else's life a tiny bit easier
with a random act of kindness.

5. Create Something
Make your creative juices flow.
Draw a picture.
Write a poem
Make music.
Journal.
Scrapbook.
Write a letter.
Dance a new dance.
Create Anything.

"This is your one opportunity to do something that no one has ever done before and that no one will copy throughout human existence. And if nothing else, you will be remembered as the one guy who ever did this. This one thing." -Garden State

6. Show Love
Make sure the people you love
know how much they mean to you.
Give hugs, kisses, compliments, and those 3 words.
Hugs are warm and they’re free.
Kisses are sweet and meaningful.
Compliments make them smile.
Words are simple and can last the longest.

5. Pray
Thank the man upstairs for another great day on Earth.
Ask for help to continue to grow into a better person,
and ways to help change the world.