Time Marches On!

 So first it has to be said.... 

19 DAYS TIL SPRING!

Ok, now that I've got that outta the way I'll move on. 

I'd like to say every day is sunshine and roses, but I've had a lot of ups and downs lately. I think a more accurate description of life might be some days are there are cookies and others a punch to the gut. Now I won't get into what all these cookies do to the size of the gut, that's not the point. The point is whatever's happening time marches on. March 1st seemed to be a good day to make this point.

My favorite scripture says that in this world you will have trouble, BUT take heart, I (Jesus) have overcome the world. What an honest portrayal that things aren't always easy but we need to focus on overcoming not trouble. There are so many incredible and inspirational stories from all over the world of people who have defied odds, accomplished impossible tasks, came through a situation better for it. 

Time is not going to stand still until the trouble passes. Time will be wasted if you spend that time focused on the trouble and nothing else. Now you may be saying, "but you don't understand what I'm going through" or "I'm in so much pain." I don't know what you're going through. I don't think anyone can completely understand another's situation because even if two people are in the same trouble, the two people are not the same. 

It's OK to stop and have a good cry. Maybe go to bed and get the rest you need. Talk to a friend or counselor. The thing you can't do is stop there. Now it's time to do something about the trouble. Remember, you are not alone. Other's have gone through situations that you can learn from. There are people you can reach out to if it's more than you can handle alone. God hears and answers prayer.

You can handle more than you know.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

All eyes on you

Do you ever feel like someone is always watching you? Your co-workers, classmates, family, friends and/or random strangers?

Here's two thoughts for you (drumroll please)...

First: They are.

Second: They aren't all judging you. Most are just curious about another living, breathing person in this crazy world. Some are watching to see how you handle "it". See they are going through stuff too. Maybe not the same stuff, but stuff that is just as important to them as your stuff is to you. They want....no they need to see that they aren't the only ones going through stuff. They want to learn from you. They want to see you make it through so they have hope they will too.

So....what to do?

When you see the eyes upon you, smile, wave, nod. Let them know you acknowledge them and are hoping they make it too. And IF they are judging you, that smile or wave will say..."Yeah I see you judging me and I don't care. I'm gonna rock this and your approval isn't necessary."

2022....day one

 So here is a novel idea....end 2021 with a post....start 2022 with a post. Whodathunkit!

Well, so far 2022 has been good. Day off. Slept in. Saw family and snuggled my new great niece. Ate chocolate. (side note...the Ghirardelli dark chocolate square sea salt caramel YUM)

Maybe there is something to be said for enjoying the little things. Knowing the things that really matter. 

Baby snuggle are awesome, but when her older (5 yr old) sister came in and hugged Grauntie it was awesome too. When my grown nephews and their wonderful wives hug me it's...well...awesome. 

Love is unexplainable and irreplaceable. It's can only be given freely. You can't be forced to love someone anymore than they can be forced to love you. When you love them, show them and tell them. It's not something that can be heard, shown or felt too often. So much of what is wrong with the world today is from the lack of love.

If you want to make the most of this new year, love and don't hold back! Let your family and friends know how much you love them. Sometimes it may seem risky, but it's better to risk loving them and possibly find love in return, then to not give or find it. 

Exercise resolution for 2022! Work the biggest muscle, the heart muscle, it can change your life and the lives of those around you.

Good Bye 2021 Hello 2022

 This is probably the most significant day of the year in the world. No matter your age, nationality, sex, religion, profession, etc. we have a thought...

"I made it through this year, what's going to happen next year?"

Oh we may not say it out loud, we may not make resolutions, but we reflect, we imagine and we hope.

The simple fact is tonight is just another Friday turning into a Saturday like it does every week of every month of every year. This difference tonight is we want it to be better tomorrow. If 2021 was rough, we want 2022 to be easier. If 2021 was great, we want 2022 to be greater. We want! And we don't want things to be hard. 

Let me share something you may need to know.....

You did make it through 2021 and you are right to want things in 2022 to go great, but the most important part of those two thoughts is YOU!

YOU are what matters. We want YOU around. YOU are valuable. 

Like it or not all types of things will flood 2022, good, bad, sad, fun, exciting, shocking. We have no idea what each new year has in store. We do know you can't move forward if you keep looking behind. You can't find love looking for hate. Money does not buy happiness or true friends. In the end, what matters is kindness, compassion, love, respect, loyalty, honor...you get the idea.

Don't be discouraged if 2021 wasn't what you expected. Don't look toward 2022 as a possible disaster. Look in the mirror and tell that wonderful person looking back, "I've got this. I will be the kind of person that makes 2022 good for others and myself. I am not afraid."

Happy New Year!

Sometimes it's the little things

I've sometimes wondered where the phrase "the bigger the better" came from. It's sounds like it should be universally true, but it simply isn't. 

Now before you roll your eyes (too late), hear me out. Bigger bills - not better. Bigger fear - not better. Bigger doubt - not better. Bigger work load - not always better. Bigger cancer - definitely not better. See what I mean?

My blog today may surprise you when I say bigger dreams might not be better. (OK! Enough with the eyerolls!) If you dream SO big that it's unattainable or unreasonable, you destroyed your chance for achieving it before you even start. 

Here's my advice...

Be realistic...we can't all win the lottery.

Be honest...is this what you want or what someone else has told you to do.

Be serious...if you can't put the effort in to really decide what you want and how to get there, your not going to put the effort in to achieve it.

Be inspired...you don't have to be like everyone else or achieve your dream the way they did theirs. 

Be courageous...when you stumble along the way, it's not failure, it's a lesson in what not to do.

Be careful...don't share your dream with everyone, just with that one or two that will listen and encourage. Too many will pressure you with "how you doing on it", bad advise or "constructive criticism".

Be adaptive...your dream may be too big to accomplish as one task, so break it down into smaller dreams and work one or two at a time until the add up to the big dream.

Be happy...enjoy the journey. No matter what you think when you start, when you look back from the finished product you'll see that so much doesn't go as planned so don't sweat it. You can't get the time back so there is no use in being miserable along the way.

I hope this helps you in some way and I hope you never stop dreaming. Live the life you've been given. Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most.