It's that time of year when you throw out the old to bring in the new

To make room for all your Christmas gifts you got to get rid of something to make room for it. It is perfect timing to the start of a new year. After that is done it is time to sit down and think about what you need to do to have a fresh start in the new year. Keep in mind if you don't do things differently then nothing will be different. It will be the same just a different year. That is what these last few days of the year are for. To sit down somewhere quiet to refllect on what all has happened this past year. You need to be honest with yourself about what you would like to be different in the new year. You may not like the changes you will have to make but nothing will change if you don't. As you think about what your new years resolutions will be make sure you aren't setting yourself up for failure. Don't make unrealistic expectations you really can't meet. When you achieve the realistic resolutions you made you will have the rest of the year to make more changes then you ever expected you could. Make things easier on yourself. Start the new year off by keeping things as simple as you can so it is simply easier to manage.

The leftovers don't taste as good after a couple of days

At all of the Christmas gatherings we had we enjoyed some type of delicious foods. Some of them you only get a chance to eat them once a year. After every meal I would put all the leftovers in tupperware and put them in my fridge. The day after Christmas I drag out the smorgasbord of food and we get to fill our plates with all of our favorites. There is something special about that first plate of leftovers. Then you pull it out again later for dinner then for lunch the next day. And we had eaten some awesome deserts  after every meal. But today digging through the odds and ends that were left out of the leftovers to eat for dinner made me say whatever is leftover after this has to be thrown away. I am ready for something to eat that I hadn't eaten in the last week. Soon the Christmas tree will be taken down and all the decorations will be packed away. Christmas ending signals that it's the end of another year. Soon we will ring in the new year that signals a fresh start. Make a new year resolution to leave the past behind you so you can have a fresh start. To keep your new year resolution remind yourself that if you bring what stunk from your past it will stink up your present life. You got to JUST FLUSH IT so you can have a fresh start in the new year.

Now the day is here we can finally say Merry Christmas

The kids have gone home with their bag full of goodies and a tired smile on their faces. Its been days filled with things to do and people to visit. It will take them a couple of days to open and explore the fun presents they received. The adults enjoy their presents too. Even yard work to try out your new tools is fun, well at least the first time. Everyone will be wearing their new clothing they got tomorrow. Of course we will all enjoy the boxes of chocolates we look forward to getting each Christmas. Luckily my husband kept that tradition going and got me a giant box of candy that I can enjoy for weeks. Now it's time to think about how nice the Christmas day was and how lucky you are to have those close to you to enjoy it with. Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

You never know who might drop by

As people are off for the holidays they have extra time to stop by and visit someone that hadn't seen in a while. You finally have the time to catch up with each other. A conversation with an old friend is a chance to relive old memories that you hadn't thought of in years. You had totally seemed to have forgotten about it but in an instant as you hear it the memory pops up clear as a bell front and center in your mind. Suddenly you get to relive a memory that you had forgotten. The memories need to be triggered to come up. The more time we spend with others is another chance to enjoy a memory together. Happy holiday to everyone.

Enjoy it you earned it.

After a busy couple of months its nice to be able to relax. Its been a good day to unwind as you enjoy looking at the  Christmas decorations and the colorful lights on the tree. In just a few days the smell of baking will fill the air. Just like on Thanksgiving you don't count calories on Christmas. These are holidays that you get to enjoy eating as much as you want. You know you will have to wait another year to get them again. You have to enjoy the moment you are in.

It wont be long now

After you have waited a month for it to come it is finally almost here. Time to put on that Christmas music to enjoy as you do some quick cleaning to prepare for your guest. Getting it all done now will give you a few days to rest before the baking begins. First its a Christmas eve dinner together full of food, fun and laughter. Then the moment comes Christmas morning as the grandkids arrive and excitedly tell us what Santa had brought them as we enjoy a Christmas breakfast together. Then we will gather around the Christmas tree and pass out the presents they have been waiting ever so patiently to open. The smiles on their faces just warms your heart and their joy fills the air. The hours of memories we will treasure as we spend this Christmas season together. It makes you say I wish everyday could be like Christmas. Time to declare more family holidays so everyone will make the time to be there together to enjoy them. Happy holidays to everyone.

A moment worth waiting for

Hopefully your shopping is done so you can relax. Now comes the fun part of adding the ribbons and bows that turn your packages into art. Under the tree they go. Now everyone has to patiently wait as they keep guessing what's inside. I can't wait to see the joy on their faces Christmas morning as the guessing game is finally over and they can finally unwrap them. Then one by one they want to try everything out. You may get tired but they woke up with the energy of the energizer bunny. Make a plan to get up early and drink your coffee and enjoy every moment you can playing with them while they are still young enough to want to play with you. Besides you know as soon as your family Christmas ends and everyone goes home you are going to be able to relax as you reflect on the memories that you created.

Sometimes its hard to resist

Christmas traditions are what make your Christmas complete. As my kids are older now gift cards taped on a box of candy have become my tradition. Only problem with that is I have opened two boxes of candy because I couldn't resist the temptation. Now I got to go out and buy 2 more to replace them. Perhaps when I am buying the boxes of candy each year I should not by my favorite candy. I had bought the kids warm clothes for Christmas but I ended up giving it to them early so they could be warm through the winter we are having leading up to Christmas. The winter chill in the air means that Christmas is near.

You saw it differently

When you live in a small town for decades you get to know the employees of establishments you frequent often. You feel as if you are close friends not just a customer. There are always a few who you share life moments with during those decades. But then one day they quit there job. You have no warning no time to say good bye. Suddenly the realization that you were just a customer tugs at your heart. There have been many that I will miss but to walk in and find no trace of Sheri not even her desk hurt more than she will ever know. I am sending her my deepest love and gratitude for all the kindness and joy she brought me and my family that made us feel like she was a part of our family. Merry Christmas to your family from our family.

Its getting closer and closer

It's getting everyone excited as they count down the days left untill Christmas. The presents are finally wrapped and under the tree. Well all but the candy gifts. They have to be kept up high because my dog Marlee will unwrap and eat it like she did last year. As I put them under the tree she runs over to sniff them all just to see if I had forgotten what she did last year. Now it's close enough to start making a grocery list and try not to forget anything. And to go over your gift list to make sure you had not forgotten anyone. We took a drive through the neighborhoods to enjoy all the houses that decorated for the Christmas season so everyone could swing by and enjoy them.

Recognize it for the joy it brings

Christmas joy starts the day after Thanksgiving. Its a holiday that brings us joy for a whole month. A whole month to feel the love and good cheer every day. The Christmas tree all lit up sets the mood making you holly and jolly in an instant. The excitement in the kids as they talk about what they might get on Christmas morning fills the room. You have to stop every chance you get each day to feel the joy that's around you. You could be surrounded by it yet go through your day at such a fast pace that you missed it. The only way to feel it is to stop long enough so you can. The fast paced world we live in has made us to busy to see the simple things in our lives that could bring us the love and joy to our lives. The old saying STOP and smell the roses, should be what we say to ourselves each and every day. Take the time to STOP and enjoy life while you are living it. 

If your expectations are too high then expect to be dissapponted

Making your expectations so unrealistical will cause you to fall. Some people think everything in life will be a bed of roses. But they forget even roses have thorns. They get depressed when in life they run into bumps that they never knew existed. Life is a roller coaster full of ups and downs. There is no such thing as a perfect life. Everyone has to deal with the good and the bad throughout their life. If your expectations are too high then you will be dissapponted. Learn to focus on the good when you are facing bad moments in your life to keep a positive outlook. And don't look for only what is in your view what life should be like and be realistic that life is full of ups and downs, that's just life.

Thank you, Grazie

It is so much fun for my grandkids to tell me every Christmas about their Elf on a Shelf that magically appears in their house every year right after Thanksgiving. They tell me each day where he was hiding every morning when they get up. It is a search and find mission every morning to see who finds him first and gets to put him back on the Christmas Tree. My favorite part is when one of them gets mad at each other they tell them they are going to tell the Elf what they did and he will tell Santa. It is always nice when the one who made them mad quickly apologizes so Santa doesn't find out. Whoever invented the Elf on the Shelf Thank you it has brought such joy and good behavior for a whole month.

I also want to say Grazie to the group of 76 from Italy who have been visiting to read my blog on such a regular basis. Since it happens at same time for all of them I have to assume it is a group. I would be honored to send your group a free set of my books. Just send me an address where I can mail them to. And tell me something about your group, I would love to know. My address is Billie Bob P.O. BOX 1493 Middleburg Florida 32050.

One after another

   Have you heard the expression "when it rains it pours"? They are not talking about the rainy weather outside.They are talking about things in your personal life.And sometimes in Life you have to deal with rainy moments where you have many challenges to face at the same time. Remember these challenges are temporary and just like rain storms, eventually will pass.

  

  

Don't let it suck the life out of you

Especially at this time of year but all throughout the year don't try to help others until it hurts. It is nice to help others and we should but not if you try to help more than you possibly can. Keeping your own life in balance is necessary if you plan on helping anyone. It doesn't make you selfish it makes it so you can stand strong so you can give a helping hand when someone really needs your help. Unfortunately I have seen people ask for help not because of necessity but just because they know you will. Be careful to not let your kindness cause you to fall short of what necessities you need. And don't spend a bunch of money buying presents people don't want nor that they need just to be buying gifts. The best gift you can give most people is your time and attention creating memories that are priceless.

Usually you can't find one anywhere

In all the holiday excitement there were a couple of necessities we needed from the store. So after dinner here we went to Wal-Mart. As you got out of your car to go in you were greeted by the site of six police cars parked out front. As we worked our way through the store there were wrapped stacks of items lining the walkways. There was employees litterally standing guard so they couldn't be unwrapped for sale until midnight madness. Usually you can't find an employee around anywhere. But they couldn't leave their post of guarding the black Friday bargains. You could clearly see what was wrapped up but they kept quiet about what price they would be at the stroke of midnight. But the sight of all the police presence out front made you wander how safe it would be as you shopped for a bargain. Without a doubt I knew I didn't want to be no where out shopping at midnight and fighting for a bargain.

Take some pictures

Family gatherings are full of memories we create together. Take some pictures to enjoy the moment because over time we all grow and it is a great way to remember what we each look like over the years. Our hairstyles change our clothes change and to capture the changes physically is a whole new level of a memory. As we glance through the pages of holidays from the past through the photo books it helps us transform to that very moment. Creating memories to enjoy for a lifetime is what life is all about. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

Old Christmas classics

My grandkids and I have been watching old Christmas show classics. Some of them are so old that I have forgotten the stories. But after they get into the story it becomes clearly back into my mind how the story goes. We have many memories buried deep in our mind that take triggers to jog our memory bank to bring them front and center clearly. Some buried memories are just waiting to finally be enjoyed again. What fun it is to relive them with my grandchildren. Treasured memories are buried treasure to enjoy for a lifetime. Everyday is a chance to create memories with those you love.

Only your thoughts matter

Other people can tell you what they think but the only thing that matters is what you think. Even the facts right in front of you doesn't matter because your thoughts determines your reality. Trying to convince them that their way of thinking is causing their problems is nearly impossible. Trying to show them the facts to change their way of thinking doesn't convince them. Its hard to watch someone you care about have such negative thoughts that are making their reality so negative is painful. How you see things determines what you see. Your thoughts are powerful enough to either make you or break you. Be careful what you are thinking and when your thoughts turn negative it's time to rethink about it and try to see it from every angle until you see a positive side. Your reality is what you think it is. Changing your way of thinking is all it takes to make your reality a positive one.

Your familly looks forward to it

Your family goes out to eat more often than they should. Thanksgiving is something they look forward to because they get homemade food. That is why I make plenty of extra for them to take home.  They all have their favorite foods. They eat so much that they need to take a nap after eating. I honestly thought it was the turkey that made us all so tired. So last year I only ate the ham but I was just as tired. It has to be because there are so many choices and we can't help ourselves we eat a little bit of everything. Unfortunately you can't leave any items off the list of food to prepare because they look forward to all of them. So we just have to accept that a nap is just part of Thanksgiving. I make desserts but they never have room to eat it but they take it home so they can eat it after their nap. A lot of stores have sales that day but we are all too full and tired to go shopping. Speaking of shopping you need to go soon for the items you need for your Thanksgiving dinner because there is always something you forget and you will need to have time to go back to the store and get them.

You cant always avoid it

I started off with a cold then it turned into bronchitis now I have caught the flu. I tried to avoid the germs but the flu is everywhere and my son couldn't avoid going to school where it was running rampidly. Now he got it and somehow the mask I wore didn't prevent it from spreading it to me. Good thing you can't catch it in cyberspace. We had all intentions of getting a flu shot but we put it off too long. If you haven't got yours yet don't put it off any longer or you will catch the flu before you know it.  If it is important then just do it so you don't have to deal with the consequence for not doing it.

You don't want to regret it

In life your journey is full of decisions you will have to make. Just make sure every decision you make you won't regret it. When you know you did all you could then you will not have to regret it. If you can say you truly did what you thought was best then you will not have to regret it. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about your decision it only matters that you have no regrets for the decisions you made. You are the only one who has to live with the decisions that you make so base your decisions on whether you can live with the decisions you made without regret.

The money is all that matters

Everyone wants money and needs it. But what some industries do to make money is totally barbaric. There ought to be moral ethics that outweighs their profitability. If someone needs something to live they shouldn't make it too expensive for people to get. If it cost 10 dollars how can they charge 2,000 to get it and get away with it? There are some places like pharmacies that if you ask they have discounts but they aren't allowed to tell you. Luckily I knew to ask but why can't it just always be that reduced price if it can be? Now there are many more places that no matter if you beg they won't budge on price. In the old days you could barter for necessities for livestock or services and everyone looked out for each other. Unfortunately today well I am sure you or someone you love has experienced what happens when money is all that matters. All the more reason why you should treat everyone you meet with kindness because you have no idea what they may be facing.

What will it look like this year?

Every year I tape different wrapped Christmas presents for someone and call it their robot. The after halloween clearance helps make each one unique. There are all  different shapes and sizes after they are made. They grab your attention as they are staring back at you. There are plenty of traditionally wrapped presents under the tree but the grandkids can't wait to tear apart their robot. Unlike traditional ribbon and bows they throw in the trash the costume accesories they have been looking at just waiting to finally wear them. They decorate the room leading up to Christmas and you don't have to pack it away after the holiday.

Your opinions will be your guide

Your opinion of yourself will lead you. But is it where you want or need to go? If in your opinion you are not worthy of something then you will not try to obtain it. If you do not respect yourself then others will not show you respect. If you do not believe in yourself then how can others believe in you? You can be your worst enemy. Learn to respect yourself and love yourself so you can allow yourself to be the best you can be. What anyone else thinks about you doesn't matter. All that matters is that you know you are awesome because if you don't your lack of self-worth, self-love and self-respect will get in the way of good health and happiness. Every now and then remind yourself how awesome you are so you never forget.

Dont miss it as it flies by

When Halloween night finally arrived it makes you realize how fast the year has flown by. The countdown to Christmas begins. Soon followed by the celebration to ring in the New Year. For the young the faster time flies the faster the next Christmas gets here. But when you are older you wish time would slow down so you will have time to enjoy each moment you have. As you begin to shop for Christmas gifts I want to remind you that it is not necessary to buy gifts you can't afford. Christmas is a time of joy but there is no joy if you have to stress out over having to make payments on gifts you couldn't afford. To have a holly jolly Christmas all you have to do is relax and enjoy the time you get to spend with those you love. 

It doesnt happen in an instant

In the fast paced World we live in we expect everything to happen in an instant. Well Rome wasn't built in a day. A lot of great ideas get thrown aside when you find out it is going to take more time and effort then you thought. We have serious problems that go unfixed because no one wants to take the time to fix it. Generations put bandaids on the problems and now they are just flat out ignored. Those simple problems that were ignored have now became devastating to those affected by it. You have to wander how on earth a human being can ignore what they see that is right in front of their faces. The song Blowing in the wind, starts playing in my mind. It ask questions like How many deaths will it take till we know that too many people have died, How many mountains must one man climb, and so on and so on. Check out the song that hopefully inspires you to do what it takes to make the World a better place. The World won't get better on its own we all must do our part.

Hold on to it

When you are young you dream about all the things that you want to do one day. What that may be changes as you grow up. But there are a few things that you hold on to that you know for sure you are going to do one day. You may not be able to do it when you thought you would but as long as you don't give up planning to do it You eventually will do it. There is no time limits on waiting for your dreams to come true as long as over time you hold on to your dreams.

How can it still be happening a half of a century later?

When I was young my parents and grandparents used to talk about the road construction crews standing around all day. They would take years to do a 2 mile long stretch of road. They watched their taxes go up to pay for it and their patience grow thin with all the congested traffic it caused. Here it is a half of a century later and you can see them standing around just talking as you slowly navigate through the construction areas. As I started my errands past the construction areas to get around, I saw four groups of workers within a half a mile of each other standing around just talking. Some had their hands in their pockets. As I came back through the construction area there they were the same four groups still standing in the same spots two hours later just talking. There is no doubt that me and my family are not the only ones who sees them getting paid good money and good benefits to stand around and talk. We need to put cameras on these work sites to see how much time and money our city can save by only paying them for the actual hours they are working.

It usually happens for a reason

If it is meant to be it will happen one way or another. For a short time in my life I lived in Maine. It was totally different surroundings than I was used to. As I tried to get comfortable sleeping at night in our new home, the noises would start. Every night for a week I would be tortured by the sound of a child screaming. We lived in town houses and the sound echoed making it impossible to tell which direction it was coming from. There was a small forest area that lead to the park behind us. I often wandered was it coming from that direction. It made getting comfortable there with my three small children impossible. Still trying to get situated with our new lives I invited a couple we met over to play cards. Just as we got started the screams from the same child I had heard that had tortured me was wailing right outside my door. This was the first time it had happened in the daytime. Without thinking or saying a word I instantly bolted out the back door to find that child at last. There he was living right next door to me. He was screaming just like he had every night since I moved in there. His mother saw me come out the back door and stare their direction. She quickly apologized that her son was screaming so loudly. I went to her at the fence and told her how happy I was that he was throwing that fit because knowing those screams are not from someone torturing a child was the best welcome present she could have gave me. Instantly the bond between me and my new neighbor was formed. That was nearly 27 years ago. That week of torture was necessary to give us both a friendship that we would need throughout our lifetime. You never know where things will lead you nor why there wasn't a simpler way to get there.

Boy the moon gets blamed for everything

There are some people who refuse to except blame for their actions and bad behaviour. The worst excuse is that everyone else does it. Just because someone does it doesn't make it right to do it. You can blame it on the moon if you want to, but you alone are to blame for doing it. Bad behavior is how you choose to behave just like you choose what to eat for dinner. Unfortunately there are times when bad behavior becomes acceptable if there are no consequences for behaving badly. People think seeing wrong doings and doing nothing about it is ok but that simply makes it acceptable. If you choose to ignore it then you are guilty of basically saying it is ok with you. But will you be ok with it if it was happening to you or someone you love? You should ask yourself that before you decide to ignore it.

You may be too old for it but you are never too old to enjoy it.

Halloween isn't just for the little ones. Haunted houses are built for the young at heart, but no one under 13 can enjoy them. Your children may be too grown up for you to walk them around the neighborhood, but while you wait at your front door all the neighborhood kids will stop by to show you their costumes. The older you get the more you realize how precious each moment really is. You know that the "little things" in life are far too important to miss out on them while you chase after the "big things" that you may not ever reach to enjoy. Make sure when you get older that your bucket list contains things that you can realistically do by accepting that your not as young as you used to be when you first made your bucket list. You may still be able to do it but you may have to do it a little differently. Seasons change and as they do you got to change your clothing according to the weather. You can enjoy a swim in the ocean as much as sledding in the snow but you can't wear the same clothes while you are doing each one. You may be too old to believe in Santa but you become Santa's helper so your grandchildren believe in Santa.

You can always stop and do a u-turn

If you realize that the choice you made is leading you in the wrong direction in life, then you can choose to stop and do a u-turn. No matter what you have already invested it is not a waste to stop it. It is a waist of your time to continue. We don't always make the right choices in life but it's just an experience in life and you learn as you go. And when you realize that the direction you are going is the wrong choice then your experience in life has taught you to stop and do a u-turn to get back on track. When you choose the path that shows the most traffic you realize it was because others before you went there and did a u-turn and had to go back the way they came in, making the path look more traveled on.

You may have forgot a moment after you did it but they didn't!

Whoever said words can never hurt you, was wrong. The person you said something to may not forget the hurtful words you said or things you did to them. Some people can forget and some things you can FLUSH away but some things you never forget. When a sight or smell brings up a memory it triggers the same hurt feelings as if it was happening now, even though years and even decades may have past. It triggers PTSD. Negative hurtful events from your past can pop up out of no where. Although there is no permanent way to keep them from popping up again and again, you can FLUSH them at a quick glance before they have time to do any damage emotionally again and again. You may not be able to completely forget but you can quickly protect yourself from it. Everyone needs to remember that a mean thought may pop up in your mind quickly but it shouldn't fly out of your mouth so quickly, because your first thought to a negative situation is very negative. Think about it before you say it out loud.

What was the best part of your day?

At the end of the day what will you remember about your day? You have to choose which moments from the day you want to remember. There were positive things that happened today. There were routine things that were done today. And some days there were negative things that happened today. But at the end of the day when you get to sit and reflect on the day, which ones are you thinking about? It is your choice, and whichever you choose will form your opinion of what kind of day You had. Because how you choose to look at things are the thoughts that create the reality you will live with. Your thoughts become your reality. So if you want to think of the positive ones then you will think about what a positive day You had. And if you choose the routine it can put you in a bleak outlook of your day. And if you think of only the negative parts of the day, guess what? Your thoughts make it seem to have been a bad day. Choose wisely because at the end of the day you are choosing whether you had a good day or not. Sometimes the difference between a good day And a bad day is whether you choose to see the good things that happened that day. Like they say either you see the glass half full and enjoy your half of glass or you see the glass half empty and waste it complaining about where the other half went. What do you see?

It broke his heart

I never knew it meant so much to him. My grandson spent the night and as we were talking I told him they were removing the toilet off of my web site. He cried so hard and hugged me so tight. His tears were steadily flowing down my arm. He said no grandma don't let them take your toilet its yours, its all of ours. I tried to explain that in almost eight years I had not sold not even one book or not even a t-shirt and the new web guy said with the toilet no one takes me seriously. He said we couldn't let them just take it that it was what JUST FLUSH IT was all about to help people FLUSH AWAY their problems. Every holiday for eight years my kids and grandkids buy me a new toilet for my collection. I told him they could still by them because I still collected them but I had to take it off to see if it made a difference. Watching him cry so hard made me cry too. I never put anything before my families happiness but if I could make JUST FLUSH IT a phrase known in households across the World then we could all quit work and spend more time together. He didn't care he said they had already made me take off the pictures of toilets on the books and he wasn't going to let them take it. He is only eight years old and I tried to explain to him that I had agreed to take it off. Just weeks before he was born I sent my first book to be published and because I joked with his parents to name him Billy Bob, at the last moment before sending to get books made, I decided to use the pen name of Billie Bob. I never realized that he considered the toilet as his too and that the toilets were so important to him. He is my biggest fan. My heart is breaking as I know I have to for the chance at ever selling anything. When things happen in my family they tell me write a blog about that grandma. They love to hear blogs all about them. My blogging and books have been therapeutic for me and I know they can help others find Peace of mind too. But they can't help anyone if they never hear about it. This is a very hard decision that I have to make with my mind not my heart.  I hope it is the right decision. I am curious what people really think of the toilet, please comment below to let me know before it is gone.

How fast can you decide?

There are times when you first check your email and there are a lot in your inbox. You naturally focus on what is important knowing the others are merely there making noise to distract you. You have to ignore the distractions so you can stay on track to stay focused on the important ones. It's the same with the thoughts in your mind. You can't be distracted by the negative thoughts if you plan on staying focused on the important things. Our minds have an endless stream of thoughts popping up trying to grab our attention. Unfortunately there are negative ones mixed in with the positive ones. When a thought pops up that you know is negative than JUST FLUSH IT at a quick glance so it doesn't have a chance to distract you from staying focused on what's most important. A clear mind will help you avoid making poor desicions.

You dont have to completely change

A complete change may not be necessary. Changing your expectations may be all you need. Sometimes you expect way to much out of people or circumstances. They may just be too unrealistic. If you are looking for only perfection to make you happy then you will never be happy because nothing or no one is perfect. But you can be perfectly happy if you would accept people and circumstances for what they are. You have to accept yourself for who you are and accept that your not perfect as well as accepting the things that have happened in your life. Acknowledge it then accept it so you can JUST FLUSH IT and move on. If your expectations are too high you will never find what you were expecting to find.

Be the change you want to see in the World

As I try to write my blog today my mind can't think of anything because the tragedy in Las Vegas is weighing heavy on my mind. It will be hard to prevent such tragedies but we can prevent some of them by reporting what we see that raises our suspicions. We need to expand our intelligence agencies so every report can be examined. My heartfelt prayers go out to the hundreds of victims and their families.

Today I will leave you with a quote from Gandhi "Be the change you want to see in the World".

You have to put yourself first in order to be able to help someone else

You may have a big heart and love to help others but if you don't take care of your own needs first them you won't be able to help anyone. No matter what you wish you could do you can only do what you can. Spreading yourself out too thin helping someone will leave you treading on thin ice that can break drowning both of you. Make sure you are on solid ground and your feet are planted firmly first then throw them a life preserver and pull them to safety. Putting yourself first doesn't make you selfish it means that you are not foolish. Take care of yourself so you can be there to help those around you when they really need your help.

Getting started shouldnt be the hard part

If you want to get it done the first step is to get up and get started. There may be things along the way that are hard but taking that first step shouldn't be hard at all because all that takes is knowing that you need to do it. Although there will be times when you take one step forward and seem to fall two steps back as long as you get back up and get moving you will get it done. There are times when you fall it is simply because there were steps in between that you didn't know you needed that have to be done. So just plan on doing whatever it turns out that is necessary even though you didn't know to include it when you first made your plan on what it would take to get it done.

What does it take to be comfortable?

To be comfortable in your own skin you have to be comfortable with what you are doing in the skin your in. Setting boundaries and standards for yourself that you live by no matter what you face is a big part of it. Remembering that you shouldn't do anything to others that you wouldn't want done to you is part of it. If you are always honest then you have nothing to hide. Your true character is based on your actions. If you know deep inside that you did your best then it doesn't matter what anyone else says. But what you do matters so if you know you shouldn't do it then don't do it. Remember that karma follows your actions and bad behavior means karma might bite you in the end.

What works for someone else may not work for you

One way may work for them but that doesn't mean it will work for you. It simply means you have to find a way that works for you. Just like certain plants can only thrive in certain climates. So don't open an orange grove farm in Alaska. Don't give up on something just because it is harder than you thought it would be. Step back and think about what you need to do to make it work and work as hard as it takes to get it done. The saying goes... Someone who says it can't be done will never get it done. Stop saying you can't and figure out how you will do it. Sometimes you have to be willing to bend like a pretzel in order to do it.

If you feel it go with it

There are times when deep down inside you have a feeling about a particular thing. Sometimes it is a feeling that it is something you should not do or you will regret it. Sometimes it is a feeling like you definitely should do it or you will regret it. Your conscience is your best guide and you need to listen to it. When You feel it in the pit of your stomach it's not always gas.

A made up problem with real consequences

If you believe you can then you can do it. If you doubt you can then there is no doubt you won't because you will never try. There are times when you are your worst enemy. You may have been dealt the cards you need in life but they won't help you if you don't play them. You could be surrounded by water but still die of thirst if you don't drink some. Then there are those dealt nothing but lemons in life that took them and made lemonade out of them. It's not always what you are actually facing that is the problem. Instead it is your thoughts about what you think you face that is the problem. It may not be a real problem but actually one that your thoughts have created that brings real consequences.

Fresh air is necessary to feel refreshed

Fresh food taste better. Fresh breath smells better. A fresh look at something let's you see what you may have missed. But there are times when fresh can stink. When you keep negative thoughts fresh on your mind it stinks up your day. Things happen once but you have to endure the pain over and over again if you keep reliving it in your mind over and over again. Once was bad enough so JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so you can feel refreshed. You can't have a fresh start unless you leave behind what stinks. Sometimes to have a good day you will have to FLUSH AWAY A BAD DAY.

Seeing it in person makes it more personal

As the flood waters go down you are able to get through the roads that had been blocked. Although you had heard about all the damage in the neighborhoods you are shocked at the wide spread tragedies that you see. They showed a couple yards in a neighborhood with downed trees but when every house on a road have giant trees laying in their yards it feels like you are in twilight zone. You have to drive around trees that block the road. You see some trees that have fallen on their houses or cars. It makes you think about having some of the large trees in your yard that you had always loved cut down. The powerful storms that can blow in at any time makes you see them now as missles aimed right at your house.  The news only has time to show you a peek at the wide spread tragedies that are left from the devastation from hurricanes. Street after street you see damage as you are finally able to drive. As you sit in the restraunt eating you have to wander what those eating around you may be dealing with themselves. There are millions of stories from the millions of people affected from hurricane Irma that we will never hear.

The rain has stopped but the rivers are rising

The rain and hurricane force winds have stopped but the river is still rising. There are downed trees everywhere you look. Some are dangling on the electric wires. Giant trees suddenly uproot and have smashed into houses. Yards full of poodles of water with no where to go. There are main roads flooded leaving people trapped on one side or the other. Electricity for some could takes week before it is restored. When you imagine what it is like for those in a hurricanes path you can't even imagine just how bad it really is. Reach out and help those affected from hurricane Harvey and hurricane Irma because I know how much help entire towns really need.

Ready or not the hurricane is coming

No one really knows what damage a hurricane will  have on everyone in it's path. The outer bands are just as dangerous as being in the eye of the storm. There are many things we know we need to do to be prepared. But unfortunately for many people they will face things that they never thought would happen so they couldn't have been prepared for when they happen. In life not only during hurricanes, things happen that you never saw coming so you weren't prepared to handle them. But you do recover. You accept whatever it is for what it is without wasting your time trying to figure out how it could have even happened at all. The people in the state of Texas is a great example to everyone around the World of how to stand together so that everyone can get through tragedies they weren't expecting. As Irma approaches my state of Florida I am proud to say that there is no doubt that Floridians will stand United before, during and after the storm. Thank you to our govenor Rick Scott for preparing our state days before the hurricane is due to arrive.

What's on your mind determines everything

Your mind is powerful enough to trick you into believing anything. Your thoughts create the reality you live. Your thoughts are so powerful that they can alter how your organs function. They determine the flow of endorphins they can produce. As your mind is busy processing all your thoughts it doesn't notice the harm that it is doing physically to your entire body. The longer you stay stressed the longer your body has to endure the pressure that the stress puts on it. Although the old saying says ..It's mind over matter it really should say what's on your mind really matters to your overall well being.

Humanity shines bright through the flooding water

The devastating images on the news of the impact of the hurricane on Texas are heartbreaking. But at the same time they are heartwarming. I had often wandered had our society became dehumanized. But the humanity of the people of Texas has shown brightly through the flood waters. Their compassion for one another can be felt through the images. Texans you are a great example to everyone, Your actions will help compassion grow to replace the insanity we see in society.

You can't change it but you can accept it

There is no way to deny the facts of a situation you may be facing. There is no doubt that it may be in fact a bad situation. But  you can accept the facts and realize you are not in control and you can't change the facts. When you accept it then you can make the best of whatever situation you are in. Take everything you have to work with and be creative with what you got. Everything happens for a reason even if we can't see any good reason at all.

The venomous bite of a two faced snake

Two heads are better than one but two faces on the same head means you better watch your back. Far too many people literally have two faces and neither of them speak the truth. One face smiles as it lures you in to talk so what you say can and will be used against you by their other face later. They will find out what you need most so they can later make sure that it is the one thing for sure that you wont get. So look closer at the face that is smiling at you to see if it is actually a smirk. Keep in mind that once you have seen the other face they have that even if over time they grow hair to hide it that it will always be there. If they fool you once then shame on them. If they fool you twice then shame on you for not remembering that a two faced snake is dangerous.

Be thankful so you can grin and bear it

As I found myself complaining about all the rain today I quickly stopped myself and started saying thank goodness all I have to deal with is a little rain. Throughout your life you realize the situations you face may be trying at times but there are many others that are facing much worse situations. You may not have everything you want but if you have everything you need you are lucky. As hurricane Harvey rages on shore in Texas it is a reminder that mother nature has a lot of power. Although the meteorologist predicted accurately right where it would make landfall no one knew just how much devastation the storm would bring. Several years ago when hurricane Katrina rolled into Louisiana we weren't prepared for the widespread flooding. We learned a lot from that disaster and thank goodness the military was called in to help and arrived before the storm had even made landfall. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those living in It's path.

Shame on you for seeing it and doing nothing about it!

A recent video I saw on the news has me wandering how on earth this could happen in school. There were a room full of students watching as a group of boys were torchering a girl. How could they hear her screams yet do nothing to help her? What the heck is wrong with people? Why didn't anyone help her? When a video of the attack surfaced her parents took it to the pricipal yet nothing was being done about it. She then took it to the local news station. It's time we start focusing on what's going on in our schools these days. Kids are being physically and mentally tortured and no one stops the violence. Yet we wander why society is in the mess it is in. Those students involved need to be expelled and any teacher that heard her screams and did nothing to help her should not only be fired but be banned from ever teaching again. The violence would stop and our children would be safe if there was a punishment for those who do it and for those who ignore it. Without accountability you can't count on being safe.

It was gone in a flash

When I open my front door my dogs always Sprint outside as fast as they can. Our little dog runs straight to the bushes to chase the family of lizards that lives there. The bigger dogs run straight to the tree out front trying to catch a squirrel before they all make it safely up the tree out of their reach. Everyday four or five times a day it is the same thing. Luckily none of them had ever managed to catch anything. But today I couldn't believe my eyes. The two big dogs were standing under the tree as they watched the squirrels scramble to the top of the tree. As usual the squirrels then jump from one tree to the other tree to get away from them. Then with a loud thump I saw one of them miss the tree limb and fall flat to the driveway right between my dogs. In the blink of an eye my lab puts the squirrel into her mouth before the other dog had a chance to react. I tried to block my son from seeing it as he walked out the front door but he saw the squirrels tail was dangling out of his mouth before it disappeared. I was in shock and panicked waiting for my lab to literally choke to death. I called the vet who assured me that the squirrel would easily be digested and cause no harm to my dog. I wandered had they caught something before this and that is why they always sprinted out?

To disagree with someone's opinion is not an attack against anything

We all see things differently. Obviously that means we all have a different point of view. Our opinions can only be formed on what we personally see. Just because someone disagrees with your opinion doesn't mean they don't respect your opinion. It simply means that in their opinion they respectively disagree with your opinion. Don't turn it into a battle over who's opinion is correct. Just agree to disagree on some things. One thing we can all agree on is we are all entitled to have our own opinion. If we respect each other's right to have their own opinion then we can move past our differences so we can work together. If we don't start working together then in my opinion things are going to get worse and worse until we do. The World won't get better on its own. We all need to do our part by teaming up to do whatever we can to make the World a better place. If you want a life worth living it's going to take working together to have it.

Doctors agree that laughter is the best medicine

The sound of laughter is all it takes to make a smile jump on the faces of anyone who hears it. It is an automatic response to laughter. They say laughter is the best medicine and there are no negative side affects like there are with most medicines. Best of all it is medicine that is given away for free. You can feel a good belly laugh ease your tension from your head to your toes. When is the last time you had a good belly laugh?

Knowing what to do is only half of the battle

It's good when you know what to do but actually doing it is a whole other thing. Like you know you should eat right but will you? You know yet you have to make sure you actually eat healthy. It takes constant commitment to stay away from bad foods no matter how many times a craving for it pops in your mind. If you know you need to budget then no matter what you think about buying you have to stick to your budget. If you know their is a crater in the road ahead then go around it instead of falling in it. If you know that trouble is coming then you know what to do then you know you should just get out of it's way.

You can try not to but your still going to

We all say "I am not going to be like my parents when I grow up". Then you slowly but surely over the years begin to start becoming like them in a lot of ways. I have seen people that looked nothing like their parent when they were young yet when they got old they even looked like them. As a parent you pass on everything you do so do Your kids a favor later in their lives by choosing carefully what you pass on.

One is bad enough so SQUISH it like a bug

People like to place blame on everyone but themselves when clearly they have no one to blame but themselves. Even if the excuse they give didn't happen to them at all over time after they say it enough they begin to believe it. Your thoughts determine your reality. If all you think about and talk about is the negative things in your life then in reality you will never have a positive outlook. If you focus on the positive things then you will have a positive outlook that will guide you throughout your life. I can't imagine choosing to feel gloom and doom instead of when a negative thought pops up in your mind Just Flushing It quickly before it has a chance to cause an avalanche of negative thoughts to flood in if you allow it to grab your attention. It's like seeing one roach and knowing if you don't squish him immediately he will lay a hundred eggs and then you will have a roach infestation. Think of a negative thought that pops up as a roach that if you let it in it will mean you are inviting in an infestaion that is harder to get rid of so JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind while it is only one roach.

There is no truth when the channel you choose determines the facts you hear.

I don't care where you live nor do I care about the political party you belong to. I don't care whether you are young or old. I do not care whether you are rich or poor. We all need to know the facts to make an informed decision. There are so many important things going on but depending on what channel I watch on TV determines the facts I have to base my opinion on. That explains clearly why the WORLD is in the mess it is in.

Did you feel that Thank You?

When you do something kind for someone you feel good inside knowing it will help them. But when someone says thank you to you for doing it that makes you feel good deep inside you. My teenage son always says thank you and he always makes my grandkids say thank you and that feels double good deep inside. I have noticed my husband telling me thank you lately for things I have always done and it sure means a lot to hear it. If someone does something no matter what it is be sure and say thank you to make them smile.

Does it really matter?

If it doesn't matter in the long run then don't waste your energy even thinking about it. Just FLUSH It out of your mind so you can focus on what matters most. It is easy to lose focus if you try to focus on everything. When you become overwhelmed you need to simplify things. If it doesn't matter at all in the "big picture" in your life then you should JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind right away. If there is anything that you can't do anything about then accept it. Then start with the most important thing and get 'r done. If you want a more simple life then simplify it.

Don't keep adding dirt a hill is easier to climb

You shouldn't spend too much time thinking over and over again about negative thoughts. Its ok to acknowledge what has happened but then you need to JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind. Have you heard the saying "Anyone can make a MOUNTAIN out of a mole hill if they keep adding dirt"? Well if you keep thinking about it over and over again that is what you are doing. You turn something that was a simple annoyance into a problem. Life is hard enough without you making it harder for yourself. Learn to JUST FLUSH IT as it comes.

Sometimes it is best to say nothing

When you are angry you need to make sure you don't spew it onto others. Sometimes telling someone about what has angered you can help you to JUST FLUSH IT out so you can forget about it.  But sometimes you are so angry that it is best if you don't say anything at all. Lashing out at others won't make you feel any better all that will do is spew it onto others. When angry thoughts instantly pop up into your mind it doesn't mean it should fly out of your mouth just as fast. You might get over your anger but the angry words you said to others they won't get over.

Allowing it is saying it's ok to be done

The wrongdoings you see happening that you ignore and allow it to continue is saying go ahead keep doing that it's OK with me. Really? Well keep in mind that if you accept that as acceptable behavior then you better expect it to one day happen to you or someone you love. Because when it becomes acceptable it becomes more common of an occurrence. The saying is...Do unto others as you would want done for you. Add to that what you let happen to others will happen to you. If you want to prevent it from happening to you or someone you love then you have to prevent it from happening to others. Doing the right thing means everything will be alright for you too.

You have to acknowledge it so you know what you need to let go of.

There are some questions that there are simply no answers to, not even on Google. Things happen in life that's just life. Wasting your time looking for an answer to why something may have happened or how on earth it could have even happened at all when there isn't an answer is a waste of time. The sooner you can accept it for what it is the sooner you can forget about it. Keeping it fresh on your mind will just keep wasting your time today. Acknowledge it for what it is then JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so you can enjoy every moment that you have.

Your thoughts are your reality

If you believe it is true then no matter what anyone else says it is a true fact. And your reality is based on what you believe to be true. That is why when you hear something you have to get as many facts as you can about it before you believe what you heard. Your thoughts are your reality do trying to find the positive in every situation so your reality can be a positive one. If all you look for is the negative effects then it will effect your reality negatively. It sounds simple to just think happy thoughts like Peter Pan and fly but the reality is we will definitely never fly. Our minds are bombarded with an endless stream of thoughts both positive and negative. Choosing which thought you let grab your attention is your choice. So to always choose a positive one is a no brainer.

You can go so fast you miss it

There is always something that you need to do. Sometimes you start rushing to get it all done. But in your rush you don't have time to enjoy the little things along the way. A trip downtown usually meant lunch on the water while you were there. But if you have to rush to get to your next errand all you get for lunch is a drive thru burger. It will fill you up but it sure ain't worth the drive. When you rush through the grocery store the thing you needed most didn't come to your mind as you sprinted in and out. The faster you go means the less you will see as you go. Stop and smell the roses.

It takes years of experience

Knowing who has your back in case you fall takes years to know. You meet people throughout your life who you instantly have a connection with. But a connection and a bond are two different things. It takes years of experiences and many compromises along the way to build a bond. You are lucky if you have a handful of people over your lifetime that you truly have a bond with. You have to make the time to stay connected with each and everyone of them to stay bonded. Although text and Facebook keep you both up to date on each other making the time to call and hear their voice keeps you connected on a human level. If you can meet up with them to get a hug that feels way better than a facebook poke. To have that human bond you have to have human contact.

Weigh it out

We need the rain although getting wet isn't fun. We need the sun but we need to wear sunscreen to protect us from it's harmful rays. To get what you need you have to take what you get and adjust to make it work for you. In every situation or circumstances in life you have to as they say, take the good with the bad. When it comes to nature you do not have a choice you just have to take it as it comes and make the best of the situation. But in most aspects of your life you do have some choices to make. And whenever you weigh things out if the good doesn't outweigh the bad you got to JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind and forget about it.

One person at a time

You may think that the problems will take more than you can do to resolve and you are right. But there are things you can do to help. You would be surprised how one random act of kindness can spread. World peace is even possible by bringing peace of mind to one person at a time. Something as simple as your mood can make those around you either happy or frazzled. Your words, your actions and your mood are what you choose but your choices affect those around you.

The truth may hurt but a lie could be devastating

Sometimes the truth can hurt but you truly know where you stand and you know what you have to work with. When someone lies to you it gives you false hopes that keep you waiting causing you to not look for another way to get done what you need. Sad part is most of the time they know they have no intentions of following through. Why can't they just give you an honest no so you know you need to keep looking for other alternatives? What is even scarier is that people can lie to your face and you can't even tell that they are lying. There are some people who even lie to themselves about what they have said or done so many times that they seem to believe it. If I lied my hands would become sweaty and my conscious would be telling me that wasn't right. You have to wander if there are people among us that have no conscious at all inside them.

Complaining can zap your joy

As you experience things throughout your life there will be bumps along the way. Suddenly you may be faced with a situation that complicates everything. You find yourself complaining about it and you get in a rant and before you know it you are consumed by it. It is what it is unless you can't get over it and you become immobilized by it. Acknowledge it for what it is and then learn how you are going to deal with it to move forward. Complaining about it Just zaps your energy.

What's eating you is just as important as what you are eating

Every minute that you are stressed out is dangerous to your health. Stress causes your blood pressure to rise which causes physical damage to your body that can not be undone. If what you are stressing over is not a life or death situation then don't make it one. So many times you may be stressing for days over something only to find out that in the end everything turned out alright and you were stressed unnecessarily. But regardless of the positive outcome the physical damage from the stress is already done. You can eat right and get plenty of exercise but you also have to maintain good mental health for your overall well being.

We are running out of options

As I watch yet another mom and pop store closing there doors I am saddened.  It also means less choices we have of where we can go. If what you need is only available at one place then they have less concern about customer satisfaction. In the old days they knew if they didn't treat you right you would go somewhere else. This kept people more honest and customer satisfaction was a must to remain in business. Now when there is no where else to go they know you will put up with anything. This only promotes and opens the door to poor customer service. Competition is necessary to keep prices down and polite attitudes in customer service. Support the small businesses in your area so they can be there in the future. We all want to be able to have a choice so we just have to make sure we have choices available to make.

Who can you pass it on to?

As you experience life a lot of things become more clearer when you are old and grey even though your vision may be less clear. As you then look back on things you think if I only knew then what I know now. You have to say there are a few things you would have done differently. But you know whats done is done and where you are is where you are. When you try to tell others what you have learned to help them they look at you like you have three heads. So what are you supposed to do with the knowledge you have learned if no one listens to it? I am writing the fourth book in the Just FLUSH It series so it would make a good chapter if it was full of lessons in life that could be passed on. Perhaps there is something you would like to pass on to others. Nowadays it's rare to get others to gather to talk. In our fast paced lives no one has the time or energy or desire to stop and have simple small talk. I would love to hear what you would like to pass on.

You can but do you really want to?

As you go through life you sometimes say one day I am going to do that. But by the time you get around to doing it you find yourself saying but should I do it? Waiting to do something that is physical you may find that you waited too long. At this point you may have waited so long you have to ask yourself can I do it and should I do it. Do what you can while you can. You don't want to have regrets. Work to achieve your dreams so your dreams can come true.

You decide first then they will decide

Where you lead them they will follow. What you teach them is what they learn from you. Every home is a classroom and every parent is a teacher. If you want them to grow up to be responsible, compassionate, hard working and honest adults then you have to teach them how to be responsible, compassionate, hard working and honest. The best thing you can do for your child is love them enough to let them be mad at you. They won't always like what you do at times along the way but when they are grown they will thank you.

There are many people who have a harder life

Today I am reminded that there are many people in far worse situations then the ones I am facing. Which is why you should  always be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. It is usually the ones who never complain and always have a smile and a positive attitude who are faced with terrible situations and you would never know it.  When you compare your life to theirs you realize just how lucky you really are which will make you look at your situation much differently. Your whole attitude towards your own situation will change. You will be thankful that it isn't as bad as it could be.

Are you a team player?

There are many different scenarios in life that will require you to team up with others. And as part of a team it will take teamwork to work things out so that everyone on your team gets what they need. It takes compromise to work out a plan. It takes listening to each other to know what each of you need. No one will get everything they want but everyone can each get what they need. Don't assume they know what you need because they won't unless you tell them. Don't assume you know what they need just listen and they will tell you. To be a team player you have to remember there is no I when you are on a team. Working together is the only way to keep your team together working to reach the goals you all planned. If you try by doing only what is best for you then you are not a team player and as a result everyone on your team will lose. It's like being on a baseball team and one player tosses the ball up in the air so they can catch it instead of throwing it to the first baseman to get the runner out. Obviously the other team will score runs which will cause their whole team to lose. It's okay to choose to play by yourself just don't join a team to do it. Before you team up with someone ask yourself, are they a team player?

You have to take the bad with the good

Everything has it's good points and it's bad points. You need to weigh the pros and cons to determine whether the good that can come outweighs the bad. Things may sound good but remember if it sounds to good to be true then it probably isnt true. The wolf may have been wearing grandma's clothes but it won't stop him from eating you. Your heart may say yes but your mind knows better.

Dogs are like alarm clocks

Summer break should mean we get to sleep in. So far our dogs have woken us up every morning to go outside. Apparently a half an hour past their normal schedule is as long as they will allow us to sleep in. But at least we get up to enjoy our summer days not sleep half of it away like we would if they would let us. The amount of things we have gotten done in the first week off makes me glad to have them as an alarm clock. Sometimes in life it takes the strangest things to happen to get you up and moving so you can focus on getting things done. But every now and again I hope they let us sleep in because sometimes it is necessary to get the rest you need to be able to focus at all.

The simple things are all that matter in the end

We all know we have to save for retirement all throughout your life. That way when you are ready to retire you are financially able to support yourself or you won't be able to retire. But are you making plans for the time when you are older and become physically tired that your life is simple enough to manage? You spend your life working to pay for and furnish the big house of your dreams. Then in the end you realize that a smaller home that is easier to manage is what you need and you have to downsize. Go figure. Keep things simple as you go through life because in the end only the simple things really matter.

It is better tp be prepared

As the hurricane season is upon us it is time to get prepared. It seems like I always need to buy flashlights. It's cheaper to buy an 8 pack of little flashlights with batteries for 10 dollars then it is to buy batteries. All year long until the next hurricane season me and the grandkids get a lot of use out of them. I do buy new batteries to replace in the smoke detectors at this time of year to make sure they are changed once a year to keep us safe all year long. As we stock up on water I make sure to get it early because when a hurricane is close the store runs out of supplies. And if you have ever experienced the nightmare of trying to find gas once the hurricane is near you know that you need to keep your tank filled when it is days away. With every season there is challenges and there will be preparations to be made to enjoy each season. Right now school is out for the summer break and I have been preparing to entertain the grandkids and keep them busy so we can all enjoy it. No matter what season it is, it takes work to prepare so you can enjoy it. Your life's journey has challenges and a change of seasons too that you have to prepare for in order to enjoy your life. Because ready or not the seasons will change.

Sheltering them from the cold wont keep them from needing a coat when they go outside

Parents naturally want to protect their children. They want to shelter them from the cold cruel people in the world we live in. But eventually they will adventure out on their own. They won't be prepared to know how to handle the people and things they will encounter if they don't know what is really out in the world. It is better to let them see how it really is and learn while you can still keep them safe so they will always be safe when you are not with them. You have to teach them how to swim so they don't sink in spite of the fact that you know there are sharks in the water.

Would you if you could?

If you could would you? Even in our complicated ever-changing world we live in a random act of kindness can make a world of difference to someone. Taking the time to make someone smile is time well spent. But would you take time out to do it? Be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. The old saying is true you reap what you sow. What seeds are you planting as you go throughout your day?

Save your money it is free to enjoy

Have you ever wandered why some clouds race by while others don't move? It's as if some are participating in a race and the other ones are just there to watch them. As I sat watching them race in the sky I was so intrigued that I didn't notice how fast the time was flying by. It felt like only a few minutes I was watching them yet an hour had gone by. Nature provides free relaxing entertainment all the time. You got the clouds in the daytime and stars at nighttime. Not to mention all the animals, bugs and vegetation that are always around to amuse you. In these tough economic times you don't have to have money in your budget for entertainment because you can always enjoy nature for free. When you are having a stressful day let the wind help you FLUSH IT away.

The door may be unlocked but you still have to open it to get inside.

You can't go through your life with blinders on or you will get blindsided by reality. Even when you choose the straight and narrow path there will still be boulders that fall suddenly and block your path. You will then need to walk around it or you will hit it head on. As time goes by in our ever changing world you can't even rely on the things that use to work before. You have to keep your eyes wide open as you go throughout your life and be flexible enough to bend like a pretzel if it is necessary to keep yourself on track. Keep in mind that usually when one door closes another door opens. But if you don't keep your eyes wide open and look for a door that opens you won't see it. The door may be unlocked but you still have to open the door to get in.

Did you forget?

Don't get me wrong I am all for taking the painful experiences from your past and Just Flushing It out of your mind. But that doesn't mean you should forget about it and repeat it. Your past experiences are important tools to help you in life by reminding you which experiences you never want nor need to repeat again. To repeat it would be insane because the very definition of insanity is to do the same thing the same way over and over again and expecting a different result. If you know that something hurt you, why on earth would you let it hurt you again. Remembering what not to do is just as important as remembering what to do.

Your memories will comfort you

Today we remember all those who have gone before us. The treasured memories we have of them comfort our broken hearts. Today is a reminder that we should spend every precious moment we can creating memories with those we love. What memories they will have of you after you pass will be the memories you make with them while you were alive. What will they remember about you?

Are you building a future that can withsatand the test of time?

I have been watching a bluebird build a best on my Sago Palm. Unfortunately I know that a new stalk of leaves is sprouting in the middle which means the old leaves will wilt and fall. That means her best will not be secure. I wish I would have stopped her from building her best there before she laid her eggs. I placed an old blanket on the ground below it to soften the blow when it comes tumbling down. But even if they survive the fall they probably won't survive an encounter with my dogs. It's a reminder as you go throughout your life make sure the future you are building for yourself is built on a solid foundation that can withstand the test of time.

Being unique is a reason to celebrate not a reason to fight

All around the World there are many conflicts and wars that were started over religion. We all should be free to believe in what we want as long as we don't hurt others so peace on earth can be possible. It starts with you and I by allowing everyone the freedom to choose what they want to believe in so we too can be free to choose. Peace on earth starts by bringing peace of mind to one person at a time. Tension starts when someone tries to force their opinions on others. Your opinion counts but their opinion counts just as much to them. Being unique should make things more interesting not put you in danger. It would be boring if we were all the same so our unique differences add spice to the World.

To enjoy today you have to leave yesterday behind you

To have a fresh start you have to FLUSH away the things that were stinking up your yesterday's. It's a new day only if you don't bring any baggage from your yesterday. Otherwise it would be the same problems just a different day. You may not be able to totally forget about what has happened in your past. But keeping your yesterday's fresh on your mind will prevent you from having a fresh start today. So for a fresh start today and every day start off by taking what happened yesterday and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come but today is yours to enjoy. You wouldn't drive your car  while looking in the rearview mirror and you can't enjoy today if your looking back at yesterday.

Are you kidding me?

I find myself shaking my head in disbelief and always thinking, are you kidding me. The things people get away with leaves me wandering how on earth can they be doing it and getting away with it. Just because others do it doesn't make it right. There was a time when your reputation was everything. Nowadays your reputation doesn't matter at all because no one is held accountable for their bad behavior. In order for good behavior to be rewarded bad behavior has to not be tolerated. We all must stand up for what is right if we want to be treated right. If you ignore it then it becomes something that is a common problem for us all.

In the heat of the moment can you keep your cool?

You may feel like you are about to explode by what is happening but that would only make the situation worse. Although there may be nothing you can do to make the situation better, an explosion will make a mountain out of a mole hill because it will just add more dirt. You can climb a mole hill without too much effort but if you have a mountain to climb you may not reach the top. You may find that you may have no options in the situation but you do have a choice on how you react to it. When your car starts to overheat you know you have to stop immediately and let the engine cool down or you will blow your engine. When you find yourself in a situation that makes your blood boil and your blood pressure rise you need to stop and cool down before your body breaks down.

Monday madness

Monday madness lasted until Tuesday. It's easy to get so busy that you forget what day it is. And when you lose a day it becomes yesterday. Today is another day you have to enjoy so don't waste it because before you know it, it too will be yesterday. Putting off what you should do today means it won't ever get done until tomorrow which will always be a day away.

Make the most of your 15 minutes

Some days your schedule can be crammed with things to do. Which can seem to be more than you can do. Those are the times when you will surprise yourself with what you can do in 15 minutes. You may not be able to complete a project all at one time but it's enough time to get a good start. And if you get started early in the day you will find enough 15 minute intervals that allows you to get the job done. If you don't do a little at a time with the time you have then you won't get it done at all. Your task may take an hour that you don't have but you will find that you do have four 15 minute intervals which is an hour in your schedule today. You don't always have everything you need but you do have enough to get by.

If you can smell it from afar can you imagine what it's like for those who are close to it.

The fire on the Georgia and Florida line has been burning for a month. From over a hundred miles away the wind is blowing in the smoke and ashes cover our cars. No matter how hard I try I don't think I could imagine just how hard daily life is for those who are living close to the fire. They are predicting that it will burn till November. We all need to go out and do our best rain dance to bring them some much needed relief in the form of rain.

You will know in a second or two

I wander if nurses and doctors realize that their patients well being is in their hands. You are at their mercy. Not only their experience matters but also their bedside manners. If you have ever been in a hospital you know that with every shift change it is a roll of the dice. You hope your nurse is thorough and compassionate. Within a few seconds of shift change you know what the next 12 hours will be like for you. Unfortunately there are times when you end up with a nurse who doesn't want to deal with patients that day and it shows. Your chances of a speedy recovery is either helped or hindered by a show of or lack of compassionate care. I have learned that you can ask to have a different nurse and they will switch. If you know it in 10 seconds then you don't have to endure it 12 hours. Just like when you recognize a negative thought has popped up in your mind JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind before it has time to do any damage.

Tick tock it's time

If you are like me you don't like change. But sometimes a change can do you good. And if it's time for a change then it doesn't matter what time it is. The clock never stops it keeps on flying by. Life is full of changes you have to go through along the way. Life is like a roller coaster it is filled with ups and downs as well as curves. To enjoy life while You are living it you just have to be willing to bend like a pretzel if necessary.

Teach them by showing them

The best way to teach somebody is to show them. You can tell them and they might remember but if you show them they have a memory of it. You can tell them how much you love them but showing them you love them let's them feel it. You may have a lot of love in your heart but can anyone feel it? Create memories that will last for a lifetime.

It's time we start focusing on what is going on in schools these days

Night after night the news is reporting on the violence on the school buses going to and from school yet it continues. Students from elementary to junior high to high school are bringing guns and knives to school making schools unsafe. There are students day after day disrupting the teachers from teaching yet those students are free to do it everyday with no consequences. The other students don't get taught due to it paying the consequences struggling to do well in school. Bullying and fighting are ignored by the faculty because there are no actions that will be taken against those students so they don't bother. Yet this simply has allowed this behavior to continue making it apparently accepted and therefore a common occurrence. It's time we start focusing on what is going on in our schools theses days and start doing something to fix the problems that we can and stop ignoring them! 

Freedom is to be free to be who you are

Everyone has their own opinion. Our differences in opinion are part of what makes each of us different. You don't have to agree with anyone's opinion but you need to respect their right to have their own opinion. Just like what music they listen to, what foods they eat or how they dress it is their choice. The freedom to be who we want to be is what freedom is all about. If we don't stand up to let freedom ring then eventually none of us will have freedom. If you don't like it then it is something that you don't like but others are free to like it. Your opinion matters to you and their opinion matters to them just as much.

As long as there is hope

Without hopes and dreams you are left with dread and hopelessness. You have to dream and hope for the best. Or you will feel fear and misery. You can dream about winning the lottery even though you know you have to keep working to pay the bills. You can hope that everything is going to be alright but you still have to be prepared for whatever comes your way. Your dreams can't come true if you don't have any dreams. Hoping for the best allows you to see a chance for the best. As long as you have a chance you will have something to hope for.

Your thoughts are your reality!

Choose your thoughts wisely because your thoughts are your reality. How you look at things is the only thing you see. Even if others around you see things differently it won't make any difference. Your reality is purely based on what you think it is. Your point of view is determined on how you look at things. If all you see is doom and gloom then you need to look for any bright and cheery that is hidden. Before you know it you just might find that if you seek you shall find. If you don't look for it then you will never find it.

What happened to common courtesy, common sense, and common decency?

Choosing to do nothing is still a choice you make. People complain about the wrong doings but they choose to do nothing to stop it or prevent it. Even when it doesn't take much effort to do so. We can all see the World isn't, can't, and won't get better on it's own. We all must do our part. Wrong doings have been ignored and they have now become common. It took generations to get society in the mess it is in. And it will take all the generations to unite together to clean up the mess that it has created. Let's join together to make common courtesy, common sense and common decency common again.

Neighbors watching out for each other makes a great neighborhood

In the old times you knew your neighbors would tell your parents if you did something wrong. And you knew your parents would punish you for it. Nowadays your neighbors don't bother to tell parents because they don't care or bother to correct their kids. After generations of this it has led to neighbors being afraid to say anything to parents or police. If you try to stand up for what is right you will be knocked down. If you want to feel safe in your neighborhood you have to make sure all your neighbors feel safe.

What did you leave behind?

What will they remember about you? What influence did you make in their lives? You would like to think that you made a positive influence. But what did they take from you? We all want to leave this World a better place because of us. Your material possessions probably won't help anyone. I have watched someone's lifettime of possessions be thrown in the trash. You hope that you contributed to enriching many people's life while you were alive. I hope that learning how to Just Flush It will make a positive difference to others.

Hide and seek is about to begin!

The eggs are dyed a rainbow of colors. And there are a few grey ones that were soaked in all the colors mixed together. The grandkids fingers were a rainbow of colors too. When Sunday comes they will finally get to dress in  their new outfits. Then with a grin from ear to ear they will eagerly await to play hide and seek. They can hardly wait inside with their baskets in their hand ready to bolt outside when the hunt begins. By the end of the day we always seem to have a few eggs that never get found. Even though there is a chance the dogs may have ate them it is hard for them to stop hunting for them. Then When you do you are hoping the dog ate them so you don't have to smell rotten egg in a week or so. Happy Easter Everyone.

Have you ever wandered what is the purpose of it?

As you live throughout your lifetime there are many things you go through that you say, what was the purpose of that anyways? You know that everything happens for a reason but that reason is not always known in every step you had to take. You just have to take things as they come and think about what steps you will take as you go.  You may hate bridges but if you have to you will cross that bridge if and when it  comes.

Why was he doing it?

The thought of a painful bee sting can discourage humans from getting too close. But apparently butterflies don't fear them at all. I watched a butterfly attack a bee like he was Ali. Ali's catch phrase I float like a butterfly but I sting like a bee kept running through my mind as I watched him. I couldn't figure out why the butterfly was bugging him anyways. There were plenty of other flowers around that he could have went to for pollen. Was he trying to save some for other butterflies? Or was he just bored. Perhaps he knew that I would enjoy watching him.

It is what it is

Sometimes the best outcome you can hope for is getting barely what you need. It may not be what you earned or deserve but it is what it is. The truth is it could have been worse so be thankful it is what it is. Remember there are some who are dealt a far worse outcome. To enjoy what you have you have to see your glass as half full. Or you will be miserable while you try to figure out why the glass is half empty. Either way you look at it you only have a half of a glass which is enough to keep you from dying of thirst.

You simply have to simplify it!

There are times in Life when you may be facing more than you can handle. As thoughts fill your mind it makes it hard to have any room to think about how to solve anything. It makes even routine task you do daily seem impossible. You will have to clear your mind to be able to figure out what to do and how to do it. Find a quiet time, turn off your phone, grab a bite to eat and prioritize the issues you are facing. As you make your list eliminate anything that is not really important so you can JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind to make your "to do" list smaller. Tackle the most important one first. The more simplified your list is the simpler it will be to take care of what you need.

Write it down to flush it out

You can't stop the endless stream of thoughts that run through your mind. Some things you can easily FLUSH. But something's you need to write down to help you. When something is weighing heavy on your mind you should write out the different scenarios and what you will do each way then you will be able to FLUSH IT till you know which scenario you are facing. Just knowing you have a plan no matter what happens then you can forget about it and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind.

You know you can't prevent it

It sure would be nice if you could prevent them from having to go through it. The truth is your words of wisdom may fall on deaf ears. All you can do is try to prevent it then be there if they do it anyways and get hurt. It would be hard to handle if you knew yet you didn't warn them when you could have and should have. Some situations you may face you could not prevent no matter what you know or do. Sometimes all you can do is to prepare for it the best you can so you can prevent as much as you can. The more you know about what is coming the more prepared you will be to deal with it. The truth may hurt but the truth is necessary to prevent you from getting hurt if you can prevent it.

It's in style again

As we watched old movies this weekend we noticed many things from back then were popular again. I actually had old clothes in my closet that were fashionable again. Look in your closet instead of spending money on new clothes. I wandered if the old hair styles will come back in style. I have had the same hair style for nearly forty years. I sure hope family values, thriftiness, and community unity become popular again too. One thing that will probably not come back is the old car styles. Elvis never went out of style along with many other artist and songs that will always be popular to many generations.

Do more than just talk about it

As you talk about it you know that something needs to be done about it. You may have ideas that might help improve it but will you do it? If it's important to you will you make it important enough to do something about it?  Don't find yourself having to say I knew that would happen and I did nothing to prevent it. You should spend the same amount of time you spend talking about it doing something to make things better. Do more than talk about it.

It's back in style

As we watched a movie from 1968 you could see that some things in it was in style today. Which gives me hope that common courtesy, common decency and common sense could also be common again.

Collecting dust collectors

As I look around at all the nick nacks I have collections I have collected over the past 40 years, it makes dusting scary. It makes me wish I would have spent all those years collecting old money instead. Then instead of collecting dust they would have been collecting value over the years. And dusting would be a lot easier too. I wander what my kids will do with all the little trinkets I will leave behind one day. I have offered them to take any collectibles they wanted now instead of waiting but they didn't want any of them. Trouble is I don't want any of them  either yet they will remain where they are collecting dust.

It takes rest to be at your best

When you put yourself first it allows you to be the first one there to help when you are needed. Making sure you come first isn't selfish it's a necessity. In order to be there for others you have to have what you need including the proper rest. If you let yourself get overwhelmed without a break, you will breakdown. Then you will be unable to help anyone. It's nice to help others but you can't help till it hurts you. It's OK to say no. They would rather you say no when you just can't because they don't want to see you breakdown.

Why?

   I am very disappointed to see people do things that they know could hurt OTHERS. Why?

  When you watch the News it is full of tragic stories about people being hurt and even killed for no reason. Why?

 Unfortunately there is no answer if you have been hurt that will take away your pain.

  Somethings in life there just aren't any answers for, not even on Google.

   Remember if you don't have nothing nice to say to someone then just don't say anything at all. Why?

  Because they say WORDS don't hurt but they lied because WORDS do hurt.

   

You could feel the auora

When you walk in a room you immediately feel the supra in the air. Sometimes it feels light and airy but other times it feels dark and stuffy. Your mood is affected by the auora around you. It is also true that the supra you send off affects those around you. Keep that in mind as you go throughout your day. Share your joy with others but keep your anger and negative vibes from spewing on to others. We all have known someone who seems to always have a negative attitude about everything. Don't let them zap your joy. It may require you to avoid them so they don't infect you with their dreary auora.

You can't make it with only half of the recipe

A mis-understanding can create problems that never existed. Life is hard enough without making things harder on yourself. Make sure you understand things by getting all the facts you need. If you can't find facts to back it up then you have to assume that you misunderstood. You may have heard only part of it but to understand it you need to hear it all. It is better to ask and get all the information needed before you react. Its like hearing only half of a recipes ingredients and cooking it. That's not going to taste any good. It's best to get the entire recipe so you can enjoy it.

You could stop and give them hope

As I pulled into the store parking lot I could see a car with the trunk wide open with bags of items filling the parking space behind them. As I got out to go in I saw a spare tire and the tool to change it in the parking space beside it. But no one was around it. As I headed into the store I saw a lady sitting on the curb looking distraught. I knew I physically couldn't help her change it but I did stop to ask her had she called anyone to come help her. Thank goodness she had someone on the way. She had mentioned that they were supposed to move to Michigan that morning to start a new life. I couldn't get the look of sadness on her face and in her voice out of my mind while I shopped. At the checkout counter there was a rainbow of colored lollipops on a display. I felt the urge deep inside to buy her two of them for her long two day journey to hopefully make her smile. I handed her a twenty dollar bill and the two lollipops and told her everything would be OK. As I started to walk away with tears streaming down her face she reached out and hugged me. She told me thank you for the hope. I only wish I had more to give her because to hear her say I gave her hope was a huge gift she gave me.

To whom it may concern....

There is no one you can complain to when something goes wrong. In the old days companies didn't want their reputation ruined because it could ruin their business.  All the little mom and pop stores and even large store chains have been forced to close their doors. Which leaves less competition so they don't care about customer satisfaction because they are the only choice to shop at. If you do want a choice to shop where customers matter then support the small businesses so they can keep their doors open so there is competition to keep customers satisfied.

Get in the habit of doing it

Old habits are hard to break. To change an old habit you have to get in the habit of doing things differently. At first it will take a conscious effort but after a while it becomes a habit that you just subconsciously do. Athletes don't start out at the top of their game. They must practice and practice. A marathon runner has to build up their endurance before they can run 26 miles. Whatever you want in life you will have to work to get it. Doing something once isn't a habit it only becomes a habit of you get in the habit of doing it.

Free time is necessary but too much free time is not good for you

To maintain your over all well being you have to have a little free time to  relax and regroup. But too much free time can allow too much time for idle thinking that can let too many negative thoughts to pop up that can weigh you down. You need to find ways to occupy your free time. Finding hobbies that interest you will help keep you healthy. You probably already know that eating right and exercising is important to your health but don't forget that maintaining your thoughts is just as important for your overall well-being.

Don't cut your nose off to despite your face.

When all else fails don't fail yourself. There are many negative things that will happen in your lifetime, that's just life. But it is not what happens to you that determines the outcome, it is how you react to them. Sometimes you need to STOP and think about what your actions will bring before you react. After all your future is determined by your actions today. You have heard the old saying "Don't cut your nose off to despite your face". The challenges you face in life are your destiny but your future is decided by how you react to each challenge. How you look at things determines what you see. So if you want a brighter future then STOP and think about how your actions will shape your future.

Make plans to do it while you can

Just when you finally figure out how to do some things in life your age catches up to you. Then you have to figure out how you can physically still do it all over again. Wisdom comes with age but you also physically age. Elderly people miss their youth because there are many things they put off so long they missed their opportunity to do it. Don't wait to fulfill your bucket list or you may find you waited too long. Don't spend your life making plans just plan on enjoying everything in life that you can, while you can.

Life would be simpler if you wouldn't make your life so complicated

In the good old days life was simpler and you could enjoy the little things. Nowadays everything is more complicated. And our desires to own bigger and better things has made it impossible for a family to live on just one income. If you want a simple life than you simply have to keep it simple. If you don't need it then it's very simple don't buy it.

There was chaos in the waiting room

As I waited to be seen it was quickly apparent that waiting patiently was going to be a challenge. I tried to focus on the television in the waiting room. But the noise from the children waiting with their parents was too distracting. I tried to ignore them but they would occasionally ram into my legs as they ran wild in the waiting room. I couldn't believe the parents just continued talking to each other as if they didn't even know the children that were causing all the chaos. All the patients had to walk around the children who were at times laying on the floor right in front of the counter where you had to go to turn in your paperwork. There was a look of relief on everyones face when their family was called back for their turn. It was quickly followed by everyone shaking their heads in disbelief that they made no attempt to pick up any of the objects that their children had thrown all over the waiting room floor. Really?

I apologize for forgetting

I always thought children could be easily distracted. But turns out old people get distracted just as easily. The grandkids had early dismissal yesterday and after a long day with them I went straight to bed when they left. And this morning I realized I had forgotten to blog Friday. So here is a Saturday blog....

Recently my phone broke. The screen was blank so I couldn't see my phone list. Which meant I had lost any way of contacting some people. Now I have always had a phone book that has fourty years of numbers in it but since I got the smart phone I began to just put numbers on it never writing it in the phone book. Big mistake. One friend I had 5 numbers and addresses in my phone book but no recent number to reach her. Luckily she was my Facebook friend so I could still reach her. But there were many important numbers of others that I lost total contact with. Technology has exploded but a good old fashioned phone book is still a necessary part of life. I hope this story encourages you to write down your numbers in a phone book because if your phone falls down you may lose your contacts that can prevent you from being able to contact people.

U-Turn it into a good day

Somedays from the moment you get out of bed something happens that makes you start off having a bad day. That is when you need to STOP and do what you can to deal with it then JUST FLUSH IT so you can turn it into a good day. Each day comes with challenges, that's just Life. You may look at someone and think they have an easy Life but you have no idea what they may be facing. They just get through their day with a smile on their face because they were able to accept and deal the best they could with the challenges so they could JFI and smile. They simply learned how to FLUSH away a bad day. It's like realizing that you turned the wrong direction but continued anyways. Of course you should make a U-TURN so you are heading the right direction. Just like when you are having a bad day you got to JFI and then U-TURN it into a good day.

You have to get up and get started if you want to Get'R done

You know what needs to get done and you know you are the only one who can do it. All you got to do is get up and Get'R done. Putting it off will simply delay getting it done. The sooner you get started the sooner you will be able to relax when it is done. The more times you think of what you got to do just waste more of your time. Just Do It. Tiger woods can't seem to get what he needs done on the golf course because the scandals that ended his marriage is also ruining his career. Because he forgot to JUST FLUSH IT so he could focus when he is on the golf course and hit the ball FLUSH with his club anymore. So Tiger learn how to take your negative personal situations and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so you can win again.

What happened to when you didn't like someone you just weren't their friend.

Nowadays when someone doesn't like you they seem to make trouble for you. In the old days you just didn't let them have the opportunity to be your friend, their loss. In today's society you don't even have to say or do anything to be personally or physically hurt by someone. They were either never taught or have forgotten that if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all. They let mean nasty hurtful things fly out of their mouth as fast as they pop up in their mind. They walk around spewing hate that they feel deep inside their soul. Where did all their pent up anger come from? How can they let go of their anger? Anna and Elsa's song Let It Go needs to be their motto.

A.smile says peace in any language

If you could make someone smile, would you? Do you know just how contagious a smile is? When you smile at someone their natural response is to smile back. I noticed when I hold the door open  for someone they instantly make eye contact and say thank you with a smile. Try it and you will see. There are many opportunities throughout the day to make someone smile. One day count how many times you make someone smile. Make it a goal to make three people smile each day. A smile is contagious pass it on. Besides that a smile gives you an instant facelift.

If you want it then you will have to work for it,

It's natural to want instant gratification but it takes work to make it last more than an instant. Shortcuts are fine unless they leave you just short of your goal. When you are faced with making a choice which way you need to go don't base your decision purely on the path that looks more traveled. The path may be more worn because it lead to a dead end and those that took it had to turn around and come back. Decide where you want to g, choose the path that will get you there and plan on doing whatever it takes to get you where you want to be.