Happy NEW YEAR

  As you celebrate to ring in the NEW YEAR you will feel a weight off of your shoulders.

  There will be a sense of peace in the Air. It's a FRESH START. 

   It's a New Year. It's a New FRESH START, that is as long as you don't bring all the old crap that was weighing you down WITH YOU.

  If it didn't work in 2021 then it won't work for you in 2022. Period, so JUST FLUSH IT so you can start the NEW YEAR with a FRESH START.

  The only way anything  will be different in the NEW YEAR you have to do something DIFFERENTLY.

  OTHERWISE it will be the same  OLD crap just a DIFFERENT YEAR.

  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, BE SAFE.

  

  

 

 

At the end of each year you have to ask yourself some important questions.

   The END of one year means the BEGINNING of a NEW YEAR.

  Which requires you to have to ask yourself some important questions and you have to be HONEST with yourself.

  That doesn't mean that every question that you have there is an answer for. Some things there are no answers for, NOT EVEN ON GOOGLE.

  It is impossible to know what exactly you can expect in the NEW YEAR when we are uncertain about what obstacles the pandemic will bring us.

  But being honest about what didn't work in 2021 is necessary for you to make sure that you DON'T keep doing them in 2022.

 Being honest about what you want to be better in the NEW YEAR is necessary to know what you have to CHANGE so they will be better.

 As you make your NEW YEAR RESOLUTION be HONEST with yourself about what needs to CHANGE.

  Remember that if you want things to be different in the NEW YEAR then you have to do something differently. 

 Otherwise it's the same old crap just a different year.

 

 

 

  

What is your New Year's Resolution?

   As you make your New Year's Resolution be sure and FLUSH all the negativity from your mind.

  As you make your New Year's Resolution be sure and make them realistic so you don't set yourself up for failure.

  If it didn't work for you this year make sure you don't bring it with you in the New Year.

  If you want a FRESH start in the New Year then don't bring the CRAP from last year so you can have a FRESH start.

  If you have plans to go out to celebrate the New Year then make plans to get home safely.

  If you don't want to repeat your mistakes you made in 2021 then don't repeat them in 2022.

  Looking forward to a New Year is only possible by letting go of the negativity from last year.

  Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE 🎉

Santa is coming

   Everything is wrapped and ready. Santa will be here soon.

  Tomorrow morning the house will be full of happy children full of Christmas Joy.

  We got the grandkids an arcade machine. It has all the old games like Pacman.

  That was our favorite game when we were teenagers. We couldn't help ourselves and just had to play a few games after putting it together.

  We were going to reset it so they didn't know we had played it yesterday. But decided having our scores on it would make them excited to beat our high scores.

 The KID in me is looking forward to playing some of the toys we got them. 

  Remember Santa is watching so be good for goodness sake. 

  Merry Christmas everyone!

  

I am going to miss the bright and cheerful colors of Christmas

   The Christmas decorations and lights bring the magical Holly Jolly Christmas feeling every where you go.

  As soon as Halloween is over the count down until Christmas begins, before we even celebrate Thanksgiving.

  When October comes around the Halloween decorations and costumes bring out the kid in all of us. 

 As soon as Halloween is over they put out both Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations at the same time.

  That way the "Kid in us" can enjoy the HOLLY JOLLY feelings that the cheerful colors of Christmas brings us, for as long as we can.

  No matter how old you are "THE KID" in you comes out.

  

 

  

Christmas is just DAYS away

 There is no longer months before Christmas or weeks before Christmas. Now Christmas is just a few DAYS AWAY.

  Because of shortages there are still things you may need for your Christmas meal. 

  When the grandkids were over visiting yesterday they mentioned a gift they would really like. So Walmart here I come.

 I know I had no intentions of buying anything else but I have to agree that what they wanted would really be helpful in their day to day lives.

  And getting them a gift that makes their lives easier is too hard to not get. Luckily it cost less than twenty dollars.

  While I am at Walmart I hope I don't start shopping for anything else because I really don't need to buy any more gifts.

 But I am going to look for the two grocery items that I have not been able to find at the grocery stores. 

 And I need to replace the boxes of candy that I had bought for GIFTS because I ATE THEM.

  Happy holidays everyone ⛄

 

Have you ever said that you would never do that, but you find yourself doing it?

   There are many things that you said you would never do. Yet under certain circumstances you may have to do it.

  Until you are actually faced with a situation you don't really know how you would react to the situation.

  You can guess what other people should do about something but you really don't know them nor the circumstances they are facing to know how they should react.

  What works for someone else does not mean it works for everyone.

  Don't judge them based on who you think they should be.

  Don't judge what they do based on what you think they should do.

  To be the best they can be they have to do what is best for themselves.

  To be the best they can be they have to do the best they can.

  Don't judge anyone NOR yourself so harshly either. REMEMBER NO ONE is perfect.

  

  

  

It can be gone in the blink of an eye

   A child isn't a child forever. Before you know it they are all grown up.

  There is nothing more precious than the memories you have of the Christmas Joy on their young faces.

  Eventually they get old enough to know that SANTA isn't the one who has been filling their stockings and bringing them special GIFTS.

  Unfortunately you see the words STOCKING STUFFERS SIGNS everywhere you go. 

  Couldn't the stores NOT say STOCKING STUFFERS so they can believe in SANTA until they are older not as soon as they are old enough to read?

   Have a HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS everyone! ☃️

The weather outside is chilly

   It may be colder in some places but no matter where you live the temperatures outside is chilly, even in Florida.

  No matter where you live Christmas is almost here.

  As I was cleaning and preparing for the Christmas gathering, I decided to gather items that I never had opened. 

  You know the items you buy just because it was a really good price.

  And those items that you bought thinking ONE DAY you will use it but didn't.

  Along with Christmas gifts you got as gifts that you appreciate but you just don't need.

  I started a week ago going from room to room gathering the items and putting them in a box. 

  Before I knew it I had filled up three boxes of things that I wanted to give to someone who needed it.

  Instead of taking them to Goodwill to donate I am going to put a sign out front of my house with the boxes that reads; FREE CHRISTMAS GIFTS. 

  I can't wait to see the Joy it will put on the face of the person who stops by.

  I wander if they will take only one or two items or will they take all three boxes.

  It's like when someone sets out a big bowl of candy on Halloween. 

  Have a HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS ☃️

  

  

Did you mark it off your to do list?

   Sometimes we make a "TO DO LIST" that is just TOO MUCH TO DO.

  You need to make TWO different LIST so you won't overwhelm yourself with a "TO DO LIST" that is impossible for anyone to do.

  There's a "TO DO LIST" of things that you have to get done RIGHT AWAY.

  Then there's a "IF YOU HAVE TIME TO DO LIST", you could do.

  If it is something that really doesn't matter if you get it done, then don't put it on your "HAVE TO GET DONE LIST" SO YOU DON'T OVERWHELM YOURSELF.

 You can only do what you can do.

 

 

Two steps forward and then one step back is still moving forward

  You won't move at all unless you get up and move. You can't finish anything if you never start anything.

  I know at times on your life's journey it feels like when you move two steps forward something happens to make you fall one step back.

  But you are still ONE step forward. If you never took a step at all you wouldn't be.

  Things are not always as easy as we wished they would be. But it is still possible, it's just going to be harder than we thought.

  Sometimes on your life's journey a "boulder" falls in your path and you get knocked down, that's just life.

   You just got to pick yourself off the ground and work around it to get moving.

  Sometimes you take two steps forward and then you fall One space back, that's just life. 

  You still are one step further than you would have been if you didn't get up and take any step at all.

  Your life's journey is full of up's and Downs, as well as twists and turns, that's just life.

  Like the plaque on my wall says:

  I asked God for all things that I might ENJOY life, He gave me life that I might ENJOY all things.

   If you want to ENJOY life you have to ENJOY it while you are living it. 

  And life is like a rollercoaster, that's just life. 

  

Everywhere you look you can see that it's the Christmas Season

   Now that my children are all grown up, I don't have to be a sneaky Santa anymore.

  I sure do miss the excitement of secretively keeping the magic of Christmas alive. 

  This will be the second year due to the pandemic that I have let the Older grandkids just pick out the gifts they would like for us to get them on Amazon.

  I know it took away the surprise on Christmas day but they sure were smiling ear to ear when they got to pick anything they wanted in October!

  And I sure had some awesome one on one time with each of them while sitting on the couch as they excitedly searched.

 Now here I go again as I get all the gifts wrapped I have an uneven amount. And kids keep track of how many each person gets. 

  Every year this happens. I always have to go back out to get gifts just to keep the number of packages even to be fair.

  I did it when my kids were young and now I do it with my grandkids.

  Yesterday I had so many for one of my granddaughters that I had to get her to open three of them Early.

 I didn't want to go out and by all the other grandkids three each to make them all even.

  I hope you are COUNTING them as you go so you don't have to keep SHOPPING to keep things EVEN.

  Enjoy the HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS SEASON. ⛄

 

  

If you know it is UNACCEPTABLE then make sure that no one has to ACCEPT IT.

   It is hard to not ACCEPT it when you have no choice but to ACCEPT it. 

  If you ignore bad behavior then it becomes ACCEPTABLE. 

  And if you don't prevent it from happening to someone else then ACCEPT that you can EXPECT it to happen to you or someone you love.

  As I struggled to pay a once a year payment it became very frustrating.

  I had to go through all the questions you had to answer before you could even reach a human being to get help. 

  But just because I finally got to a human being didn't mean I reached a compassionate human.

  I would reach someone but after explaining what I needed they would transfer me to another department to explain it again.

 Twice I was hung up on and had to call back and start at the beginning answering the questions all over again to reach a human.

  I was on the phone for over an hour and I spoke today to SIX different employees before I got my problem solved. 

  As I spoke to the SIXTH EMPLOYEE AND THE SECOND SUPERVISOR I begged her to HELP prevent this from happening to anyone else.

  Will she? I have no idea. But I sure hope she is human enough and has the HUMAN COMPASSION to make a positive difference to prevent it from happening to anyone else.

  If you IGNORE bad behavior then it becomes ACCEPTABLE and if it is ACCEPTED then you can EXPECT it to happen to you or someone you love.

  SARAH, PLEASE DON'T IGNORE it. 

  I know you said you didn't know if anyone will listen to you, please try.

  The world won't get better on it's own we all must do our part. Even if you don't succeed you can be proud to say you TRIED. 

  

  

Old habits are hard to break

   It is hard to break the habit of doing things that have always worked for you in the past.

  It is hard to get out of the habit even though it may not have been working great for you.

  Change is hard even if in the end it is what is best for you.

  And you know you should never get too comfortable in life anyways because life is always changing.

  But being forced to constantly change as fast as technology changes how you can do everything and anything, is way harder.

  For decades before computer technology came along it was smaller changes that were easier to change and adjust to.

  But in just one day things can change so drastically that you struggle to adjust to the changes. 

 And whether you like the changes or not things change.

  All you can do is accept the things you can not change, period.

  It is what it is, period. 

 

Cyber Monday madness

   Here we go again, we have to deal with a pandemic for a second Christmas shopping season. 

  Cyber Monday has become the busiest shopping day of the Year. 

  Although you can find anything you want on the internet, it isn't nearly as special as going from store to store.

  There was something special about having to search in person until you saw that perfect gift.

  It's easy to just pick something you find in cyberspace and order it just to have a gift.

  But knowing that you went from store to store looking for the gift you give them makes the gift way more special to them.

 And the gifts that someone makes themselves are the most treasured gifts of all.

  Last year my friend and her husband made bird houses for gifts because of quarantine. This year they were happy to be able to go out to search for that perfect gift.

  No matter if you decide to do your shopping in cyberspace or brick and mortar places, don't buy just to be buying.

  In case you haven't already it's time to get out the Holly Jolly Christmas music. I know Elvis will be setting the Holly Jolly Mood this Christmas just like he always does.

  

Today is officially Thanksgiving LEFTOVER DAY!

   Once we celebrate Thanksgiving the count down until Christmas officially begins. 

  You, along with millions of other people, probably had already completed most of your Christmas gift purchases before Thanksgiving. 

  But it isn't until you officially have celebrated Thanksgiving that the official count down until Christmas begins. 

  It's time to get your presents wrapped and put under the tree because before you know it Christmas day will be here.

  The cheery colors from your wrapped gifts will greet you every day to cheer you up and bring a smile to your face.

  The day after Christmas when you miss being greeted by cheery colors to make you smile, you have to think of how happy they were when they opened your gift to make you smile.

  Keep in mind that you don't need to buy people expensive gifts they don't need. 

  Remember the reason for the season is to spend time with those you love, not to go in debt to buy people things. 

  Enjoy your official Thanksgiving LEFTOVER day today. 

  

  

   

Starting the first day of cooking

   You just can't cook everything for your Thanksgiving Feast all in one day. Because this isn't just a dinner, it is a FEAST.

  It takes a lot of time and energy to make the FEAST that we all look forward to enjoying  every Thanksgiving.

  There just are no shortcuts on Thanksgiving. And every dish is someone's favorite Thanksgiving dish.

  I am glad that many of the dishes can be made the day before Thanksgiving. It would be impossible to make everything in just a few hours.

  The pandemic had kept us from being together last year for any holidays. 

  We can all be thankful that we are able to gather to enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner together. 

  Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Remember there is no dieting on Thanksgiving!

  Today my house is full of the smell as the cooking has begun.

  This year I decided to take a little bit of cake batter to make myself a cupcake that I could enjoy eating today. 

 And I am sure looking forward to eating it. It's going to be a new tradition I will start doing.

  I can't believe I never thought of it before this year. 

  

 

Quiet time requires being quiet

   You can't enjoy the quiet moments if you don't spend time being quiet.

  To think clearly requires some quiet time so you can think clearly.

  When you quietly enjoy a few moments of quiet time, you feel relaxed.

  When you can relax you can think clearer.

  Don't let the noise distract you from making the right decision for yourself.

  If it is an important decision you have to make, then you know it is important that you can think clearly to make the right decision.

Don't waste it!

  The time you have is all the time you have, so don't waste it.

  You only get one time to make a first impression, so don't waste it.

  Once you react you can't take it back, so think about it before you react.

  Once you write it in cyberspace it's written in permanent ink. So think about that before you hit send.

 Once it is done, it's done, and forever it is what it is.

  Would've, could've, and should've doesn't matter because IT IS WHAT IT IS. 

  Before you react STOP and think about what your ACTIONS will bring.

  Because once you REACT you will pay the consequences for your ACTIONS. 

Your plans will have to change because it is what it is.

   If you can't change it then you have to change what you do to work around it.

  If you don't like change, well get over it because it is what it is. 

  To navigate through all the challenges that this pandemic has caused, means that  many things have had to change.

  No matter if we like all the changes or not, it is what it is. And we all got to change to do what we need to do because it is what it is.

  We can all be thankful that we can gather with our family and friends for Thanksgiving. 

  Our Thanksgiving gatherings will NOT have CHANGED at all, it will be the same as it used to be. 

  And guess what else won't have changed? We will all eat too much like we always have.

  

 

  

  

Not everybody likes Turkey

   You may not like Turkey and that is okay. You can still get plenty of other delicious side dishes to stuff yourself with.

  And you know there will be lots of tasty desserts that you only get to enjoy this once a year as part of the Thanksgiving feast.

  Trust me you will have plenty to feast on that day. 

  Heading back out tomorrow to get something I had been unable to find yet when I had been at the grocery store. 

  Everytime I go back out to any store, I seem to always come home with things that weren't on my list at all.

  We always put our Christmas tree up by Thanksgiving Day. It sets the Holly Jolly Mood to be part of our time together being THANKFUL we can be together.

  If a guest ask you if there's anything that they can bring when they come over to eat Thanksgiving Dinner, it's okay to let them bring something.

  If each person brought something each year then no one would ever have to say that they were too exhausted because they had to cook everything.

  Just thinking about all the delicious food I will get to have Thanksgiving Day and all the leftovers there will be is making my mouth water.

  What is your top five favorite Thanksgiving dishes are you most looking forward to eating?

 I could easily pick five favorites but it was on top of my favorite two desserts. So seven favorites it is.

  

  

 

 

How do you start your day?

   We all start our day the same way. We wake up and stand up. Before we head out to start our day we will all end up in front of the mirror brushing our teeth.

  Your morning routine is subconsciously done without even having to think about it.

  What is also subconsciously part of your morning routine is to fill your mind with things you had to experience yesterday and what you dread doing today. 

  Before you even are finished getting ready to start your day, you have filled your head with negative thoughts.

  Your mindset is set before the day has even really begun. You just gathered many "sandbags" that you will carry with you all day.

  To have a fresh start each day you got to do what the players do before the game and "huddle" with yourself and the person in the mirror to pump up yourself to be able to enjoy life while you are living it.

Did you get your Thanksgiving groceries yet?

   Thanksgiving Dinner is just days away. It's that time of the year when we make some of our old family recipes.

  Each family member has certain special food dishes that they excitedly look forward to eating.

  What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish that you are looking forward to eating?

  Thanksgiving dinner is a day to spend time with everyone and to eat. So remember there is no dieting, just eat.

  It has been a long time since we have been able to spend time together. The pandemic even caused us all to spend holidays last year apart.

  But it may be hard to find the ingredients for those special dishes because the pandemic has caused shortages of many food items.

  Don't put off your grocery shopping too long because you may have to go to several stores to get all the ingredients you need. 

  Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the things we are thankful for. Getting to finally get to spend time with your family and give them a hug, is what we all are thankful for.

  Being thankful for what you have is the only way you can appreciate what you have. 

  

  

  

  

Have you heard the old phrase, If you can't beat them then join them?

   Have you heard the phrase, If you can't beat them then join them?

  There will be many times throughout your life's journey that this phrase will fit perfectly.

  When you realize that there is nothing you can do to change it then you know you have to figure out how to deal with it.

  The rollercoaster of life is full of CHALLENGES and there will be times when you have to bend like a pretzel to get through those challenges.

  There will be times when you feel like you can't make it through a challenge but just remember that you felt that way at other times in your life but you made it through them.

  That will give you the push you need to know that you will get through it.

  Even though you have to accept that it is what it is you can't change it, you didn't fail.

  You just have to ADJUST to make things turn out the best for you as possible.

  The outcome is not determined by the challenges that you face but on how you react to the challenges that you must face.

  First you have to ACCEPT IT so you can figure out how to deal with it.  Then you will know what you have to do to make sure the outcome can be the best that it can be for you.

  If you can't change it then you have to adjust. That's just life.

  

  

  

When is the last time you took a day off just to do nothing but relax?

  It doesn't have to be a holiday, not even your birthday, to make it your day.

  You know, a relaxing day that is ALL ABOUT YOU.

  Everyone deserves to have a day that is ALL ABOUT THEM.

  Of course you got to check your busy schedule of necessary days you can't they are necessities, that is just life.

  But a day with no noises,  no responsibilities, nothing but a relaxing Zen day that is ALL ABOUT YOU AND ONLY YOU DAY. 

   You have to make sure you take care of you! Which means sometimes it has to be ALL ABOUT YOU.

  

 

  

What do you want to pass on?

 If you could get someone to listen what would you say?

 If you could pass on something to the next generation, what would it be?

  If you could change one thing to make a positive difference in the world, what would it be?

  If you could, would you?

  If you want to make a positive difference you have to do something or say something so it can make a positive difference to anyone.

  What you do is up to you. What you say is up to you. 

  Just remember that choosing to do nothing is still a choice you make. 

  The seeds you plant in your community will determine what spreads in your community. 

  Plant seeds of kindness so humanity can spread to replace the insanity we see in society.

Did you know that some of your treasured memories happen while you were going through a negative situation?

  When you are older you have accumulated a lot of memories. Some are pleasant memories and some are not so pleasant memories.

  And some are both unpleasant and pleasant at the same time. Like once when I was taking my son and his friend to Walmart.

  We all know that a Walmart parking lot is the size of a football field. 

  There are three doors, one on each end of the building and one in the middle. 

  On this particular day as we were shopping you could.hear thundering and lighting. There was no rain forecasted but you could clearly here that it was raining outside. 

  We got what we came for and got in line to checkout. We were hoping it would stop raining by the time we got ready to go out to the car.

  I picked the aisle closest door to where we parked outside. I was glad we had found a parking spot near the front when we came here.

  As we got done checking out and went to the exit we could see about thirty people standing around outside by the carts.

  Although the thunder and lightning had stopped it was still raining. So we stood with them waiting for the rain to slow down.

  The boys and I decided we were parked close enough that we didn't want to keep waiting. We decided we wouldn't melt if we did get wet.

 We imagined the others waiting would notice us as we got wet heading out to our car.

 We headed out to my car parked about four cars back on the row of cars right in front of us. Although a big bronco was blocking our view, we knew we parked right by the door the fourth car back.

  But when we stepped around the bronco, it wasn't my car. We looked around at the rows around us to see if we were in fourth spot on different row.

  But NOPE. We didn't see my car anywhere. We were all totally drenched by this point and it was still steadily raining.

  Then it dawned on me that I had parked close to the door alright. But it was the door in the garden side. 

  Which was a football field away.

  Me and the boys looked at each other and said we are already soaking wet let's just walk there instead of walking through the store to get there.

  We stepped in so many water puddles along the way. We did enjoy ourselves getting to stomp in all the rain puddles.

  We tried to keep the items in our bags that we had bought dry, but we couldn't. 

  But me and my son talk about that memory together several times a year when we are out at a store and it rains. 

  It makes us both smile from ear to ear. 

  That day we could remember angrily how we had to walk a football field in the pouring rain. 

  But instead of it being an angry memory we both remember it as a treasured memory of a great day we spent together having fun stomping in the rain.

  When life gives you lemons you can make the best lemonade to enjoy.

  Today the dentist visit was necessary out of pain but it turned out to be necessary to have one of the most treasured memories that I will never forget. 

  Sometimes to get you where you need to be your journey will be difficult at times.  But it's part of the process necessary to get you there. 

  

  

  

 

Are you sure?

   You have to think about it to be sure you are making the right decision.

  You have to consider all the facts to make a knowledgeable decision.

  You have to stick to your moral compass to make a morally sound decision.

  You have to also follow your heart to make a decision that will make you happy.

  You have to consider what is best for everyone involved to make a decision that works for everyone.

  You have to accept that just because you want it doesn't mean you should get it.

  You have to make sure that you don't make a decision to get through hard times that in the end you will regret.

  Every decision you make matters. At the end of the day it's important for you to be proud of yourself. 

  Keep in mind that choosing to do nothing is also a choice you make.

  Before you decide what action you will take, STOP and THINK about what consequences your actions will bring.

  

  

Where will you end up if you are always a follower?

   If you follow them will you end up where you need to be?

  If you follow them will they lead you to a dead end?

  If you keep changing your opinion to match others before you know it you won't even know who you are.

  You both could have a different opinion yet still both be right. It's all in how you each look at it.

  Ten people could see or hear the same thing yet see ten different things. And they all ten could be right.

  Don't think that just because their opinion is different means that you should change your opinion. Even if they are more experienced or more educated than you.

 You know you best and the only opinion that really matters is yours. 

 You won't get where you need to be following other people on their journey to get where they need to be.

  The only way to make sure that you get where you need to be is for you to stay focused and lead yourself there. 

 

What percentage of people do you think would say they were dealing with anxiety?

   How many people do you think are dealing with anxiety?

  You would be surprised to know that even before the pandemic that number was a very high percentage of those that were asked.

  Could you imagine how many people would say yes after nearly two years of living in a pandemic.

  Let's not forget that there are also many people who would not say yes even though they have anxiety.

  The pandemic has caused anxiety to be at an epidemic level. It affects the rich and the poor. It affects the young and the old. 

  We need to all be kind to everyone that we meet because we have no idea what they may be facing.

  A random act of kindness can make a positive difference in someones life.

  You may have a lot of love in your heart but can anyone see it or feel it?

 Even if there may not be anything you can do to help them, you can at least make sure you don't do anything that would make it harder for anyone. 

 

  

  

Do you know what the definition of self care is?

   The dictionary defines "self care" as the practice of taking ACTION to PRESERVE or IMPROVE one's own HEALTH.

  Taking care of yourself IS NOT being SELFISH. It is the only way to maintain your overall well being.

  STRESS and ANXIETY whether it is real or not affects your overall well being.

  STRESS and ANXIETY whether it is done physically or mentally will have a negative affect on your overall well being.

  You can't think clearly to make the right decision for yourself let alone anyone else, if you don't STOP to be able to think CLEARLY.

  If you want to be able to "TAKE CARE" of things for others, you have to give yourself the "SELF CARE" that you need.

  You have to "TAKE CARE" of yourself so you can "TAKE CARE" of YOURSELF. 

 

  

  

Why is it harder to forgive yourself?

   Forgiving someone else is a lot easier than to forgive yourself.

  Forgiveness for others is something you do for yourself not for them.

  They don't have to acknowledge what they did nor do they have to apologize for what they did. 

  You forgive them so that you can JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so it doesn't affect you negatively by weighing heavily on your mind.

  So why is it so harder to forgive yourself?

  Perhaps it's because you think that you need to let those involved know that you are aware of what you did wrong.

   That way they understand that you know so they don't hold it against you.

  The problem is that they won't forget so the damage to your reputation they have of you won't change.

  That makes it harder for you to forgive yourself because you have to live forever with the consequences.

  You feel like if they would just let you explain then they would forget about whatever you did or said. 

  But you know deep down that they will never forget.

  If it is a dear friend or family member your past bond together and the many years they have known you will heal from your mistake.

  But if it is a new personal or business connection your first mistake can cause them to close the door of communication immediately and permanently.

  That makes forgiving yourself harder. Especially if you know how important of a connection they would have been for you.

  You have to forgive yourself because letting it weigh so heavily on your mind won't change the outcome that you have with them. PERIOD.

 No only if I could explain.

 No only if I could do it differently.

 No would've, could've, or should've will change WHAT IT IS.

 And IT IS WHAT IT IS, PERIOD.

 So JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND.

  Remember FORGIVENESS is something you do for YOURSELF. 

  INCLUDING FORGIVING YOURSELF.

  Always remember that no one is perfect and we all make mistakes.

 

  

  

  

  

  

Why don't you take your own advice?

   Why is it that you can give good advice to others yet you don't follow your own advice?

  You know what you should do yet you don't do what you know you should do.

  As I was explaining to someone the dilemma I was having they pointed out that it was similar to the dilemma that our mutual friend was facing.

  Then they asked me why didn't I take the same advice I gave them to deal with the dilemma.

  At first I didn't see MY dilemma as being the same as THEIR dilemma.

  But after thinking about it I realized that it was. 

  I have no idea how I didn't see that it was the same dilemma. 

  I have no idea why I didn't immediately follow my own advice to solve my own dilemma.

  Strange how you can clearly see how others can solve the dilemma that they face yet be perplexed about how to handle the same dilemma for yourself.

  Sometimes you can clog yourself up worrying about something that you can't think clearly. 

  The answer can be right in front of you yet you can't see it. 

  Next time you are faced with a dilemma and you don't know what to do, just ask yourself what would you advise someone else to do if they were in the same dilemma.

  

What do you remember?

   What will you remember that you find out later that was a memory that is not based on facts?

  What you based your opinions on may not be based on facts.

  Your thoughts are the reality that you live even if in fact it isn't reality at all.

  How you looked at it back then will determine what your memory will be.

  What you choose to see is what will determine what your memories will be.

   If you focus on the positive things that happened in your past then you will have positive memories.

  When I saw my school transcripts I realized that for a fact I didn't do as good in school as I remembered.

Can you help spread the positive message?

   It's hard to pass on a positive message if no one ever hears the message.

  It may help many people but it won't help anyone if they never hear about it.

  First I tried everything that I thought was worth a try yet it didn't work.

  After finding someone to get advice on how to spread the positive message, they too realized that they also saw it was going to be nearly impossible.

  So now what?

  There is no doubt that the powerful positive message behind JUST FLUSH IT would help people. 

  But it won't help anyone if they never hear the powerful positive message behind JUST FLUSH IT.

  I am wandering if you will help me spread the positive message behind JUST FLUSH IT?

  Give those you love peace of mind.

  Let them know that they need to take the painful experiences in their lives and JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF THEIR MINDS SO PEACE OF MIND HAS ROOM TO GET IN.

  

  

   

Does it really matter?

   If it doesn't matter in the "big picture" in your life, then does it really matter?

  If it doesn't affect you one way or another, then does it really matter?

  If it doesn't have any impact on you, then does it really matter?

  If you waste time on something that is a waste of your time, that will lead to problems.

  If you waste your energy on things that really don't matter, that will lead to problems.

  If you stress yourself out over things that don't matter at all, that will lead to problems.

  If you take care of others but don't take care of yourself, that will lead to problems.

  If it doesn't matter then forget about it, JUST FLUSH IT OUT OF YOUR MIND so it doesn't lead to problems.

  Just remember anyone can make a mountain out of a mole hill if they keep adding dirt. 

  It's much easier to walk over a mole hill then it is to have to climb up a mountain.

  

  

How would you describe yourself?

  If someone ask you to describe yourself, would you know exactly what to say?

  It sounds like an easy question yet you have to ask them which part of you do they want you to describe.

  Do they mean the business part of yourself?

  Do they mean a particular part of yourself?

  Do they mean on a regular basis or describe who you would be when/if you had to be in a particular situation? 

  You can't answer who you would be in a situation until you are faced with that situation.

  The answer is complex because life happens and you have to adapt and change as you go to keep up with the never ending changes on your life's journey.

  It's okay to simply say I am who I am. 

 

  

  

  

 

  

 

  

Are you doing what you need to do?

   You can work hard yet still not benefit from your hard work. 

  You can  be proud of yourself for all your hard work yet not get the benefit you were after.

  The three little pigs are a good example. They each worked to build themselves a house.

  But building a house out of materials that won't sustain the wind of the Big Bad Wolf, won't protect you from the Big Bad Wolf. 

  First you have to make sure that what you do will reap the benefits that you are after.

  The outcome is not only about how hard you work. It's determined also by if you did the work necessary to reap the benefits that you want.

  Knowing what you need to do and how you need to do it is necessary before you waste your time and energy doing things that don't benefit you at all.

  

 

Did you know that RHYTHMIC sounds can ease your stress?

   Just as I was finally heading out my front door to do my errands, the dark rain clouds were just rolling in.

  I had planned on going earlier to do errands but apparently I shouldn't have procrastinated. 

  I knew that driving around was not a good idea because the sky was black all around me as far as I could see.

  I plopped down on my porch and started feeling disappointed that I had procrastinated at all.

  Within less than a minute the rain was pouring so hard you couldn't even see the house across the street.

   I began feeling anxiety building inside me about possibly not making it before the businesses closed that I needed to go to.

 Then the rhythmic sound of the rain drops falling on the many surfaces outside caught my attention.

  I could hear the metal tinging as it bounced on the table.

  I could hear the thud sounds as it bounced on the roof.

 I sat there enjoying the musical sounds that the rain had brought.

  Before I knew it I had forgot all about being upset that the rain was preventing me from getting my errands done and being upset with myself for procrastinating.

  The rain may delay your errands but instead of stressing out about it just sit down and let the RHYTHMIC sounds Keep you relaxed.

  

Are you looking for a simpler life?

   If you want to have a more simple Life, you have to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE.

  If you want to have a more relaxing life, you have to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE.

  If you you want to have more time to spend with your friends and family, you got to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE.

  If you want to not be overwhelmed, you need to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE.

  If you want to have ROOM in your mind to think clearly, you have to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE. 

  If you want a simple life so that you can simply be happier, you got to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE.

  Anyone can make a mountain out of a mole hill if they KEEP ADDING DIRT. 

  

  

Would you if you could?

   If someone needed a helping hand would you help them?

  If someone was being mistreated would you do whatever you could to stop them from being mistreated? 

  If someone needed to be encouraged would you say or do something that would encourage them?

  If you needed help you would hope someone would help you, wouldn't you?

  If you were being mistreated you would want someone to rescue you so you wouldn't be mistreated, wouldn't you?

  If you needed to be encouraged you would be thankful if someone encouraged you, wouldn't you?

  If you ignore bad behavior it will become acceptable. 

  And if you ACCEPT it than you can EXPECT it to eventually happen to you or someone you love.

  KARMA.

Is stress taking a toll on your overall well being?

 There are many challenges that we must face while we are on our Life's journey that can be stressful. Not to mention the added stress the pandemic has created.

  The stress can weigh so heavy on our mind that it can weigh you down physically.

  Sometimes we add unnecessary stress because we worry about what COULD or MIGHT happen.

 The damage is done even if everything turns out fine and we realize that we worried and stressed when we didn't even need to.

  So don't stress yourself out, or at least not until you know that you have something you need to even stress about at all. 

  Because the damage that stress caused you is real even though it turns out you had nothing to worry about. 

  If it is not a life or death situation then don't make it one by worrying yourself to death about things that you aren't even going through. 

  Your thoughts are the reality that you live even if your thoughts are not reality at all.

  Don't sweat the small stuff, nor things that COULD OR MIGHT happen.

  

  

  

Do you want to have peace of mind?

   If you want to have PEACE OF MIND you have to make ROOM in your mind so it can get in.

  If you keep reliving what happened in your past you don't have a chance to live the current moment you are living.

  You can't see or enjoy the beauty around you if you only see everything that you saw or experienced in your past.

  You need to take the painful experiences from your past and JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so PEACE OF MIND has ROOM to get in.

  To ENJOY Life you have to ENJOY it while you are living it. 

  You can't move past it if you don't leave it in the past so you can get moving forward.

  YESTERDAY is already gone and TOMORROW may never come but TODAY is yours to ENJOY.

  If you want PEACE OF MIND you have to JUST FLUSH IT SO PEACE OF MIND HAS ROOM TO GET IN!

  

Do you know if you were heard?

   If you want anyone to hear you then you will have to tell them. 

  You may think they know but honestly they won't know unless you tell them.

  If you want them to know then make sure you tell them so they will know.

  Unfortunately just because you say it out loud to someone doesn't mean they heard you.

  But if you say it out loud they have a chance to hear you.

  When you take a chance that you will be heard and they call you back to talk about what you said, YOU KNOW YOU WERE HEARD.

  Although you may not get the reaction to what they heard you say that you wanted to hear from them, IT'S AWESOME that you know that they heard you.

  I want to thank MRS. ELIZABETH for acknowledging that you heard me. 

  Unfortunately it wasn't what I wanted to hear, just to know you heard me was awesome to hear.

  They can't hear what you don't say. 

  If you want them to know anything you have to say it out loud so they can hear you.

  

You have to do what is .....

   You have to do what is best for you even though it may not have been what you ever wanted to do.

  You have to be able to do it alone just in case you find yourself having to do it alone. 

  You have to prepare yourself for whatever could come your way because you never know what is coming.

  You have to have a positive outlook if you have any chance for a positive outcome.

  You have to keep all your options open so you always have an option.

  You have to try because you won't know if you can do it until you try to do it.

  You only have the time you have so enjoy life while are living it. 

  

  

  

  

Don't wait for it

   Don't wait until it's too late. Because you don't want to miss your opportunity.

  Don't wait until it's gone. Because when it's gone, it's gone.

  Don't wait until you are too old to do it. Because you can't turn back time.

  Don't wait to enjoy it because it may not be available later to enjoy. Enjoy it while you have a chance to enjoy it.

  Don't forget what is most important because if it's important then it is important to remember.

  Don't wait to enjoy your children because before you know it they will be grown ups.

  Don't wait for it to fall in your lap because it won't. Go after your dreams to make your dreams come true.

  Don't wait, go for it. 

You can't AVOID it if you don't acknowledge it

   You can't IGNORE it if you want to be prepared for it. You have to ACKNOWLEDGE it so that you know how to prepare for it.

  You can't AVOID it if you don't ACKNOWLEDGE it so that you can do what you need to do so you can AVOID it.

  You can't MOVE past it if you don't ACKNOWLEDGE it so you can walk around it to KEEP MOVING. 

  KNOWING what to EXPECT will help you ACCEPT it so you are PREPARED for it.

  Don't PRETEND it isn't if it is. 

  Don't IGNORE it if you want to AVOID it.

  KNOWING what you NEED to do is the only way that you will KNOW what you NEED to do to GET R' DONE.

  

  

  

Different Strokes for Different Folks

  Just because they like it doesn't mean that you would like it.

  Just because it works for them doesn't mean it would work for you.

  Just because other people are doing it doesn't make it right.

 Just because you like it doesn't mean that anyone else would like it.

  Just because it works for you doesn't mean it would work for them.

  Just because it is the right thing to do is why everyone should do it.

  Just because you are who you are is what makes you, well you.

  Just because it is what is best for you is the only reason you need to JUST DO IT.

You shouldn't wait until you are old to....

 The older I get the more things I realize that I would have done differently had I only knew what I know now.

 If only I had listened to the advice my elders tried to tell me, I would not be here today regretting not listening.

  Life is full of lessons that you must learn at some time on your life's journey. 

  It's just a lot easier to listen so you can learn from the mistakes made by others than to learn them the hard way.

  If you know you have to learn as you go on your life's journey then the earlier you prepare for what you know is coming the better.

  At the place I am in life I realize that PEACE OF MIND is and always should have been MY PRIORITY. 

  I would like to pass on the positive message behind JUST FLUSH IT. 

  There are lots of advice on marketing a service or products but JUST FLUSH IT is a FEELING. 

  Any advice on how to MARKET a FEELING would be greatly appreciated. 

  

  

How did they do it?

   How is it that you can do it right in front of them yet they don't see what you were doing but they notice them doing it the first time they do it?

  How can you have worked so hard to build the foundation and steps yet they only notice the step railing?

  How is it that you do everything that you need to do to get it, yet not be rewarded by getting it?

  How is it that you did all the research to know what you need to do it yet not have everything that you need?

  How can they forget all that you had done to help them in the past the minute you say you just can't help them this time?

  Unfortunately no one gets everything they deserve. Unfortunately there are times when those people that don't deserve it at all yet they get it. That's just life.

  All you can do is do the best that you can do so you can be proud of YOURSELF. Because at the end of the day, that is what really matters. Not whether you got what you deserved because you might not.

It may not seem that important but...

  Take a few moments to sit down and have some "small talk" with someone.

  It may not seem like "small talk" is important but it is. What you learn from a minute of "small talk" may be very helpful to you later in your life.

  At the time you just enjoy visiting them and you relax together while you are just having conversations about nothing in particular just "small talk."

  But you just may learn some important information that can help you or someone you love navigate through a tough situation years later.

  As you lend them your ear to allow them to tell you about random things you just may hear about things that you will need to know one day later in your life.

  It may seem like "small talk" is small but it is the moments you will treasure most about the time you have spent with those you love.

  Big things come in small packages. Every moment you get to relax and enjoy each others company is moments you both will treasure.

Knowing and accepting are two different things

 You might know it but still have trouble accepting it.

  You may know what to EXPECT yet still have trouble accepting what will happen.

  You may know that something is bad for you yet still have trouble staying away so it can't hurt you.

  It's hard to ACCEPT the truth at times but if you don't you will have to ACCEPT the consequences for ignoring the truth.

  It is what it is, it ain't what it ain't. It's that simple.

 Just because you don't want to ACCEPT it doesn't mean you shouldn't ACCEPT it.

 You may not like it, but like it or not you have to ACCEPT that it is what it is to keep moving forward you just have to ACCEPT it for what it is.

  The truth may be hard to ACCEPT but that is just LIFE.

  

If you don't ask the question...

   If you want to know the answer to your question, you will have to ask the question.

  If you don't let them know what you need, how would they know what you need?

  Although there are some things there are no answers for, not even on Google. You won't know unless you look it up.

  You may think they know what you need but they don't unless you tell them what you need.

  The answer could be right in front of you but unless you look for it, you will never see it.

  If you don't know but you need to know then ASK someone so you will know.

  There is nothing wrong with asking but if you don't ASK you will wish you would have asked when things go wrong.

  No one knows everything but everyone knows that if you want to learn anything you need to ASK someone who knows the answers you need.

  If you don't ASK you will never know. ASK so you can make an informed decision. 

  

Do something

 If you choose not to do anything then you will be choosing to do nothing. But remember that choosing to do nothing is still a choice you make.

 If you want to make a positive difference you have to do something that would make a positive difference.

  If you want things to be different in your life than you will have to do things differently.

  You can't keep doing things the same way over and over again and expect a different result.

 You also can't get too comfortable in life because life is always changing. You will just have to ADJUST as you go to keep moving forward.

  The outcome is not determined by the circumstances that you face but by how you REACT to the circumstances that you must face.

 Only if you look for a way to have a positive outcome will you know what you have to do to have a positive outcome.

  

Will it make a difference?

   Even though you can not take care of everything they need, they will still appreciate your help.

  Every random act of kindness no matter how small it is, makes a positive difference to them.

  You may not have the answers they need but taking the time to listen to them, allows them to be able to figure out the answers on their own.

  You may not be able to do anything to help them but you certainly can make sure you don't do anything that would make things harder for them. 

  You can make a positive difference but only if you do something that will make a positive difference to someone.

  You may have a lot of love in your heart but can anyone see it so they can feel it?

  

  

  

   

  

  

As long as it helps

   What good is your wisdom to anyone if you don't share your wisdom with anyone?

  Have you ever tried to share your wisdom with someone who really would benefit from it yet they won't listen to what you have to say?

  I saw a sign that said....If your own family won't listen then spread your wisdom to another family.

  Just because everyone won't benefit from your experiences doesn't mean someone won't benefit from them.

  If you want to make a positive impact on someone you have to do something that will have a positive impact on them.

  Share your wisdom and they can either listen or not. You don't want to regret not trying to share it with them.

  

  

  

TRUST ME, karma is real

   It's hard to see their HUMAN side when they have to keep it hidden.

  It's hard to know who to trust when there are so many people who you can't TRUST everywhere.

  Luckily if you know someone you TRUST who knows someone they TRUST, then you will know someone who can be TRUSTED.

  It may be hard to find but once you do then you will be able to PASS IT ON to others. 

  Earning someone's TRUST is the only way for them to TRUST you enough before they will decide to share WHO THEY TRUST with you.

  It's like a special club for other HUMANS like yourself that are TRUSTWORTHY. 

 If they don't TRUST you then they will protect those special people they can TRUST from you.

  Society had seemed to be full of people who you just couldn't TRUST anything they said. 

  Turns out there are many people who you CAN TRUST but you will never know who they are until someone who TRUST YOU tells you who they know that are.

  They won't TRUST you unless you prove you can be TRUSTED. 

  If you want to be TRUSTED then if you give someone your word, make sure you keep your word.

  I shared my HONEST AC GUY with them years ago who their friends and family use. To repay me they shared their HONEST MECHANIC with me when I needed one.

  TRUST ME, you reap what you sow in life. KARMA IS REAL.

What to EXPECT when there is no way to know what to EXPECT

   What you thought you could EXPECT isn't what you can EXPECT at all.

  What used to be NORMAL isn't what is NORMAL anymore.

  What used to WORK doesn't WORK anymore.

  What you used to be able to DO is not possible to DO anymore.

  You can't plan for the UNEXPECTED because you have no idea what to EXPECT.

  It's hard to say what you NEED to do when the PANDEMIC changes what you will NEED.

  Life is full of CHALLENGES and you have to ADJUST to get through the CHALLENGES.

  LIFE'S JOURNEY is full of ups and downs as well as twists and turns without living during a pandemic. 

  Pandemic or not we only have one life to live and the only way to ENJOY life is to ENJOY it while you are LIVING IT. 

  Don't sit around and wait for things to go back to NORMAL to be HAPPY because nothing will be the OLD NORMAL ANYMORE.

  BE HAPPY wherever you are. 

  When LIFE gives you LEMONS learn how to make LEMONADE.

  

  

If it makes you happy then who cares what anyone else thinks!

   It's not being SELFISH to make sure you have self compassion. Which means doing things that make you feel HOPEFUL and INSPIRED.

  OF COURSE you can't do anything and everything that you want to do. There are many things that you should never do because it will have only negative affects. 

  But taking care of yourself is not being SELFISH, It is being SMART. It is a NECESSITY so you can ENJOY LIFE WHILE YOU ARE LIVING IT.

  It might be just who you are, always jumping in to help everyone with everything. But if you don't take care of yourself you won't be able to HELP anyone when they really need your help.

  REMEMBER if someone asks you if you can help, and you CAN'T, it is okay to say NO. 

  REMEMBER if it isn't HURTING ANYONE and it is something that makes you FEEL HAPPY, then do it. IT doesn't MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE THINKS. 

  REMEMBER at the end of the day as long as you are PROUD OF YOURSELF that is all that matters. 

   Do you remember the song DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY? 

  The next time someone doesn't like what you are doing that makes you happy just tell yourself DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY.

  

  

Don't lose CONTROL focusing on things you CAN NOT CONTROL

   Don't focus on things that are OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.

  ACCEPT that you are not in CONTROL of what other people do or say.

  Accept that you are not in CONTROL of every situation you will have to face in your life.

  Don't focus on everything that is out of your CONTROL.... FOCUS ON THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

  You may have been treated unfairly or disrespected but you can still treat others with kindness and respect.

  You must FOCUS your energy on your deeply held values and being a positive influence on others.

  If you let the turmoil of worrying about things YOU HAVE NO CONTROL over consume you then you will lose CONTROL over all the positive things that you DO HAVE CONTROL OVER.

  LIFE'S JOURNEY is full of ups and downs as well as twists and turns. 

  THAT'S JUST LIFE.

  WE ONLY HAVE THE TIME WE HAVE. 

  DON'T waste a single moment of it FOCUSING on things that you have NO CONTROL OVER.

  DON'T LOSE FOCUS...ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF IT.

A thought that distracts

   When your thoughts DISTRACT you it can make staying on track harder.

  When your thoughts DISTRACT you it can keep you from doing what you need to do.

  When your thoughts DISTRACT you it can make reaching your goals impossible.

  So when you need a change then change your thoughts by DISTRACTING your way of thinking.

 When you need to stay focused then don't let thoughts DISTRACT you.

  When a thought pops up that evokes negative feelings JUST FLUSH IT out of your mind so it can't DISTRACT you.

   Your thoughts are your reality. 

  Our minds have an endless stream of thoughts that try to grab our attention and it is up to us to choose wisely.

Does it affect the "big picture" in your future?

   Sometimes we can think something is important yet it won't have any affect us in the future.

  Don't let things weigh heavy on your mind that will weigh you down on your life's journey.

  If it doesn't matter then JUST FLUSH IT out of your MIND to lighten your load.

   Sometimes you think it was important to them yet they don't even remember it at all.

  What is important to you when you are young won't be important to you when you are old.

  What is important to you may not be important to them.

   At the end of the day it's important that you are proud of yourself. 

Be thankful for it

   Being thankful for what you got takes you appreciating what you got. Not thinking about what you don't have.

  Being thankful for what you got takes you seeing the glass half full. Not seeing it as half empty and waste your time and energy complaining  about how much you didn't get.

  Being thankful for what you got is all in how you look at it.

  You could be surrounded by water yet still die of thirst if you don't take a drink.

 You may not have everything that you could ever want but as long as you have everything that you really need you should be thankful.

 Being thankful for what you got is the only way that you will be grateful for what you got. 

 Don't waste a perfectly good day because everything aint perfect.

  

  

You figured it out but you can' no longer....

   When I look back now, I can understand but I didn't understand in time. 

  The older I get and the more things I experience, the more I understand what exactly they went through that I didn't understand back then. 

  Unfortunately you may not understand in time to talk to them about it. 

  I experience things now that I remember older relatives going through when I was younger but they are no longer around to talk to them about it.

  I used to think old people were kinda grouchy and set in their ways. And now that I am one of the old people, I understand why  and I too am kinda grouchy and set in my ways.

  Change is exciting when you are younger but when you are older it is hard to change. 

  I can see the puzzled look on my grown children's faces when they don't understand me at all.

  After a while I give up trying to make them understand and I tell them nevermind, one day you will understand.

  That is exactly what my older relatives would tell me when I didn't understand them. 

  We all have been there and say if only I Knew then what I know now....

   

Ask yourself to help yourself

   From time to time you need to take the time to talk to yourself.

  I know it sounds crazy to talk to yourself but you know you best so you would be crazy if you didn't.

  When you need to decide what is best for you to do, be honest with yourself so you will know what is best for you.

  Who you surround yourself with has a big impact on your way of thinking. So ask yourself if it is best for you to be around them or not.

  When you find yourself in a negative situation ask yourself what you need to do to have the best positive outcome for yourself.

  As long as you are honest with yourself you honestly will make the right decision for yourself. 

  What works for someone else may not work for you. 

  What makes someone else happy doesn't mean it is what would make you happy.

  What is important to someone else may not be important to you. What is important to you may not be important to them.

    Your thoughts are the reality that you live so think HAPPY THOUGHTS to be happy.

   At the end of the day as long as you are proud of yourself that is all that matters.

Life survival skills

   A person is not born knowing anything. You learn as you go.

  You learn from your experiences. 

  You learn from the people around you. Even a brief encounter with someone can teach you something that was an important part of what made you who you are today.

  Remember your WORDS of encouragement can encourage them. 

  They may not remember your brief encounter but your encouraging WORDS you plant will not be forgotten. 

  Unfortunately your negative WORDS will not be forgotten either. So remember IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY THEN DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.

  We need to go back to making mandatory in our schools classes that teach life survival skills to both boys and girls.

  Knowing a range of things like checking the oil in your car and changing a tire to how to prepare meals for yourself. As well as banking, budgeting and saving, just to mention a few.

  Life survival skills are needed to survive. 

  Cooking, gardening, budgeting, being creative and entertaining ourselves at home had become a LOST ART in the fast paced World we live in. 

  But because of the pandemic, now we have all learned many things that we can pass on to other generations.

  What good is your wisdom if you don't share it with others?

  You may have a lot of love in your heart but can anyone feel it?

  Pass it on. 

  

  

You have to draw the line to be fair to everyone

   If you are a pet owner you know that your pets are not human but you love them as if they are your children.

  You spoil them just like you would spoil a young child. You protect them because like a child they need protected.

  Unfortunately someone who has never had a family pet sees all pets as a nuisance that they don't want to be bothered with.

  Everyone is free to choose whether they want a family pet in their families or not.

  Although I have family pets of my own I have had friends who's pets I didn't exactly like. 

  But there is a line that you do not cross when letting your feelings be known about someone's beloved family pets.

  They don't have to like your pets, they don't have to pet your pet or even acknowledge your family pet.

  I had always felt as long as they didn't physically harm your pet they didn't cross any lines when visiting someone's homes that had family pets.

  But recently I had someone visit my home that crossed the line that I didn't know existed.

  I have two family dogs, one is nine and the other is ten years old. They are very much like children to us.

  My visitor was sharing the skin off his fried chicken we were eating with my Labrador. When I noticed I asked him why he was repeatedly only feeding her and not giving my other dog any?

  I thought he would say oh I didn't see her there. Instead he said with a stern attitude that it was because the lab didn't bark at him but the other one did.

  I tried to ignore his response then he threw another big piece to my lab as I watched the sadness in my little miniature Weiner dogs face as he once again made sure she didn't get any.

  Finally as I watched him tare the skin off another piece of chicken I stopped him. I said you don't have to share with any of my dogs if you don't want to.

 But I don't want you to give either of them anything if you aren't willing to give them both some.

  I thought ok he knows he crossed a line and I was upset he will share that piece with both of my dogs. 

  But nope. He just looked at me without saying a word and finished eating. When he was done he placed it in a bag and tied it up and threw it in the garbage.

  He was determined to make sure that my little dog that barked at him didn't get any, period.

  I was certainly upset by his actions. I understand he has never had a pet. I understand that he has no idea how a pet is a family member.

  But I wish he would have acknowledge what I said in some way, shape or form. I  learned that sometimes you have to set different boundaries that you never knew you needed to set.

 I didn't know before but I know now that the next time he visits my house and we are about to eat, I will ask him not to feed either of my dogs any food. 

  As soon as he left I went in the garbage and pulled out the bag he had put his chicken in that he had thrown away. 

  And boy the look on both of my dogs faces as I shared his chicken skin with them was priceless. 

  

  

  

  

  

 

Don't carry sandbags

   On your Life's Journey you will learn as you go. 

  You never know what life has in store for you. But one thing is for sure and that is that you have to ENJOY Life while you are living it. 

  All you have is the TIME you have so ENJOY every moment of IT. 

  Don't carry your painful experiences from the past like sandbags on your life's journey. Learn what you need to from it then JUST FLUSH IT to lighten your load.

  Remember that the Rollercoaster of Life is full of ups and downs as well as twists and turns, that's just LIFE.

  And sometimes in Life you may have to bend like a pretzel to stay on track, that's just LIFE.

 But you don't have to load yourself down with "SANDBAGS" making your life's journey harder, JUST FLUSH IT to lighten your load.

    

  

  

  

Staying true to what you believe

   The last year and a half has been challenging at times. We have had to get creative to accomplish even the smallest things. 

  As the covid-19 virus has mutated and is spreading we may have to consider going back into quarantine. 

  We have learned a lot as we have had to navigate through the challenges that the pandemic has caused. 

  We will get through this latest outbreak too by taking all that we have learned and taking all the necessary steps to stay safe.

  We all need to buckle down and do what we need to do to stop the spread of the covid-19 virus so we will be able to gather together to enjoy a Holly Jolly Christmas this year. 

  I was stunned when a local Walmart store closed for two days yesterday to disinfect to slow the spread of this more contagious variant.

 Although I had recently stocked up for hurricane season, I had to go back out today to stock up again on certain things that are specifically needed for quarantine supplies.

  Luckily what we learned as we navigated through the last year, will get us through the challenges we will have to face in the next few weeks.

  We can do this!

  

You may have heard what they said...

   You can hear what someone says yet not understand what they said at all. 

  How you interpereted what they said doesn't mean that is what they said at all.

  You may have heard every word they said yet not hear the meaning of their words at all.

  How you look at things determines what you see. 

  How you interpret what you hear will determine what you think was said.

  Your point of view is the only view you see that you have to base your opinions on.

  Yet when you take the time to see it from a different point of view, your opinion may change.

  Without knowing for sure you can't be sure so wait to form your opinion until you know for sure.

   Understanding what they meant to say is the only way to know what they are truly saying.

  Don't ruin a good relationship because you interpereted what they said or did all wrong. 

  Don't miss out on an opportunity because you didn't understand what an opportunity it actually is. 

  

  

 

  

Setting boundaries for yourself

   When you set boundaries for yourself you don't cross them.

  The boundaries you set are set by you to make sure you don't cross them.

  You are bound to encounter people who try to get you to follow them outside of your boundaries.

  You may even be tempted at times to go beyond your boundaries but remember WHY YOU SET THAT BOUNDARY.

  You set limits on yourself not to limit what you do but to limit any negative affects on yourself. 

  The boundaries you set for yourself are not meant to hold you back they are set to ensure nothing can hold you back.

  If it is against what you believe is good for you then make sure it is something you never do. 

  When you set boundaries for yourself DON'T CROSS THEM.

  

  

  

What we have in common....

   We can all be very different yet we can still also be the same in many ways at the same time.  What do we all have in common?

  We may not like the same kind of food but we all have to eat.

  We may not always see eye to eye or agree on things. But as long as we agree to disagree we can all get along.

  We have many differences but all that matters is that we all have common courtesy, common decency and common sense in common.

   Our uniqueness makes us each unique.

 You don't have to like what anyone else does. But if you want the freedom to be who you want to be then you have to let them have the freedom to be who they want to be.

 If you want others to respect your opinion then you have to respect their right to their opinions.

  Me and my family and friends don't always agree on everything. But we love each other enough that we all agree to not talk about subjects we disagree on. That way we can enjoy the time we have together.

  What you have in common with someone means more than how different you are on things.

  As long as you have common courtesy, common decency and common sense in common you can enjoy their uniqueness.

  

 

In life U-TURNS are allowed

   You may make the wrong turn in life and it leads you to a dead end. Luckily in life U-TURNS are not ONLY allowed but they are a natural part of life.

  You shouldn't be so hard on yourself that you chose a path that unfortunately led to nowhere.

  Not only do things change over time that determines where a path leads but as humans we change over time and where we want to be, also changes.

  What worked in the past may not work anymore. What worked for someone else may not work for you.

  Adapting to life is necessary to go with the flow. Doing a U-TURN when you hit a dead end is necessary to keep moving in the right direction.

  If you get knocked down in life you got to get up, dust yourself off and get started again. It doesn't matter how many times you have to "start over" all that matters is that you get up.

  Remember in life U-TURNS are not ONLY allowed but they are also necessary at times, that's just LIFE. 

  

The last thing they need is your negative energy

   When someone makes a mistake they don't need you to scream and berate them in order for them to learn from it. 

  As a matter of fact your negative words and insults make them cringe.  Which will stunt the natural growth they would have gained.

  People can call it tough love and pretend like it will help you. But kicking someone after they have fallen isn't love at all.

  Rubbing it in someones face so that they know that you know that they made a mistake is not helpful to them.

  If you want to help them then let them see for themselves and learn from it. We all make mistakes throughout our life, that's just part of life, it's growing pains.

  Give them encouraging words to help them get back on their feet. 

  

  

You don't miss what you never had

   It's true you may not miss it until it is gone. And it is also true that you don't miss what you never had.

  During over a year in quarantine there were many people and things that you knew you would miss a lot. 

  But there were also things that annoyed you that you never thought you would miss, but you do.

  As we slowly get back into being able to move freely about there are some things that we have realized that we didn't miss at all.

  The fast paced pre-pandemic lifestyle we had doesn't seem as appealing as it used to be. Having the time to STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES is something that we want to continue to have time for.

  Many people have had to learn to cook at home when the quarantine closed down the restaurants. 

  Some of the new dishes you have made and enjoyed during quarantine are ones you and your family want to continue to have at home.

  Your new normal is whatever feels good to you. 

  

  

Keep things as simple as possible

     The more elaborate your plans are, the more parts that you have to move to do it. If you keep things simple then you will have less you need to juggle to do it.

   The less you have to do the less stressful it will be for you. And those around you will benefit from a stress-free you.

  If you want to simplify your life you got to keep things simple. 

   Don't take on more than you can handle. If you can't do it then simply tell them no I can't help. 

  There is nothing wrong with giving someone an honest no. Know your limits and stay in your limits for your overall well being. 

  Just keep things simple. You will be less stressful if you have less to stress about.

  

  

  

Enjoying your Life's Journey

   Life's Journey is full of ups and downs as well as twists and turns. It's called the ROLLERCOASTER OF LIFE.

  But the only way to ENJOY life is to ENJOY it while you are living it. 

  Like the plaque on my wall says..

  I asked God for all things that I might ENJOY LIFE, He gave me LIFE that I might ENJOY all things.

  If you look for the positive things as you go you will have a positive outlook, which will  lead you to a positive outcome.

  Life is how you look at it. You can see your glass as half full or half empty. 

  You can't have a feeling without first having a thought. If you want to feel HAPPY you have to think of HAPPY THOUGHTS.

  If you FOCUS on things that ANGER you then you will FEEL angry.

  If you FOCUS on things that sadden you then you will FEEL sad.

  If you FOCUS on things that inspire you then you will FEEL inspired.

  If you FOCUS on things that make you happy then you will FEEL happy.

  If you LOOK for trouble you will FIND it.

  If you LOOK for reasons to smile you will FIND it.

  If you LOOK for someone or something that inspires you then you will FIND it.

  If you LOOK for a positive outcome you will FIND it.

  WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

  Seek and you shall FIND. 

 

Don't let the negative vibes clog you up

   You already know that you can't please everyone so don't try.

  Since you can't please everyone don't let the negative words or actions from anyone distract you from what you want to do.

  I often wandered why those that disagree with you waste their time to make sure you know that they disagree with you. 

  They try to grab your attention to try to get you to be distracted because your positivity is something they wish they had.

 Instead of allowing your positivity to help them be more positive they would rather make you feel as negatively as they do.

  Which is exactly why you need to surround yourself with people who are positive and stay as far away from negative people and negative situations as you can.

  Don't let them steal your joy. Don't let a negative person or negative situation have any chance to clog you up. 

  Instead be thankful that their opinion doesn't affect your opinions. Your thoughts are your reality not what anyone else thinks. 

  You can't please everyone so expect there will be some people who won't be pleased.

  At the end of the day as long as you are proud of yourself it doesn't matter if anyone else is proud of you.

 

  

Independence is the freedom to be you

   Having independence means you are free to be yourself. 

  Freedom to be yourself means the freedom to choose for yourself.

  Don't let anyone take away your ability to be independent.

  As Independence Day approaches make a list of all the things that being independent means to you.

  Keep in mind that respecting other people's right to be independent is the only way that you yourself can enjoy being independent.

  Celebrating independence day this year is going to be a celebration also that quarantine is over.

  Freedom and independence go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other. 

  As you make your fourth of July plans make sure you plan on making safety a priority. 

  Fireworks sure are fun to watch but they are dangerous too. 

  Happy Fourth of July everyone. 

  

  

  

If we were all the same nothing NEW is possible

   We are all different. That is a good thing because if we were all the same nothing NEW would ever be possible.

  It takes a different point of view to see things others don't see.

  It takes a different way of thinking to think of NEW things.

  If we were all the same there wouldn't be anything NEW to talk about or anything NEW to experience.

  Our differences are what makes us each unique. Our uniqueness is what makes us different from each other.

  Our uniqueness is necessary to have unique ideas that create unique opportunities for each of us. 

  Could you imagine if we all looked the same? 

  Could you imagine if we all dressed the same?

  Could you imagine if we didn't have the freedom to think differently? 

  We can all be thankful that there are different strokes for different folks.

  Ten people can see the same thing yet see something totally different. And every single one of them are right, they saw what they saw.

  

  

  

  

You can be right but also be wrong at the same time

   You might be right about part of it but you can also be wrong about other parts of it.

  You may know certain parts of something yet there may be things you don't know.

  You may think you know what someone is going through yet have no idea about other things that they are going through.

  You can make the right decision considering what you do know yet you might  decide differently if you knew all the facts.

  Just because you think someone should do things differently based on what you know doesn't mean they did the wrong thing. 

  You can only base your opinions on the facts as you know them. That doesn't mean that you wouldn't change your opinion if you knew all the facts.

  There will be times when you thought you were doing things the right way yet later realize that you were wrong.

  That doesn't mean you knowingly did it wrong. It just means you did what you thought was right based on what you knew.

  It's hard to know if you are making the right decisions. As long as you do what you thought was the right thing to do then you know you made the right decision at the time.

  Everyone has the right to have their own opinion and just because you disagree with their opinion doesn't mean that either of your opinions is wrong. 

  

  

  

Spend your time wisely

   We only have the time we have so we can't waste it.

  We only have so many hours in a day to accomplish what we want to accomplish.

  We have to remember that we can't please everyone but we can and should make pleasing ourselves our priority.

  Before you fill up your schedule doing things for others, you need to start each day writing a schedule to get everything you need to do for yourself done.

  Then if you have time left over to help others you can squeeze it into your schedule. 

  It's nice to help others, IF YOU CAN. But  YOU CAN'T neglect taking care of yourself to do it.

  If you don't take care of yourself first then you won't be in any condition to help others when they REALLY NEED you. 

  Keep in mind that if your mind and body tells you that you need to TAKE A BREAK, then you better take a break before you BREAK DOWN.

  

  

  

What are you saying to yourself?

 How you look at it determines what you see. How you think about it will determine how you will feel about it.

  Your thoughts are the reality you live. If you keep telling yourself that you can't do it then you will never do it because you will never try to do it. FLUSH away your DOUBTS.

  If you tell yourself that you can do it and cheering yourself on by saying.. YOU GOT THIS, then you will be inspired to just do it.

  You can either be your biggest cheerleader or your worst enemy. Your thoughts are the reality that you live. 

  Instead of allowing a setback to hold you back, look at it as an opportunity to make your reality better. 

  Instead of dwelling on it as something YOU HAVE TO DO because of negative situations. Look at it as something you GET TO DO that you wouldn't have done if not for the situation.

  Instead of letting the pressure of the negative situations hold you down, use that pressure to bring out your strengths. 

   With the right way of looking at it, being under pressure can work to your advantage by bringing out THE BEST IN YOU.

  Remember PETER PAN could only fly if he THOUGHT OF HAPPY THOUGHTS. 

  So the next time you have to face a negative situation, remember all you got to do is THINK like PETER PAN.

 

One day it will be what you are grateful for

 You may not have enjoyed it when it was happening. But one day, you will look back and realize that everything happens for a reason and you will be thankful that it happened.

  It's hard to believe that having to endure the painful experiences in your life is all part of the process that was necessary to be who you are.

  Mistakes you make are also an important process necessary for you to grow. Keep in mind that to learn from your mistakes you have to admit that you made a mistake.

  Sometimes you may not see the sunlight because the storm clouds are blocking your view. But you don't have to worry because you know that the sun is still in the sky.

  Eventually the storm will pass and the sun will once again be shining bright.

 Unfortunately it may take a tornado in your personal life turns out to be necessary because it was the only way to get you where you need to be. 

  Life's journey is not always smooth. There will be bumps along your way. That's just LIFE. 

  The tough times are part of the process necessary for you to be able to have the good times. One day you will be able to look back and be thankful for everything it took to get you to where you are today.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Don't start a new habit that you know is a bad habit

 You may not always notice that you are starting a new HABIT.

  Of course some HABITS you start because you know you need to get in the HABIT of doing to have a positive impact in your life.

  And then there are some HABITS you know are very bad for you that you shouldn't get in the HABIT of doing.

  You need to look at the HABITS you have gotten into and be honest about which HABITS you need to BREAK. 

  It's going to take a conscious effort to BREAK THE HABIT but bad HABITS need to be broken. 

  First you need to make a list of the HABITS you need to break. Then one by one write ALL the reasons why you need to get out of that HABIT.

  When you read your reasons WHY, it will give you the willpower you need to BREAK THE HABIT. 

  Keep your list handy because you need to get in the HABIT of reminding yourself WHY you need to BREAK THE HABIT so you can BREAK THE HABIT.

  Remember a mistake only happens once. If you repeat it then it has become a HABIT that you need to BREAK.

 

  

  

  

If you want it then you will have to do whatever it takes to get it

 If you want it then it doesn't matter if anyone else thinks it is what you should want.

  If it is important to you then it doesn't matter if anyone else thinks it is important.

  You can't keep changing to please others because before you know it you won't even know who you are.

  We only have one life to live and to enjoy your life you have to enjoy it while you are living it. 

  It's okay and sometimes it can even be helpful to listen to other people's opinions. But in the end your opinion is the only one that matters. 

  Doing what makes you happy is the only way to be truly happy. 

  If you want to be comfortable in the skin you are in you have to be comfortable with what you do in the skin you are in. 

 You can never please everyone so don't try to. As long as you are pleased with yourself that is all that matters at the end of the day. 

  We will not always agree but as long as we all agree to disagree we will be able to enjoy each other's company. 

  Stay true to yourself. Be the best you that you can be.

  

  

  

Well I never thought I would but here I go

 Since I started blogging over 11 years ago I wanted to make sure I always wrote about things to distract anyone from stress, not write about things that were stressful that would cause them any stress.

  Unfortunately I am so upset by recent events that I have to write about them. 

  I have been told repeatedly that social media is the best way to promote your business and products. 

  I opened many social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. I tried them all but quickly felt uncomfortable realizing that you never know who someone truly is because they can easily make up fake identities.

  Therefore I was never really active on any social media sites. But during a year of quarantine I began actively trying LinkedIn again. 

  I knew that Daymond John was for sure really him on LinkedIn. As well as several others like Gary Vaynerchuk, Matt Higgins and Kim Kaupe, they too were really who they said they were.

  I began to forget about all the fake profiles that had kept me away from social media. I let down my guard and started connecting with people.

  I had always wanted to write a song to spread the positive message behind JUST FLUSH IT. Because those three powerful positive WORDS would help people but they won't help anyone if they never hear about them.

  I wrote a jingle and sang it on YouTube as soon as I got my trademark. Unfortunately my video didn't get heard either. If you would like to see it go to YouTube and look for the JUST FLUSH IT song by Billie Bob.

  Anyway back to my experience recently on LinkedIn. 

  One day the country singer Trace Adkins popped up and I sent him a request to join his community. To my surprise he ACCEPTED it.

  I was then able to message him and asked him if he would be interested in writing the JUST FLUSH IT song. I was SHOCKED when a couple of days later he wrote back yes but we needed to meet in person.

  I knew he was hosting the Ultimate Cowboy show as well as touring and being a presenter at the awards so he was busy.

  So I wrote my version of the JUST FLUSH IT song and sent it to him on LinkedIn where we had been communicating. 

  Five weeks went by then.....he wrote back saying my song really impressed him and we needed to meet in person.

  I was on cloud nine. I called all my family and friends to tell them the good news. Finally the WORLD would hear those three powerful positive WORDS. 

  I was upset when my family and friends said I shouldn't meet a stranger and the chances that it was really him was unlikely. He was too rich and famous to want to meet an average person like me.

  I got angry that they didn't feel like my JUST FLUSH IT song and the message behind JUST FLUSH IT was so moving to him and that was why he wanted to meet me to collaborate.

  After months of hoping to team up with him it was finally about to happen. But I promised my family and friends that I would listen to them and somehow verify it was actually Trace Adkins that I was in communication with on LinkedIn.

  That was going to be hard to do but I started looking for a way. 

  I was heartbroken when I ran across an article from 2018 in which Trace Adkins said he wanted to let his fans know that there were many fake profiles on the different social media sites claiming to be him.

  He said in the article that he would never personally send a message to anyone through any social media accounts. 

  I sure wish I would have read this article before I spent months thinking I was talking to Trace Adkins. 

  I had seen many instances on the news where fans connected with celebrities on social media and got them to go to there high school prom with them. So it didn't seem totally impossible to reach a real person on social media. 

  But unfortunately I had let down my guard and started to believe it was possible even though I had given up years ago. 

  I painfully was reminded that anyone can set up a fake profile and pretend to be whoever they want to be, including pretending to be Trace Adkins. 

  I feel stupid that I really, with all my heart, thought that I was talking to Trace Adkins. I. Knew better but I still fell for it.

  I wanted to write about it to warn everyone that this could happen to you too. I want to spare you the heartache and disappointment that I just went through.

  I have always known that if it sounds too good to be true then it probably isn't true. 

  I found out a long time ago that anyone can hide behind a fake profile and pretend to be whoever they want to be.

  I have no idea how I let myself believe it was really Trace Adkins. I just wanted it to be him so bad that I became blinded and forgot everything I knew that should have protected me from being so vulnerable to scammers.

  Although I will always keep my guard up by reminding myself about this incident, I will continue reading post on LinkedIn.

  More than any other social media I have tried on over these last 11 years, their Post spread seeds of compassion for others and stories that uplift and inspire people. 

  And I know that if we all spread seeds of Humanity it will grow and replace the INSANITY we see in our society. 

  The World won't get better on its own we all must do our part. 

  World peace is possible by bringing peace of mind to one person at a time. 

    And to keep peace of mind you must NEVER FORGET that you can enjoy social media sites but you must NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN. 

    Please help me spread the powerful positive message behind JUST FLUSH IT so it can bring peace of mind to one person at a time.