Warm and fuzzy

The temperature has been below zero for 45 days this winter.  I must have had a blackout as I don’t remember moving to Antarctica.

Although the weather outside is frightful, the hearts of Midwesterners are wonderful.  People continue to show kindness and courtesy, not to mention smiling and finding humor despite the cold.  There is a bond among the hearty people created by the weather.  This bond keeps us strong and our skin thick.

Spring is right around the corner and with it will come the birds singing and the flowers blooming.  A true piece of heaven here on earth.

Related reads:

• When You Feel All Fuzzy (themetropolitangirl.com)
• Wear fuzzy socks (happyact.ca)
• Warm and Fuzzy (thenewmrshamilton.com)

Mothers and sons

I love being a mother.  My children are the two most incredible things I have done in my life.   For some reason, God decided to give me these remarkable boys, and then broke the mold.  I am so proud of these beings that I have created, who are turning into very fine young men.  At times when I feel down, and self-worth is at a low point, I only have to think of my boys and realize that I have given this world two of the greatest gifts….  my children.  I am amazing.  Mothers are amazing.

The bond I have with my boys will never be broken.  They have seen and heard things that should never have been a part of their world.  In protecting them, I have hurt them.  Someday, they will understand the choices I have made.  They are resilient and accept what is with grace.  They are amazing.

As my boys get older and more independent, I am thankful they are confident, intelligent, and resourceful.  The fact that they continue to tell me they love me, makes my heart smile.  I will lay down my life for my boys.  As they have started venturing out into the world, I let them go with these words “You are my heart, which walks outside my body.  Treat others as you would have them treat you.  Make me proud, and always take care of yourselves and each other.  Be amazing.” 

Thank you, Lord, for all you have given to me. 

 

 

Love yourself… always

They try to keep us down, but they won’t succeed!  While the roller coaster of self-esteem goes up and down, twists and turns, and at times makes us ill, the courage to fight against it and persevere is remarkable.  So many times, people walk all over your self-esteem to keep their own self upright and feeling good.  Believe in karma?  I do.  I have seen the power of karma knock the legs right out from under those who trample on others.  It is often a challenge to put the gloves on and fight back, every turn has something waiting.  Defeat and depression are not an option.  Know who you are inside and out and love yourself.  As the horizon approaches, many good things are waiting and will come to those who are patient and humble.  Pray for the storm to pass quickly, then move forward with confidence.  Be inspired, be impressive, be proud. 

Related articles

• Developing A Healthy Sense of Self-esteem (amylong1933.wordpress.com)

Found, but not lost

Today was the day I was found.  While I was not lost, I was walking a path that was unclear and out of focus.  I was not able to see what my future would become and was not looking forward with much hope.  This morning, hearing one song veered me back toward the path on which I was meant to be.  Music empowers me in different ways and today this song touched me deeply.  I need to change for the better, my family needs this from me.  I replayed the song no less than six times. 

I know what I need to do with my life and what has been found within me.  While the Lord has never left my side, I turned away from and not toward Him for help, guidance, strength and peace.  Sometimes, being strong means forgiving yourself and accepting the help of others when it is offered.  I am more aware and alive than I have been in a long time.  I thank God for granting the gift of writing music and lyrics for others to share with us.  Music has once again shown me the way and hit me right between the eyes with this song.  I have been found.

Changed by Rascal Flatts

I came up, out of the water
Raised my hands, up to the Father
Gave it all to Him that day
Felt a new wind kiss my face
Walked away, eyes wide open
Could finally see where I was going
It didn’t matter where I’d been, I’m not the same man I was then

I got off track, I made mistakes
Back slid my way into that place, where souls get lost,
lines get crossed and the pain won’t go away
I hit my knees, now here I stand
There I was, now here I am.. Here I am.  Changed.

I got a lot of “hey I’m sorry”s, the things I’ve done,
Man that was not me I wish that I could take it all back,
I just wanna tell ’em that.. tell ’em how

I’ve changed for the better.  More smiles, less bitter…
I’m even starting to forgive myself.  Yes I am

I hit my knees, now here I stand
There I was, now here I am, here I am, here I am I’m changed.
Yes I am.. I’ve changed for the better

Thank God, I changed

Wow…  check out these articles:

• Rascal Flatts – I’m Movin’ On
• Changed

Happy Valentine’s Day!

While I am not so much into the commercialism of this day, I do appreciate the theme:  Love.  Valentine’s day is a day that we can escape from our worries and issues and just feel love.  People smile more and are a bit happier.  Love is in the air!  Honestly, don’t we all need more days of love?

Reliving the past

Barbies, Legos, army men, marbles, GI Joe, tinker toys, paper dolls….  a few of the items which are talked about when reliving the past.  The imagination that went into play time was simply amazing.  Lining up army men only to be mowed down by a rolling marble…  Barbie dating a man in uniform–GI Joe….  building the best Lego house… decorating a shoebox for the paper dolls to live in.  We didn’t have much, but we had a lot.  Escape into the imaginary worlds was easy and I would fall into them longing to be free of the troubles, fighting, and worries.  These worlds became a safe haven and the way to ignore the sad and sometimes scary world around me.

I fear the lack of imagination of today’s toys will not give an escape route for the young people who may live in the same type of conditions in which I grew up.  While social media can provide a distraction, it can also be a hideout for predators looking for troubled souls.   I want to protect them all.  I want to help and feel helpless.  I want to cry and the tears won’t come.  May God bless the troubled young ones… 

When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen…

This is perfect! Love it.

Otrazhenie

From FirstCovers

Never let others write the story of your life and never regret chapters that have already been written. 

BE HAPPY

🙂

THE END

View original post

The removal of monkeys

The monkey stole my free time.  I have been so busy feeding monkeys, I have lost myself.  The time has come to pluck them off my back, one by one, grab my laptop and do the thing that makes me so ridiculously happy and connected–writing.  There is such freedom in writing and sharing, as well as reading my fellow bloggers’ posts.  This is a huge part of my self-care and I love it. 

As I am a recovering codependent, there are times I still fall off the wagon.  I do too much and I help too much and at the end of the day I am exhausted.  I do not follow my advice and take time for me.  Turning off the worry and the need to fix everyone is crucial to all codependents, yet how do we do accomplish it?  Others know they can continually come to us for help and we are overloaded with monkeys that have come from everyone else’s back.  Time to turn the tables and give some of the monkeys back.  It is really hard to feed them all, is it not?  By hitting the switch to off duty, I am more rested, more caring, more helpful, and more at peace.  Imagine that.  Taking the time to look out the window at the world around me gives me the opportunity to switch it off.  Finding the time to do the things that care for ourselves is important to our recovery.  Your inner child will wake up and be giddy with excitement, as you have found the time to play.  Check out of the monkey business, check into the solitude and freedom of your own mind.  You, and your family, will be happy you did.

Check out these good reads:

• Table Top (fireonmyfingertips.wordpress.com)
• Information Overload (bigpurplesweater.wordpress.com)
• Solitude, Our Long Lost Friend (lifextwo.wordpress.com)

Cold hands, warm heart

The temperature in Minnesota has been below zero for far too many days this winter, to the tune of  -20 and -30 below.  We had one, yes one, day above 30 degrees since the beginning of December.  My hands are cold, my skin is dry, my car won’t start.  I thought global warming was the latest earth condition.  I really beg to differ and implore anyone who still believes it to come and spend a week here.

The saving grace with the weather being so cold, is the warm hearts of all the people who are also dealing with it.  They understand and are more than gracious and kind when it comes to lending a helping hand or caring for others.  People are amazing and I admire all who live in these cold areas and deal with it daily, and continue to be a decent human being.  May God bless us all and keep us safe (and sane) through it.

A new day dawns

Confidence, self-esteem, determination, fortitude. and belief.  Many of us try so hard to grasp and hold even one of these traits to become whole.  However, we find that we are pushed down again and again.  Why do so many find their power in hurting others and enjoy wielding it over them?  These bullies will find a crack in someone’s self-esteem, and widen it, little by little.  This goes one until one is so beat down, they start to truly believe and feel what they are hearing.  We run away…  to our safe place.  The place that no one can enter, no one can ruin.  A place so special, we find the confidence and self-esteem we are lacking.  If only we can stay.  We are welcomed and loved here.  This is our soft place to land.

We have the power to change our destiny.  We are true warriors.  Yes, believe it.  We have been fighting for our sanity most of our lives.  Take control.  Find the determination to make those difficult choices and stand by them.  Time will heal.  The newly found confidence will radiate from deep in your soul.  The confidence is seen by others who have done their time and a kinship is formed.  We form our own alliance and we share our stories, which are hauntingly similar.  We are not alone.  We are awesome in our strength and amazing in our empathy.  A new day dawns.