New Beginnings (Prayers Answered 12+ Yrs Later)

 Another incredible day! 

    * Started the day with Dog Bathing for the first time; it was more fun than I would have imagined. Loved working with the new team, and the pets are lovely to help bath, dry, and prep. (What's funny, I wanted to get my grooming license over 10 yrs ago but for certain reasons- not due to lack of trying- I was unable to do so in the SW MI area, even though there was a massive grooming shortage.)

* Next stop basic needs. Surprisingly had time to stop home and feed the pets, get changed, and off to work. Note: roads are still solid black ice, and temperatures are icy cold.

* Off to the full-time job. Arrived on scene to find out the building had been hit by a snowplow truck and everything has been dealt with accordingly. Needless to say everything has been interesting and will hopefully be finalized and resolved in a timely manner- like maybe by tomorrow! We shall see what miracles await.  

     - Then there were some very interesting conversations throughout the day: positive, helpful, inspiring. When people work together we motivate one another!

* Which makes me think about: why is it so important to remain focused and positive at all times? (I keep receiving this message over and over for the past two weeks.) To stay positive is to think clearly, to receive higher messages of inspiration, and to make choices and changes with the best of intentions for the higher purpose of ourselves. Note: always best to listen more than we speak too; that is another way we continue giving back to others. 

* Left work to take care of low pressure tires during these very cold days/nights. Enjoyed speaking to a friend. Then got home and briefly spent time with the animals while taking care of basic house chores. Then left to enjoy time with the boyfriend which then turned into washing dishes and picking up his bedroom/living room briefly. 

* Now, here I am sitting back finally reflecting on the day. Taking a moment to breathe. To prep for study time. (test next Friday) And go to bed for a few hours, to do it all over again. (Another long day tomorrow.) 

I think we forget how blessed we are in this world as Individuals. We always look to someone else to say how lucky they are or we see how special they are. Sometimes we need to stop and realize how special WE are. Look in the mirror and take note of our own unique abilities. Everyone is going through something; everyone has it tough right now. But each of us contributes with something special. 

Today, I studying and learned that the people who have harder struggles tend to have greater rewards. They appreciate what they have earned in the long run vs. what someone has been given (example: studying and failing a test multiple times before finally passing with flying colors; you learn to appreciate, value, and give back to those with difficulties.) The greater reward with the most advanced skills struggle. Don't get me wrong, the struggles are NOT fun in the moment. (Personally, I'd like to know when the struggles subside.) But apparently, there is a larger rainbow at the end of the path if we keep pushing and pursuing our goals that we are told we will never achieve. 

Find happiness. Trust inner wisdom. Never give up!

Arctic Blast & Not Giving Up

The polar freeze has swept through SW MI. As wonderful as it is to have a normal winter and January again, the roads are extremely icy and the temperatures are downright frigid. In fact, local schools have been closed for three days straight. Yay for kids and snow days; the excitement for a random day off! Boo for such cold temps, bad driving on black ice, and getting through the daily grind.

Other states have the cold temps too. Some snow.. some rain. May we all stay safe and warm.

Today has been a challenging day. Trying to obtain goals and succeeding at nothing can be beyond challenging. It puts things in perspective. So I'm reminding myself to stay positive. I survived driving to GR and back in these crazy conditions. I spoke to like-minded people. Found new-found inspiration. And will try again. (Trying to improve career success and the ability to help others.)

For now, good night; I will type more details later and include pictures at a different time when I gain access to a better working computer. 

Stay positive and until next time. 

Productivity

 Happiness is when you are accomplished! :)

It was wonderful spending some of the time during the weekend getting organized. Time spent involved: catching up on sleep, watching a fun movie, researching health facts, creating schedules and food logs, grocery shopping and following that created list, spring decorations placed outside along with mowing lawn, cooking, cleaning the fish tank, working, paying bills, and staying true to personal values and self goals.

Sometimes, there's still a lot on the plate. It's important to stay focused and positive. We can only do what we can do. And we must be able to speak to the decisions we make. (Ex: I'm not done with important work projects, but I've completed everything in my personal life and gotten organized- for once.) 

Follow self love! And remember to take a moment to enjoy the beautiful day. 

Self-Care: Lesson #1, Loving Yourself

I had every intention of stopping this blog because what's the point of continuing? I don't have time to write, nor the interest to write on this platform, and no one reads it either- which is both good and bad. But I think that might be an obsolete idea. 

Taking a break from everything these past few months to focus on working through personal emotions and lots of health issues, and trying to find happiness again, I might have something worthwhile to share this round. 

Jenn Writing This Blog Piece :) 

LESSON #1: LOVE YOURSELF

As one of my friend's likes to say "stop trying to be Super Woman; you can't do it ALL." She might be right! That attitude of trying to do everything AND completing everything leads to an attitude of perfectionism with lots of goals, running out of time each day and only completing a few items, which then leads to feeling defeated and creates a circle of self-sabotage, and then it's a struggle to finalize anything. What I've learned? Stop trying to follow what society expects and just be yourself. While all this was happening, another person I value stated "you're hard on yourself and constantly putting yourself down; no one wants to be around a negative attitude who insults themselves at every turn." 

The lesson begins with "Dating Yourself!" Sounds like a weird and crazy idea, right? I've heard this for months and thought it was stupid. (Don't remember where I heard it, but I did, and I've thought about the concept a lot this past year.) I think I finally understand. Shut the world out and learn to love yourself! If you can love yourself, then everyone and everything around you will fall in line. We have to be with ourselves 100% a day. If we don't like how we feel, speak, look, etc. then who else will like us? Because beauty comes from within. We attract what we put out into the world. 

I didn't used to have a weight problem, but I do now, for the past decade. Between hypothyroidism, no gull bladder, gastroparesis, and a few other items, my weight holds most of the issues in my stomach; Yuck! I have tried everything under the sun: I've followed various diet plans, exercised myself to the extreme, have thought about surgery (even though that's not the right solution for me), if you name it I've tried it. But there's ONE THING I HAVE NOT tried, and that's following my heart, my body, and what I know. We need to love ourselves. We need to trust ourselves. We know best! In my case, I have years of research and knowledge in my brain that I have yet to put to "GOOD" use because I'm always listening to everyone else. That stops as of this weekend. I'm not everyone else! My body (if I follow what everyone else tries) does the exact opposite (I can prove that later if need be). I need to know what my personal interests are and not take on what someone else likes just because it's their hobby. I need to be ok with sitting in silence on my own each and every night. And I need to know that I'm almost 40 and my life has not turned out how everyone said and expected it should over the years. "I Am Me" and that's ok! How does this relate to you? You need to find yourself: whether single or in a relationship, with kids or without kids, with multiple jobs or no job, find yourself and start here.

Questions to ask yourself:

#1: What is a dream (or goal) of yours?

#2: How are you going to make that happen?

#3: When do you plan to achieve that dream? 

(I'm going with a basic guideline so anyone can participate.)

My goals: To finally learn to love myself exactly as I am. I would like to look in the mirror and love who I see and respect who I am, and I want to be at peace with who I am mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually to love myself from the inside out. Daily hobbies will include reading, writing, running outdoors, playing piano, and becoming a good cook (for my health). Before the end of the year I would like to run a half marathon and bike the Ice Man with a coworker. I would like to have a solid group of friends/ who are true/ who we can rely on one other and have fun experiences 1x a month. (I'm in transition.) I want to know I'm financially secure with ONE job. And since I've held out this long to never be married or have kids, I hope to find my person/ my soulmate/ the perfect match for me when the time comes (hopefully by the end of this year). No relationship is ever perfect as there are ups-and-downs, but I'm looking for my person. How am I supposed to find that when I'm not settled with myself? I also want to become a published writer in the next 3 years, and I would like to start traveling the world as a writer. I want more out of life than sitting behind a computer, in an office, and following directions! Don't get me wrong because I finally found a full-time job I love, and it's demanding enough that I can no longer have all these part-time jobs on the side- because that doesn't work for financial success either! So how do we make life better? And don't forget that along the way, whatever we touch, we should always try to make it a little better and a little nicer (ex: make a house look nice, recycle, give back to the environment, help thy neighbor, give to a cause you believe in, etc.) Be the best you can be! 

So, I encourage you to "Date Yourself!" What will you do this week to be kind to yourself, to allow for grace, to give yourself me-time, to exercise, maybe read/write/meditate. What interests you? It might be difficult to incorporate in the beginning, but watch what happens as you change. Watch how people will begin to respond to YOU as you start to love yourself. 

Funny, NOT Funny for a Good Morning

The cat threw up on my bed this morning! Really??? What in the world is that about? I woke up to puke right next to my pillows.

Then there is a HUGE CRASH around 6:40am. I thought it was shattering glass. (Doesn't matter how you look at it, this isn't good.) Nope, turn the lights on and half my closet rack came crashing to the ground. All my work clothes on the floor. What am I supposed to wear? What a mess! Why is it on the floor? Ugh! Not pleased. 

And then my heater in my office is burned out. I let someone borrow it and they burned out the high setting accidentally. It's a cheap little heater, but COME ON! I was kind and let someone borrow it but they weren't gentle or care like I do and now I'm stuck with a broken unit. :( No good deed goes unpunished- it feels like sometimes. 

Well, at least it's a Monday and I'm grateful for structure. Back to a routine. (I was super lazy this weekend... no clue why!) And this is week 2 of training. My body hurts (so good!) and endurance is increasing (I hope) so this is a minor setback to a great week.  

Also got all my holiday shopping completed in one day. All I have to do is wrap and mail within the next two days. Feels great to give back. At the same time... OUCH! Times are tight. I wish I could give more but I just can't. And I didn't even purchase anything special. I mainly purchased something for a Secret Santa gift and then a few extras for people who have helped throughout the year and made a huge difference in my life.

Staying positive! Enjoying the smells, the feels, the joys, and the sights of the season.

Back to exercising... and then back to work.

Don't forget: only do what YOU can do; it's enough! Making sure to focus on ourselves is most important. We can only truly help others once we are in a good place with who we are.

Have a great night.

Christmas Cookies & A Good Workout

There's nothing like spending the day with your mom! We made chocolate chip cookies, and I loved spending time with her.

- I woke up and got a really good workout accomplished.

- Then I headed over to my parent's house where we chatted, we fixed a favorite holiday decoration (singing snowmen), we had to fix a hole in my favorite purple winter sweater (I WISH I knew how to knit, crochet, and sew), we made the "simple" chocolate chip cookies, and then she gave me my early Christmas present. 

Our early Christmas presents are AWESOME! I'll show pictures later. But we've been planning an activity for weeks... and I can't wait to do it with my mom.

Their dog Buck, a great dane, is still a puppy but he is sooooo annoying. So much energy, slobber, eating everything he shouldn't eat. He was annoying me.

And because of my workouts: logging 9 miles this past week, my body hurts. My back hurts a little. The changing weather. A slight headache. Ugh! Just pain. So it was nice to take a beat and just relax. 

As much as I didn't want to do the major cookie baking (my idea this year-- which I thought she would enjoy too) she didn't want to learn exercises. :) We're even! So, planning next weekend activities.

Always make time for family! Family is super important. Spend time with the ones you love and appreciate. Time is precious, and those moments won't always be available. 

 

Christmas Shopping

- Snow on the ground is beautiful.

- Slept in until 10:30am

- Time to get going!

I woke up to create my Christmas list. Because I participated in a Secret Santa, that is what is getting me out of the house to go holiday shop. Had a lovely chat with my dear friend Brad. Haven't truly spoken to him in awhile so it was nice to catch up. And off to shower, look cute for the day, socialize and shop, come home to put up the tree, and go back to my running training schedule. 

Should be fun.

Remember: don't get angry around this time of year. Get sleep, let the stress roll off your back, and start fresh. Life is too short to be angry (especially at dumb stuff). With that being said, I suppose I better take my own advice and behave for someone I'm currently annoyed with and do something nice for December 17th.