July 31, 2011

EXCEL AT YOUR TALENTS!!!

With today's struggling economy, there are so many people searching for a job that it makes it nearly impossible to find a decent job anywhere. Lately, I have been extremely hard on myself, because I have been passed over for so many jobs that I have applied for. Within the last few weeks, I have had to take a step back and analyze the types of jobs that I am good at. I was writing off many jobs, because I felt they were demeaning. Why should someone who possesses a college education go back to working in a place such as a restaurant? However, with my family's ever-increasing medical bills and other debts plus our day to day expenses, I had to humble myself and view what I am talented at doing.

This brought me back to my very first job working in a fast food restaurant. Now, I know that this is not the career move I had intended at 38 years of age, but it is time to put my pride aside and help my family in any way possible. There is one thing I do know, and that is when I started working at a fast food restaurant nearly 22 years ago, I was excellent at my job. My manager begged me to stay on, so that I could work my way up through management from supervisor, to assistant manager, and then on to general manager; however, when I quit that job at the age of 21, I never had any intentions of ever returning to work in a greasy spoon. 

Now, 18 years later, I will soon be walking back through that door, and I have made up my mind that I will be the best employee I can possibly be in order to help my family get back on track with our finances. I am taking my talents, and I am going to excel at what I already know that I am good at. Maybe after all this time my manager will get her wish. Maybe, I will work my way up through management like she always wanted for me. Don't be afraid to excel at your talents! You might be capable of accomplishing more than you ever dreamed.

July 30, 2011

LOOK FOR INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE!

Do you ever find yourself struggling to get through your days? Do you ever find yourself in a down mood, and you don't know why? If you are anything like me, it is extremely hard to stay positive and upbeat 24 hours a day seven days a week. Some days I have to find inspiration in some odd places. Look for inspiration everywhere, because you might be able to find inspiring messages almost anywhere throughout your day.

Be aware of  your surroundings at all times, because you just never know what the Universe might be trying to tell you. Sometimes, the Universe will be trying to answer our baffling questions all day long, but our minds are too busy to see what the Universe is trying to say. You are probably thinking, "How on Earth can the Universe be trying to answer my questions throughout the day?" Well, we can get answers to many of our life's problems through our surroundings; however, we need to be aware of what is around us. For instance, the billboard sign on the way to work might have a message that you have been searching for. Maybe, you haven't had much inspiration about a certain area of your life, but you hear a conversation on the street that is the answer to your issues. Maybe, you are searching for a job, and as you are driving through town there happens to be several "help wanted" signs in the businesses you pass by. 

Inspiration can come from anywhere at any time. Maybe, nature is supplying you with the inspiration to get up and get moving. Maybe, you see a flower in your front yard, and it inspires you to send your best friend a beautiful bouquet of flowers just because. Maybe, you have been depressed lately thinking that your life sucks, then you see a man in a wheelchair, and you suddenly realize that your life isn't that bad after all. Maybe you are on the verge of giving up on something very important in your life, such as your marriage, then you see a married couple in your local hospital and it is very apparent that the one has cancer. Maybe, that sudden realization makes you want to hold on and keep trying in your own marriage, because the worst you might have is a difference of opinion and difficulty communicating.  

Look for inspiration everywhere you go in life! Never give up! Keep moving forward!

July 29, 2011

BE THE UNIQUE PERSON GOD CREATED YOU TO BE!!!

As I was reading a Joyce Meyer book today entitled, "Start You New Life Today," I came across the following passage, "You must get comfortable being an individual who is not like everyone else" (Joyce Meyer). The more I thought about this passage, it became more clear to me how God wants each of us to be the unique individuals that He created. God does not want a bunch of carbon copies roaming around the Earth mimicking what everyone else is doing. Each of us were blessed with our own brains in order to do our own thinking and to do our own acting. We do not need other people's approval in order to live the life that we were sent here to live. Be the unique person that God created you to be!

If certain situations do not sit well with you, it might be because you are different than everyone else who is partaking in the situation. What might be right for one person may not be right for you. Don't feel bad if you do not feel comfortable being around certain people. Maybe these people are trying too hard to get you to be like them, and maybe you are not willing to change. I say, "Good for you!" Do not conform to a way of life that you are not comfortable with just to try to "fit in." If people are not willing to accept you for who you are, then they are not worthy of your friendship.

Each of us were blessed with unique, individual talents that were made just for us. If we ignore these talents and pretend to be someone we are not just to fit in to a certain social group, then we are denying who we really are. Don't go around pretending to someone you are not! Just be yourself, and that is the unique person God created you to be!

July 28, 2011

ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU!

Do you ever find other people telling you how to live your own life? Does anyone ever say to you, "I am not trying to tell you what to do, but I would do this or that." Do people keep prying into your business that it makes you angry and upset? Do people try to make you feel guilty for decisions that you have made that are truly only your business anyway? Only you know what is right for you, so do not get so caught up in what other people think you should or should not be doing.

As  you know, I have been searching for a job to help with my family's financial situation with my husband's medical bills and other accumulated debts that have piled up over the last year and a half. Well, I landed a job, and I worked there for a week. However, the people I worked with were very negative individuals. Nothing that came out of their mouths were positive or productive. Yesterday, I decided to quit, because two women were supposed to train me; however, it was very obvious to me that I was burdening these poor women, and neither one of them wanted to be bothered with having to train me. So, I decided to take the situation into my own hands, and I decided to walk out of the negativity once and for all and not look back. I had peace with the decision I had made for myself. However, some people are now trying to make me feel guilty for the decision I made to leave this job.

Sometimes, we are going to make decisions for ourselves that other people are not going to agree with. This is okay! Not everyone is going to agree with us 100% of the time. We will make decisions that will baffle and confuse people. People will talk behind our backs asking each other if we are crazy for the path we decided to take. Please do not let these people discourage you! Only you know what is best for you, so choose your own path to take in life! It is your life; not theirs!!!

July 27, 2011

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVISM!!!

In the past year and a half, there is one thing I have learned that has changed my life. Negativity gets you nowhere in life! One must learn to be positive every single day of his or her life. Now, I know that it is extremely hard, if not darned near impossible, to remain upbeat, happy, and positive 24 hours a day seven days a week. However, even in the midst of a down day, we can still learn to look on the bright side of things. This task takes a lot of practice, and  you can get good at it if you keep trying every single day. One thing that you need to do is surround yourself with positivism!

Now, you might ask what is positivism? Well, it's simply the act of being positive, and the act of surrounding  yourself with positive people. One needs to try to rid all negativism from his or her life. You can start by ridding yourself of negative thoughts. Once you accomplish this goal, then you will be able to easily spot negative people with their own negative thoughts. You might even find that these negative people and their negative thoughts irritate you now, and you might not like being around these negative naysayers. Another aspect of your life that you may need to change is your job. If you have people around you eight hours out of the day who are whining and complaining or being downright nasty, you might want to either stay away from them as much as possible so their negative ways no longer rub off on you. However, if you cannot stay away from negative co-workers, maybe eventually your positive thoughts and actions will soon change the people at your work place. Do not be afraid to tell them that you will not allow disrespect and negativism into your life any longer.

However, sometimes there is nothing we can do to change negative situations or negative people, so sometimes, we might have to remove ourselves from the situation altogether. This is what happened to me today. I removed myself from a negative situation and a building full of negative people, and I have no intentions of ever returning. I may have burned a bridge today; however, I have no regrets for removing myself from a very hostile environment. I worked way too hard over the last year and half to allow a few negative people who hate their jobs to get in the way of my happiness. Never allow negative, miserable people to disrespect you in any way. They have no idea the road you have traveled to get to where you are today! Surround yourself with positivism and say no to the negativism!!!

July 26, 2011

LEARN TO ADAPT TO CHANGES THAT ARE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL!

There will come times in our lives when we will have to change our plans because of circumstances that are out of our control. It is our responsibility to determine how we will react to these circumstance. We can allow these circumstances to ruin our day, or we can learn to accept the change for what it is, and we can try to find the silver lining or positive learning experience within the change. Learn to adapt to changes that are beyond your control!

Tonight's blog will have to be short and to the point, because I spent most of my evening in our local emergency room of our hospital. My plan for today was to come home from work, and I was planning to relax with my son. However, our plans changed as soon as we got home, and we listened to the messages on our answering machine. My mother had called, and she needed to go to see her doctor. However, by the time I received the message, her doctor's office was closed, so I ended up having to take her to the emergency room for her issue. My plans for my peaceful evening were thwarted in order to meet my mother's needs.

Sometimes, our plans that we make for ourselves will change in an instant, and there is nothing we can do to control the situation. We just need to learn to remain calm, go with the flow, stay positive, and look for the learning experience within the situation. Learn that you cannot always control every situation in your own life, and learn to adapt to those situations which are out of your control!

July 25, 2011

KEEP CLIMBING THAT MOUNTAIN!!!

The closer today got to evening the more angry and upset I became. My mind kept thinking about how quickly the last two days passed me by. As darkness approached, I was reminded of having to return to that new job early tomorrow morning. It's drudgery going to a job that you do not like. However, the way the economy is today, I should be thanking God that I was even able to find a job even if it is one that I do not like. Then this song by Miley Cyrus popped into my head as I was trying to grasp even an ounce of inspiration to write about something, because it is very hard to be inspiring when you are dreading tomorrow. Keep climbing, keep reaching for your dreams, keep putting one foot in front of the other, and eventually you just might reach the top.

So many questions have been entering my head in the last few months, such as why did I waste $30,000 to go back to college for an Associates Degree that isn't helping me to gain a better job. Now, on top of school loans, I have credit card debt (which I must be grateful for my credit card because it kept my family fed and put gas in my car while my husband was off work while having his treatments and surgery), and thousands of dollars worth of medical bills to pay back. Had I known five years ago that my husband was going to become ill, I would have never gone back to college to earn a worthless degree that I cannot afford to pay back the loans. I look at my life now, and I compare it to how it was a short time ago. I know I should not compare it to a few years ago when my family was debt free other than the mortgage and the car payment, but I have to wonder what did we do wrong to deserve to be where we are today. Thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt, looking to work two to three jobs just to begin to dig our way out of this hole that we had no control over.

Sometimes, we are dealt a crappy hand of cards in life, and there is nothing we can do to stop it. However, our perspective on the situation is what makes it worse than what it has to be. We might have to sacrifice our time and work two and three jobs, and we might hate the jobs we have to do, but we can learn to make the most out of what we have been dealt. I can learn to be grateful for the jobs I now have, and I can learn to be the best at what I know I can do. It might take me several years to dig my family out of this hole, but it's my responsibility and nobody else's. I just have to keep climbing that mountain!

July 24, 2011

TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS!

Have you ever been faced with a dilemma, and you had no idea which way to turn or what decision to make? Have you ever been given two opportunities to succeed in life, but you had no idea which career path to take? Each day we are faced with a multitude of different decisions to make from the time we first get up in the morning till the time we go to bed in the evening. When being presented with important decisions, do not feel a need to make up your mind with haste and without caution. Take your time, ponder over the details of the situation, weigh your pros and cons, and pray, pray, pray if you are having difficulty choosing which path to take.

Today I was faced with a very important decision, and at first I had no idea which route on my journey that I should choose. I started a new job last week, and even though it is not the greatest job in the world, the pay is rather good for the area of the country I live in. It's not great wages, but it is better than minimum wage. Today, I had another job interview for a supervisor's position; however, this position pays 75 cents less an hour, but I am guaranteed 40 - 50 hours each week. My plan was to do both jobs, but my plan was halted during my interview today, because the manager refuses to work around another job's schedule, and I am required to be on-call 24/7. So, all afternoon I have been weighing my options while trying to figure out what I should do. One thing I am making sure that I do not do, and that is making a hasty decision before I think things through.

When faced with important decisions, do not feel the need to make your decision right on the spot. It is much better to think things over for a couple of days, especially when making decisions such as career changes. If people demand an answer from you right away just simply tell them that you will need to take some time to think things through. Never feel pressured into doing something that you may not feel 100% comfortable with. Take your time when making important life decisions, and if you make a wrong decision, just learn from your mistake and choose a new decision tomorrow!

July 23, 2011

MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT!

Our time on this planet is short in comparison to the age of this magnificent world. However, we go through this life in such a hurry that there never seems to be enough time in the day to get it all accomplished. We rush through our days hurrying from job to job or activity to activity never giving ourselves enough time to even sit down to have a family meal together. Slow down, enjoy life, breathe in deeply, view the scenery, love one another, but most of all MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT!

Today as I was contemplating what to right about for my blog a song by Trace Adkins called "Just Fishin" popped into my head. I was going to upload the video to my blog; however, you tube restricts certain videos to certain websites. If you get the opportunity, go to you tube and watch this wonderful video of Trace taking his daughter fishing. His daughter thinks that is all they are doing, but Trace is making ever-lasting memories with his little girl. As I thought about this video it made me realize how important every single moment of every single day is extremely important. At any given time, life as we know it can change in the blink of an eye, so we must show our gratitude and appreciation to everyone who is meaningful in our lives.

The next time your child is begging you to take him to the park, but you are too busy on the computer looking at Facebook or Twitter, or you are just too depressed to get up off the couch to take him to the park, just think that someone else in this world would give his or her life to spend another moment with their child; however, they will never see their child again until they pass on over to the other side. The next time someone in your family begs you to come over for a visit, but you are too busy watching the football game on tv; just remember that you may never get the opportunity to spend time with that family member again. Life does not stand still and it waits for no one. So, make the most of the time you have to spend with those you care about and love. Make every moment of this wonderful life count!

July 22, 2011

DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER!

Are you facing some difficult challenges in your life right now? Do you feel like your life is stuck in a rut, and you have no idea how to change your circumstances? Does it feel like your life is spiraling out of control, and  you don't know how to get it to stop? Well, my friend, you are in charge of your own life, so it is up to you to get control over your own life again. Do what you have to do in order to make your life better. 

Sometimes, we don't want to face reality, and we don't want to face the truth that we are the one's who can only dig our way out of the pit we may be residing in. Sometimes, it is easier to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich rather than facing the truth. In the last several months, this is exactly what I have been doing. I have been hiding from the fact that my family is facing a very grave financial situation.

Since my husband's illness, my family has sunk into thousands of dollars of debt with medical bills and other debts that have accumulated in the last year. Instead of facing facts, I complained about our situation month in and month out. I even got very angry with my husband one evening and asked him where our family's fundraiser was to help us with our medical bills. Let me explain; some of our family members traveled 700 miles to another state to help a lady they don't even know who has cancer. Their church was hosting a fundraiser to help with this lady's medical bills, because we all know that medical insurance does not cover everything, and I got angry because these same family members never once offered to help my family with our financial shortcomings due to medical bills.

However, I started to face things about a month ago, and I finally realized that I need to be the one to take steps in order to get my family back on track. My family's financial stress is not our family's responsibility. It is our own responsibility. So, I started to sell off personal items, such as couches, knick knacks that were sitting around the house, and even my dining room set. I secured enough money through my sales to pay a few monthly bills. My husband and I even set up an eBay store; however, we have not been lucky enough to make any sales through this money making idea yet. Then the phone started to ring with job offers. Not just one job offer, but two. So, now I am wondering if the Universe (God) wants me to work two jobs in order to get my family's financial mess in order. Yes, I will be sacrificing a lot of time away from my son and husband in order to get our medical bills and other debts paid off, but this is the only way that I see the stresses finally being lifted from my husband's shoulders.

Sometimes, we may not like the reality of what we have to do in life to make our lives better, but the fact is that we are the only ones in charge of our lives. God will give us the strength, but it is up to us to take the leap. The only thing in my family's situation that I find a little ironic is throughout my husband's cancer treatments and surgery, my family finally realized what is truly important in life, and that is time with each other. Now, that my husband is well, our time will be taken away from us in order to get our lives back on track. This is a step I am realizing that I must take, and I am accepting that I need to do what I have to do in order to make my family's life better.

July 21, 2011

LET THE UNIVERSE LEAD YOU!

Have you ever gotten to a point in your life where you had no idea which way to turn? Have you ever had to make a crucial decision, and you had no idea what choice to make? This is how I have been for the past year or so with my career choices. I will pick one road to take then I will find out that the path I decided to follow was not meant for me. I know that I need to let the Universe lead me in the right direction, but how do I know that I am choosing the right answer.

I started a new job several weeks ago, but ended it when I found out the duties that I would have to perform, such as bathing elderly people and helping them onto bed pans. My stomach has never been strong enough for me to perform nurse duties. Even when my husband was recuperating from his major surgery, we had to hire a nurse to come in twice a day to change his bandages, because I could not tolerate to look at the open wound. So, after two days of training, I gave up the job. I deemed it was not meant for me. Now, this week I started a new job which is not a field I felt I would be working in at my age; however, it pays the bills. Now, I am faced with another decision. Another job offer with less money, more responsibility; however, I have five years experience in this field, and I know the lady I would be working with.

How am I going to make my decision of what to do in my situation? I am going to let the Universe lead me to which job feels right. I have another job interview on Sunday (if my schedule permits it), and I will go with my gut. If I do not have peace about my second interview, then I guess I will turn down that job offer. Only time will tell, and the Universe will lead me in the direction I need to be going.

July 20, 2011

ACCEPT CHALLENGES WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!

We all will face challenges in our lives. It is up to us how we face those challenges. Are we going to turn and run away from these challenges, or are we going to stand firm and face those challenges by looking them straight in their eyes? Challenges are meant to help us grow, to become a better person, and to learn from the experience. If we do not learn from that challenge the first time around, the second time around, or even the third time around, the Universe will keep sending the same challenge our way until we learn the lesson we are supposed to learn. Accept the challenges that the Universe sends you with a positive attitude!

How we deal with life's challenges is based on our perception of the situation. While reading the book, Infinite Possibilities by Mike Dooley, I learned that our challenges do not bring us pain. Our perception of the situation is what brings us the pain. We allow ourselves to become hurt instead of embracing the challenge for what it is, a learning experience. Once we recognize that this challenge is a learning experience, we then should move on with a more positive attitude and outlook on life. 

However, not all challenges are bad. Some challenges we face are to better our lives. For instance, I am starting a new challenge today, a new job! Now, I will be the first to admit that I am nervous. I am always nervous when I start a new job, because I have to learn all the new procedures. However, I need to prepare myself to go into this new job with a positive attitude, because I know deep down that I can succeed at this job. I can do it! It will just take me time to learn everything that I need to learn in order to become successful at it.

Our attitude toward our challenges can make us or they can break us. We can either hide from our challenges, or we can accept the challenge and plow ahead at full speed. Learn to be one of those people who face their challenges with a grin on your face, and learn to tell your challenges that you will this game! Remember that it is not the challenge that brings us disappointment, but it is our attitude toward that challenge that can either bring us disappointment or satisfaction. It is our decision. Face your challenges with a positive attitude! 

July 19, 2011

SHED THE OLD!!!

My topic for today seems like such an odd choice of words, shed the old; however, how many of us hold onto things or people in our lives which we should probably let go of, get rid of, or completely shed them from our existence? In order to move forward in our own lives, we must be willing to shed the old.

Do you ever sit back and analyze your closest friendships? Are they real friendships, or are you hanging onto relationships that are not real or that may have ended a long time ago, but no one wants to admit that the relationship no longer is what it once was. Sometimes, our closest friendships are merely delusions in our own minds. We remember how things used to be, and we don't want to let go of that fantasy. 

In my own personal life, there have been lots of things including friendships that I needed to shed in order to get to where I am today. One friendship in particular comes to mind. I was "best" friends with a girl since the fifth grade which totaled 27 years. Through the years, both my friend and I moved to different parts of the country; however, we kept in touch all those years. When my friend lost her daughter and her father in a car accident three years ago, my family traveled 900 miles and spent money we did not have in order to be there for my friend in her time of need. However, when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, and my family faced our darkest hour, my friend decided to bail from my life. This betrayal hurt me so badly that it took me many months to heal from my loss. This woman was closer to me than my sisters, but she turned her back and walked out of my life. In order to get over the entire situation, I had to shed the old from my life. 

You might be thinking, "Well, how does one shed the old from his or her life?" All I can do is share what helped me get through a dark period in my own life. 

1. I had to stop thinking about my friend.

2. I had to stop talking about my friend.

3. I had to quit reliving the negative experience in my mind.

4. I had to stop mourning over a situation in which I could not change.

5. I had to accept the fact that I had to move on.

6. I had to learn how to say "good bye."

No one likes it when a good friendship ends; however, after the dust settles and you are able to regain your thoughts, you will be able to analyze your friendship. You will be able to recognize if you were holding onto  something which had ended long ago, but you were unwilling to admit. What is it in your life are you holding onto because it is familiar? Change will only take place when we are able to accept that it is time for a change.  When the Universe recognizes that we are ready to shed the old, we will experience things that we never even thought we would be capable of handling on our own. However, these changes will only occur when we are ready, so don't be afraid to shed the old. By doing so, you might be blessed with a brighter tomorrow.

July 18, 2011

DON'T TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK!

How often do you sit around pondering over what you feel that other people may be thinking? This usually happens after a heated argument, or it may happen when we are brooding over people we may not get along with very well. Our mind will work overtime, while churning up ideas that may not even be true. We may waste hours and hours of our precious time and happiness inventing drama in our own minds. If you have ever muttered something similar to what I am about to write, you might be spending way too much time trying to figure out what other people think. 

How many times have you made comments similar to this: "I know what he is thinking! He thinks that I am incapable of accomplishing my goal" or "She thinks she is all that! I will show her!" Do you understand what I am trying to convey here? We try to figure out what people are thinking without asking them what they are thinking. What we feel they may be thinking may be totally untrue. Maybe, he is thinking that you reaching your goal is the best thing for you. Maybe, she doesn't think she is all that at all, but maybe she is shy, and she struggles with a low self-esteem.

I speak about this topic from my own personal experiences. So many times in the past, I have had people make comments to me, such as: "You think you are better than everybody else." This statement is totally wrong, because I was always one of those people who suffered from a low self-esteem. What they may have considered as me being stuck-up was truly shyness, fear of being judged, and fear of rejection. How about this statement: "I know you said this about me." When in fact, the person assuming that they are the highlight of another's conversations may be totally wrong again. Sometimes, we think that other people are talking about us when in fact, they are too busy with their own lives, and they have already forgotten about the topic that you may be harboring in your own mind.

Life is too short to be worried about what other people may or may not be thinking. Nine chances out of ten, the person probably isn't thinking about or talking about you at all. They have probably already let go of the argument or the situation, and they have probably forgotten about it, and they are probably out having a good time without you even crossing their minds. Don't get so caught up in what other people are thinking. The truth of the matter is that we have no idea what anybody else is thinking, so stop trying to figure it out all the time.

July 17, 2010

YOU ARE A POWERFUL MAGNET!!!

"When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by the law of attraction tends to bring the best to you" (Norman Vincent Peale).

Today's blog is going to be a little different than all the blogs I have written in the past. Today, I am going to write several excerpts that I have written in my journal over the past year about how our minds are magnets, and we bring into our lives what we think about the most.

According to the book, The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, the secret to living an amazingly, positive life is by learning to live by the Law of Attraction.

What you think becomes reality, so only think positive thoughts. You need to learn to rid yourself of negativity.

You are attracting everything into your life by your thoughts.

Your thoughts are a very powerful force, so make sure they are positive.

If you knew how powerful your thoughts really are, you would never think another negative thought in your lifetime.

You are what you think.

Your thoughts become things.

"You are the most powerful magnet in the universe. You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this world, and this unfathomable magnetic power is emitted through your thoughts" (Rhonda Byrne, The Secret).

The Law of Attraction gives back to you what you think about most.

The life you live is created by your thoughts.

I apologize for not writing a normal blog like I usually do, but today I am struggling a little bit for inspiration. I suppose the stress of the last few weeks has finally caught up with me. Most of the above thoughts were inspired or taken directly from the book, The Secret. It is an amazing book, and if you haven't read it, I would highly recommend it. It is a book that helped to change my life. Until next time, have a great day!