Shirley is the proud mother of two beautiful young ladies. She enjoys spending time with them on their ranch in the deep South with their three paint horses. Always looking for an adventure, she looks forward to hikes in the mountains chasing waterfalls, or scouring the coast for beautiful lighthouses! Shirley writes to encourage others and often times shares things that motivate and inspire her. She believes in living life to the fullest because no one is promised the gift of another day. Join her as we honor our bodies, minds, hearts, souls, and our Almighty Creator, God above!
“Mama, I tried something new!” my 18 year old daughter exclaimed.
“Oh yea, what’s that?” I inquired.
“I decided to stop being so negative all the time,” she replied.
I stopped what I was doing and turned to give her my full attention as I said, “Oh …”
“Yea, see, I used to be so negative always complaining on Twitter and other social media, like, when I had to go to school or something. I would say ‘Ugh!’ and other negative things,” she explained.
“I see, and …” I prompted for her to continue.
“Now, I try to be more positive. It was work at first, but people are noticing. People have commented about how I seem happier these days and more positive,” she said.
“And how does that make you feel that you’ve been impacting others in a good way?” I asked.
“It feels GREAT! I’m going to try really hard to be more positive in what I say and in what I write,” she said.
“Good job!” I exclaimed as I gave her a high five.
********
Yes, this exchange really did happen just recently with my now-adult-daughter. She is finally “getting” what I have been saying all of this time. It does matter how you start your day! It does matter what you say, too!
Have you tried it?
What if we just take the rest of the month – only a couple of more days left in January – and focus on ONLY positives. How do you think that would affect you, and others, to have a positive start to your day? Then, throughout the rest of the day, when you feel like complaining, instead find something positive to focus on.
It’s something to think about and certainly worth trying!
*The theme lately has been that of choosing joy! It is so important to hold on to that joy and happiness in your heart. I realize that it is sometimes hard to do, especially when people are pushing your buttons.
What I’d like you to accept is that your worth and value does not and will not come from the approval of others. If that is how you have been functioning in life, is it any wonder that you often times feel defeated, depressed, and as if you can do nothing right?!
For every one person that is picking you apart, I wish there were four more that would come alongside you to encourage you. While that will not always happen, it is important to know your worth and value so that these people and these situations do not tear you down and leave you in a pit of despair.
If you’ve gotten into “people pleasing,” that is the fastest way to make yourself unhappy. In all of my years, I have learned that it is simply impossible to make everyone happy. There will be those that LOVE your decisions and the way you’re living your life, and there will be those that can’t wait to voice their opinion or look down their noses at you as if they are better than you. You know what? They aren’t!
This is when you really need to look to scripture and let it all soak into every fiber of your being. When in doubt, here are just a few verses to refer to:
Psalm 139:13-14 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Song of Solomon 4:1 Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful!
Your eyes are doves behind your veil.
Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Proverbs 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Luke 12:6-7Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
And not one of them is forgotten before God.
Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
As if that wasn’t enough to convince you, think of how God sent His one and only son to die on the cross for you and I. Jesus bore all of our sins so that we may have eternal life if we only believe in Him and ask Him into our hearts. Now THAT, my friend, is how much you were worth to our Lord and Savior that He would lay down His life for you.
Be discouraged no more. Instead, be reassured of your worth and value, especially in the eyes of God.
If I based my self worth on what she says to me on a daily basis, I would have none. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
The things she says to me are quite often laced with a condescending tone and accusatory in nature.
It’s like, at the end of the day, she thinks there will be an award given to the one that grumps the most.
My point in this post is NOT to pick her apart. Instead, I wish to point out how people of this world will say harsh things to you, and, often times, about you as well. Yet, it is up to you as to how you will allow this to affect you. In the past, I would immediately take offense to this. Now, though, I feel I have grown due to all I’ve been through and can choose whether to take offense or not.
Yes, it is a choice.
Sure, I could fly off the handle and let my anger get the best of me as I yelled at her “always accusing me … always nagging.” OR, I can keep my composure, look her directly in the eyes, and nicely state my case.
The best part is next!
It’s where I let it go right after I’ve said what I needed to say about why I did this or that the way that I chose to do it. And in letting go, I hold on to the happiness that was already in my heart to begin with.
You see, I did NOT let her steal my joy!
Yea me!!!!
Most days, this is how I conduct business now.
And there is such freedom in letting the small stuff go.
Find your freedom today!
Proverbs 19:11
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
The birds were singing such a beautiful song this morning, and the sky was a mixture of pastels as the sun rose over the tree tops in my backyard. There is no denying that He who created the world designed such a sunrise this morning. Yet another of His masterpieces was on display for all the world to see. I paused for a moment at the back door as I gazed out and smiled. Not just any smile, but a deep down in my soul smile. God did that. He started my morning off right, despite the restless night I had with a cramp in my shoulder that woke me early in the morning hours. God displayed His majesty as He painted the sky right before my very eyes.
Just as God gives us a new sunrise every morning to greet us, He provides new mercies for the course of our day. He knows what we will encounter long before we ever encounter it. Know that He’s right there standing beside you no matter what you have to face today.
No matter what happened yesterday, shrug it off as you begin today! Realize that God’s mercies are new every day!
If something happened yesterday that threatened to steal your joy and your peace of mind, consider that God gave you grace while you were dealing with that situation at the time. Do not take the negatives of yesterday into today.
Here’s to a great day! Now get out there and live life to the fullest!
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! The state offices are closed, and students are happy as they do not have school today. However, this day is not just about getting to hang out around the house for an extra day or having an extra long weekend. This is a day set aside to honor his birthday as he was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement. This movement successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.
I would like to take a moment for us to reflect on a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. as follows:
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Just what are you doing for others?
Do you sit by silently when you see an injustice taking place, or do you speak up? Do you find your voice and fight for what is right?
Are you lending a helping hand to those in need? Or do you walk on by as if you never saw their outstretched hand?
Another quote that resonated with me is as follows:
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Are you carrying hate inside of your heart? Or, have you decided to let go of hatred that you once held on to? Have you let resentment fall from your grasp? Or have you yet to realize that hatred is too great a burden to carry around with you. Why bear it any longer? Let it go so you can be happier.
Love thy neighbor as you are told to do in the Bible!
No matter where you stand and what side you may be on, we are all a part of the human race. I would like to see harmony on both sides with no discrimination from whites against blacks NORblacks against whites! God formed us all with His great and mighty hands. We are the color He chose for us to be, and He commanded that we are to love one another.
Take a moment before answering to think on this. Don’t just give an off the cuff answer. I want to know if, in the quiet moments before everyone awakens in the mornings and with the stillness of the late nights, are you truly happy? I’m not talking about an on-the-surface plastered kind of happy with a fake smile for everyone you see in your day. I’m referring to being content deep down in your heart and soul. That kind of happy.
There will be things that happen in our days that threaten to steal our joy. People will make sarcastic comments to us or will be hateful in general just because they are having a bad day. There will also be those that pick us apart no matter how hard we try or after a great accomplishment. Will we let those people affect us when in all honesty their opinions should matter very little?
If you are happy deep within, to the very core of your being, these things will not be able to steal your joy or strip away the happiness you feel inside.
For me, I can honestly say that I am happy. I have a beautiful family that God has brought back together. We’re working on strengthening our marriage so it will be better than ever before. I have two beautiful children who are growing into gorgeous young women. They have a lot going for them in their faith, how intelligent they both are, and the love and compassion that they have in their hearts for their fellow man. We are surrounded by God’s love, and we feel it – we know it is there. We can rest in the assurance that God will never leave us nor forsake us. IF HE is for us – and He most certainly is – who could be against us? And if there are people against us in this world – why would it matter when we have the King of King and Lord of Lord on our side?
My happiness does not come from material possessions or money in the bank. I could care less about how big someone’s house is or how new their cars are. I live in a very comfortable house in the country with several acres surrounding me for my horses to roam free. I don’t need a million dollar home on the beach to be happy. This is my happy. Thank God I’m a country girl!
As I sit here pondering all that I have to be thankful for and all of the things that make me happy in life, I stop for a moment to consider those that only find happiness in material things. How sad is it that the only happiness some people can find in this life is by reviewing their bank statements or reflecting on their material possessions? There are some people that don’t have families, with children running and playing in the backyards, to enrich their lives, and that saddens my heart.
Some people find happiness only in their job titles or how high they have climbed up the corporate ladder, no matter who they stepped on along the way. That is yet another thing that is hard for me to grasp. A nice job is wonderful as it pays the bills and enables you to take trips with your family, but if that is the only thing that you focus on, you are really missing out in life. That company could go out of business, close their doors, or … they could decide one day to replace you. Then what would you do? IF your happiness is wrapped up in your job, you’re in trouble.
Focus on what really matters most, and you will find overwhelming happiness when you look into the eyes of your children as they are smiling from ear to ear. Or when you see the soft smile form across your husband’s lips as he says, “I love you,” and you know without a shadow of a doubt that he means it now, he truly means it … because you can feel it!
Just this morning, we had our five horses out roaming the yard for free grazing. My youngest daughter, all of ten years old, ran around with the biggest smile on her face as she walked up beside each horse and began to pet them. Then she would run around with her little goat chasing after her, bucking and kicking due to the happiness she felt by having such freedom today. Moments like these make me happy!
Enjoy the rest of your day, and take time to reflect on things that truly matter that make you happy. IF you can’t find anything, then you need to do a little soul searching and have a long talk with the Man Upstairs who can restore happiness in your life if you ask.
As I sat at my desk Tuesday morning chatting with a friend, we talked of the warmer weather coming this weekend in which I’ll be able to enjoy being back in the saddle again after several days of wet weather in our area.
“And then you’ll be happy,” they said.
To which I replied, “I’m pretty much happy in general these days … by choice … it’s what’s inside and trying hard not to let outside forces influence.”
Wow. That conversation took a serious turn, didn’t it? When we were just having a light conversation about the weather, I took it deeper … a whole lot deeper … with what I said in return.
I sat there for a few minutes after the conversation was over and just thought on that for a second. Then, I took to Twitter where I tweeted, “Happiness is an inside job; a choice not to let outside influences steal the joy down in your heart.”
Have you ever really thought about it?
It is soooo easy to let outside influences steal our joy, isn’t it? I know at one point I was a negative person, and I have tried so hard to change that. Stress was coming at me from all angles it seemed, and I caved under the pressure. I became negative, filled with anxiety, and someone, I’m sure, that wasn’t a pleasure to be around.
Don’t get me wrong. There are times when you have to put your foot down, and that should not be lumped into the same category as being a negative person when you use your authority as a mother to say to your children that they need to pick up their messes that they continuously make in the house. If they were toddlers, then of course I’d expect you to just suck it up Mom and clean up after them. That’s your job. That’s what you do. BUT, when your children are 18 and 10, they are perfectly capable of picking up their clothes instead of leaving them on the bathroom floor, slung down the hallway or on the floor in their bedroom. Telling them to clean up their mess is not being negative in nature.
Now that I got that off of my chest, I’ll move back to my original point in this post.
When once I did let the outside stresses steal my joy, I have worked really hard to not allow that to happen at this stage of the game. If it does have the potential of ruining my mood, I may only stew in it for a few minutes now whereas in the past I would let it haunt me and torment me.
Put both of your hands together with the sides touching pinky to pinky. You hold your hands there close to your body for a few minutes as if they are filling up with every single thing that is causing you stress. Now take those cupped hands and extend it out in front of you. Lift it up high, and imagine that God is taking ALL of your stresses, worries, and anxieties away right in that instant … because He can, and He will … if you ask Him and if you cast ALL of them onto Him. Don’t give them to Him for a second or two and then snatch them back out of His strong and mighty hands. Let God take all of them, every single one. All you need to do at this point is rest in the assurance that God’s got this … and He’s got YOU, sweet child.
Take a deep breath in, and blow it out.
You can carry on in your day with happiness in your heart once more.
If someone cuts you off in traffic, you may not like it but it isn’t worth losing your joy over. Yes, you are allowed to verbalize it, but soon after, let it go.
If someone said something really harsh and ugly to you or about you, let it roll off of you like water on a duck’s back. Don’t marinate in the wrongdoings of others! It isn’t worth sacrificing your sanity and your happiness. Instead, give it to God and try praying for that individual that said those things to you.
Happiness is an inside job. Plain and simple. You can choose to walk around with a chip on your shoulder, but you can also choose to lift your head up to the heavens and praise God Almighty for LIFE! Which would you rather do? Complain, moan and groan, or praise God and thank Him for the many blessings in your life? If you focus on the latter of the two, your entire outlook will improve, and you will be able to reflect the happiness in your heart on your face for everyone around you to see.
Imagine that it’s the 1930s, in the middle of the depression. Jobs are scarce, and your wife is about to deliver your baby any day now. You are told by your boss that you are no longer needed at work, despite your begging and pleading as you have a wife and child to provide for. Feeling at your wits end and not knowing what to do, you look for any way to make this situation better. Then, your wife gives birth to not one but two baby boys! Oh these sweet miracles should have been the greatest blessing to their parents, yet, anxiety continues to rise within you as you have no idea how you will provide for two babies now. Seeking answers through your faith, you attend a sermon one evening where the preacher tells of the trials he and his wife have experienced in miscarrying a child and fearing they will not be allowed to be parents as their heart desires. Hearing the preacher say it is better to give than to receive, you make your way home to where you present to your wife a proposal to give the preacher and his wife one of your children to raise. At first your wife is not happy with you at all and says there is no way she can possibly give up one of her babies. She grows angry, then tears fill her eyes and find their way down her cheek. Later, however, when things do not get better and with the threat that her children could be taken away, she makes the heart wrenching decision to allow the preacher and his wife to have one of their precious identical twin boys.
My family and I were seeking a movie to watch so we all sat down for our weekly family movie night with The Identical, and the above is how the movie began. We enjoyed this movie for many reasons from beginning to end and are confident that you will, too! First and foremost, it is, indeed, a family friendly movie. We didn’t have to worry about what our children might accidentally see or hear when this movie started playing. It was clean and suitable for all ages to enjoy, and that we did!
My husband and children especially liked this movie because there were some similarities that made us think of the life of Elvis Presley. (They are huge Elvis fans!) One thing that stood out for us was that his parents were poor, and his mom delivered twin boys; however, the difference is that Elvis Presley’s brother was stillborn. In the movie, the parents made the hard decision to give one of their identical twins away – before they were taken away by the authorities – to a preacher and his wife, and the movie focuses on the preacher’s kid growing up in church. As he grew into a teenager and into a young adult, the main character, Blake Rayne, resembles Elvis Presley from his looks, to the way he sings, and even the way he moves! There is a good reason for this, too, as my husband looked him up after we watched the movie to find that Mr. Rayne is a former Elvis impersonator, having won an Elvis impersonator contest in 1998. (Check out his Facebook page here.)
As we watched this movie, we imagined Elvis and his first beginnings as an artist. With his passion for different music, rockabilly, to the way he moved his body, we imagined Elvis in the early days before he became a superstar!
Later in the movie, we began to see more of the twin brother that remained with the parents and went on to stardom. The movie tied in with a twist that you will not want to miss!
Don’t worry! We don’t believe in ruining the movie by telling you how it ends. There will not be any “spoiler alerts” here. Instead, what we would like to do is to offer you a chance to enter a giveaway to win a copy of The Identical.
If you are interested, please enter our giveaway below! Please, share it with your friends and family members, any one in your network that you think may enjoy this movie.
Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
The lights, the music, the Christian superstars … they all fill the stage for a night of powerful, moving, and Christ-honoring music! Are you ready for Winter Jam 2015?
My family and I first attended Winter Jam with our church a few years ago. We all piled into the big church bus and made our way an hour to Columbia with excitement building the entire way there. Although we arrived early, the line was wrapped around the building! People came from several cities away to hear and see all that Winter Jam had to offer.
I remember seeing Francesca Battistelli for the very first time live on stage that night. What is especially cool is that years later, I came to know Francesca’s mother on a personal level as we co-lead an (In)Courage group together. Awesome, right? I used to love hearing stories about “Franny,” as her mom often referred to her, and the grandchildren.
That night we also saw Tenth Avenue North live on stage. My daughter and I were a part of an interpretive movement group at our church, and we ministered through several of their songs. By Your Side is one of my favorite songs by them, and although many years have passed since we performed sign art to this song, I still remember the movements and go right along with the song whenever it comes on the radio.
We were also introduced to Toby Mac that night and were amazed by his Christian – sometimes rap style – music. Later, our church performed a few hip-hop numbers to his songs. He is still one of our favorite Christian artists today.
Ah, what fond memories!
We are looking forward to Winter Jam again this year as Francesca Battistelli is back! She will be bringing her powerful voice to the stage along with other artists in the line up such as: Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Building 429, Family Force 5, Newsong, For King & Country, Blanca, About A Mile, and Veridia, with speaker Tony Nolan. What’s better than all of these artists in one night on the stage? You get all of these Christian artists, the powerful, Christ-honoring and glorifying music and stage show, all for the price of $10!
Unbelievable, right?
But, It’s true!
This is the best concertaround, and you just can’t beat the price!
It matters how you treat people! Make them feel welcome! Whether it’s in your home, at your church, if they are new to the school, or a new employee on the job.
There is a famous quote that talks about how people will forget what you say, and people will forget what you do; however, people will never forget the way you make them feel!
This is so very true.
I remember how it felt a few years back upon entering a huge church with a congregation full to capacity. You’re already anxious about being out of your comfort zone, yet you forge ahead with sweaty palms, almost wringing your hands as you scan the room hoping for a friendly smile, a warm “Hello” … something, anything to show that you are being welcomed into the church. If you don’t feel welcome, the chances of you returning are slim to none.
This was the first impression we had upon attending a church years ago. Despite not feeling welcome at all, except by the preacher that went out of his way to greet us after the service, we continued going back week after week in hopes that we would finally fit in. While that never happened, we stuck it out and even volunteered to be on a committee. We became a part of the GROW team with emphasis on greeting people and making them feel welcome when they stepped foot into the church for the very first time. What greater feeling could there be than to feel welcome into the family of God and to experience the love that Christians are supposed to have one for another?!
It matters how you treat people.
It matters how they feel when they are in your presence.
It matters when you make people feel welcome!
I’ll never forget the incredible welcome I received when meeting my internet friend of 17 years in September of 2014. Debbie, who was fighting breast cancer at the time, welcomed us into her home. I felt as giddy as a school girl as our vehicle came to a stop in front of Debbie’s house. As quickly as I could, I gathered my gift bags and started making my way as calmly as possible to her front door. She was anticipating our arrival, and when she opened the door, immediately the squeals of “Oh my gosh … oh my gosh” were spoken through smiles a mile wide. We had our arms outstretched before we were even close enough to embrace. Now THAT was an incredible welcome! One I truly will never forget. Sadly, my friend lost her battle with cancer in November of 2014, just two short months after finally having the privilege of meeting her in person.
Thank you, dear Debbie, for the most amazing feeling in the entire world when you welcomed me into your home. Years earlier we welcomed each other into our hearts, and although you’re no longer on this earth, you’re still in my heart. I carry you with me, sweet lady. Thank you for the gift of 17 beautiful years of the greatest friendship I’ve ever known.
One of my greatest blessings came to me on a cold January day. It was the year 1997, and I was pregnant with my darling angel sent straight from Heaven above.
Feeling a little scared, but more excited than anything, we made our way to the hospital where I would be induced at 5:30 A.M. I did not mind what was to come, although I was in labor all day and into the night. Why, you may ask? Because I knew that after the labor pains subsided, I would hear the most beautiful sound; the cry of my first born daughter.
But … she had a surprise in store for us all!
At 10:26 P.M., she came into this world without a single sound. Not a peep was heard out of my darling newborn.
Fear and panic set in as the medical team worked to clear my daughter’s airway. Having just seen the movie The Hand That Rocks The Cradle did NOT help the feelings welling up inside of me. (If you’ve watched it, you’ll recall the scene I’m speaking of!)
Oh how I wanted to hold my daughter!
My blood pressure began to drop, and the medical team then began to worry about me as well. I remember crying and saying, “I just want to hold my baby … can I hold my baby …” as the nurses were getting ready to take my baby out of the room.
Finally, the doctor demanded, “Let her hold her baby!! Now!”
This beautiful 5 lb. 15 1/2 oz. baby girl was placed into my arms, and something wonderful happened. Not only did our bond solidify at that moment in time, but my blood pressure increased at a rate that the doctor said he’s never seen before.
I held my baby, smiling as I looked into her deep blue eyes and knew what was meant by love at first sight.
Ah, but in reality, I loved her way before then! I loved this little baby from the moment I found out I was pregnant. I love her still, and I always will!
It is so hard to believe that this little bundle of joy has grown from a little girl with blonde hair bouncing around the house to a brilliant, talented, and gorgeous young woman!
Ladies and gentleman, my daughter is an adult now!
Whoa …
I need a moment after letting that sink in.
She is no longer a baby but a grown woman!
Wow.
And it seemed to have happened over night, too.
On that cold January day 18 years old, an angel came to save me. And that she has! No matter what has happened in my life through these years, with a long, grueling divorce, to losing my sister in the most heartbreaking way possible (suicide), having a ruptured ectopic pregnancy resulting in the loss of one of my tubes and my chances of getting pregnant again reduced to 50%, to bullying that took place at the hands of coworkers, to remarrying but then having a bit of a rocky year in 2014, my angel has always been there – rock solid and as strong as ever giving me all of her strength in those beautiful blue eyes of hers and in those loving arms that would wrap around my neck tightly. All is right in the world when my daughter smiles at me and says, “I love you, Mommy!” Yes … even at age 18 she will occasionally still call me Mommy.
Oh how I love her! This little baby turned toddler, running around in all of her childlike wonder, leaped into her teenage years where she sought her independence, and is now dragging her heels not wishing to become an adult just yet but having no other choice as she turns 18 years old as the clock strikes 10:26 P.M. tonight.
God, thank you for sending me one of your angels straight from Heaven. Thank you for allowing me to be her mother and for us to form a beautiful family unit when I remarried the love of my life when my darling was four years old. She didn’t have to come from a broken home after all, and she didn’t. We became a family in 2002, and tears fill my eyes as I think of my husband getting down on one knee on her level to present her with a beautiful ballerina necklace as part of our wedding ceremony to symbolize the family unit. Dear Father, thank you for allowing me, despite the ruptured ectopic pregnancy and the odds stacked against us, to deliver another beautiful blue eyed miracle baby in 2004 to complete our family. Oh God, how I thank you and praise you for the many blessings in our lives – the greatest blessings that I call my daughters. Please continue to keep Your Mighty Hand upon them and keep them safe. We love them so much, and we love you, too, Jesus. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to raise this angel on earth. Amen
Today is the sixth day of January. As we’re making our way into the new year, I wanted to stop to ask just how are you doing?
If you had high hopes as you rang in the new year for changes that you wanted to make during the new year and may have fallen short already on those changes you were doing to make, take heart! The year is still relatively new, and you can ALWAYS start again! So you had great intentions to eat healthier and blew it just a few days in. That’s okay. Get back up, dust yourself off, and start eating better today! If you planned on drinking more water but substituted sodas or tea instead, focus today and decide that today will be your day to drink more water.
You CAN do this!
If you haven’t stepped foot into the gym, that’s okay, too. You can exercise at home. Just DO it, as the Nike commercial says. Get off of that couch and walk to the beat of your favorite song. Even if you’re walking in place, that is still exercising. Grab a couple of cans of beans in your pantry and do some curls while you’re making dinner. Or, my personal favorite, grab your honey and dance to your favorite tune!
Try not to focus so much on having “failed” so early on in the new year. It’s only January 6th. Begin again TODAY! Right where you are!
If you were planning on saving more money this year, pay day is coming at the end of the week. Sock some money away right off the bat into your savings account. If you get into a habit each week, pretty soon, you won’t miss the money that you’re putting away for a rainy day. Maybe you’re planning on saving money for that dream vacation, or you’re more practical and want to save it for new tires on your car. Whatever you are saving for, start this week. If you wanted to start with the first pay period in the year but missed that, just start now!
How about this? A gratitude jar! Doesn’t that sound interesting? Instead of beating yourself up already on what you’ve failed to accomplish in this new year, turn your focus on positives that have happened or that you’ve achieved since the clock struck midnight on December 31st/January 1st! I bet that will make you feel a lot better if you think back and begin writing down good, positive, encouraging things for the past six days. DO it! Save those slips of paper and store them in your gratitude jar so that at the end of the year you can open that baby up and read all the goodness that this year held for you. Or, if you are having a really bad day later in the year and need a little pick-me-up, open that jar and pull out a handful of things that happened earlier in the year that made you feel GOOD! It will get you back on track.
I’ll be honest. This post was as much for me as it was for you. I’ve not exercised like I had planned. My daughters will be my accountability partners, though! We’ve already discussed it! I’ve tried eating better, and I have tried drinking more water. But we all fall off the wagon at times. I am making better food choices, and I feel good about that. I would like to encourage you to just stop beating yourself up! Just get back on track. I’ve wanted to start saving more money this year, and I will … beginning this pay period.
AND … I am most definitely going to go back over the past six days and write things down that have spoken to my heart in this new year. Things that have made me smile, that have warmed my heart. Things that I will want to hold on to and remember.
