Anew

anew - adv 

1: over again 

2 : in a new form

August

anew month

anew chance

anew attitude

anew experience

anew outlook on life

Welcome to August!

A new opportunity to leave behind any negativity and start anew.

Attitude

I am working on attitude today. These quotes speak volumes to me at this moment. Perhaps you will enjoy them as well.

Happiness is an attitude.  We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong.  The amount of work is the same.  ~Francesca Reigler

taken by yours truly this past weekend during our walk in the woods

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.  ~Confucius

taken by yours truly this past weekend during our walk in the woods

Say you are well, or all is well with you,
And God shall hear your words and make them true.
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

New Day, New Mood, New Attitude

Find yourself in a bad mood?

Change your attitude!

The rubber band idea is working.

You might think it a bit barbaric, but it actually works!

Every time I start having negative thoughts

or start feeling yell-y (ready to yell)

(yell-y may not be a real word but my first choice was crotchety so you pick)

I snap my rubber band.

Oy!

Note to self: snap on back of wrist, not inside, to avoid numb fingers

I've been practicing the rubber band method of positivity for a few days now.

The method is a bit hard when those around you are the ones being negative.

I certainly don't want to snap myself for someone else dragging me down

so I am learning to walk away.

This morning, after I woke, I made myself a nice mug of green tea.

I sat down in my favorite chair and journaled. 

The last bit I wrote, was a list of gratitude.

I closed the journal and looked out the window.

This is what I saw...

Fog and Frost.

The perfect ingredients for a grey mood?

I think not!

I checked my attitude and grabbed my camera,

headed out the back door

and had some fun!

A week ago I would be frustrated at my lack of time to play.

I would feel inferior due to my status as a beginner (wishful) photographer wannabe.

I would wish for less shaky hands and time to edit.

Today?

I gleefully grabbed a few minutes in the snow in my slippers.

I am okay with beginning as you have to start somewhere.

I am thankful for my hands. Shake adds character to all that I do. tee hee

Time to edit? I'll get there. Time with my children is my number one.

 

   

Why?

I followed an internet link this morning.

It shows a photo shoot of Lady Gaga with no makeup.

The real woman.

The real beauty.

Natural.

Free from the mask.

Damned if the comments aren't crude, rude, nasty, judgmental.

Downright MEAN!!!!!

What is wrong with people?

She bares all.

She is gutsy.

She is daring.

She is famous, powerful, smart, strong, dare I say beautiful????

I actually prefer to see the real her.

I'm not a big fan of the performer

but I have gained a whole new respect for the woman.

Why is it that people have to be so mean?

Why do people feel the need to voice their negativity?

Why do people choose to be so hurtful?

It is like a bully mentality, this whole internet thing.

The comment sections disgust me.

Everyone hides behind a screen and throws the ugliness around.

I wonder.

For all those judging.

What do they think of themselves?

How is their career going?

How much money do they have in the bank?

What do they see in their own mirror?

I love, love, LOVE au natural.

I love people for who they are.

The raw them. The real them.

I love that my husband doesn't like makeup.

I still feel uncomfortable leaving the house without a touch of a mask.

"Why?" I ask myself.

Now I know.

It is this crazy media driven world which judges on masks.

Who has the best mask?

Me? I would rather live in a world where everyone took off their masks.

Accepted themselves. Loved themselves.

Mainstream Media

Stop the bullying. The judgment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

No one is perfect.

We all judge at times.

Myself included.

We can all work on it.

Be aware of the words that cross our lips.

Be aware of the impact our words have on others.

Tonight I am attending a presentation.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to attend locally.

Here's the scoop.

"A one-hour presentation on Rachel's Challenge. Rachel Scott was the first student killed in the Columbine tragedy. This dynamic presentation will challenge each of us to become proactive parents/community members to help support our kids to embrace and respect individual differences, appreciate the value and worth of all people, stand up for others that are being mistreated, know "who" they are and recognize their worth, and to reach out and help others."

For more info.

What an important message.

(total random side note but somewhat related. yes. more of my rambling cranial purge. shortly after seeing the article on Lady Gaga, I saw a whole article on anti-aging tricks and tips. what does that really mean? we're all going to do it whether we like it or not. anti makes it sound like we're against it. wouldn't it be great if we could embrace it? every line, every wrinkle and grey hair represents time, stories, experience, lessons. how about 'aging gracefully' instead.)

I feel extremely grateful for the online communities I have encountered.

My blog connections.

The online classes I have taken.

My CM sisterhood.

Such an amazing and supportive crowd.

I am in love with the positivity, the love, the generosity.

It's out there. I know it is. I see it and feel it every day.

Perhaps it's not the norm. Perhaps it's not everywhere.

But the love is there.

Please keep this in mind as you go about your day.

Pass a little love around today.

Make a ripple.

If we all join in, we'll be making waves.

ripples

Thank you.

All of you.

For being here.

For reading.

For your love, positivity and support.

I love you.

Have a beautiful day.

Reverb - Wisdom

Reverb prompt:
Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?  Oy vay! That's a big question! I do believe the wisest decision I made this year was choosing the word "positivity" for my word of the year. I thought by focusing on positivity and all things positive, I would set into motion a tidal wave of positive energy, events and emotions that would swell over my life. Ends up my year threw a lot of challenges, heartache and disappointments at me. Positivity prevailed. Focusing on the positive allowed me to pause, recognize and appreciate the good. It simultaneously helped me to overcome the bad. To recover from negative emotions faster. To see the good where there was also bad. I have learned a lot this past year. Embracing the positive is a very wise decision.

Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.  ~Alphonse Karr

You must start with a positive attitude or you will surely end without one.  ~Carrie Latet

People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Worship," The Conduct of Life, 1860

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  ~Maori Proverb

Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.  ~Art Linkletter

Why not learn to enjoy the little things - there are so many of them.  ~Author Unknown

(I love living surrounded by the creations of my children! Magical.)

What Lies Ahead

(A picture from our recent Colorado trip. Got me thinking about the road of life. Can't always see what lies ahead. Might not have complete control over which path to take. But we do have the choice to fully embrace and enjoy the ride!)

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out, it's the grain of sand in your shoe. -Unknown.

The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.  ~Robert M. Pirsig 

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. ... Adversity is the first path to truth. ~Lord Byron

Gratitude Attitude - Day 28

picture courtesy of www.picsearch.com

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

Yahoo!!!! I did it! I made it! Party for meeeeee!!!!

Twenty-eight days to a new habit of forming an attitude of gratitude! Whew! Today I am grateful for achieving my goal. I am also grateful that the 28 days are up! Now I have more freedom in my posting.

There has definitely been a shift in my psyche during this little exercise. I often stop and realize how much I have to be grateful for. Don't worry, I'm not kidding myself with thinking I'm an ultra enlightened human being or anything (although I like to think I'm on my way). I still have bad days, negative thoughts and "woe is me" moments, but I also have created a habit of looking at all I have to be grateful for. The more gratitude is practiced, the more it will be second nature and will replace the negative.

How awesome that the exercise came to a close the day after Thanksgiving. Serendipity baby! Completely unplanned.

How about you? Did anyone follow along? Did anyone take on the challenge? Have you created an attitude of gratitude? What are you grateful for?

Gratitude Attitude - Day 27

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

I am very grateful for the wonderful meal we shared with family at my husband's cousin's house. I am thankful for safe drives, warm houses, good conversation and pie! We had a pie extravaganza after dinner. There was a pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, sugar cream pie and pumpkin pie. I actually made mine completely from scratch this year. It was a first and it was a beautiful thing! Tasty pies following a tasty dinner! Thanks Jennifer for cooking a fabulous bird.

Gratitude Attitude - Day 26

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

• five loads of laundry clean, dry, folded
• one homemade pumpkin pie
• one autumn spinach apple salad
• one batch chocolate chip cookies
• one picnic lunch complete with basket & blanket
• two loads of dishes
• one supper of enchilladas
• one clean kitchen
• one swept floor
• six errands ran
• eight e-mails sent
• four kids showered, fed, happy, ready for bed
  

Whew! I'm exhausted and my body is aching. I am grateful for a full day of numerous accomplishments and I am ever so grateful that there is no school tomorrow so I have a chance of sleeping past 6am. Woo Hoo!!!
I'm off to kick my legs up in the recliner and slap in a movie. I Love Netflix!!!!!

Gratitude Attitude - Day 25

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

The weather today was chilly and full of drizzle. My bones and muscles fought me the entire day. I am typing this at around 10:30 pm on my way to bed. My throat is hurting and I am exhausted. I should know better than to stand outdoors for two hours in crummy weather tempting a fibro flare to rear it's ugly head. Today, the payoff was worth it.

I had an assignment to cover an archaeological dig in my area. Second born has dreams of becoming an archaeologist when he grows up so I asked for permission to bring him to the site and permission was granted. The men in charge of the dig were incredibly gracious, informative and just plain nice people.

After the dig my son and I traveled to the site of an old abandoned motel site. It consists of a main building and many small stand alone rooms that used to be for rent. It was abandoned many decades ago and is now a site of structural skeletons. It was fun to explore and imagine the stories of the property.

I am very grateful for an incredibly fun and educational day spent with my second born.

What are you grateful for today?

Gratitude Attitude - Day 23 & 24

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

I am posting this the morning of the 23rd due to a computer (er... teenager glich). Yesterday's gratitude was of warm weather, a relaxing day and a Packer Win!!!

Last night I was not able to post due to a computer malfunction. I sat down to my computer and the whole thing looked like an X-ray or something. It was quite freaky. Husband always says to "turn it off and back on and it will fix itself". His old standby. It didn't work.

This morning I was going to take it in to have it repaired hoping they would get it back in time for an article deadline I have looming. Teenager wants to see what's going on with it so I turn it on and he holds down (control+option+command) with his left hand while hitting the "8" key with his right. Voila! Problem solved.

"What the heck was that?" I say.

"Oh, that makes it so the colors are all inverted. Cool, huh?" says teen.

"Yeah, real cool. Don't do it again!" my response while laughing a nervous laugh of relief that my computer is not about to blow up.

Teenagers!!!!

Today I am grateful my computer is working properly, I am grateful for a healthy, curious son, and I am very grateful for my sense of humor. ;)

Gratitude Attitude - Day 22

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

Today was rather exhausting for me. I had an early Thanksgiving dinner so my step-father could celebrate. He will be having a chemo treatment on Monday and knows he will be ill on Thanksgiving. We wanted to make sure he was able to enjoy the holiday so we gladly celebrated early.
Last night was another sleepless night in a long line of sleepless nights. The new kitten I adopted has been more than a handful. He has behavioral issues, digestive issues and we just finished with some health issues. I have not been getting much sleep due to dealing with him. I woke up this morning crabby, emotional and irritated. I cried my way through the morning and fought off the shakes.
I would like to take a moment to shout my gratitude today as hard days make the good all that much better! I AM GRATEFUL!!!!! for my loving family, for the progress of my step-father's chemo, for Thanksgiving dinner, and for SLEEP!!!! which I intend to get more than my share of this evening. Sleep. Don't cat's make it look so easy?

Gratitude Attitude - Days 20 & 21

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

Here I am a mere three days away from my goal of 28 days of gratitude. It is interesting how the universe has provided me with continual reminders of my journey. I have been running across gratitude postings among some of my favorite blogs and my awesome mama friends on Cafemom have been posting their gratitude's as well. I guess it only seems fitting that I will be finishing my month of habit forming gratitude attitude creating right before Thanksgiving. The Powers That Be must have planned that one. I'm much too busy to have thought my plan through so thoroughly!

Yesterday was a very busy day and my body was retaliating from all the work I put it through. I gave myself the evening off to relax for a bit and fear the relaxation worked a wee too well as I fell asleep before having a chance to post! I am grateful for the relaxation and for the fact that I have come very far in my "growth as a human being" process and can easily forgive myself. ;) Positive self-talk is a very good thing.

Today was spent running errands (grateful for all I achieved), talking with friends and neighbors (grateful for the presence of every one of them in my life), and walking a wooded path with my family (eternally grateful for my little clan). The weather has been beautiful (grateful for that) and my mood has been matching (everyone is grateful for that!)

Gratitude Attitude - Days 17,18,19

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

Whew! What a long couple of days! My internet provider was having some major issues and I was not able to connect. I kept true to my commitment and took some time each day to think of all that I am grateful for. Today, at this very moment, I am extremely grateful for my working internet connection!!!

Gratitude Attitude - Day 16

Wow! Look what I found today!!! (click on the link and share in the journey) I Am Thankful

The last few weeks have been really trying for me. Lots of sadness, stress and trying times. How wonderful that I started this Gratitude challenge for myself right when I need it most. I am grateful the universe keeps sending me reminders of keeping a Gratitude Attitude. I have run across many articles, blogs and websites with gratitude as a topic since starting this journey. The universe does provide and what you think of does attract.

Gratitude Attitude - Day 15

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

I was at the craft store today. As I was heading back to my vehicle, I passed a small sheet of notebook paper on the ground in the parking lot. So often I pass something that piques my curiosity and I continue on, wishing I would have picked it up, wondering of the story it contained, it's origins and how it ended up where it did.

Today was no different than any other. I was walking, I spotted the note and I passed it. It was apparent it had been there for some time as it was faded and well traveled upon. I continued on as I did not want to seem odd to others picking up some random piece of another shopper's litter.

Was it a shopping list? Perhaps a note declaring someone's undying love for another? I walked on bothered by the fact that instead of acting on my own spirit and curiosity, I was instead caving to the insecurities of worrying what others might think of me as I picked up the dirty note. Then again, it was litter and why should anyone ever let litter lay?

A conscious choice was made today to turn around, march back the 20 yards I had proceeded and pick up the note. It was so satisfying to go with my heart rather than my ego. I clutched the note and smiled all the way to the car.

As you can see by the scan above, the paper contained directions. Who's directions? Where was the person going? Where did they come from? What was the reason for their travels? Did they ever reach their destination without their carefully planned directions? Or were these directions simply an afterthought of a trip already taken just waiting to be discarded from the floor of the car by a foot rushing out the door?

I love objects that cause one to think and imagine. Would you like to take a stab at the story contained within the note? Leave it in the form of a comment. Turn it into a book. Write it in your journal. Ponder it over coffee.

I have spent time on a magical website in the past that caters to just this sort of find. Care to indulge in a little fun? www.foundmagazine.com

I am grateful for my bravery of battling ego today. I am grateful for imagination, curiosity and mystery.

Gratitude Attitude - Day 14

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

Oh how grateful I am for cottage industry and Mom & Pop shops. I love buying local. I love connecting with my community. I love having a relationship with the people I purchase food and goods from. I appreciate the care they put into all they do. I appreciate the quality. I appreciate their smiling faces. I love the little Amish style dry goods grocery that opened in my area. Sigh...

I love and acknowledge that I am half way through my 28 days to an attitude of gratitude!!!

Gratitude Attitude - Day 13

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

I am extremely grateful for my sisterhood of awesome women on Cafemom!!!! You know who you are ladies! You have been such a lifeline for me. We have cried together and celebrated together. You are supportive, loving, beautiful, amazing women. I am so eternally grateful that I found all of you when I did. You have helped me to grow as a person and always for the better. Hugs and Kisses to all of you. I love you!

Gratitude Attitude - Day 12

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

The first major piece of furniture my husband and I invested a decent amount of money in was the dining room table. We both know the importance of eating at least one meal a day as a family. The quality of time spent sharing, discussing, and nourishing our bodies is irreplaceable in our book. We knew it was an investment in our family, not just as a piece of furniture.

How would we ever have guessed it was also an investment in entertainment. We have game night on the table, entertain family and friends over the table and enjoy the spontaneity and creativity of our children's imaginations at the table. The picture posted above was taken in the summer. My teen was making pancakes one weekend morning and the two little ones happily devoured them decked out in their pj's and swim goggles!

Last night over dinner, we discussed Purple People Eaters. We could not come to a solid conclusion on whether the People Eaters were Purple or if they were of a different color but ate Purple People! Ha! What a fun and silly conversation we found ourselves in without even realizing how silly it really was! I am grateful for my children, their creativity, spontaneity and imaginations. I am grateful they have opened up the magical world of make believe in our home.

Please feel free to share photos and/or stories of spontaneous family moments from your home.

Gratitude Attitude - Day 10 & 11

(28 days to an attitude of gratitude - learn more here)

No time to blog yesterday but plenty of time was spent thinking of all that I am grateful for. I am especially grateful that my evening was spent going out to eat and watching a concert with some good friends. My wonderful, loving and supportive mother had given my man and I four tickets to Tran Siberian Orchestra for an early Christmas present. To steal the words from Borat's mouth, Wowie Wa Woo! (Okay, I cannot believe I just said that!) What a great gift and how desperately we needed a date night! That was my Day 10.

Day 11 (today) was spent rather lazily. I am very happy I have been working on my 28 days to an attitude of gratitude as it has been a pretty hard month or so. Making gratitude part of my daily inner and outer dialog has helped me get through the rough spots. I am grateful for this journal.

The following pictures were taken by me while I was driving. Don't worry folks! I was paying full attention to the road. My camera was in the passenger seat and the kiddos were in the back. I don't even remember where I was headed but I was feeling overwhelmed. My mind tends to get creative when I need a diversion from negativity. The lights of the cars in front of me were such a contrast to the evening sky settling in. I wondered what it would look like in a photo. I reached next to me, picked up the camera and shot without looking through the viewfinder (remember I was driving). I just held it up and shot. When I came home and downloaded the pictures I thought they looked pretty cool! They are also a good representation of how I have been feeling lately.


I am really working hard at allowing self expression into my life. Fear and self-judgment so often puts on the brakes. Even posting these photos is a step as it allows others into my quirky mind and the quirky things I do in life. But is it really quirky? Maybe it's just creativity. Here's a great little video on self-expression. Enjoy!

YouTube - 6 steps to self expression