Superpowers, ACTIVATE!!!!

Dear Readers,

As I wrote about the other day, I have got a lot of ‘crap’ going on inside my head lately. I am able to remain strong for awhile and then WHAM. I feel as though I’ve fallen down a ravine and I’m struggling to crawl back out. I know exactly where my feelings come from. I allow what other people think of me to control me. Isn’t this something we all tend to do from time to time? Of course. All too often in our lives we are so concerned about what other people think of us, that we allow them to get inside our head, create a feeling of inadequacy, and ultimately, we give all of our superpowers away.

Let’s work on regaining our superpowers, why don’t we? It seems as though we are always finding ourselves doing what others want us to do or expect us to do. After awhile, we find ourselves completely drained, feeling lost in a world that does not seem to care about us. Just how easy is it to give away our superpowers to others? It’s pretty darn easy, let me tell you. 

Hmmmmmmm, are you the type of person who:

• ·         Engages in gossip
• ·         Says yes to everything to please everyone else
• ·         Obsesses about other people’s behaviors (despite knowing you cannot change them)
• ·         Tries to be nice to everyone
• ·         Constantly doubts yourself
• ·         Feels the need to keep up with the Jones’s

A lot of us engage in these types of behaviors without even realizing it. We give our superpowers away and before we know it, we feel that complete and utter feeling of loss, failure. The beauty of this is, that once you really start to acknowledge what you are doing, you have no excuse not to reclaim your superpower, never to give it away again.

So, just how DO you reclaim that superpower? Well, the first step is to realize when you are giving it away. Step two is to start to form a strategy firmly in your head for saying ‘No’ to giving your power away. If someone tries to engage you in gossip, politely listen but offer nothing in return. As you get more and more of your power back you can work on stopping the person trying to engage you in gossip with a simple: ‘Listen, I am not really interested.’ And walk away. Finally, the third and final step is start to implement your strategy in all the areas where you are giving away your superpower. If someone asks you to do something for them, just say ‘No’. You don’t have to offer any excuses for saying no, you don’t have to explain yourself. If the person prompts you further, you can say ‘I just don’t want to.’

Sure this can all sound real good on the computer screen. Reading it and doing it are two different things. In the end, the choice is yours. Do you want to keep your superpowers or do you want to keep giving them away to people who aren’t really deserving of them? I know where I fit in here…..

Until tomorrow, my friends.....some people drain you and some people help to boost your superpowers. Choose those who help boost your superpowers! Reclaim YOUR life!!!

Think Thankfully! 

Guardian angels and good news!!!

Dear Readers,

Life has been very hectic for me the past few weeks. I've been dealing with a lot of personal things as well as shouldering the worry and anxiety of my 24 year old daughter, who has had some major life events happen. My daughter is a worrier, she is riddled with anxiety, and she sets extremely high standards for herself (and subsequently finds herself second guessing herself, causing even more anxiety and stress in her life).

On February 20, she took her comprehensive exams that would pretty much determine her future. In order to graduate from American University (with a pretty impressive Masters Degree), she had to pass the tests placed before her. And in order to obtain the full time job offer that was presented to her, she needed to graduate in May with her Masters. Not passing the comps = no graduation, which in turn = no job. Nightmare situation to find yourself in when you are a worrier.

My daughter has always excelled in school. She places a lot of pressure on herself to get good grades (and let it be known, I never put that pressure on her.....I was always happy as long as my children gave it their best effort). Throughout elementary school, junior high, high school, and undergrad work, she always took on the toughest classes, aimed high, and worried until she knew she was going to succeed. She finished high school in the top 10% of her class, earning many scholarships along the way. She graduated with her Bachelors Degree (with multiple honors) from a pretty highly regarded university and then set her sights on her graduate work.

American University is NOT an easy place to acquire a degree of any kind. It is a very tough, rigorous institution that demands near excellence. To make it through nearly two years of graduate level work in her area of study has not been an easy task for her. So, when she signed up for the comprehensive exams, it began nearly 6 weeks of intense studying and worrying. As her mom, I knew she was going to be just fine, but because she worried, so did I. During this time, she decided to start apartment hunting, moving out of the apartment under the stairs ('Harry Pottering it', as one of her co-workers lovingly referred to her previous living conditions) and onto a little more spacious living arrangement (with natural lighting for a change!!!!!). On top of the mounds of stress with the taking of exams, she adds to it, the stress of finding relatively inexpensive living in the DC-Metro area. Oooooookkkkkkk!!!!

March 21 she got the keys to her apartment. And then the worrying began again. What if I didn't pass my test? What if I don't graduate and don't have my job? What if I have to wait til August? How will I afford this place? All the questions swirled around her head for the past week, and, truth be told, they swirled around mine too. I worried so much.

Enter my angels. I've got three incredible guardian angels who never go too far away from me or my girls: Pappy Lester, Pappy Wip, and Grandma Marilyn. I've written about my grandma many times before. She was my world. It's taken me five years to be almost ok with losing her. But today, she reminded me that she is ALWAYS right here....helping me (and my girls) as much as she can. She proves over and over again that she is my guardian angel.

Today would have been my grandmother's 85th birthday. Marilyn Mae (Rehrig) Everett was born on March 25, 1930. She passed away on February 2, 2010. Today, she reminded me that she is always right here. At about 3pm this afternoon, I received a call from my daughter. She excitedly told me she just got the results to her comps. SHE PASSED THEM!!! I can't think of a more perfect day to find this out. While birthdays are typically a day to receive a birthday gift, today my gram made sure WE were the recipients of the best gift ever: passing scores on the most important test of my daughter's life!!! And to quote one of her friends, when she posted the news on the great book of Faces, "Congrats!! I can't wait to see what all you continue to accomplish!"

I believe in angels. Always have and always will.

Until next time, my friends.....never stop believing in your angels. They are always right there beside you, helping to show you the way.

Think Thankfully bullshit

Dear Readers,

Another late night inspiration for the blog is happening tonight! Let me be quite frank with this one, as tonight I have had an amazing revelation in the way I choose to live my life and what I am doing with the whole Think Thankfully idea! I had another pretty decent day! I am realizing that not just Facebooking Think Thankfully and blogging Think Thankfully, but really LIVING Think Thankfully is the key to truly living happily ever after!

Many people know, from reading previous blog postings OR from knowing me in real life, that my previous marriage was far less than amazing. While I was blessed with two amazing daughters, my marriage itself was far less than perfect. It wasn't the Disney storybook that everyone thinks they need in life. Nope. Not even close. There was A LOT of infidelity and mistrust. There was a lot of disrespect and emotional abuse. There was a lot of me feeling like I had to be a certain way in order to be loved.

Tonight, I spent some time at a local establishment, watching the Nascar race. I am not a Nascar fan, if I must be honest, but we (my husband and I) bought into a Nascar pool and went to see if we could win any money AND to hang out with our friends. I had such a good time. We laughed, we sang to the jukebox, we made silly videos on the new Crazy Helium Booth app that I have on my phone, we enjoyed each others' company.

By the end of the night, something happened, again, that truly made me want to write right on the spot. I even joked with my friend Fran that I was turning this event into a blog. See, I encountered someone from my past that I did not necessarily have the warm fuzzies over. Again, I will not rehash the past, but this person was not someone I would save from a burning building if I had the chance. I know. Doesn't sound like me, right?! Well, tonight, I engaged in conversation with this person. It was nice. It was as if I had no inner feelings towards them. We talked as if there was nothing ever between us. It felt good.

When my friend came back to our spot, she asked if I was ok. I told her I truly was ok and her response...."SEE!!! Your THINK THANKFULLY bullshit is really working!" Although I was immediately taken aback, I laughed! While I don't think of my Think Thankfully way of living as bullshit, tonight I realized without any doubt in my mind, that if you truly believe in it, the idea of Think Thankfully can really change your life. It is a life changing principle. I joked with my friend that I wanted to blog about that immediately. 

This is a no bullshit zone. If you truly believe in the ideas and principles of Think Thankfully, they truly are life changing. I've finally realized that. I live what I post and although sometimes, my own lessons come around in their own sweet time, I still live the idea of Think Thankfully. In the past two weeks, I've had people get back in touch with me who I've lost touch with, potential career changing opportunities show themselves to me, and finally realizing that the past is just that....THE PAST.

I've got an amazing husband, two awesome daughters, a solid family unit, and a group of fabulous friends who are the most important and supportive crew a girl could hope to ever have. I may not be a well renowned author, I may not have a lot of money, I don't even have a lot of people reading this blog right now, but one thing I do have is my sense of self....my sense of who I truly am.

I live in a no bullshit zone. It's how life has to be for me. What you see is what you get. I say what I mean, I mean what I say, and I follow through. In listening and following simple advice, the Think Thankfully bullshit can make a difference to you too. You just have to want it!!

Until next time, my friends....choose the bullshit you want to follow and you want to believe! It can make all the difference!!! To the past being the past, and the present being a gift!!!!

Think Thankfully!

Leave the past where it belongs

Dear Readers,

Today has been the best day ever. I'm so serious. It's been a long time since I can honestly say that I had THIS kind of day. Wasn't so sure it was going to be awesome when I woke up, but right now, at this moment, I can honestly say that THIS day, March 7, 2015, will be one for the record books.

To start my amazing day, I stuck to one of my New Year's promises to myself. I never make resolutions because they are just too silly sometimes. I made promises to myself, because a promise is harder for me to break. This year, I vowed that I would be better at making plans with friends whose advice, opinions, and friendships I truly valued. I didn't just want to be Facebook friends, I wanted people I considered friends to know how I felt. So, today......I had a three hour lunch with my dear friend Josann. What a wonderful time we had. And the funny thing is, I didn't even have my phone with me in the restaurant (or so I thought). When I came out from our lunch, I panicked in my car, thinking someone stole my phone. It was in my purse all the time, but it made no difference. I had no desire to be on my phone while being with her. Suffice it to say, that we had such an enjoyable time that we decided to plan a once a month lunch date! Promise to myself - KEPT!

Then, I attended the 16th birthday party of the daughter of one of my dear friends. We had such a good time at the party. Good food, good friends, and good times. I was so happy that I was able to celebrate with them, even if I don't really know her daughter all that well. To be able to be there for my friend was just great!!

And then....my night ended on such a positive note that I am still smiling. Last Spring, I had a bit of a falling out with a friend of mine. Without rehashing the situation, I will say it saddened me to lose this friendship. Tonight, I came home from the party to a Facebook message, my friend offering an olive branch and a rekindling of a friendship. Tears immediately came to my eyes and my soul felt refreshed. This friend was someone I had known forever, and to lose the friendship was a sad event in my life, but one that taught me a lot throughout the past few months and I believe the final lesson was the most important. Leave the past where it belongs....behind you. I am so thankful to have this friendship back, for not letting pride get in the way of either one of us (her for the extension and me for the accepting). 

When the decision is made to forgive and forget, that is what has to happen. Leave the past in the past. Take the lessons that were taught and move forward, making sure that you always work to be better than you were the day before. People say you can forgive but you can never forget. You make that choice. It is not easy. It is probably the toughest thing you will ever do. But in NOT forgetting, in remembering the negative of the situation, you will never escape from the bitterness negative memories bring with them. To quote my friend in her message to me, "To letting the past be the past and the present being a gift." Tonight, it's been the best gift I could have been offered.

Until next time, my friends.....in good times and bad times, I'll be on your side. Forevermore. That's what friends are for.

Think Thankfully!

Something to think about

Dear Readers,

I tend to write when the mood strikes me. Sometimes it is once a day, sometimes it is more than once a day, sometimes there may be days or weeks in between postings. Today was a day that I sat and wrote out a few blogs that I wanted to get down. I wrote earlier in the morning about being happy (see previous blog entry). Now, I am writing about something that LEAPED out at me, right off the pages of the book, and SCREAMED at me to WRITE WRITE WRITE!!! I should prepare you, it isn't a normal blog entry and some might even think it is a bit on the morbid side, but......

Two years ago, my oldest daughter gave me the most wonderful Christmas gift. A book (surprise surprise! I told you I love books!) entitled, Mother Teresa: Her Essential Wisdom. It's not a book I sit and read from cover to cover, but rather it is a collection of her words, her thoughts on topics, that I tend to pick up when I need 'reminders'. The inscription on the blank page of the book had a note written by my daughter, because she knows all too well, that even those who appear the strongest and bravest need reminders from time to time. Today, I needed one of Mother Teresa's thought provoking reminders.

On page 92 of the book, in a chapter entitled Suffering and Death, I found this particular blurb: "If you were to die today, what would others say about you? What was in you that was beautiful, that was Christlike, that helped others to pray better? Face yourself, with Jesus at your side, and do not be satisfied with just any answer." WOW. Now there's something to think about. If I were today today, what would others say about me. It was time to really face myself, and so I thought this one through.

Sure, many times people ask, "If you knew you had 24 hours to live, what would you do? Who would you spend it with?" or "Would you want to know how long you have on this earth?". But let's think about this one, and I will repeat it again, "If you were to die today, what would others say about you?"

This question forces us to take a long hard look at ourselves. We've all sat at funerals, whether they be of a beloved family member or a friend, and we've heard what people had to say about that person. But thinking about that, I wonder, what would people say about me? Have I lived the life I think I have? Have I been a good friend? Have I loved enough? Have I loved truly? Have I spoken kind words more often than not?

Until tomorrow, my friends.....do yourself a favor and check out the book, Mother Teresa: Her Essential Wisdom edited by Carol Kelly-Gangi.

Think Thankfully! 

#PrayingForMark

Dear Readers,

Today, I am asking you to join me in prayer. Whether or not you are a religious person, I am asking that you lift positive thoughts to whatever you believe in for an amazing man I've never actually met. Mark Hall.

Mark is the lead singer of the Contemporary Christian band, Casting Crowns. Recently, he posted on the Casting Crowns social media sites:

"Hey Casting Crowns Family,

I would appreciate your prayers.

Doctors found a solid mass in my right kidney about a week ago. They are 90% sure it’s cancer and they are going to remove the entire kidney next Wednesday, March 11th. They believe the cancer is contained in the kidney, which is also a great hope. They will know more once it is out and Pathology can see it.

I’ll be in recovery for a month or a little longer because of the surgery. Please pray for healing and for God’s peace for my family.

Praising Him in This Storm

Mark Hall"

When I read the posting on the great book of Faces, my heart sank. I immediately was transported back in time, to March 20, 2014. I attended a Casting Crowns concert in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I had never been to a concert of contemporary Christian music before, so I had no real idea what I was in for. I had enjoyed the music of Third Day and MercyMe, and I had heard of Casting Crowns (and heard they were amazing to see live), so when the opportunity presented itself for me to attend the concert, it was a no-brainer. Mark Hall was larger than life for me. He stood in front of thousands of people, professing his faith, admitting his shortcomings, and asking everyone in attendance to allow our faith to guide us. It was life altering. I couldn't even talk about the concert for days, without getting teary eyed

At that point in my life, I had struggled with my faith. I believe I was driven to attend the concert by a higher force. I chose to listen and to believe the voice of truth that night and I was forever changed.

As someone who battled kidney issues very young in life, my prayers were immediately lifted for this man who helped awaken my soul, revive my faith, and made me instantly feel like a friend of his, even though we had never met.

If I could ever repay Mark Hall for what he - and the Casting Crowns - have done for me, it would be through this blog, encouraging others to keep #PrayingForMark, keeping he and his family in your thoughts now, on March 11, 2015, and in the coming months. The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid." I don't believe Mark Hall is fearful. I believe he is accepting this and I believe he will fight with every ounce of his power. I believe in the power of prayer (and I believe cancer SUCKS).

Until next time, my friends......please keep #PrayingForMark


Think Thankfully!

Because I'm HAPPY!

Dear Readers,

Well, I woke up in a happy mood. Immediately began working on some paperwork for school. Turned on the Golden Girls. Remained happy! Checked out the great book of Faces and saw the video of the Sesame Street characters singing along to the song Happy by Pharrell Williams. Many people are so sick of that song, but seeing the beloved Sesame Street characters singing and dancing along just kept me in that happy mood (almost as happy as I feel when I hear it in the Despicable Me movie!). A dear friend of mine posted it for a friend of hers, completely unaware that in doing so, she might possibly be helping others set their mood right for the day! (Thanks Sheri!!!) After viewing the video, I instantly knew what I wanted to blog about today. So the next visit on the great internet was blogger.com. 

And then....my happy mood disappeared (albeit only briefly disappeared). 9 people read my blog yesterday (and I know one of them was my mom. Remember what I said about her earlier). Sheesh. 9 people. Talk about feeling discouraged. Of all the blogs I've written, THAT one was a fun one to write. Refusing to let the little let down of the morning get the best of me, I immediately returned to the YouTube video on the great book of Faces to watch the video again and instantly I felt happy once again!

Let's explore the idea of being happy! Why are happy people happy? What makes them feel good despite miserable circumstances? What does it look like to be happy? What is happiness, really? More importantly, how do you achieve happiness?

Webster (the master of defining words) defines happy as “delighted, pleased, glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person. 2. Characterized by.....pleasure, contentment, or joy.” Hmmmmmm. Pretty cut and dry, not? Well, I hate to be the bearer of not-so-happy news, but happiness (being happy) is both a simple AND a complicated thing. Simple fact: being happy is solely dependent on YOU. Complicated fact: being happy is solely dependent on YOU. Say, whaaaaaaat? 

Being happy.....achieving a level of serious happiness.....feeling good despite miserable circumstances.....THEY ARE ALL DEPENDENT ON YOU. It's all about YOUR attitude. You, and you alone, control the attitude in which you go about your day. Sure, people can get you down, but YOUR ATTITUDE about them belongs to YOU. Being happy…..achieving happiness…..depends on our ability to think positively about what we have, what we experience, and what we do. Thinking positively about the here and now. Being satisfied with what we have, what we are doing, who we are! 

The bottom line here is that YOUR happiness is a personal matter…..we can only start with ourselves. After you decide that you will be happy, all that positivity and incredible happiness you feel will spread and bring joy and happiness to others. Happiness is contagious.  Spread it everywhere today!

Until next time, my friends....don't let anything bring you down today! Be happy!

                                                        Sesame Street Characters performing Happy
       

"Happy"

It might seem crazy what I'm about to say

Sunshine she's here, you can take a break

I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space

With the air, like I don't care baby by the way

{Uh}

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,

Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it back, yeah,

Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just fine, yeah,

No offense to you, don't waste your time

Here's why

{Hey

Go

Uh}

(Happy)

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

My level's too high

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

I said (let me tell you now)

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

My level's too high

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

I said

[Chorus x2]

{Hey

Go

Uh}

(Happy) [repeats]

Bring me down... can't nothing...

Bring me down... my level's too high...

Bring me down... can't nothing...

Bring me down, I said (let me tell you now)

[Chorus x2]

{Hey

C'mon}

Think Thankfully!

Life lessons from some of my favorite characters

Dear Readers,

Not all blog posts have to be about how to be more positive! I love writing about being positive and being more thankful but sometimes I like to take a step back and write about things that I absolutely LOVE. It gives my readers a little glimpse into me, as a real person, not just words behind a blog! So, let me tell you something about myself......

I love to read. I believe books are one of the most valuable treasures we can have.  To quote one of my favorite authors, “Reading can take you places you have never been before.” (Seuss).  I have always been surrounded by books. My parents read to me as a very young child. I learned to read on my own at a very young age. I read to my own daughters almost every night as they were growing up. I had more books on my bookshelves than the shelves actually had room for. I have always been fascinated by books and I try to instill in my own students a love for reading. I try to read aloud to them as often as I possibly can.

I’m not sure what it is about diving into a good book that really pacifies me.  I enjoyed venturing into the Hundred Acre Wood. Traveling the mighty seas with Captain Ahab. Flying in the Weasley’s car or taking the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4 to Hogwarts. Falling down the rabbit hole with Alice (and the White Rabbit). Roaming the plantation Tara. And even sitting bedside with Morrie Schwartz as he taught us many lessons on life and dying over the course of 14 Tuesdays. Books have the capability to remove you from your current location and take you anywhere you dream.

Often, when I find myself in times of trouble, I turn to a book. Nicholas Sparks can catapult me into a romance somewhere in the wonderful state of North Carolina. John Saul can torture my soul with his dark mysteries. Barbara Delinsky can show me that strong women make just as good protagonists as any man could. And Dr. Seuss can remind me of the fun that a book can bring into your life. I’ve learned many lessons from the characters on the pages of a good book (or even a not so good book).

Some of the greatest life lessons I’ve learned have been from some of my favorite characaters in some of my favorite books:

Christopher Robin (Winnie the Pooh) taught me to remember that I’m braver than I believe, and stronger than I seem, and smarter than I think.

Edmund Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia books) taught me that it is perfectly OK to admit when you are wrong.

Holden Caufield (The Catcher in the Rye) taught me to never take life too seriously, because after all, nothing is permanent.

Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre) taught me not to care what others think of me, or say about me, to remain strong. Life can be a tragedy, but it can be a beautiful tragedy!

Johnny Cade (The Outsiders) taught me to always stay gold.

Peter Pan (Peter Pan) taught me that I can always be a kid at heart, no matter how old I become.

Hazel Grace Lancaster (The Fault in our Stars) taught me to think and feel more.

Scarlett O’Hara (Gone with the Wind) and Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz) taught me that there is no place like home.

Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) taught me what real courage is: when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.

Boo Radley (To Kill a Mockingbird) taught me even if you're not perfect, even if you are broken, you can still find ways to be a hero.

Morrie Schwartz (Tuesdays with Morrie) taught me that once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.

Severus Snape (Harry Potter Series) taught me that there is room for good in everyone.

And last, but certainly not least in the life lessons learned in a book:

Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter Series) taught me that it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

Oh there are so many more lessons I have learned from reading books.  So many places I have been….courtrooms, beaches, magical schools, the Land of Oz, Atlanta, Narnia, Neverland, the mountains, the deserts, on boats, foreign countries. I have been so many places without ever leaving the comforts of my home and learned so many different things that have helped create the person who types on the keyboard, bringing you these blog postings as often as the inspiration hits me.

So, I ask....what books/characters shaped you? What are your favorite 'go-to reads'? What characters will you never forget?

Until next time, my friends....take the time to pick up a book and read. It's one of the most fundamental things you can do for YOU!

Think Thankfully!

A little 1978 country inspiration......tell me you aren't singing out loud!

Dear Readers,

I’m starting out this blog entry with a little disclaimer: if you do not like country music, stop reading right now! I have managed to change this entry many times today; more than you could ever imagine. It was not until I looked at my personal Think Thankfully post on the great book of Faces from last night, that the ultimate inspiration hit me!

If you are (or have ever been) a fan of country music (and even if you aren't or never have been), I'd be willing to bet you have heard Kenny Rogers’ famous song The Gambler. Many songs tell a story (if they are a good song that is) and The Gambler is no different. In this particular song, we have a young guy who’s down on his luck and ends up sitting next to an experienced old gambler on a train "bound for nowhere". The premise of the story is that the two tend to take turns staring out the window for awhile, when the tension between the two is broken and the experienced old gambler 'clues' the young traveler in that he has made a life out of 'reading people's faces'. The Gambler is able to tell that the young man next to him is pretty down on his luck, or 'out of aces' as the song describes. For a simple taste of whiskey (and a bummed cigarette and light), he is willing to offer his sage advice to his young traveling companion and it is at this point I believe everyone sings along when they hear the chorus ring out:

“You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em

Know when to fold ‘em

Know when to walk away

And know when to run

You never count your money

When you’re sittin’ at the table

Cuz there’ll be time enough for counting

When the dealin’s done”

One of the hardest parts of life, is knowing when to cut your losses. Knowing when to hold ‘em, fold  ‘em, walk away, or run. Yesterday was not a good day for me. It was a day filled with ultimate frustrations. Lately, I have been feeling more and more that I need a change of scenery. I allow too many things to get the best of me. I've lost my ability to 'shake it off' when I feel I'm not doing the best I can. In my line of work, the average burnout rate is 3-5 years. I have been at it for 18. Being the best in the classroom is something I work hard at and something I pride myself in. I don’t believe in quitting. Quitting is not an option for me. Being strong enough to know that I’m becoming ineffective and that perhaps it is time to walk away, is an admission I am not afraid to make. I understand myself well enough to know when I am more than capable of mustering through some frustrations, or when it’s best to just fold and walk away.

A wise person commented on my thankful status, saying, “Just make sure you know where you are running to!” This is the hard part. I know what I want. I know what I love, what I enjoy. I know where I want to run to, but actually being able to is an entirely new story. After posting my nightly status, a friend of mine sent me a video in which she said, "Hey! Did you have a bad day? I'm sorry. There's no reason to be upset because you have lots of friends and family who love you and accept you for who you are! You do what you have to do. You'll know when that time is right. Just know this: I LOVE YOU!" I sat and cried. As much as I help many people through their frustrations, people help me through mine!! (A little laughter goes a long way, too!!!)

Have no fear, I am not feeling down in the dumps, depressed, sad, or extremely defeated (ok, maybe just a little defeated, but not extremely so!). I simply know my limits and know that I must make a change in order to feel energized again. The wonderful thing about writing is that I can get my feelings out and help to get things into perspective. 

Until next time, my friends....just remember, the "secret to survivin' is knowing what to throw away, and knowing what to keep".

Think Thankfully!

The Gambler by Kenny Rogers (1978)

Working on a dream

Dear Readers,

I wish I had the ultimate answer to how to make this blog, our Think Thankfully Facebook page, and the idea of being a more thankful, positive person 'go viral'. Some days I feel like I am fighting a losing battle, although it is a battle I will fight as hard as I can for as long as I can. I write, I post, and yet, I can't reach the amount of people I want to reach. Please don't misunderstand my feelings. I am thrilled beyond words at how many people I do reach, I just find myself wishing for more. When I see other 'pages' on the great book of Faces that have thousands of followers, likes on images, comments on posts....I get very discouraged.

Sometimes, I feel as though people want to be more positive, but they do not really want to be more positive. Does that make sense? I get so discouraged when I can't get a few more likes on my page, when I am stagnant at a certain number, when my outreach is merely an audience of 100 (if I am lucky....some posts don't even garnish that much of an outreach). I get even more discouraged when people unlike the page. I take it personally. I wonder why. I don't post too much (in fact, I think I post too little), I don't clog up your newsfeed. What was it about my posts that caused you to unlike us? It's a frustrating feeling, a never ending cycle. I accept and readily admit that I get very envious of people who seem to have their shit together with regards to social media outreach. I don't know how to make that happen for me.

I wish I were able to make a career out of writing. I want nothing more than to write, to be 'well-renowned' in the world of words. I'd love to sit and write all day long. I know that it isn't as glamorous as I imagine it to be, and I know that there are many days when words aren't easy to come by, but I dream. I want to reach people. I want more than 30 people to read my blog. 

I sit here, wishing. I sit here, researching. I sit here, writing. Writing words that people will never see (well, except my mom. She reads ALL my blog postings!). Writing my innermost feelings. I find myself sitting at restaurants when thoughts swirl around my head. I wonder if what I have to say is worth anything to anyone.

For now, I will just keep doing what I'm doing....

Until next time, my friends....thanks for all the support! Keep on sharing!

Think Thankfully

Nobody puts Baby in a corner....

Dear Readers,

I sat in my living room yesterday afternoon, totally consumed by abcFamily. “Why?” you ask??? Dirty Dancing was on TV!!!! I’ve always LOVED this movie (I mean, c’mon people, how could you NOT love watching Patrick Swayze shaking his hips?!?) and I seem to get drawn in every time it is on TV. I remember the hype the summer this movie came out in the theaters. 1987. I was 14 years old.

The first time I ever remember seeing Patrick Swayze was in The Outsiders (which also happens to be one of my favorite books!!!). I instantly swooned over this bigger than life bad boy!!! Holy moly was I attracted to him, as only a teenaged girl could be. He definitely was a celebrity crush! And then, well, then Dirty Dancing came around and pretty much solidified my love for Patrick Swayze. Yes, I was crazy for Swayze. Patrick Swayze always seemed to play such romantic characters, and he could play them well!! As a hopeless romantic, the story of he and Baby resonated within me. Watching Johnny teach Baby to dance, taking her up in his muscular arms....well, it did something to me. It made me want to go to a place like Kellerman’s and find my own Johnny Castle. I often wondered if it really did exist: a place like Kellerman’s AND a guy like Johnny Castle. I watched and I knew right there and then I wanted some guy to hold me like that and dance with me like that and more importantly, LOVE me like that.

Hearing Baby speak one of her most famous lines, “Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you.”, I felt like she understood me. And as my life unfolded and my 14 year old self grew up, each time I watched Dirty Dancing (yesterday included) those words scream at me.

I’ve come to realize that when you love someone you have to take the risk of getting hurt. Without risk there is no reward. I also learned that relationships are not perfect and sometimes together you can overcome what seems like insurmountable challenges. I had a pretty crappy first marriage. I wasn’t treated like Baby, but rather I was almost treated as a baby. I wasn’t made to feel like I was an important part of his life, but rather that I needed him in order to go through each day. It wasn't love, it became dependency. I took a risk when I met my current husband. We both weren’t in positions to be able to just be together. However, I knew that I wasn’t willing to just walk away because I knew I would NEVER feel the rest of my whole life the way I felt when I was around him. I finally had my Johnny Castle and I was not about to let him go.

While movies like Dirty Dancing are created purely for entertainment (and money making) purposes, they also have some pretty hefty messages within them that we can carry forward into our own lives. It is when we take the time to watch, REALLY watch, that we can understand. And perhaps each time we watch, something new will pop up. Take some time to enjoy the movies.

Until next time, my friends……Nobody puts Baby in a corner!

Think Thankfully