Stay safe. Stay healthy. STAY HOME!

It's been a while since I last blogged. Honestly, the creative juices have not been flowing so freely this last month or so. Considering the state of the world right now, I felt as though writing might be something that would help my current state of mind. 

My routine has been shaken up as a result of COVID-19, much like a lot of you I would assume. Being in a state of limbo with regards to what work is going to look like, whether those I love are taking this seriously and staying safe, how long is this going to last.....among a lot of other thoughts racing through my head....this all really stinks. But one thing I know for sure is that together we will get through all this as long as we stay safe, stay healthy, and STAY HOME!

I decided to take a break from Facebook for the Lenten season. I still post my nightly thankful posts (and thank GOD I do, because that is helping to keep me sane throughout all of this - I haven't left my house except to walk the dogs around town once or twice a day) and I occasionally post from Instagram (mainly for birthdays I feel need recognition - parents, nieces, etc). I haven't truly scrolled through Facebook in a long period of time. I'm learning how freeing it is to NOT be so reliant on social media and the misinformation that spreads rampant on those platforms. Reflecting on my time away (isn't that what Lent is all about - reflection?), I am not so sure I will ever go back to the Facebook activity that I once had.

This time in our lives is definitely a challenging one. No one truly knows what to expect and the unknowns are quite scary (at least I think they are). I'm a bit of a loner, truth be told. I'm ok being here in my house with just my dogs and my husband, but I do miss being with my extended family. I miss the occasional interaction with acquaintances I'd see at the grocery store or post office. I miss seeing my work friends. I miss my best friend. I do miss life as I knew it prior to COVID-19 coming around. I'm sure we all do.

I can't tell you what to do. I can't tell you how to feel. But I can ask you to stay safe, stay healthy, and STAY HOME.  For your sake and for mine....STAY HOME.

 

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

Write what you love....love what you write!

Happy last day of March 2014! I can hardly believe that the last time I truly sat down to write was February 11. I remember the day well, as it was my birthday AND the 1st angelversary of a special little girl in my life. Here we now are, the last day of March, and I have a 2 hour delay! WOW!

So, let me take this time to tell you, I had an extremely amazing experience during the time we were apart. On March 20, I was asked to go along to a Contemporary Christian concert featuring the Casting Crowns. Of course, I said yes....Next to MercyMe and Third Day, I was a fan of Casting Crowns. WOW! I can hardly contain my feelings when I think back to how amazing that concert was! I was so eager to write about it, so eager to put into words what I was feeling. To say it moved me is an understatement. I'd be willing to say it did more than just move me....it pretty much lifted me and replanted me!

Also, during our time apart, we celebrated birthdays in the family! My mom and dad both had birthdays in the Month of March! I'd tell you how old they are, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't believe me anyway! It always amazes me that my family sticks to tradition and always looks to have cake and ice cream for the birthday boy or girl. Doesn't matter how old you are, we still celebrate! Also, my beloved Grandma would have celebrated a birthday this month, too. I can say, with all honesty, this is the first year I wasn't all heartbroken over not having her here. Her birthday was recognized and honored, but it wasn't a day of sadness. I think I'm completely at peace.....

Write what you love.....love what you write. This whole Think Thankfully journey did not stop because I was missing my desktop for so long. The wonderful app developers at Facebook updated their page manager app and I am now given the wonderful choice of setting up the Think Thankfully Facebook page days in advance. I can schedule posts so that I don't have to feel ball and chained to the page. I collect my images and schedule for two days in advance. Our followers are almost up to 600! Our Journey to a Thousand Thankful Hearts is well underway! I love writing the positives. I love writing about things that make my heart smile. I love writing about the happy world around me. In keeping up with the page and now being back to writing again, I realize just how my life has changed. My happy days far outnumber the unhappy days. I've pushed mistrust and insecurities to a far, hidden corner of my world. I've realized that in order to live a happy life, we must BE happy....and it starts with ourselves.

I still see the 'whoa is me' statuses floating around on Facebook and it makes me sad. I still see people worrying so much about what others are or are not doing and it pains my heart. I truly wish people understood the message. If you want to be happy....then BE HAPPY. The only thing stopping you is YOU. I've lost some more 'friends' on Facebook because people think that if I don't comment or respond to things they post, I'm ignoring them. Not true. I've learned I am NOT living my life if I keep strapped to Facebook. I don't see a lot of things because I have significantly limited my time on it. Facebook is not life. My life is very busy. In addition to working 5 days a week, I still have a non-driving teen at home who is very active with sports and life. THIS is where I am needed. THIS is where I choose to be.

Write what you love, love what you write.....it feels so good to be back!

Until tomorrow, my friends.....

Think Thankfully!

Feels good to be writing again!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Feels so good to be back and able to blog again!

Let me start by apologizing for the lack of blog posts since February. My desktop tower finally konked out on me and until I was able to finally get it repaired (rather than replace it), I wasn't able to do my blogging. Sure I have an iPad, but it really isn't easy to blog on. Even tougher yet, is trying to blog on my phone. I guess I am one of those people who, once I do things on a certain platform, am completely unable to adjust to change!

A lot has happened since the last time we were together! I'm not even sure where to begin, so I will just say, I'm back and ready to write again!!!!  A lot of things have been swimming through my head and I am eager to get back to writing on a somewhat daily basis!

Thanks for waiting! Sorry to have left so abruptly!

Until tomorrow, my friends.....

THINK THANKFULLY!