Beauty Is All Around Us

 

Amidst all the ugly pain and destruction, there’s also beauty in this world. I like to get out there and capture that from time to time. I hope you like the pictures! See something beautiful, something that makes you smile today? Share it with me!? Let’s share some good with one another!

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Our Greatest Foe – Our Own Minds

There are endless enemies among us, but there is often no greater foe than the demons that live within us.

Every single day is a battle against ourselves, fighting the evil that’s within us all. But make no mistake, even though sometimes we lose, it’s always worth the fight.

There’s much good within us too and to see it in play is an amazing thing. So I encourage each of you that feels like they’re struggling today to fight, fight to keep those inner demons at bay and let your good shine through. ♡♡♡

Don’t Blend In, Be Proud to Stand Out

Surrounding the world is a thick mist & dark shadow

It threatens to take over, suppressing all light & hope

Hate, cruelty, & greed have such power, it tries to sway all to follow

It has the capability to leave a soul feeling nothing but empty & hollow

 

It defiantly smirks & tells hope, joy, & love that its time here is done

That instead it shall takes its place among the hearts of men

Already it has begun to corrupt hearts once noble & true

Seeking to destroy each & every soul, including me & you

 

Promising power, riches, fame, & fortune to all who succumb

Not revealing its true intentions, to win our favor & then let us destroy one another

Will you fight against the evil that appears to have the upper hand?

Will you with those brave enough be willing to take a stand?

 

Upon our fortresses, we must gather & fight with all that is within us

Hold our shields over our hearts & resist the urge to give in to it

Standing tall together with our heads held up high

Letting society’s darkness know it will never truly win, no matter how hard it does try

 

It tells us we must quietly blend in, to give in to its propaganda

To believe it, to not see what it is really trying to accomplish

Divide & conquer is & has always been its true goal

To be our master forever more is its desired role

 

Diets, plastic surgery, designer clothes, & other frivolous things

Do not stand out, just blend in, give up your identity

But then we become what it wants us to be, clones of one another

Forgetting that we are bound together as sisters & brothers

 

So to you all I say this now, do not give in to its false promises

Do not let it divide us as it’s been trying relentlessly to do

Stand tall & be proud of the individual that you were born to be

And never forget that within each of us is love, hope, joy, & loyalty

Thank you

 

On this the day before Thanksgiving, I want to give thanks for the blessings in my life, including all of you…my WordPress family. I have so much to be thankful for. I listed something every single day since November 1st on my Facebook account. I found the closer I got to Thanksgiving, the harder it got for me to choose something because I realize now more than ever how very blessed I am, how beautiful my life is, even in its darkest moments. 

I am thankful for God and His goodness, forgiveness, and grace. I am thankful for all He does for me, for how many times He’s saved me both physically and mentally. I am thankful for the many family and friends that I have had and currently have in my life. I am thankful for the many ways my life has been enriched and blessed because of them. I am thankful for the joy they bring me, the lessons they teach me, the ways they inspire me, the encouragement they give, the push and drive they instill in me, & most of all the laughter and love. I am thankful for most of all for my son. He has taught me more about unconditional love than I thought I’d ever know. He is a light in my life that I thank God for every single day. I am thankful for my amazing boyfriend, for the rock he’s been, for the love he gives me, for getting to know me and accepting me as is, for all he does, and for all he is. I am thankful for the joy my pets have brought to my life. My cats have all been so loyal, friendly, and loving. They’ve been more than just pets; they’ve been family. 

The relationships in my life are most cherished indeed. I try so hard not to take anyone I love for granted. I want everyone I love to know how special they are to me for as long as I have the chance to do so. Life is fleeting and none of us knows how long we have here. I want to make sure I don’t waste what time I have. Not worrying or stressing out isn’t something I can stop outright, but I have been getting better at focusing more on the good in my life and there is a lot of that. 🙂

Besides the people and animals in my life, there is so much more to be thankful for. I have a job and even though my hours were cut, at least I have an income. I like what I do and am happy for the most part with where I work. Being able to pay bills and do things like provide for my son is very satisfying. Giving my son a good birthday a couple weeks back meant a lot to me. I live in a nice house in a decent neighborhood. It is a very good feeling for both Doug and I. I have a car that works, gets me to where I need to go, and looks nice too. I have enough clothes to wear, food to eat, books to read, music to listen to, games and puzzles to challenge me and that also allows my family and I many fun things to do together, and so on. I have my camera to make memories with and help others do the same. I have my voice…allowing me to speak and to sing. I have bad eyesight, but with the aid of glasses…I can do most things. I am thankful for technology that allows people like me to have a better quality of life. I have great hearing which allows me to enjoy music, the sound of my son’s laughter, and so much more. I have my wit, intelligence, and compassionate nature. God gave me so many talents and I am thankful for each one. Instead of complaining about what I can’t do, I focus more on what I can and also working together with others. When we combine our talents, we find we can do so much more than we could do alone. Seriously, when I really think about it, my life is really beautiful. There are bumps in the road, bad things happen, and sometimes my mood isn’t all that great….but I look at the bad now and see it all as lessons to learn and also it helps me appreciate the good in my life that much more. 

Like I said in the beginning, I am thankful to all of you who read my blog. Some have only run across one post and decided they liked it and I never heard from them again and some are avid readers. No matter how many times you read my words, listen to a video I post, or look at a picture I share doesn’t matter in the end. Any and all support is very much appreciated. Thank for each view, like, comment, and re-blog. I have said it before, I will say it now, and will undoubtedly say it again….thank you for inspiring me and letting me inspire you. I like reading your blogs. I don’t always have something to say, though when I do, I will. 😉 Do you realize that many of your posts have influenced mine? You guys and dolls are great! And then telling me many times that I inspire you is so humbling. I had no idea I’d touch so many hearts with my blog. It’s an amazing feeling. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this and for each of you that I have interacted with. I love ya guys and dolls, a lot. 🙂

I hope that those of you celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow will have an amazing day, filled with love….no matter who you spend it with. May it be filled with joy and may you make wonderful memories to last you a lifetime. Enjoy your family, friends, and of course the food too. 🙂 I know there are those across the world that don’t celebrate this day, so for you I just wish you a safe and happy day, whatever you do and whomever you spend your day with. Whether tomorrow is Thanksgiving to you or just another day, perhaps still take a moment to be thankful for your many blessings. Well, I am out of here for a few days…got a lot going on, take care and much love to all of you. Again, thank you for your support. YOU ALL ROCK! ❤

Now I know my ABC’s, next time won’t you sing with me?

Almost always rushing

Bills to pay

Cat to feed

Deadlines to make

Everyone needs something

Food to put on the table

Garbage to take out

Homework to help with

Ice to scrape off the car

Jealousy to calm

Knees to soothe

Laundry to do

Mistakes to remedy

Nails breaking

Oil needs to be changed soon

Projects to undertake

Quiet please!

Rooms to tidy

Sore throat to mend

Traveling at light speeds

Understanding demanded

Vacuuming to be done

Washing the dishes

X-rays for that pesky wrist

Yawning, is the day done yet?

Zero regrets when all Is said and done 😉

 

Life sometimes seems to be one chore after another, but while there is much to do, to accomplish….there is also much to enjoy. Sometimes I think we forget that when our minds are consumed with deadlines, projects, errands, etc. Life is short and we often spend so much time wasting it on worry and stress. Let’s face it, life will be stressful at times, there’s just no escaping that. However, our lives can be full of love, joy, wonderful memories, friendships, family, and so on. So I have this to say, life is short, let’s not waste it. ❤

Trick or Treat?

What you see isn’t always what you get

Let that be a lesson you don’t soon forget

Don’t become jaded with the world

Just please don’t believe everything you’re told

 

There is so much good left within our race

It hasn’t vanished without a trace

God shows us every single day that love is alive

Out of sadness, joy can derive

 

I just ask that you remember this

Tragedy too can come from bliss

Be aware of who and what surrounds you

Let your keen senses tell you what is true

 

Many are out to help and love

That fact is as sure as God reigns from up above

But today as many all over the nation cry, Trick or Treat

Keep a weather eye on those who would trick and who is sweet

Sharing some thoughts, some insights…

I have given a lot of thought to some things lately and I want to share the mutterings of my mind with you.

For so long, I went around saying that love can be cruel, full of heartache and sorrow. I now view this differently. It is not love itself that causes heartache, that causes one to hurt. What causes the pain is the absence of love. Love itself has the power to help, to heal, to change hearts for the better. When we lack love, when we’re not loved in return, this is when the pain starts.

I am also done blaming others and circumstances for where I am in life, for the things I have done. We’re not a product of circumstance, we are a product of our own decisions. Bad things happen to everyone, but it’s not those things that determine who we are. Our choices are what shows the world what we’re made of.

I am bi-polar and schizophrenic, for years I blamed them for the many bad decisions I have made. I also blamed my mom, blamed her for not being there for me. I blamed her boyfriend from way back when and the things he did to me, blamed him for my heart being so twisted. I blamed my dad for neglecting me, for my problems with not trusting men. I blamed our lack of money and not being able to have the clothes, toys, and such that I wanted on why I didn’t have a lot of friends as a kid. I blamed old boyfriends and the pain they caused for continuing to distrust men, relationships, and love. I blamed so many people and situations for the problems in my life and that caused a lot of needless anger, resentment for myself and others, and pain.

The things that have happened to me over the years have shaped me into who I am now. I do not let any of it define me though. I refuse to be held down by my disorders, my family drama, old wounds. I now choose to take responsibility for my own actions and to move forward with my life in a positive way. I want to tell each of you reading this my decision and want to invite you to join me in this journey.

We each have the power to do great things in life. We can let our pasts hinder us or we can choose to let them teach us and help us to do better now. We can’t control what people do to us, how others react to the things we say and do, but what we can control is our own words and actions. I want to do better with what I say and do. I want to inspire, lift people up, help others. I want my actions to speak of the love I have for God, for myself, and for humanity.

The world has many dark places, but it has not yet surrendered to the void. There is still so much light left all across the world. I see it in the kindness that many still show one another. I see it when a guy helps out an elderly woman he doesn’t know get her groceries into her trunk. I see it when the woman behind me in line offers me change because I am 32 cents short of what I need. I see it when my son helps out around the house and actually expects nothing in return. I see it when people give of their money and time to help those who have no where to go find shelter, food, and clothing. I see love all around me. I could cling to the evil that surrounds us, but I instead choose to cling to that love that people still show one another. I have not given up on us as a human race. God’s love shines still, ever so bright.

I am not where I want to be, not yet, but nor am I held down by who I once was. I can actually look into the mirror and love who I see. I am making changes to better my life and the lives of those around me. I want to thank each of you who have followed my blog, liked a post, left a comment. This community has taught me so much. I love reading what each of you has to say. It’s changed my perspective on some things, shown me the light still shines from afar in other’s hearts, made me laugh, made me cry, and just made me feel. Thank you for sharing your stories, poems, thoughts, dreams, pictures, jokes, and so much more. Thank you for sharing in my life as well, you’re all great. Keep up the great work and keep stopping by! Go out and conquer the world, one dream and one light at a time! The time is now, the decisions are yours to make, make a difference!