Showing posts with label Kindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kindness. Show all posts

We Can Be Healed From Our Brokenness




It's been a very long time since I have sat down at my computer to write, I am not even sure why it has taken so long, I think constantly about writing but I had difficulty putting my thoughts into words. I keep thinking about how I have been holding onto anger and disappointment for a long time, I haven't been angry at anyone, more angry with my situation. It leaves me feeling guilty because I am well aware that there are people handling things much more difficult in life than I am. 

I guess I thought my life was headed in another direction, I had worked so hard to be healthy so that I could eventually travel and see all the places I have desired to see. Instead I am semi trapped in my home without the ability to leave when I want to, I have to plan a trip out to the store or the doctors and hope that I can handle it until I can make it home. I am forever grateful that I can work from home, I think about how much worse it could be for me if I wasn't blessed in that way. I count my blessings daily because I know deep down how lucky I am.
I remembered a talk that was given by a member of my church many years ago about how although we may be broken in many ways, physically with our bodies, emotionally with our hearts and often our minds.... these are tests and trials we have to deal with to grow. Growth is never easy, if it was was we wouldn't appreciate it, we would believe it was simple ... I remember when I was in my 20's and my baby sister was dealing with an abusive relationship, you know what I thought... she just needs to leave... I had no empathy.  I was almost angry that she stayed in that situation for as long as she did... Then I met Andrey and I grew to understand how come she stayed... I gained empathy and I knew it was incredibly strong of her to finally leave. With the empathy I gained, I too found the strength to leave. 

Sometimes life throws us curves, ones we don't understand why we have to deal with them... we shut down, hold on to anger, close people out because we feel like no one would understand... we think that people will just say grow up, deal with it... someone has it harder than you do... when all that we need is kindness, empathy and love.  We are all dealing with trials or tests that seem so unbearable we are sure we won't make it through to the other side and once we do, we gain knowledge that we never would have gained without going through it. It's not easy, it's tougher than we know but ultimately what we gain is so much more than what the trial was... 
I think about my mom and dad losing their daughter Kimberly at such a young age, she was a little over three... it nearly destroyed them but my mother came through it stronger and knowing that she would see Kimberly again one day... my father instead was an alcoholic and drug addicted, doing everything he could not to deal with the loss ... he was sad and broken, it took me years to see that, I used to think, why doesn't he just get it together... he didn't know how... I believe both my parents have seen Kimmy once they passed on... 

What all this makes me think about is do I want to live my life, sad... angry... disappointed because it doesn't seem like my life is turning out the way I had hoped and planned? Or do I want to remember that although I feel broken in many ways, I can be healed and still find wonderful things to be happy about and feel blessed for... I may not travel the way I had hoped but I can take the time to know people from those places and learn about their heritage... I am so much more blessed then I tend to remember. Although I have had trials and tests that broke me at times, I have found the meaning and healed .... we can all be healed from our brokenness...
 

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Being Kind To Myself

I have been thinking a lot about how I have been feeling about myself lately... I know I have been harder on myself than I would ever be on anyone else, I think I expect too much of myself and I don't cut myself a break because I sometimes believe I have too many excuses. I haven't wanted to use justification so that I have a reason not to change. However; these past two weeks have shown me that I am not rationalizing anything... I'm honestly in a great deal of pain. Walking more than a few blocks have become intolerable, just standing up is an effort... I have kept thinking this will pass so that I can get back on track.
 
I took an additional two days of vacation off with my weekend, I really needed the time off from work to think and relax  ... While I was off, I tried to do a little shopping and I finally had to admit to myself that this is worse than what I had been admitting to myself, there's something more going on that I need to take the time to find out, it's not normal to have this much pain. When I get back to work tomorrow, I will be looking to take a vacation day next week or the one after where I can make an appointment with my doctor. 
The good thing is my friend and I are planning on joining the Canada Games Center this month, swimming will be about the only thing I can deal with right now as I don't need any added stress on my joints. Once I join, I plan to go there 3-4 times per week, I would love to say more but I don't want to push it... I can always add to it later. Also, my friend loves to swim in the lakes once the water is warm enough, so we definitely plan on doing that often this summer. Until I find out what is going on with me physically I am not going to overdue it with anything. I'll probably have to see a physiotherapist... I am hopeful I can turn this around. 
 
Also, Valentina saw the orthodontist and we have two options, one that we are leaning towards but we are waiting until the dentist receives the file, then we can make an informed decision. The good thing is that either method will fix the issue she is having, which I am grateful for... I know how important it is to have nice and healthy teeth, it makes such a difference with your self-esteem. Since I grew up with less than stellar looking teeth due to the fire I survived, I want different for my children if at all possible. 
I have been reading a great deal blogs over the past two weeks and quite a few of them involved learning to accept and love ourselves for who we are... and not putting ourselves down if we fail from time to time. If we are afraid to fail, we will never succeed. If I slip up it doesn't mean I am weak and unlovable, it means I just need to find a different way to succeed. There will be a way, it will just take time to figure out ... Admitting there is a physical issue is the first thing I need to do so that I can find out what is happening and then I can find what will work for me. 

Spring is just around the corner, we have been pretty lucky with the winter here this year which I have been really grateful for... it has been a blessing that I have not had to go out in it daily... with how I feel I don't know that I could have dealt with the commute much longer. I'm not going to be disappointed with myself, this isn't something I can just talk myself into... it's the same with depression when someone feels like this, they can't just tell themselves to get up and do things... they need to get help. The answer is that I need to be kinder to myself, the way I am with others...
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Christmas Wish 2016

 Our Christmas Tree for 2016🎁🎀🎄
 
I have to say working from home has been SO good for me, I'm nowhere as exhausted as I was in the past. Last weekend I did all my Christmas shopping except for one item, then I had some company drop over last Saturday and they were sweet and offered to wrap all my gifts (this is my least favorite activity) ... for the first time in a very long time I am really looking forward to Christmas. I have tried to get into the spirit of it for the last couple of years but deep down it wasn't there... basically, I faked it until I made it. I could never fake it with myself, though, I just went through the motions.

I am excited that I will be having a few friends over for Christmas too, it has been a while since I hosted a holiday dinner. Tonight I will be watching all my favorite holiday movies while baking and cooking... It was a tradition for years when I was raising Andrea, now that I am working from home, I have the time to do the things I love for Christmas... I am happy that I am feeling the spirit of the season and that I am excited to celebrate the holidays.
This is just a short post to wish everyone one of you a happy holiday and a very Merry Christmas. Remember that this season is not always easy or happy for everyone, I hope that we can try to include those people who might be alone or in need of some love and kindness. This is my mission for next year and in the future, as love and relationships are what is the most important now and throughout the year.
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No More What If's

This weekend has been a busy one, my oldest Andrea is home for a visit. My nephew got married so she came up for that and stayed a few days for a visit.  She was only able to come by herself, we had a good time though... we went to the wedding together, which was beautiful, then I cooked tacos for her on Saturday, like old times and then yesterday we went shopping for a new pair of Nike's for Jackson.

Anyhow, this is why I have been absent from reading and answering blogs, she is flying home early tomorrow morning and then it is back to work for me.  I am hoping to go to the fireworks tonight, as long as the weather holds up.  Then the following week Valentina will be going camping for 6 days and I will be on my own.  I plan to get back into walking as much as I can, I will be able to just go when I feel like it.
I read a blog a few days ago and it was incredible, it kept asking the question What If? to the many different instances in the writers life.  I commented that I had to put the what if's away, the what if's were pulling me down, not allowing me to move forward. It had been a very long road to get to that point and the thought of allowing the what if's to take me back there, would only have me going backwards and I want to live in the present. 

When I stopped living with the questions of what if's? I started moving forward... Is it still sad sometimes? Yes... in can be, but I wanted more than the what if's? I want what I deserve too, a good, honest and kind man... one that sees how wonderful and committed I am.

I am going to be very busy taking 2 courses at the same time, plus being a mama, working full time and exercising.  I need to get these by the end of the year, I am going to give it my best to complete both of them. Then I can have my PCP and run payroll anywhere in Canada.  I will be catching up with you as much as I can, I will have a ton of homework... but I will need a little down time, so reading will be a must ... I will comment as often as possible.  Of course if you comment on my blog I will definitely reciprocate.

The reason I am putting all the effort I can into getting my CPA is that I don't want to look back a year from now and say I wish I had completed those courses. I have what it takes to finish them and to excel. Since losing the weight, I saw that I was capable of whatever I put my mind to... there will be No More What If's...
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I Am Requesting Prayers and Positive Thoughts for my 'D'

The only thing that matters now is my mission.  Nothing will stand in the way anymore. 
UPDATE:

I will write more tomorrow... my David okay, he made it through the surgery, it was very serious.. I am really grateful to everyone for their prayers and positive thoughts... 

Tomorrow is the big day, the big scary day for me... David is going in for surgery at 11:00 am Alberta time, which will be about 2:00 pm my time.  We talked today, he said the surgeon is known to be very good.... I hope so.  Of course I won't hear anything until my David is alert and able to text me, that might not be until the next day. Maybe someone will post it on his Facebook wall, I know I will be on pins and needles until I know he is okay.  I told him that I will be posting a request on Facebook for prayers and good thoughts for him, I am not above begging for my David.  Whatever your belief system is, could you either pray or send out positive thoughts for him?  He means a great deal to me, I am pretty sure that anyone who reads my blog is well aware of that but just in case you didn't know and might have been living under a rock, my David is extremely important to me.

Today with all the worry I have, he set about to make me laugh, he is always trying to make me smile or laugh.. he is funny and he tries to see the lighter side of things.  It is a good trait to have, it is not always easy for him as he has had many difficult trials in the past few years... however; he tries very hard to not let it get him down.  I took an opportunity to go for a jog/walk today, I did my 5K in 47.4 minutes, almost as good as last week.  It was raining today, so I was a little nervous of slipping on a leaf so I was a little more careful than usual.  I was soaked by the time I got home but it felt great, I was tired but in a good way if you know what I mean.  The muscles in my legs had been sore but after this workout, they started feeling better, I really stretched them out.  What I am really hoping is that I am able to sleep, although I don't hold out a lot of hope that, that will happen. I didn't sleep much before my own operation and I tend to worry more for other people than myself... I think most of us do.  Besides this is my David...
I have to say something, it isn't about one person... I might have even been guilty of this in the past.  I am not pointing fingers but why must we do everything we can to tear another person down?  Why would we not want to lift each other up? Just because we don't always think like someone else, why do we feel the need to take that opportunity to be nasty to each other?  I personally do not want to be nasty to anyone... I may have been in the past, I am not perfect but the older that I get the less I want to be mean or hurtful to other people.  We are all dealing with our own baggage in life, none of us have a simple life, (it only looks like it sometimes).

First there is an incident at work, I was shocked at how some people talk to each other, we are in this together... we should be lifting each other up, working together.  Not trying to pull each other down, I myself had some small incidents with people from other regions in the past and it made me sad that there was any hurt feelings between us but I certainly work very hard to get along with the people that I work with on the floor...  we are a diverse group of people, we have different things going on in our personal lives but the last thing I want to do is make it any harder for any of my co-workers.  I would hope that everyone would want this too... we have to see each other everyday, let's try to get along.

The second incident was through a church friend, for some reason someone felt it was okay to be mean to her for a belief she had, the other person was a church member too... Really?  I love both of these people, I respect both of them... I am sad that one of them would feel the need to be mean to the other, leaving the first person to cry.  That is not what we are about, we are about love, kindness, service.  If one of us is having a bad day, let's talk about it, let's pray for each other, let's remember we are all fighting our own battles. Most of all, let us all forgive each other and move on...
I just had to say this because I feel like sometimes we don't think when we talk, we forget that each and every human being is having it rough, not one of us gets by in this life and has it simple.  If you do, great for you but I don't believe that, we all have one challenge after another, either from our own making from decisions we have made (I have had a lot of those) or from life challenges.  If you have something you have to work out with someone, take that opportunity to do it, you don't want regrets... I know I don't want any regrets myself.

I hope you will all take a moment to either pray for or send out good thoughts for my David, I will and would do the same for you at anytime.  Just ask and I would be more than happy to include you in my prayers. Thank you.

I cherish my past, I accept my present and I dream for my future ♥ 

Happy Tenth Birthday To My Valentina

I can't believe it has been ten years since my Valentina was born... a day when I learned it was possible to love two children with my whole heart but in different ways.

Right from the moment she was born, I was enamored by her as many people have been over the years.  She has a kind and very sweet personality with a beautiful smile.  It's difficult to not be drawn to her, she has that beautiful quality.

Every day I have her in my life I feel beyond blessed... my Heavenly Father knew the personality I could handle... My Valentina is so soft hearted, if she becomes snappy with me.. she apologizes quickly.



Her spirit is so beautiful and she shines from the inside out.  Today the weather was so much like the day she was born, sunny and cool... I'm transported back to that day, remembering how my heart opened so wide once I held her after delivering her.

Happy tenth Birthday to my beautiful baby daughter Valentina.... my life changed in such a good way ten years ago today <3

I cherish my past, I accept my present and I dream for my future

It's Not About Me





Wow, I have read my first chapter of 'The Purpose Driven Life', it is only five pages long, however; there is a 45 minute video that you watch after you read.  This 40 days that I have committed to is not a quick thing I will be doing.  I have decided that I will choose to watch the video and read the chapter in the morning and then I will think about it through the day and I will blog in the evening...

The first thought or point to ponder is "It's not about me"...  I truly believe this, I know I have tried to make it about me several times in my life by thinking what should I do with my life?  What are my goals?  What are my dreams?  Although I believe having goals and dreams are good things to have in my life... otherwise I founder with no purpose.  Instead of thinking what should I do with my life?  I need to think "What does God want me to do with my life?



I am a Christian, I believe in God... I respect everyone's opinions, I don't force my opinions on anyone else.  I have always been one of those people who does not feel comfortable talking about God with just anyone since I didn't want people thinking I was being pushy or that I know more than they do.  I am not embarrassed to believe in my faith, I have not always been open about it.... especially when I was living the complete opposite of what I believed in, I never wanted the church to be judged on my actions.

Whenever it is brought up, I am honest, I tell people I am a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints (LDS).  I usually ask them not to judge the church by me, I realize that because my life has not gone the way that I wanted it to go that I turned away and basically said 'okay, if I can't have what I want, I will live however I feel like living'.  This makes me wonder how committed I am?  I made this about me and it's not...

This chapter and video reminded me that I was not born to have life my way, I was born to give love, compassion and kindness.  My Heavenly Father wants me to be happy, he wants all of us to find joy and honestly the only way for me to have happiness and joy is serve and love other people.  If I serve, I will be able to stop centering on myself and what I feel I lack... and what do I feel that I lack?  Love... That's pretty self centered of me as I know there are many people who love me... I wanted things my way and in my time and I didn't care about what God might have wanted for me.

I sometimes even thought why does so and so have what I want and they don't appreciate it?  I thought just give me what I want, I will be grateful, I will appreciate it.  Would I though?  or would I be ungrateful and looking for the next thing I want... Besides, who am I to judge anyone on whether they are grateful enough for what they have?  I can only judge myself and not others, it's not about me.

After reading and pondering this chapter, I realize I have been centered on what I want for me ... which I recognize is a bit selfish. I do want to preface this to say that I think it is okay to have goals and dreams for ourselves, I just don't think that I should be so locked into them that I don't see the opportunities that I have to serve and love others.  To have a purpose driven life is to know that it's not about me...


I cherish my past, I accept my present and I dream for my future

Kindness Begins With Me

Kindness beings with me

I have been thinking about the way we treat each other... I know that I have been guilty of taking on other peoples moods, however; there have been those times that I have turned it around and by the time the encounter is over, the person has taken on my mood. I believe it all begins with kindness and it begins with me... I am going to make a concerted effort to not let other peoples moods change mine. 

My day goes better when I don't allow other peoples bad emotions to dictate mine.  I deal with clients at my job and I have found that when I show a bit of kindness for whatever issue they have, they have shown great gratitude and actually thanked me for my kind attitude.  I have to say those calls are the best, the ones where I felt I made someones day. 
I have had those people when I have had to call in for an issue... where I might not have been in the happiest mood but they show me a little kindness and by the time the call is over, I have adopted there good mood. What we really need to remember and when I say we... I really mean me, we are all dealing with a lot, if we can remember that and show a little kindness, we could actually make someones day a bit brighter.

I am going to remember this the most with my family and friends... this is where I need to start being more aware of my mood, the more kind I am with the people close to me, the more they will feel like spreading that kindness to others.  I am not a Pollyanna... I am aware there are people I will deal with that no matter how kind I am, they will not change their attitude.  That's okay, what I am saying is that I want to continue to be kind in spite of their attitude... we are all dealing with many battles.  I want kindness to begin with me.
 I cherish my past, I accept my present and I dream for my future

Take A Small Step In The Right Direction


The quote above reminded me that I was at a very low point over the holidays in 2012, where I could not see how I would or could be happy again.  I had so many memories and emotions that I had to deal with, I wasn't sure I wouldn't break down completely after the holidays.  I was seeing some light at the end of the tunnel but I couldn't see the full picture.

I don't know the single moment in time that it changed but I know that it came with taking a small step... am I saying it has been suddenly easy to deal with the David thing?  No, it isn't simple but I took a step in the right direction... I made the choice to turn it around.  No one else could have got me there, only me.... I had to trust myself enough to take the step.

Last year was highly emotional for me as everyone who either reads my blog or knows me is aware of this.  I just wanted to feel peace again, I wanted to stop spinning out of control.  I realized that I was looking at it all the wrong way, I was looking for peace to take over my life when I needed to give peace to find it... exactly like love.  This is the way it is with anything good, if you want kindness, you give kindness... there are no limitations.

Here is something I have learned this past year, sometimes we have to lose what is most important to us so that we will become who we are meant to be.  This is NOT an easy lesson, it is incredibly difficult, I cannot even begin to explain the depths of emotions that I have had to go through to get to where I am today.

I know I have gone through a great deal but nothing harder than what other people have gone through, just different challenges and trials. We all have highs and lows, learning to deal with the lows without letting them break us apart is the key to our success.  I am ever learning daily what it takes, I won't ever give up trying.

I cherish my past, I accept my present and I dream for my future

Love ~ Peace ~ Joy



"Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind."

Eric Hoffer


This quote spoke to me this morning, I believe it's true.  This is difficult as when kind people are kind it is not always received the same way.  People that are not kind take it as an opportunity to use you; this used to bother me but now I feel that is their issue.   I am going to continue to be kind and loving.


Does this mean I will let someone walk all over me, NO!  I have boundaries.   Otherwise I'd just be a door mat, which I'm not.  I am a daughter of Heavenly Father who wants to give good out to the world no matter what it gives back.  I've been thrown huge curve balls, they do not make me who I am. 

Who I am is who I choose to be.  I choose to be kind, giving and loving regardless of what is thrown my way. When someone chooses to judge me (because that is a choice), I choose to love them.  I will always pick the road of love, otherwise I will just be a pain filled person that has only pain to offer the world. 



Doesn't the world have enough pain, why would we mirror that back?   Just because it's easy?  Even if it's hard, I want to project love.  Don't get me wrong, in no way do I think I'm perfect!  Far from it, I'm sure I will stumble, I am as human as the next person. What I'm saying is that when I stumble as I'm bound to do; I will pick myself up and choose to not let it destroy me.

If I can survive the challenges I have been thrown and still be standing; that shows me I have a massive amount of strength. It's not always easy being strong, it would be so much simpler of we could just lock the door and never come out or hide under a rock.

How would we ever feel the joy we've been promised "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." 2 Nephi 2:25.  (I don't usually quote scripture but this one touches me a lot.  I also want you all to know that I respect all people's religions and thoughts, I make no judgments).    When I am given a choice between joy and pain, you think I would always choose joy, I haven't always made that choice in the past.  Mainly because I didn't think that I deserved it but I do, we all do



"Everything you want, also wants you" ~ Jack Canfield