Full Transparency!

I would like to share a blog post that I wrote for my parenting blog. This blog also applies to individuals or parents and so it's fitting that I share this today. Happy Reading!!

 Like any mom out there, it is a lot going on. There are ups, downs and everything in between. I share a lot on my blogs about it all. Even though I am here to be transparent and open, some things are too fragile and delicate to share on my blog. At least for now, some things are too fresh and new to share at the current moment. You know what I am talking about! I am talking about those secret battles that very few people know about. I think we all have those secret battles as individuals and as parents. 

I too am no different. At times my peers can be of great help to me, and then there is a time where I have to call in for reinforcements. I am no stranger to therapy, I think it takes strength and courage to ask for help. A professional bring another view of the situation and can help with getting through those secret battles. There is no shame in my game! 😀 

This year has tested me in so many ways, actually the last two years if I am being honest. During these testing moments, I have also learned to speak up more and ask for help. I have always been the type to struggle alone, this proved to be a difficult road. In the last two years I have been speaking up and reaching out to professionals for help. I am learning that life is to be lived and self care is important to my well being and to my family's well being. Life is a journey and not a race or a competition. I am growing, learning and progressing. 

I must also mention that I have had a lot of blessings this year also. That lead me to the thought that life is colorful, filled with happiness, success, failure and loss. However, all of it makes me who I am. I learn from it all, there is no need for me to give into "dooms day thoughts". Just because something isn't alright today, does not mean it will be that way forever. Life is unpredictable, but I am counting it all joy. If It's not alright today, maybe tomorrow will be a better day. If you are not alright today, it does not mean that things will always be like this. Wishing you good health and happiness and a great day. 

Looking Across The Table At An Empty Chair On Thanksgiving

 

You may be looking across the table this Thanksgiving at an "empty chair" that use to belong to a loved one. This year maybe even more difficult because of the pandemic that we are in. It's alright to miss our loved ones, it's alright to wish that they were right there with you. Maybe your loved one has passed away or maybe you are unable to meet up this year because of the pandemic. Whatever, the reason I empathize with you. I too know what it is like to lose a loved one, it is not an easy thing to navigate through especially during the pandemic. 

I too have lost my grandmother, I was close to my grandmother. I learned a lot from her and I had a lot of special moments with her. One of my favorite memories growing up was her giving me candy from her purse. He purse always had candy in it, I thought that her purse had a endless supply of candy. In her purse she had lemon drops, peppermint, butterscotch and root beer candy. My favorite was lemon drops, I couldn't get enough of it. My second favorite candy was butterscotch, then peppermint. My grandmother always made sure to have a purse full of candy for all her grandchildren. She always made us feel special with whatever she did. I miss the theatrics of getting the candy from her purse, but most of all I miss her. I miss her hugs, I miss the way she would line her grandchildren up and introduce us to her friends. I miss everything about my loving grandmother. 

I know that you also have a special memories of your loved one, even though our loved ones are not with us they are inside of us. The memories lives on in us everyday, on this Thanksgiving you may be apart but still together in spirit. If you are away in distance, give your loved one a phone call, if your loved one has passed on may the memories of your loved ones give you warmth this season. Wishing you good health and happiness.

Perfection Does Not Exist

 Let's put a dent in that word perfection right now!

Perfection simply does not exist, I find my self sometimes looking and waiting for the perfect situation. The truth is that the perfect situation does not exist. There is solace in knowing that everything will work out the way it's suppose to be and at the end of the day. I have spent so much time looking for the perfect situation, the perfect timing and the perfect opportunity. Life does not happen on my timing and sometimes that is a hard pill to digest. I live in a microwavable society, where everything has to happen right here and right now. It's even more prevalent now because of social media, everyone wants to paint the perfect picture to make it look like everything happens overnight. It's all just a fantasy, things aren't perfect plain and simple. Let me give you an example. I can think back to a couple years ago, I moved into my new home. It was around Christmas time, I put up my Christmas tree and had the gifts neatly laid out and I snapped a picture to celebrate the moment. I then posted that same picture on social media, everyone commented how beautiful everything was. What they did not know is that the rest of my house was a wreck with boxes everywhere. On top of that I was tired and hungry. What I had done was cleared out the best corner in my home but the fireplace to put my Christmas decorations, from the picture no one could know that. 

I say all this to prove, that perfection does not exist. What I thought were perfect situations and opportunities were not. Every good thing have it's own challenges, even though there will be push backs in life it does not mean that it is the end of the world. The search for a perfect situation simply does not exist, Even when I encounter something good there is always a challenge that arises. Life is truly a journey and not a destination. What do I mean by this? There is not an arrival or destination point where perfection is. Happiness and contentment is something to strive for daily, it does not exist in a particular destination. 

I am learning about life and I am able to be introspective and learn life lessons. Also Learning from my mistakes is important.There is no perfect person or situation, I am here to learn and grow; In the process hopefully leave some sort of legacy for my family. Perfection does not exist,  and so I will not give myself a headache trying to figure it out. I am learning as I go and doing the best that I can, that is all I can commit to. 

Peace Comes From Within

 Peace is priceless!!!

I have been in search of peace for a long time, and In recent years I realized that peace came from within. 

The moments when I could not achieve peace in my life, was the toughest time of my life. I was so focused on my hurt and pain, I could not see anything else. I was so consumed by the hurt that I felt like my life was going up into flames. The hurt and pain was a lie and it kept me from seeing the value in my life. Peace is achievable but I needed to see pass the pain, I needed to see the truth. 

The truth is that, I am not my circumstance, and I am not my hurt. I allowed my hurt to become my identity until I could see nothing else but my hurt. I eventually got lost in hopelessness, hopelessness is like hitting rock bottom. It was only one way to get out of rock bottom and that was to find the value in my life and pursue it. Healing is not easy but it is possible, even though it may be hard. Healing takes work but it is worthwhile. 

Healing really does bring peace, peace is priceless and I am glad to have it in my life. Life is not perfect and there are ups and downs. However, as long as I am walking forward towards healing I know that I will achieve peace in my life. There is no one size fits all when it comes to healing, everyone must walk their own path. Seeking out healing is a honorable path, one day at a time. 

Wishing you good health and happiness, and may you find peace in your journey. 

Starting Something New Is Scary

Starting something new is so scary, especially during these uncertain times. The pandemic does not make anything easier. I can't believe that I am going to start something new in the middle of a pandemic, but ready or not here I go. 

I have to admit that over the years I have felt like I was complacent, I was looking to progress and do something new. I certainly never expected that this would happen during a global pandemic. However, I am thrilled to start a new opportunity, this is the break that I've been waiting for. Any opportunity that helps me to grow and expand my knowledge I am all for it. 

Change is scary and I am somewhat nervous to be starting something new and unfamiliar, but I know that great things can happen when I leave my comfort zone. A little bit of nerves is good It just means that I care, anything worth while is worth going after. At the end of the day, I know that opportunities don't come to hurt me, but it comes to help me grow. I am taking a leap of faith to see where this new business venture will lead me. 

If you too are thinking about embarking on something new, I hope that it works out for you. Starting something new is scary, but if it help you to grow and progress in your life it is worth it.