Day 6 - Something I hope I never have to do in my life

Today is Day 6 of a Month of ME. And a real upbeat subject today, isn't it???

Gosh, there's a lot of things I hope I never have to do:

Bury my child,
Lose my belongings to a house fire,
Get hit by lightning,
Become paralyzed.

You know...NONE of those things sound at all appealing to me, but hopefully...also outside the realm of possibility.

Day 5 - Something I hope to accomplish in my life

Today is Day 5 of a Month of ME. Originally, I planned to complete these days quickly...you know, one per day! Life keeps popping up, and slowing my blog progress, but I am going to keep at it!

There are a lot of things I hope to accomplish in my life...some "frivolous," some not, but all things I'd love to "check off my bucket list."

• See the Grand Canyon
• Visit Greece
• Learn to crochet
• Run a 5K...and then maybe a 10K?
• See Shannon get married and become a mother
• Enjoy watching Shannon achieve a career she loves
• Travel as much of Route 66 as possible!
• Stay out of debt
• Live (if only briefly) where it snows
• Live (if only briefly) near the beach
• (I haven't blogged about this yet, but an item that would have been on this list has recently been checked off...own a Jeep!)
• Achieve a healthy weight and fitness level
• Read the Bible daily

I've made huge strides in dealing with my worries. This has been a huge struggle for me in my life, and getting it under control is something I'm really proud of. It's hard to "quantify" for a list, but definitely a trait I want to continue!

For a long time, my life felt like it was in a holding pattern. There was a LOT going on. A LOT to deal with...but it was really hard to see that I was accomplishing anything.

Now, I feel like I'm in a huge growth pattern, and seeing all kinds of opportunities for change, renewal, etc. It's exciting!!!

Day 4 - Something I need to forgive in someone else

Today is Day 4 of a Month of ME.

I'm not a big grudge carrier. I kind of used to be, but you know what? Life's too short, and I don't really hang around any people that I feel are *trying* to hurt me. If they do? It was probably a mistake or at least unintentional...I forgive them.

Something for which I need to forgive myself

Originally, I didn't know what I was going to write here. I try very hard to not live my life with regrets. I work hard to live in a way that I can be proud of....

There are two things I can think of though. Things that I feel "niggling" inside of me.

This one isn't so much something I need to forgive, but something that does cause me regret from time to time. Occasionally I speak without thinking it out fully. I stand behind what I say...but sometimes my delivery sucks, or my tactfulness is lacking. Looking back, I tend to be able to see when I've done this...and I try to apologize when I mis-speak.

The thing that I need to forgive in myself is that I always put myself last. I get presents from preschool parents, and I give them away. I get gift cards, and I spend them on others. I never buy new clothes for myself...in fact, I can't remember the last time I bought clothes from a real store...not Goodwill. (Yes, it's a "green" choice to make, but mine stems more from things being "just good enough" for me.) Several months ago, I went out and bought a new purse and wallet, and it was a BIG deal. I never EVER get my haircut...not because I'm growing it out, but because I just don't make myself a priority.

This is not ok anymore. I don't want Shannon to grow up thinking that SHE isn't worth taking care of, why is that ok for me???

Day 2 - Something I love about myself

Well, this hasn't been much easier to think of, lol. I've had this window open for like AN HOUR!

Good heavens...and now it's been like another 30 minutes. OK Cindy...FOCUS!

I love being a parent. I love being a teacher. But those aren't really things about *myself.* Those are things that identify me.

I love that I am a work in progress. I love that I am resilient. I love that I don't give up easily.

Things have been tough the past several years. Some pretty significant "stuff" has happened to me and my family...and I've really dedicated myself to not just throwing in the towel (I'm not talking about marital trouble) or just throwing my hands up in the air and giving up. I've really tried to maintain an attitude of gratitude, and to try to find the lessons in what's been happening.

It has not been easy. It hasn't always been my first instinct to think that way...but I do always get back to this place and I am very glad for it.

30 Days of Truths - a MONTH of ME

Eep. So yeah. It's been basically a MONTH since I blogged! I just didn't have it in me to sit down and write! School's back in session, my parents have moved in, and some MAJOR stuff has been going on here (all good though, I assure you!)...and I just didn't have the energy at the end of the day to sit and write it out. And so I didn't. But during this month, I've been thinking about blogging, and trying to motivate myself to get going again.

But! I was just reading Laura's blog, and she posted this cool list of writing prompts that are all about ME. I scanned the first few, and I'm game. I haven't read them all, so most of this will be written "off the cuff."

Day 01 — Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 — Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 — Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 — Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 — Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 — Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 — Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 — Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 — Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 — Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 — Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 — Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 — A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 — A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 — Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 — Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 — A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 — Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 — What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 — Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 — (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 — Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 — Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 — Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 — The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 — Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 — What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 — What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 — Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 — A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

Ready to dive in? Off we go....

Day 1 - Something you hate about yourself

Well wow. What a start. I really don't use the word HATE very much. There are VERY few things I actually hate.

One thing I really dislike about myself is that I jump to conclusions and that despite my best intentions, I think I'm a pessimist. I'm hoping that some of the recent changes around here will help me with this, but my brain is much more likely to jump to the worst case scenario, than it is to the best, or even a pleasant outcome. This relates into EVERY aspect of my life...so it's something that I do work on. I read, I pray, I talk to others...

I find that the more I focus on being grateful for my situation and what I have...the better. I try to uplift others, and to be helpful...because in doing so, I find that it elevates my own thoughts.

So...I'm baaaack! Tune in (gasp) tomorrow (?) for installment two!

Something exciting this way comes

We are avid campers, and for the past few years have LOVED having a pop-up camper. It made it possible for Patrick to continue to camp, despite his chronic pain. We had to sell our camper this summer, to make some money to have our house painted (which should happen in about 2 weeks...yay!).

We had invited my parents to move in with us, and therefore knew we'd soon have to upgrade our camper. We figured we save our money, and maybe by next summer we'd be able to buy something.

We got news of an unexpected (mid-size) windfall, lol...and went and put a deposit on this:





Squee!!! We'll pick it up the first week of October, and I can hardly wait!