Weekend Sunshine

Even if it's raining cats and dogs, every weekend should have a little bit of sunshine. I took my own advice this weekend and I took the time to be thankful for all the wonderful things in my life. The week was a stressful one, it wasn't easy to look for a silver lining. My mindset was in a place that wasn't so bright or cheery. I was extremely negative...vibes flying everywhere.

My family followed suit with their own negative vibes (funny how that happens). That is when I realized I needed to bring sunshine into my own world. This weekend was going to be bright, all I had to do was change my attitude. Easy...NOT!

So last night I took a hot, oiled bath, exfoliated, moisturized, and every other 'ized' I could think of. I let go of all the tensions from the week. And I had a good talking with myself. "Do not sweat the small stuff, C.J.!", I said. Quite sternly, I might add. I was shocked with me. How could I talk to me like that? Because I needed it, that's why. I was creating a lot of negative energy around me and I was the only one who could change it.

This morning I put a smile on my face, even though I really wanted to scream at the World to go away. I had a cup of coffee, with my special hazelnut creamer. Before I knew it, my smile was no longer plastered on my face...it was genuine. The children ate breakfast like angels (really), and hubby was happy to chat about our plans for the next two days. Everyone seemed to feed off my new positive vibes.

The point is, some times we have to try hard but before you know it you won't even realize you were trying at all.

Some times you just have to give yourself a good talking to...you just might listen.

Looking for a Rose In a Pile of Dog S#!t

Some days it comes at you from all angles. Everywhere you turn life is smacking you in the face. Despite your every attempt to do the right thing, nothing seems to work. On those days it would be nice to hide out from the World and be just a casual observer. Let life take care of it's self. Only,people who choose to sit back and let life take care of it's self go nowhere. So you trudge through your day, silently wishing for just one thing to go right. You find yourself talking to those invisible forces that are so strongly invading your space. You had such high-hopes!

I, myself, have had quite a few of those days lately. I've lost count of how many times I have counted to ten, taken a deep breath, walked away, or smiled my way through a frustrating situation this week. Funny thing is, the best news I got this week came today, Friday the 13th. All I could think was, just my luck to have backwards luck.

When we are faced with adversity, feel backed up against the wall, and all appears hopeless; this is when we have to take a good look around. There has to be at least one bright spot. We cannot let our negative thoughts consume us. When we think negatively, we invite negativity into our lives. Turning the situation inside out, we can find some glimmer of hope in most troubles we have. No problem is ever hopeless, though it may seem so at the time. It's pretty tricky. It took me years to figure out how not to be negative within my thoughts. Writing a journal can help release that negativity. Worked for me. Writing a journal might not work for you, but there are many other things you can do to bring yourself around to more positive thinking.

• Walking (or some form of exercise): to give yourself some alone time to think things through
• Reading: to allow yourself escape from the problem(s) for a while. Brooding over a bad situation only let's us exaggerate it in our mind
• Time out with close friends: to give you the opportunity to get an outside opinion. Or just clear your head and have a good time away from you troubles
• Meditation: to find the light inside the darkness
• Make a list of Pros & Cons: to enable you to view your problems more clearly
• Talk to yourself: to ask yourself the hard questions that you haven't been able to face as yet. A good stern talking to is all you might need. Snap out of it!

Find the right thing for you and do it. You might be surprised. And you just might find a rose in that pile of dog shit!

What works for you? Let me know. Let's talk about it.

**Photo published by Haute*Nature

http://hautenature.blogspot.com/2008/04/michael-kalish-recycled-license-plate.html

**Artwork by: Michael Kalish--Recycled license plate Rose Art