Something A Little More Positive

Today was good...felt good to do a little venting last night. I was even joking with my coworkers about their spouses and family members and we all drive each other nuts. Really reminds you that you are not alone.

Got a lot accomplished...and not a whole lot. Was one of those unproductive productive days...I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking about. Anyways...that was today.

I have been thinking a lot about my relationship with my daughter. We have our ups and downs, but in the end, we stick together. I have always wanted to have her grow up much different than I did. I always wanted to make sure she was happy and let her enjoy being a child. That comes with a price though...try to get her to do the dishes and wow...what a fight. Speaking of which, I need to ask her to finish the dishes really quick...

Okay, well that wasn't too bad. Anyways...Gilmore Girls got released on Netflix the other day, and even though I own every season on DVD (Yes I do) I have been rewatching them with my family Netflix since it is just easier. I started over with my best friend and daughter, and finally catching up where we left off with the S.O. Watching the show reminds me of what I want (well not Season 6 and 7 too much) for my relationship with my daughter.

Is Rory and Lorelei too close? Are there not enough boundaries? Can you not be a mom and a best friend to your daughter? I think their relationship is almost perfect (again, not Season 6 and 7 too much). I listen to friends and acquaintances talk about their pre-teen kids and how they don't want anything to do with their parents. Really??? Are you kidding me??? No matter how many times we fight or disagree on something, I get a hug and a kiss every morning before I go to work and get the "I Love You" all the time, I don't even have to ask for them.

We have "girl" days and we have our hang out time. Don't get me wrong, shopping is still a chore, but that is more for the fact that she doesn't really care for shopping and only goes cause she has to or she would have nothing to wear. All in all, I think we have a pretty awesome relationship.

Catching Up, Moving Forward and Creating a Plan

This past week has been difficult. A lot has been going on. We finally got things done we have been putting off way too long. We also have started to get back on a schedule and getting things done so we have more free time to do things we love to do. It has definitely been nice.

Chelsea has been my biggest challenge, but after reading a great article on organization for kids with ADHD, I think I can find a more successful way of dealing with everything. This is definitely a website I am going to start following more closely as there is a ton of useful information.

I am starting to realize my full potential and what I am looking for with this next phase of my life. I love my family and friends, but realize that by spending more alone time with myself and finding out who I am is really helping me find my own niche.

I also realized by writing my top to do list for every day is making me feel more accomplished and getting things done at a much smoother rate then my old habits of just flying by the seat of my pants. I've always been organized at work…so organized I can tell you where every piece of paper is and what is on it. At home I can’t find anything and it is such chaos. I honestly don’t know how I go from one extreme to the other in a single day, but I have always done this. Locker at school was perfect. Desk at home was a complete mess.

Lesson 6: Make a plan and then complete it. By the end of the month I plan on finding my “new home”, finishing the book I have been reading including the exercises, get at least a third of the book I’m writing done and spend more quality time with my family. In about 2 weeks I will start planning my New Year and get 2014 off to a great start. I figure I’ll give myself a yearly goal, a monthly goal along with weekly goals and check them off as I go. Seems to be working well at work so let’s be successful at home too.

So now go get a planner and get to figuring it all out. What are some of the things you are planning for the New Year? I’m going to be a photographer (not professionally, but I want to be a good one).

First Successful Thanksgiving and Family Things

We finally had what you would call a successful Thanksgiving this year. It was far from what you see in magazines and whatnot, but there was no fighting, not very many verbal slams, and at the end of the day, when everything was done, it actually turned out pretty good.

Dinner started around 7:30 am and I was thankful to have Ron and Charlie in the kitchen to help me get everything going without making a complete mess. By 10:30, everything was working and it was time to rest for a bit. Did all the final preparations and had dinner on the table only 30 minutes late or so at 2:30ish. All in all, it went well.

After dinner and most people went home, we made a fire and sat out in the back to rest, have a beer and good conversation. I even got everything to make s'mores and we sat there passing around the graham crackers and marshmallows since we each got our own chocolate bar...yummy.

I have been doing a lot of reflecting since Thanksgiving. What am I thankful for? I am thankful for my friends and family, both blood and chosen. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and food on my table, something not everyone is able to have, even people I know well. I am thankful to all the comforts of my life. But most of all, I am thankful I was able to mend a friendship with my exhusband, build a relationship with my fiance, and get a little closer to my daughter over the past year.

So that is about all I have for today. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Starting Out and Learning To Love Yourself

Ever look in the mirror and not recognize the person staring back at you? Or maybe you know that person, but just don't like them very much. I am right there at this point in my life.

I don't like how I am with my family. I am overweight and feel tired all the time. I am depressed and my job makes me even more depressed. Most mornings I don't want to even get out of bed. This is starting to really suck!

I see inspirational quotes and videos online day after day and just cry. I want to be happy, but can't figure out how to move out of this depression and get there. How do I look at myself in the mirror and love what is staring back at me? How do I find love for myself?

Its not that I am a weak person. I am actually quite strong emotionally. I am typically the backbone to those around me; leaning on me for support. However, I have found that I am at my breaking point. I want to just crawl under a rock and stay there, hiding from the world around me. I need to work on getting past this and find the love I had for myself at one point. I need to get back to that place in my head where the world around me isn't crashing down, where I can stand tall once more.

That is the basis of this blog. As a marketer who reads day in and day out to just be honest and connect with your audience, be transparent, be genuine and people will connect with you, maybe I can find others to connect with that feel the same way I do and we can all journey to find love for ourselves.

Sometimes the best support and advice you will ever receive is from someone you don't even know. So this is my starting point. Let's see what happens next. Talk to you tomorrow.