Picture Moments at the Beach

I took this dreamy calm picture with my old iPhone 4 at Myrtle beach.  It is so strange how a rickety old fence, a bit of sand and tiny yellow flowers can bring back a happy calm memory.

The reality is I probably looked really crazy walking around the beach snapping away at everything that catches my eye trying to capture the moment.

Happiness is a choice.

This photo is not the whole "picture" of what I was looking at. There was probably a big ugly garbage can right outside of frame. I choose to focus in, edit out all the distractions and see this tiny corner of happiness at the beach.

Life is a lot like this. I have had to discipline myself to just glance at the news headlines to be informed of world events. But I cannot let the negativity of the world distract me from the good and the beautiful things that happy everyday.

Thank you for reading

Sunset on The Cape Fear River

I took this picture with my iphone on the bank of the Cape Fear River while the sun was setting. The light was so beautiful over the brown (LOL!) flowing ripples of water. Muddy bottom equals muddy water.

In the background is a train trestle. All the times I have visited the river I have never hear or seen a train pass over. 

In the foreground, you can see the mud from the recent severe flooding that occurred in the area. The water rose up to the bottom of the train trestle. Incredible to see.

Despite the it's muddy scars, there is still beauty to be found and nature moves on. Time did not stop and life moved on.

Disappointments and setbacks happen in life, but how we recover and response to those stressful, frustrating, or sad passing moments defines our lives.

Rise Up. Refocus. Lessons learned. Keep flowing forward through life.

Thank you for reading. 

Thomasina

Live Life Like An Ocean Wave

Myrtle Beach SC  Nikon Cool Pix L120

 I have realized that to live the most peaceful life I can in stressful situations, I had to be a flexible and flowing as an ocean wave moving back and forth towards land.

It is important to evaluate the situation and decide calmly to work hard on the things I can change and to let flow around me the things I cannot change. The ocean waves do not become angry at the rocks blocking it's way on the beach. It will slowly erode the surface of the rock over a long period of time or the rock with dislodge and float away in the currents.

I have had to be honest with myself about what I direction I am taking in life, career and my art. Forcing myself to settle has never be the path to a peaceful mind and spirit. I have learned the hard way to step out on faith and follow my dreams and goals. What you fear will master you.

Ocean waves have to encounter many obstacles while flowing towards the shore. Each barrier is met with power and grace at the same time. I want to be calm, graceful, faithful and powerful against all negative situations that life throws at me. Stressing out about anything does not lead to good health or positive productivity.

I always get the biggest laugh when I watch the seagulls and sandpipers stand with their tiny bird legs in the water searching for food totally unintimidated by the crashing waves. The birds are watchful of the rhythm of the waters but they do not let the size and force of the waves stop them from reaching their goals.

Flow forward in all things.

Peace

Thank you for reading

Thomasina

Seeking Peace In Troubled Times

Myrtle Beach    May 2016

Hello Everyone!

I have missed talking to you so much. A lot has happened over the past couple of days and I wanted to say a few words of encouragement and peace to help us all get through this stressful time in the USA.

In recent days, I think I have experienced every single emotion dealing with the results of the election. Now I am at a point where my mind has cleared and I want to take positive action to move forward in life.

I did not like how the shock, horror and stress affected my mind, body and spirit. I acknowledged and faced every single emotion and started myself on the path to healing. Having gone through dark times in my life in the past, I know better than to let the darkness become a way of thinking and living.

Some days I had to push myself to put one foot in front of the other. But I was determined to keep moving. I took a lot of comfort in reaching out to family and friends. Communication was key to starting on the path towards feeling positive about life and my country. Realizing I was not the only person feeling stressed and sad was comforting and enlightening.

The world did not come to an end. The sun still came up,  people got up to go to work and time moved on never stopping. The normal day to day routines became so precious to me as a guide back to feeling unafraid.

I had to decide with all my being, I was not going to be angry and afraid everyday for the next four years and beyond. I know I will survive and thrive. My ancestors endured so much more than what is going on now and they powered forward with persistence and dignity.

To seek peace, I take the time to be extremely aware of the negative outside forces that are in a constant battle to steal my peace of mind. I do not follow or trust the news organizations as much as I did before the election. Self care is extremely important now. Eating healthy, exercise, meditation, and moving forward with my goals and dreams with positive actions.

If you are not coping well with these stressful, please ask for help. Don't suffer alone.

I have hope for America. This is a blessed and beautiful country full of amazing good people. I choose to believe in a positive path forward in life. There will be ups and downs but America is strong because this great nation is made up of strong resilient people.

Thank you for reading.

Thomasina

A New Day. A Clean Slate. Don't Waste It.

Myrtle Beach    January 2016 with a CanonPowerShot ELPH 170 IS

I love sunrise and sunset at the beach. The symphony of soothing colors playing in harmony on the brightening or fainting sky is truly awe inspiring.

Watching the sun rise over the ocean waves gives me have so much hope and enthusiasm for the fresh new day. At the end of a day at the beach, watching the sun set over the ocean horizon, I feel thankful to have lived another day of life.

Life is too precious to be wasted. Every breathe is a gift. The older I get, the faster time seems to fly by. I appreciate life so much now. Getting through the hard times in life has made me stronger and more aware how precious life is.

My goals are to have a peaceful, creative and productive life. I love encouraging people to be their best and live life to the fullest.

Watching sunrises and sunsets fill me with respect for the Creator and the creation. I hope you will have a wonderful inspiring day today. Go pursue your dreams today. Give yourself permission to live the life you always wanted.

Thank you for reading my post.

Thomasina

Peace

 

 

Waves from the Atlantic Ocean at Myrtle Beach

 

 

 

The beach has always been a place of peace, relaxation, happiness and mental cleansing in my life. As I drive down to South Carolina, all of my problems fade away to nothing. The constant chatter in my mind is silenced.

 

 

There were many years when I was unable for many reasons to go to the beach and my life suffered because of that. Being near the water (a lake will do in a pinch LOL!)  instantly makes me focus my calm energy and smile. I will never ever take for granted any trip to ocean after so many years of wanting to visit and being unable to.

 

 

It's my "inner mermaid" longing for her ocean home beneath the crashing waves that pulls me towards the coast every chance I get.

 

 

I am sending out this peaceful foamy sunlit wave to you. I want to give to you the same peaceful calm strengthening positive energy I receive every time I stand on the sandy shore.

 

Today is your positive hopeful productive day. Believe in your inner strength. Run towards your goals.

 

 

Peace be with you my friend.

 

Thank you for reading!

 

Thomasina



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year! 2016 is going to be Amazing!

Happy 2016 Everyone!

I saw this T shirt in Express today when I was in Raleigh, NC. These simple words are so true for my life. Things may look bad or sad but never give up on reaching your goals and dreams. 

In 2015, I was hugely blessed to finally reach certain goals that took many months or even years to come to reality. 

Lesson learned: Those sad dark depressing times WILL pass. Do NOT ever give up on reaching positive meaningful goals in your life. 

Make it happen! Keep encouraging yourself. Surround yourself with positive people. Get the help you need. Do let fear stop you from trying. Take it one step  at a time.

Believe in good things coming into your life. Life will definitely have difficult moments but keep moving forward. I am so much more stronger having gone through the tough times. 

Take Care and Bless You!

Thank you for reading.

Thomasina 

Holiday Wishes and Many Blessings

Myrtle Beach South Carolina - Christmas at the beach is my idea of heaven.

 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a

Happy Amazing New Year!

 

 

 

I look forward to posting many more blogs in the upcoming year. Thank you to everyone that has ever stopped by and read my little blog.

 

 

Take Care and Have a safe happy holiday!

 

 

Love you!

 

Thomasina 

Happy Sunday Everyone!

I hope you all are having a wonderful peaceful lovely day today. I took this picture at Myrtle Beach this past Sunday. Looking at this picture brings back relaxing memories of a fun day in the sunshine.

My trip down to the beach was a last minute decision. I wasn't sure if there was going to be any problems because of the recent flooding in South Carolina. I did not see any damage in the areas I visited. My prayers and positive energy to everyone affected by the flood.

Life for my has been going very well lately.  I have been busy with work and getting my house ready for the coming cold months. Organizing and decluttering are huge projects I have going on now.

Never give up on your dreams and your goals. Last year was a very difficult time but things slowly got better.

Do the things that need to be done. First things first. Work hard everyday to move forward.

Today's post is meant to motivate and encourage you to keep on keeping on even when things are not going very well. Keep moving forward

Thank you for reading!

Thomasina

Fighting The Fall and Winter Blues

Some people love this time of the year when the temperatures are cooling down and the leaves are changing color.

I am definitely NOT a Fall or Winter person. in fact,  I wish there could be blue skies and bright sunshine every single day during the year but this is not reality where I live. 

The beautiful sun shining has always made happy and energized therefore I really struggle with cold overcast cloudy weather. This year I made a very important decision that I will make an strong effort to bring "sunshine weather" into every single cold weather day.

At the very end of Summer, I brought a lot of beach and tropical themed home décor items to decorate every room in my home. Transforming the interior of my house into a beach house with bright happy colors, sea shells and pictures of the ocean has been my first line of defense again the sad feeling I get from the changing weather.

I will be positive  and productive about Fall and Winter instead of giving into my usual habit feeling down and unhappy. The cool and cold months take up half the year and I do not want to waste a precious moment being sad.

Choose happiness. Choose life. Everyday is a gift and should be lived to the fullest.

Tell me how you deal with the "cold weather blues."

Thanks for reading!

Thomasina

Thankful Lessons And Hard Work

Hello Everyone!

I have missed you all so much! This blog is a little different than my usual blogs. I am updating you all on what has been going on. Life is amazing and very busy.

Computer problems. Car problems. Finding a full time job problems.  ALL of this things has been taken care of. I am truly blessed. God provided.

So much as happened to make my life a LOT better than it was a year ago and definitely better than it was two years ago. For a long time I was struggling with a long term job search, I finally got a full time job in an office.

It was a long difficult stressful process but I learned a lot about being persistent and believing in myself. In order to get back into an office environment, I had to work in retail for a while which was something I thought I would never have to do again after having so many years of office experience.

Today I am in a place in my life where I have never been so thankful and blessed. Never giving up and a lot of hard work was the key to bring me through the tough dark times. I was also forced to learn to be patient. You have to sometimes go through the process to discover new things about your life.

The best thing about my long  job search is that I started my blog Thomasina's Words. Lately my work schedule is really busy and long hours, I realized just how much I missed blogging regularly. Learning how to use my time wisely and being productive as possible was a huge lesson I learned when I was searching for employment. I am determined to fit in blogging more often into my schedule.

I will be doing another blog post on the hard learned lessons of being in a long term job search.

Being an artist and a writer helped me cope with the stress being out of work. I had an outlet to vent my feelings in my journal, write a blog post or create an art piece. I would not be the artist and writer I am today if I had not had the time during my unemployment to focus on this important part of my life.

More blogs to come :)

Thank you for reading!

Thomasina

My Blog is One Year Old!

Happy Birthday to my little blog. This past March my blog turned one year old. 

I have so many ideas that I am working on to improve my blog. Very soon I will have a new laptop and new camera which will result in a more creative blog layout and design.

Please write what you would be interested in seeing on my blog in the future. 

A huge Thank you to EVERYONE who has taken the time to stop by and read my blog. 

Does anyone know what kind of flower this is? I saw it next to my parking space and was amazed by the flower's fragrance.

No idea what this is but it smelled like a perfume a "well dressed woman would wear". This is the only way I can describe it. A soft delicate but not to sweet feminine scent.

Again thank you so much for your wonderful support.

More blogs to come soon.

Thomasina

Sharing Something Bright and Colorful

I saw this on the wall in a restaurant I go to once in a while. The nice lady who works there said it is for Chinese New Year.

The beautiful bright happy colors and sparkling glitter caught my eye. Looking at this made me happy and changed a blah day into a better day.

Bright bold colors give me energy and inspiration. 

I love it when I find inspiration in the most unlikely places. 

This reminds me to look for good things and positive inspiration everywhere I go. 

Btw can someone translate the characters for me?

Thanks for reading my post!

Thomasina

Thank You So Much For Your Support!

This tiny little blog has just gone over 3700 page views! 

Thank you all so very much for stopping by and reading my posts. I am deeply honored and humbled by your support.

My blog is not fancy with all the bells and whistles of other blogs. I mostly post from my iPhone 4 because of computer issues but I don't let that stop me.

It's been fun sharing my interests and hobbies with the world. We can all learn from each other. I have met some wonderful new friends online.

My goal for my blog is to be a place of encouragement,repurpose/reuse, creativity, hope, inspiration,faith, crafts, lifestyle, beachlife, art, crafts, books, music, DIYs, jewelry, and  how to save money.

It has been a huge blessing and learning experience having this blog and I can't wait to see how it grows and changes.

Thank you!

Thomasina

Comment below or you can contact me at Thomasinawords@gmail.com

Create The Best You

I saw this little sign in a store and the message is powerful.

For many years, I waited for someone or something to give me "permission" to become a writer and an artist. If I just had that outside "validation," then I could feel completely comfortable telling everyone about how important my creativity is to my life.

Life is too short to wait to become your true self. Be courageous and be the real person you always dreamed of being right now.

Start exactly where you are. You don't need a lot money or any money at first.  Find ways to begin your true self journey by just visualizing and planning your path to your dreams and goals. 

I always wanted to be an artist and a writer so I just started writing and drawing. Just do it now. You must begin to learn and to practice your skills in order to master your craft. 

Through the years, I always kept a journal   of my thoughts, blessings, frustrations, book ideas, pain, wishes, art, etc. My journals were my creative outlet.

Find your creative outlet. Create a blog - it's free. Grab a piece of paper and write down your amazing idea.  

You have been given your talents, interests and hobbies for a reason. The things you are interested in are important because they make you who you are. 

Create the happy and fulfilled person you have always wanted to be. Go forward boldly towards your dreams and goals. Stop comparing yourself to others. 

You are unique. There has never been another you in existence. Love yourself. Accept yourself.

Life is absolutely about creating the BEST you possible.

Thanks for reading my post!

Thomasina

If you have questions or comments, you can also email me at Thomasinawords@gmail.com

Have A Happy Blessed Healthy And Prosperous New Year!

A calming picture of an ocean wave and sandy beach in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

It is a new year and time for a new start. Treat everyday as a new beginning blessed with positive change . 

I think of the ocean and the sand, as having a give and take relationship. 

Each new day (the sand) has to endure the power and debris the ocean (life) throws at it. The ocean is relentless in it's purpose to crash waves onto the sandy shores. 

Life is always putting us through changes that are either going to break you or build you into a stronger wiser person. 

The sand in this picture has been swept clean by the ocean. Each new day will always have it's problems. Think of the next day as an opportunity to start fresh and not hold on to the negative past. 

Hope is never lost as long as you are willing to put forth the effort to move forward towards finding positive solutions. 

As tiny as a grain of sand is, somehow every day it survives the daily pounding of the surf. One day it's on the beach then next day it is one the ocean floor. In either place it can overcome and survive.  

The clean sand left by the ocean is a clean slate much like a new year full of new days. 

We all must use each precious day to it's greatest potential. 

Have a happy wonderful new year!

Thank you for reading my post!

All photos have been taken by Thomasina. Please do not take them without permission. 

What If I Had Waited "Until"

I've been doing a lot of thinking about how to live life in a more positive and more productive way. 

One thing that has definitely made a difference is to stop waiting "until".

"I will not go to the beach until I can stay at a fancy hotel."

"I will not start a blog until I have that cool Canon camera the beauty gurus seem to all have."

"I will not do this or that until the perfect moment happens"

This is the perfect recipe to how to completely waste your life. Just do it right now with what you have available. Be resourceful. Be creative. Be flexible. 

I don't have the best camera and have been plaqued with annoying computer problems but I have decided to not allow that to stop me from blogging. 

Are you waiting for someone to give you permission or their approval? Give yourself permission to go after your dreams and goals. 

Right before my recent beach trip, there was a series of obstacles and disappointments, while none of them serious, they almost made me want to cancel my longawaited trip. 

I sat down gathered my anxious thoughts, stepped out on faith and went on my trip. 

Waiting "until" would have made me miss out on one of the best beach vacations I have ever had. 

Don't live in fear. Have an attitude of perservence. You are smart enough to think of a solution that will keep you moving forward. 

Tomorrow it will be 2015 - a brand new year. Please don't hinder your positive progress by waiting around doing nothing "until". 

Thanks for reading!

Relaxing Reflecting Planning

I am not only relaxing on my holiday days off from work, this is a time to wrap up 2014 and get ready to move forward confidently into a brand new exciting 2015.

This past year was a very good one. I have so much to be thankful for. I reached a lot of personal goals for my career and my creativity. 

I have big plans for 2015 and the determination to make them happen. 

This year I experienced situations that not only made me stronger but also gave me the wisdom to have a better future. 

Find solutions for past problems. Move forward with a clean slate. Believe the best as yet to come. 

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!

Peace At The Ocean

Last year about this time I was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

I have such a peaceful spirit when I am at a beach. The first time I ever went to Myrtle Beach was during a vacation bible school trip with my church many years ago. Nothing can describe the feeling I felt when I first saw that huge expanse of blue water for the first time.

Myrtle Beach has changed so much over the years. I remember the small but busy beach town of my youth. Today Myrtle Beach is a city with many high rise hotels and lots of things to do and places to eat. After years of being away from MB and going back after it had been built up, shock is the only word to describe looking at how densely packed the buildings are.

But the ocean is my solitude, my peace, my calm, and my creative inspiration. No matter how touristy or frustrating the traffic is, my mind will always slow down and zen out when I walk out onto that beautiful sand.

Off season is my favorite time to visit the beach. I really don't like crowds and I don't like crowded beaches at all. I've never understood how people can go to the beach and not actually ever go on the beach.

I wish I could figure out a way to duplicate the peace I feel at the beach at home. The closest I ever get is when I visit the rivers and lakes near my home. I guess it is the mermaid side of my spirit that craves being near water.

Very soon I will be visiting Myrtle Beach and Wrightsville Beach, NC. I will be taking lots of photos to share with you on this blog.

Thanks for reading!

Fall Is About Change - Like It Or Not

To be very honest, I do not like Fall and Winter at all.

My time of year is definitely Spring and Summer. Warm temperatures, green leaves and flowers make me happy, calm, creative and full of energy all at once. I thrive in bright sunshine.

Cold weather chills me to the bone. I have always hated being cold. Not a fan of the dark either. Fall back to the dark and cold is what turning back the clocks is to me. It gets dark way too early in the evenings.

 But I decided to do things a lot different this year.

For the first time in my life, I decided the only way to get through these coming cold and dreary months is to completely NOT CARE. Yes, I have decided that the only way to deal with the half of the year that can make me depressed, is to just ignore the chilly temperatures. Warm mind over cold temperatures.

I will not allow myself to focus on the discomfort and the lack of sunshine but I will make sure I am constantly busy and productive. The cold seasons make me want to just hid in my house under the covers in my bed in my room and watch DVDs or videos on my computer. But I would get mad and guilty at myself for not getting anything down to get closer to reaching my goals.


This year I am determined to have a happy positive holiday season. I also am going to get back on track with healthy eating and exercising too.

No more head under the covers wishing for Spring to hurry up and get here this year. Dreading the cold months made me waste precious time and caused me a lot of stress. This lifelong bad habit will now come to an end.

Time is too valuable to waste. I will appreciate every cold day and have as much fun as I can. Life is too short to not be lived fully.

Thank you for reading!