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!

I Am Not A Zombie Fan But I Loved iZombie Dead To The World

I really do NOT get the whole zombie obsession. The concept of dead rotten bodies being cool is really strange to me. But I really did love reading this graphic novel by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred by DC Comic's Vertigo.

When I saw the cover of the comic in the library, I immediately thought "That looks like Debbie Harry of Blondie". Loved the art and the funny strong writing. This is a new twist on the zombie lore. Gwen Dylan is the main character.

This is the first book in the comic series. I hope to be able to find the other books in this series.

No, this did not make me a zombie fan. Warm Bodies the movie was  just passable to watch and I have never watched The Walking Dead but I really enjoyed this comic. I was even grossed out with all the zombie talk will watching Dylan Dog. Yes it was a lame movie but the lead actor is really cute.

Have you ever heard of or read the iZombie comic series?

Thanks for reading!

My Thoughts And A Review - Finding Me By Michelle Knight

This book will make you definitely count your blessings and appreciate your freedom.

Michelle Knight is the first of the three women kidnapped by Ariel Castro. She underwent horrible torture, abuse and isolation at the hands of that horrible man. But don't let that stop you from reading this thought provoking book.

I was amazed and comforted immediately at how insightful and forgiving this strong young woman is. Her book is a book of hope not of despair. Michelle focused on seeing her child again. She constantly demonstrates a huge amount of inner strength to overcome more than a decade of abuse.

Overall, she describes the abuse in a bit of detail but not in overwhelming graphic detail. You understand the horrors Castro inflicted upon the women but she also talks about the small but important ways she took a positive view of life one day at a time.

I read this book in almost one sitting. It is very easy to read and very interesting. We have all see the news reports about what happened and wondered how the women were doing since their release. Michelle has absolutely decided to move forward in her life and live a full life with healing and determination.

How can any of us complain about the little things in life when we realize how horrible things were for this woman and she came out of this terrible situation stronger and with so much hope. I admire her strength and it inspires me to be thankful for the many things I could take for granted.

Every woman should read this book as a warning of being too trusting with strangers. Michelle had a very troubled childhood and it is sad that this horrible thing happened to her. But I am so happy that she and the other women were found and released. I hope peace, healing and happiness for them all.

Freedom is so precious. The ability to go wherever whenever you choose is a blessing and a privilege. Take a moment every once in a while to realize not everyone has the freedom and is in as safe an environment as we are.

Tell me what you think of this book.

Thanks for reading!

I"m Back! New Posts and Update Coming Soon

Early morning in downtown Raleigh. I love this city. It has changed so much over the years.

I  have been enjoying riding around rediscovering the places I remember from the past and finding new places to enjoy new things.

New job (a blessing and a strong motivation not to settle for being underemployed). Job searching for a much better job. Learning how to manage my time around a new schedule. I've also become a lot more determined and focused to follow my dreams.

I missed blogging. I missed talking to you all. 

It is now or never. Life is so short. Go for it. Do it. Do it NOW!

More to come soon.

Thanks for reading!

You Never Know Where The Path Will Lead You

Wooded area beside the Cape Fear River

Lately I have been challenging myself to take more risks in life. Smart risks of course. Life is too short to be so shy as not to ask a question that might lead to discovering something new and exciting.

I have spent too much of my life not speaking up when I should have. Now I just step out and don't over think things. My world has really started to open up and be a lot more interesting.

Everyday I try to go to new places. Having new adventures is a daily goal. For most of my life, I always found safety and security in proven rituals or routines. But the thing is: when you do the same things, the same way for years, you usually get the same results.

This type of behavior can lead to becoming settled and not growing in confidence or knowledge. The goal is to take a different path everyday. I am making a lot of amazing positive changes in my life right now because I shook things up in my life and stepped out on faith to live a more fulfilled life.

Life is full of paths. Some paths are good decisions. Some paths are clearly bad decisions.

Finding the courage to take that first step down a positive life changing path has been one of the best decisions I've made in a long time.

Thanks for reading!

Jewelry Of The Day - Rhinestones And Rock Crystal

Hi Everyone!

It is so good to be back talking to you all again. Finally my tedious computer issues are over. LOL!

These are the three pieces of simple jewelry I wore today. Earrings: clear beads on silver wire, necklace: a big single rhinestone pendant on a silver chain that I got a New York Company and bracelet: a chunky but smooth polished rock crystal piece from Black Market Minerals in Myrtle Beach, SC.

I love going to Black Market Minerals when I visit the beach. The store is full of jewelry made from all kinds of stones and lots of loose stones for display, jewelry making or collecting. The location I visited was in BareFoot Landing.

Thanks for reading!

Sunset - End Of Great Day

What are you going to let the sunset on in your life today?

I had a small problem that was stressing me out a lot more than I should have let it. Unfortunately, I was still letting that annoying situation bother me as I was about to go to sleep. This is not good for my health and happiness. Of course all of this rehashing the problem without deciding on a definite course of action did nothing to help. 

I should have been confident enough to bring my thought process to a logical stopping place. Let it go. Have faith that things will work out. Acknowledge to myself that I "worked the problem" and move on.

The next day, everything worked out fine. All the stress was for nothing. All of the "worst is going to happen" thinking was completely unnecessary.

At the end of the day, just as the sun is setting, I will remind myself to let go of that day's problems because I know I did my best. Be confident. Have faith. Let it go.

Thanks for reading!

Beach Frame Of Mind

I saw this framed photo art in a store and I thought this is a great idea I can do for very little money.

Buy a calendar from the dollar store. Get a frame from the same store for a dollar. Only two dollars spent for the entire project.

Find your favorite picture from your calendar and cut it out to fit your frame. Presto! You have almost this exact same type of art for a tiny fraction of the price. 

I love going into a store, finding an item I can deconstruct in my mind then go home and make it with items I already have.

Thanks for reading!

Fountain Of Summer Light

 

Light

Water

Peace

I still remember how relaxed I felt standing in front of this beautiful splashing fountain. As I was walking around downtown and I just happened to stumble across the park where this fountain is located as the sun was going down. One of life's cool moments that just happen. It is so important to just stop and enjoy a moment of peace and savor it.

This picture does not do it any justice. The sun was hitting the water at just the perfect angle. I wish I had this fountain in my backyard. 

When you explore, you never know what treasures you will find. Get out in your city and find new things to inspire your life every single day.

Thanks for reading!

 

Driving Towards Better Times



Love the sun and clouds in this picture.

I feel like I just woke from a very deep up to a new chapter in my life and I have hit the ground running as fast as I can.


 Life is what you make it.


Time is passing by faster and faster as the years go by. if you wait around for things to get better by themselves, there is a huge chance things will get worse. Take action and make changes for the better in your life.


Starting a new job and learning new skills has brought me face to face with the fact that you can either make your life very small or very big. It is always your choice.


 Do something everyday to move forward towards your dreams.


Take calculated smart wisdom guided risks. If you do not try you will never ever know what the outcome could have been. I am learning to have the courage to not think about what others think of me and just live my life.


Live your life to the absolute fullest.


I had the BEST summer this year EVER because I went to places I never been before and made the effort to break out of my shell. Being shy will make you have a boring lonely sad life.


Life is too precious to live it isolated because of fear. Fear will stop you from becoming the incredible human being you are supposed to be.


Get out of your comfort zone and LIVE!




Thanks for reading!