What I am thankful for today....

Today I am blogging about what I am thankful for. I am mostly doing this to feel better since I am tired and crabby. I am not getting into it since I know it is me. So, here it is....hopefully it helps...

• I have my own business which allows me to do what I want, with my business and my home life.
• My friends and their silly emails, great advise, and lots of laughs.
• My family, including my pets.
• Coffee.....Lord knows I needed it this morning!
• Butterscotch Krimpets.....just had one......YUMMY!
• Time I have spent with loved ones.
• Lion's Club breakfasts, in which I went to this morning....
• The 41 degree weather we had today.
• My husband 'getting handier by the day'.
• My bed...which I want to be in right now.
• Candles because they symbolize peace (for me) and smell soooooo good. LOVE PARTYLITE!

Now I feel better! I am telling ya, if ever you are not feeling 'great', you need to write or think about the things you are thanful for. It helps you think happier thoughts and gets your mind off the other crap. LOL!

A good day

Today was a good day for me. Nothing exciting really happened besides that my photography class went really well. I think I am considering it a good day because I was fortunate enough to see a lot of people and talk to people who really mean a lot to me. Some of my best friends were here to take the class then some stayed and scrapbooked with me....it was just like it used to be in my dining room before I had my store. My mom was here helping put out retail, answer the phone, etc

I had a nice talk with my friend Melinda on the phone when everyone left. I would say old boss, but she hates when I call her that. She is the one I have to thank for teaching me everything I know about having a successful business. Well, her and her husband are both to be credited. I have seen her go through so much crap, so many wonderful times, meet some awesome people, then of course meet some real idiots. However, Melinda never lets anything get her down. Her and her husband always manage to keep everything together. They have always achieved every goal they have dreamed of. I admire both of them very much.

I have to say that when I first met Melinda I was very intimidated by her. She was so strong, and very to the point. She never held anything back either. I however, was not very strong and I never told anyone how I really felt because I hated confrontation. Being around Melinda for over 13 years, changed me A LOT! I know she has changed a lot too. Both of us managed to meet somewhere in the middle over time. I am now very strong, I do not allow people to take advantage of me anymore, and I go after what I want. Melinda, is a lot more easy going and now she thinks before she speaks.....at least most of the time....LOL!

If it wasn't for Melinda and Marty, I would not own my own business. I also would not be the person I am today. Tonight on the phone with her she actually mentioned that she was envious of me. I am looking back at the conversation thinking......envious of me? I always was envious of her! I guess full-filling your dreams isn't always exactly the way you pictured it once you have achieved it. She has mentioned many times in the past how she wishes it was just her and I at a small salon like it used to be. She did the hair, I did the nails. Now, I am referring to her spa-salon as Steel Magnolias. If you are not sure what I am referring too, you need to rent the movie. Mirror Images has gone from a small apartment to a farm house. I hope you understand the metephor. This is what she has always wanted. Maybe Melinda was not as lucky as I am to have such a mentor when she first started out. Now as my mentor she tells me all the time that I'd better learn from all the crap that she has had to deal with. At least we can laugh about it.

Personally I think that negative people have a lot to do with someone being unhappy in their lives. Once we filter out the bad, we have more room for the good. There are many people who I once looked to as a friend until I realized how miserable they made me. It wasn't until I got rid of them that my life actually picked up and got better. If you are living your dream and still are not happy, then something needs to change. It doesn't have to be drastic. I know Melinda will achieve the happiness she is lacking and fall in love with her dream again. Why? Because she always achieves everything she sets her mind to do. And, she is very lucky to have Marty who is by her side the entire way.

Today is a good day because I know that I helped her feel better by being the kind of friend that she has always been to me. And today, I was reminded of how lucky I am to have had her in my life. If it wasn't for that little salon that she started her dream in, her and I would not be where we are today. I know she wants a time machine to go back to a less stressful and simpler time. But, I also know that she would only be happy there for a little while.

Today I am thankful for my friends and for all of the advise, support, laughter and love that they have given me throughout the years. I am entirely grateful for all the experience I have had working with Melinda and becoming very close to her and her family. If you open your mind and your heart and let go of all things negative, you have the opportunity to learn and experience great things.

Laughter is the best medicine

As I look back to the tough times in my life, I recall a lot of laughter. I lived with my friend Jamie for a while and her room-mate Amy when I was going through my divorce. I remember laughing until my ribs hurt. We would sit and talk, play games, watch silly movies and just laugh. I seriously think that is how I made it through without jumping off a bridge.

Jamie sat here with me the one evening when Jeremy was at a hockey game with her husband. We ended up laughing so hard that tears were coming out our eyes. And, all we were doing was talking! We need more times like that.

My friend Jenny laughs at everything. And, she is one of the most positive people I know. I clearly see why her life is so much different than someone who is negative. We all have our bad days, but it is how we chose to deal with it that makes the difference.

If I ever need a pick-me-up, I call or email a friend. I will send a quick silly message, even if I am not feeling silly. Or, I will just let them know I need some cheering up. It works every time.

Recently I was faced with a situation that I was really not mentally prepared for.....at all. In fact it was a very sore subject that I had tried to forget about and not deal with. In a major panic I emailed and called my closest friends. I even ran to my neighbors house to vent after venting to my sister-in-law. Almost everyone had all positive things to say. Their love and support helped me more than I can express. In some emails were things that made me crack up in laughter. Others were a combination of inspiration, advise and support. Of course I kept reading the ones that would make me laugh. It feels so good to be able to laugh off what seems a horrible situation. Now I can say that I am through the situation, over it and moved on. It is amazing the ease one can feel once they let go of something they have carried with them for most of their life. Laughter is what helped me deal and get over it.

I get these inspirational quotes sent to me everyday through email from The Secret. Today's was: Be loyal to what you love, be true to the earth, fight your enemies with passion and laughter.-Edward Abbey

Laughter truly is the best medicine.

Writers Block

For those of you who like to write, you already know what it is like to suffer from writers block. Well, this is why I have not written in a few days. I wonder if my grandfather had this problem often. For me, it could be years that I go without writing. However, I was trying to do this daily. And, I am trying to keep this all positive...

However, my morning was not so positive. I woke up earlier than I needed to because my cat needed water and decided to meow as loud as she could in my ear. I got out of bed with a headache.....and found out that my dog had peed all over the couch. My husband and I have no idea why he did this. Going through Gavin's backpack, I saw that he had two tests with much lower grades than normal. After having a tearful chat with him, he was the one in tears, I got him off to school. Knowing that Makenna didn't go to bed until later last night, I figured I would have time to throw these cushions in the laundry and get a shower. I managed to get a shower. However it wasn't long after, when I heard little feet. Then I hear her crying at the top of the steps. My thought is....wonderful...she woke up way too early.

So, I sat down after getting her breakfast and told myself that this is not how the rest of my day is going to go. Then I started thinking of all the things I am thankful for; my kids health, our full refrigerator, my full classes, cinnamon Eggo waffles (LOL!)....and so on...

My day has already picked up......
Makenna is in a good mood, I got the laundry started, I managed to respond to all of my emails, and be able to write on my blog. No, my headache is not gone. All I have to do is get up and take some advil and I will be fine. The problem is that I don't want to get up. I guess it is just that kind of day. Hey...my writers block must be gone...yeah!