New Year's Resolutions: Food for Thought

Hi Everyone,

How's 2014 treating all of you so far? I don't know if any of you out there make New Year's resolutions, but I came across a quote just before the holidays that I really like and I think it pretty much sums up whether or not you'll be keeping your resolution in the months to come. :)

For me, the quote by Jim Rohn really hit home because I'm rather fed up with the people in my life who talk the talk, but don't walk the walk -- if you get what I mean. As JB's mom would say, "You need to figure out how you want to live your life." It's so true, don't you think?

If you're not happy, do something about it. Sure, that's so much easier said than done; believe me, I get it. I'm not saying to go at it alone, though. You'd be surprised to discover just how many people would be willing to help if you would just ask.

Anyway, enjoy the "food for thought" and stay tuned for more quotes to think about.

Until next time,

Eddy

Awarded Again!

My dear fellow bloggers, I have been awarded again. :) This time it's the Neno's award & it was given to me by Magdalena over at The Untamed Thoughts on Autism. Thank you, Magdalena, I am honoured!

Neno's award is given to those who love blogging & love to encourage friendships through blogging. It also seeks to know the reasons why the person being awarded loves blogging.

So, first things first. Why do I love blogging? Well, I started blogging because I was broken and feeling helpless, and I desperately needed an avenue to express myself. I went to therapy, did my yoga, and tried all kinds of other things too, but nothing was really helping until I started blogging. Blogging saved my life, it really did. I mean it. I was on the verge of suicide, but one morning I called Eddy and told her that I wanted to start a blog or something because I needed an outlet. Well, in a couple of hours, Eddy got me up and running & I haven't looked back since. I wrote out all the pain, despair, anger, everything. I wrote until I cried over all that I lost, and somehow, little by little, I gained so much more. I got my life back!! Not only that, I've made so many wonderful new friends. I started healing from my pain because complete strangers took the time to read what I had to say & to leave me messages of encouragement, hope, and love. You have no idea how much that means to me & I thank you all so much. I will never forget what you've done for me & continue to do for me. Lastly, the most amazing thing out of all this is my relationship with my super great cuz, Eddy. Without her help, her pushing me to write, and telling me to get to it, I could never have come this far. So, with great love and appreciation, thank you, Eddy. It's all because of you that I’m able to forge this new road. Thank-you, and I promise that I'm going to buy a better dictionary & that I will use less commas when I'm writing my drafts. LOL

Now, I'm to pass the Neno's award on to as many bloggers as I choose. Those of you selected must then do the following:

1. Collect the award by saving the badge & posting it on your blog

2. Write a blog post about the Neno's award -- tell everyone what it's about, who awarded it to you, and also tell everyone why you love blogging

3. Pass the award on to as many bloggers as you like by naming them in your post & linking back to their blogs

4. Let those bloggers know that they have been awarded

I have chosen the following bloggers as Neno's award recipients:

Court at Tangles Out

Polly at Polly Abroad


JB

Self Help Books: They Can Help, But...

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.
-- Dorothy Thompson

I went to pick up a new journal a few days ago, and I noticed something for the first time. I mean it’s probably been like this for a while, but I just noticed. The self help section of the local Chapter's that I go to is now the biggest section in the store. Self help... this makes me wonder. With all of these self help books, why is everyone still so screwed up? I mean, you’d think that these books are helping. Oprah, Louise Hay, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, and Wayne Dyer (just to name a handful of author's) all have books out there trying to teach people how to do/be/have any number of things in life. The world ought to be better, people should be healing, but I see no change, no real difference. People are buying these books, but I think they might just be using them as coasters or door stoppers. I can't tell you how many people have told me that they bought a certain book and got nothing out of it. When I ask whether they actually bothered to apply what they read, they get a look on their faces that tells me they haven't done a damn thing. Well, explain to me how a book is supposed to help you if you read it, but then continue to live your life the way you always have?? It's easy to blame a book (or a person) for how crappy your life is, but the fact is you are the only one holding you back. A book can open you to new ideas, but you need to get going and do something. I know no one wants to hear that, but -- reality check -- it's true. Don't get me wrong, I understand that change is hard and that change itself scares people, but only you can change your life.

JB