2011 New Year Appreciation & Eradication

Happy New Year Friends and Family.  Thanks for reading my blog.  I appreciate all of you.  We’re 6 days into 2011 and I have been living in a state of Pure Joy ALL 6 of these days.  I woke up feeling great this morning.  I am so thankful that I have discovered this JOY.

My Appreciation/Gratitude List for today January 6, 2011:

• I am thankful God woke me this morning with the energy I needed to start my day.
• Thankful that my children are healthy, wealthy and wise today.
• Thankful for the friends in my life who are loving, kind, funny, supportive and uniquely themselves in so many ways.  (Examples:  Jerrie, Christina, Pele, Sandra, Mama…).  I love them all dearly.
• I appreciate the steady stream of income into my bank account.  LOVE that.
• I am appreciative and thankful for this new sense of self I have.
• I am loving the attitude of this man with the golden voice, Ted Williams.  He is so thankful for everything that comes his way.
• I really appreciate people who are grateful for all of the little things in their lives.
• LOVE my dog, a German Shepherd named Sable.  She brings me so much joy.  Just caring for her and being responsible for her adds value to my life.  I love Sable.

January 4, I did an eradication exercise.  I made 3 three lists.  The first list was a list of all of my achievements and blessings in 2010.  The second list was a list of everything I want to eradicate and get rid of in 2011.  The third list was a list of my desires, hopes, dreams, and wants for 2011.  The exercise of making the lists and burning the lists gave me power and more joy.  I am thankful I did that exercise.

Happy New Year to all of you and many blessings to you this year.

I appreciate all of you and I express this appreciation to all of you from the infinite abundance that is my natural state, knowing that as I do so it will expand and reflect back to me.

~~Namaste~~

When A Parent Loves

As I was cleaning today, I was thinking about the mothers and fathers in my life who LOVE other people’s children.  All of those thoughts brought to mind R.Kelly’s latest hit When A Woman Loves.  If you listen closely it sounds as if he’s singing about his mother or a mother.  During my chores today my thoughts were more focused on when a parent loves.

When a parent loves, the world is loved.  When a parent loves, love is shared with all of us.  When a parent loves another person’s child, they are really loving ALL of our children.

• I remember when TJ was younger and so many of his friends would come over for sleep overs, dinner, lunch, play dates, whatever, anything, time with our family.  Little did I know at the time that us taking in other children to spend some time with was soothing and helpful to their parents.  I’ve been told several times by several different parents that us having their child over was a blessing to them.  We were just loving our child and treating their children as our own.  We had no idea we were really blessing someone else.
• When I was growing up my mom used to work in a daycare center.  EVERY day she would bring home “some stray child” whose parent was not able to pick them up before the center closed.  Although I was a bit selfish during my early teen years, having someone else’s child around really didn’t bother me.  My mother taught me how to love strangers and see past the exterior of people into their souls.  I am so grateful to her for that.  Thanks to my mother, I have several sisters and brothers that neither of my parents created biologically.  My sister Kathy LOVED having someone else’s child to watch over and love.  That was her thing, loving other people’s children.
• Kathy loved other people’s children so much I believe they thought Kathy was their mother.  I remember when Kathy was just 19 or 20, she took in another woman’s baby as her own and practically raised her for years.  I am grateful to Kathy for that because did ALL of us a great service by showing love to a child who needed it.
• Allan spent the weekend with one of his best friends this weekend.  When I went to take him to the meeting place, I realize that my good friend took on 6 children this weekend.  I thought it was just going to be her kids and Allan.  Don’t know why I thought that because every time I go over there, her oldest always has a friend or two hanging around.  Pele always loves our children as if they are her own.  I love her even more for that.  That’s the love of a mother she shows my children.  The love R.Kelly sings of in his hit When A Woman Loves.
• When I was married, my husband had a great camaraderie with children in every neighborhood we lived in.  Before TJ was born, the neighborhood kids would come over and ask if Mr. Tony could come out and play.  He played football with them in our front yard.  When we moved back to Columbia, he played basketball and football with the neighborhood kids.  He always had their best interest at heart.  There was no malice towards them and he genuinely cared about them as if they were his own.  The love of a parent towards another person’s child is what he has always demonstrated.  Even after our divorce I can still see it.  My ex-husband was and still is a father figure to someone else’s children.  I appreciate that he does that.
• My BFF has two daughters of her own.  Well, this weekend she had a total of 4 girls to care for.  One of them is an infant.  She enjoyed every moment of it.   She did it because the mother needed help.  Plain and simple.  She loved all of them as if they were her own too.  I am thankful she does that.
• Jerrie has been taking care of my oldest granddaughter since she was born.  Jerrie has no grandchildren of her own, but she calls mine hers.  She’s a co-grandparent.  As a matter of fact, Ms T is at Jerrie’s right now giving her all of the love a grandchild gives.  I am thankful to Jerrie for the love she has given to my son, my daughter-in-law, and my grands.  Another example of when a parent loves another parent’s child as their own.

This entry is my expression of appreciation to all of the parents who love.  I express this Appreciation from the infinite abundance that is my natural state, knowing that as I do it, this expression will just expand and reflect right back to me.

Namaste

OMG! I Missed THREE Days!

So, I've been participating in NaBloPoMo 2010 and I missed Thursday, Friday, AND Saturday (Nov 11-13, 2010).  Today is Sunday, November 14, 2010 and I have so much to be thankful for:

• Thankful that I didn't miss today.
• Thankful that I missed 3 days because people in my life found me valuable enough to request my time and support.  So so so thankful that I could be of help to my special crew.
• Appreciative to TWC for internet service here at home on my laptop.
• Thankful to RCPL for allowing me to renew Busting Loose from The Business Game AGAIN.
• Overjoyed I got to see Amira today.
• Appreciative to City of Columbia for water to do laundry and to SCE&G for electricity.

I love yall....

Namaste

Today Was A Good Day

This song describes how I feel about today. Yes, Today Was A Good Day!

I am thankful for the following:

• Home
• Sanity
• Car
• Family
• Love
• My Dogs
• My Friends
• The dinner I personally made that almost killed me. Spaghetti, homemade meat sauce, Texas toast with Mozzarella cheese, white wine and ............. a Cinnabun from Cinnabun on Fort Jackson.  Yeah, I may die in my sleep tonight after all of that good stuff.
• Nice quiet time with myself and a good book. What am I reading? Busting Loose From the Business Game by Robert Scheinfeld and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
• A post about loving women that was shared by my boy Ken. You can read it here. I highly recommend it!

Today was a good day.
Namaste

NaBloPoMo November 9, 2010

Long Day.  Got much done.  Sleepy Now.  Quick Post.  Thankful for the following:

• appreciation for paying my car taxes
• got new tag decals on my car
• Starbucks Soy Caramel Macchiatto
• Allan passing 4 & 5 multiplication tables this week
• good friends like Jerrie Friday
• being a mother and NOT a father (not that anything is wrong with being a father)
• dinner bought, paid for, and cooked all by me
• spoiled rotten puppies in Sable (7mo old German Shepherd) and Lobo (6mo old Siberian Husky)
• me singing in the car.  Man I'm badd but I love singing in the car!  LOVE singing in the car!
• I D E A S  -- luv em.....  got any good ones you wanna share....

Namaste

Solid Old School Love

Today is Sunday, November 7, 2010 and I am still thankful, grateful, and appreciative of living life in a state of Pure Joy.

I was talking with one of my friends today while she was watching Madea's Family Reunion.  We then of course started talking about the beautiful eye candy in the movie:  Blair Underwood and Boris Kodjoe.  She informed me that Boris and his wife broke up.  I immediately thought how unfortunate because I love to see love work for people.

The conversation quickly moved to famous couples who either made love work or are making their love last.  I am so thankful for the following couples who have made it work and continue to be positive love influences for us all:

• Ashford & Simpson  - Solid Love kept them married for 36 years and raised 2 children together.  Solid Love.  Solid as a rock!
• Marilyn McCoo & Billie Davis - Precious Love kept them married for 41 years.  
• Ruby & Ossie Davis - Happily married for 56 years.  They openly discuss their open marriage in this book.
• Michelle & Barack Obama - Married for 18 years.
• Will & Jada  - Married 13 years.
• Courtney Vance & Angela Bassett  - Married 13 years.
• Paula & Denzel Washington - Married 27 years.
• Samuel Jackson & LaTanya Richardson - Married 30 years.

I'd like to express Appreciation to all of the above for keeping LOVE and Hope alive.  God Bless & Namaste.

We Have Dragons!!

Today is Saturday, November 6, 2010 and I am thankful for:

• My Own – So thankful I have my own house, my own car, my own peace of mind.  God Bless The Child That’s Got His Own.
• Family Movie Night – We watched How To Train Your Dragon tonight.  I enjoyed it.
• Peking Wok – Lemon Pepper Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice for dinner.
• Robert Englund – He’s a much better Freddy Krueger than Jackie Earle Haley.
• Today right now.  Getting much better at Living In The Now.

 

God Bless and Don’t Digress…

 

namaste

Appreciation for November 5, 2010

Every November I usually post about gratitude, gratefulness, thankfulness and just plain old appreciation.

My goal for November 2010 was to post everyday. Well, I got side tracked until I saw a post on blogher about NaBloPoMo. It reminded me of my yearly November activities so I signed up and here I am.

Starting today I will be posting EVERYDAY this month.

Today is Friday, November 5, 2010 and I am most thankful for:

• Paid bills - I have been collecting unemployment since April and God has made it possible for my mortgage and utilities to continue to be paid during this financial diet.
• TJ - TJ finally got his own place and I am happy and appreciative for that.  I've been talking to him this week and he really wants me to come visit him when his dad goes this weekend.  The problem is that my car needs to be serviced and I'm not comfortable driving it that far until I can pay for the full servicing of my car.  Maybe his dad may get the appreciation bug and let me follow him in his car while he drives the u-Haul of furniture we are giving TJ.
• Fresh Air - This change in the weather here in SC has the air very fresh and crisp.  I love that.  Thanks for the fresh air.
• NaBloPoMo and BlogHer - Thanks for bringing it to my attention that I really should do this yet again.
• My Mom - She has been my biggest supporter and fan.  I love Mom and I am so very thankful to have her in my life.
• Music - love it!
• Robert Scheinfeld - I read two of his books this month:  The 11th Element and Busting Loose From The Business Game.  The second book is by far one of the coolest books I have read in a very long time.  I appreciate what I have learned from both of these books thanks to Robert Scheinfeld.
• My Dogs - They are such a pleasure.  I love walking them and I love seeing how much pleasure they get out of a simple walk.  Dogs are so simple.  I've lost 15 pounds since I got them because I have to walk them 2-3 times a day.  My German Shepherd and my Siberian Husky are the best!  So glad we took them to training too.

Thanks Again

Greetings!  I am so glad we had this holiday!   I really needed it.  It was getting really bad.  My attitude was starting to bother ME.  I really needed this break!

So, now that turkey day is over and Black Friday is over, we can all rest for real.

My turkey day was okay.  William went with his dad on the eve of Thanksgiving.  Allan decided he wanted to go to his dad AFTER dinner was done.  I had to say no.  My range decided to break down right before Thanksgiving, so we bought a pre-cooked meal from Piggly Wiggly.  It was delicious.

If this writing seems ho-hum, it's because in spite of me trying to have a good attitude I am feeling somewhat ho-hum.  Honestly, it bothers me to be in the company of ungrateful, negative people.  There, I said it!

Today I am thankful for:

• Dinner from Piggly Wiggly
• my neighbor who let me use her range to warm my dinner
• peace and quiet
• love of my friends and family
• inner happiness
• mail running on Black Friday

Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Namaste

Successfully Completed

I have written over 33 entries about this goal.

It was so well worth it. It forced me to recognize all that is good in life. Whenever I was having a bad day, all I had to do was write my daily gratitude list. I am so happy I did this.

Today is Thursday, January 3, 2008 and I am thankful

• that I assumed this exercise and successfully applied it to my life for all of November 2007, and most of December 2007.

• that I rollerskated for 2 hours last night

• that I am not totally dependent on someone else for my livelihood

• that my family is supportive and loving

• that the walls in my living room are a bright and vibrant YELLOW

• that I have this beautiful red sofa in my living room. I love the contrast of the red and yellow

• for all of my blog readers. Go click on an ad link and make me some money. Better yet, click on my paypal donate button. LOL

• for 43Things.com

• for new beginnings and great things in 2008. I am looking forward to a wonderful life in 2008.

Happy New Year 2008 and have a beautiful day.

See more progress on: be thankful

Today is Saturday, December 22, 2007

and I am thankful for:

• completed Christmas shopping. I am done! Thank God for THAT!

• an understanding boss. I was so ill this week with some funky head cold. I had a really important meeting on Friday and I was feeling my worse. I got to work and he told us to cancel the meeting and go home because I was so ill. I am thankful he did that. I slept all day yesterday. Feeling better today.

• a bed to sleep in. I think I will be going down early tonight. I did not always have a bed to sleep in. I slept on the floor for 18 months after my separation/divorce. I gave him the bedroom furniture.

• my own jammies. Going to go put those on in a few minutes.

See more progress on: be thankful

Today is Tuesday, December 4, 2007

and I am thankful for:

• working close to home. I came home for lunch today.

• sons who love each other. TJ had to walk to another subdivision to pick up his little brother today. Allan really looks up to TJ and admires him. TJ plays well with Allan. They bonded today.

• appreciation. I love people who appreciate the people in their lives.

• more lessons learned. I am the person who is ultimately responsible for the amount of bullshit that enters my life. I can either accept it or reject it. The choice is mine.

See more progress on: be thankful

Monday, November 26,2007

and I am thankful for:

• short drive home from work.

• going home during my lunch hour.

• working for such a prominent organization.

• left over Thanksgiving food to go with dinner

See more progress on: be thankful

yesterday was Sunday, November 25, 2007

and I was thankful for:

• being served. Dinner was cooked for me and served to me; it was so sweet.

• being loved. More than 3 people told me they loved me yesterday.

• being me. I was just me and happy to be me yesterday. Not somebody I thought people wanted me to be. Just me.

• Ghettolectual Smurf. He’s a great father, great man, and great person. There is more to him than people see.

See more progress on: be thankful

Today is Saturday, November 24, 2007

and I am thankful for:

• sunny days. Today was a bit chilly, but it was sunny and beautiful. I love sunny days. I also love rainy days. However I am thankful today was sunny and beautiful.

• mid day naps. I had the best uninterrupted mid day nap today. Felt good. I was not sleepy. It was a bit chilly inside as well, so I said I would go get in my bed fully clothed. Well you know how it is when the body heat starts to warm you. I got warm and sleepy, so I took a nap.

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My First Car

It was a 1979 Chevrolet Monza. It was a rust/gold color. At the time I was so ungrateful. Really, I was. I took it for granted that I was just 15 and I had my own car paid for and all. I did not even have a job to earn money to put gas in the thing. My parents made sure it was full of gas. I was ungrateful then, but now I am very thankful for that part of my life. What a charmed life I had.

I did drive my grandmother and her sister around in it. They gave me gas money sometimes as well. And I used the money to put gas in my car.

I also ran errands for the family in a car I did not pay for. I did wash my own car and clean it myself.

See more progress on: List every gift I remember receiving

Thursday November 22, 2007

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I am thankful for:

• the fact that I did not have access to type this goal. I went to my Dad’s in da country! We had a great time with the family and the children. Family energy is so therapeutic.

• lessons learned again. The lesson I learned on Thanksgiving was a personal one about me and my thought processes. I have a lot of work to do. I have trust issues and I learned that I STILL need to work on that. I’ve known for years that I have this problem, and I thought I was working on it. I even know where it stems from. Lesson learned: have faith and confidence in myself. It is not always about me. Trust God, trust the Universe, trust me.

• my step mother the selfless giver. She cooked everything and refused help from us. She did however let my youngest brother make the peach cobbler.

• Allan is learning to spell. He likes to write and ask how to spell certain words. Well now he is doing so much better at sounding out the words and spelling them for himself.

See more progress on: be thankful

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Wednesday, November 21, 2007

and I am thankful for:

• the fact that I have been at this goal faithfully for exactly 21 days. Yay ME!

• I took my first official training test at work today. I scored a 90%. Yay ME!

• I memorized most of my new passwords today. I forgot 2. Yay ME!

• My new job takes software development life cycle process seriously. Yay THEM!

• They take project management seriously. Yay THEM!

• They have several people responsible for individualized jobs and tasks versus a few people responsible for many different jobs and tasks. Yay THEM!

• I went to church tonight. It was cool. Yay YAY!

See more progress on: be thankful

Today is Tuesday, November 20, 2007

and I am thankful for:

• I get to order my own supplies now. I also get to order them whenever I need them. I no longer have to wait until June or October to order my supplies.

• Arbor Mist Blackberry Merlot. Tastes good. Feels good. Nice little drink to have with a rich meal.

• Responsibility for my own self. I’ve taken back my own personal time that I once gave away freely to whomever asked for it. Now I say no when I know I need some time alone. The only person who dictates when and where I go now is ME. I am so very thankful that I pick and choose wisely now. Mom wants me to visit her in DC for Thanksgiving. The ride will be too much for me, so I am NOT going. I am thankful that I do not feel guilty for telling her, “no”.

See more progress on: be thankful