Depression

Not that I am!!

But type that word into a search engine, and wow! So much comes up! I was doing some research for my public speaking and thought I'd try the opposite of what I promote. It was scary!

People really do need hope! People get depressed when they have no hope, see no way out. No one seems to care and they are stuck in a rut! (And I've heard you're in a rut if you haven't changed the time on your alarm clock for three years!)

That just makes me all the more determined! Life is to be LIVED! Existance is not an option! No one wants to look back on their life and think, "Well, that was a waste!"

There is always hope! There are always options. You CAN have whatever you want in life.

Just got to want it bad enough!

Action cures fear - bet it works on depression, too!

Try something new

Stuck in a rut? Try something you've never done before!

Friends introduced us to a new game, Dance Dance Revolution. While it was frustrating at first, it intrigued us enough to go buy our own.

And last night we had a blast with it!

While it won't improve our dancing skills, it did provide a great workout. More importantly, it was something we could do together and laugh about. That alone was priceless!

So if you need a little spice in your life, find something unique you've never tried before, one you can do with a friend, and enjoy!

And after coming home with a dozen roses & buying the game, my husband laughed and said he'd brought me flowers and took me dancing!

Play outside the box!

Conquering Fear

Busy weekend - as usual - but I heard something very profound:

Whatever your greatest fear, God will send someone into your life who does not share your fear.

And that person will assist you in getting over your fear!

I can think of several people in my life who have done just that. Thank you!

Giving

Had a chance to impart some of my 'book' knowledge to someone today. (Amazing how much I'd crammed into my brain in the past 18 months!) And that was really neat. Anything I can do to help someone else chase their dream!

It's kind of like the 'use it or lose it' principal. Or like the Talents in the Bible. Horde what you possess and you'll lose it all! Most people don't realize that the more they give the more they will have. Like working out a muscle - sure you'll be tired, but all the stronger for it!

The only way you can truly get more out of life for yourself is to give part of yourself away. - Jim Stovall

Worrying about problems

Seems like everyone has something to worry about. Health, finances, love, etc.

But you have to remember that over 96% of what people worry about never comes to pass. 96%!!! That's, well, most worries!

Concerns are good. Planning alternate routes is good. But why stress? Some things are outside of one's control!

Put Your Problems in Proper Perspective:
1 - Every living human being has problems.
2 - Every problem has a limited life span.
3 - Every problem holds positive possibilities.
4 - Every problem will change you.
5 - You can choose what your problem will do to you.
6 - There is a negative and positive reaction to every problem.
- Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do - Robert H. Schuller

On the Road Again

Just got back from Charlotte last night - and getting ready to head to Virginia today. Last weekend it was Winston-Salem. The week before it was a 2000 mile round trip to Arkansas. My husband says that making my new Tribute go out of warrenty as fast as I can should not be a goal! But it's okay - the vehicle is just a tool.

I never really think about how many miles I drive, or how many phone calls I make, or how many letters I send out. I just do it. I just pay the price. It's all just an investment in my future, my dream. So I just keep going and going.

Speaking of going, gotta hit the road - and spend the time creatively planning the next scene in my book!

Be willing to do what others won't do and you will live like others won't live!

THE summer movie

Just a little chat about movies - I'm such a movie buff, need to throw this in now & then!

Every summer, it's the big rush for movie studios to put out THE summer movie. Sometimes it can be predicted which one will make the most money, which will get the best reviews, which one the audience will really enjoy - and it's almost never the same flick in even two of those categories.

This summer will see A LOT of potential THE summer movie. Which is good for us! We'll actually get some good ones that way. And it always starts earlier each year. (Pretty soon spring break will signify the start of summer movies!)

I'm looking forward to the rest of the summer now.

Tonight, I saw my first potential THE summer movie. (And sorry Star Wars fans, Episode III looked like a bad Saturday morning cartoon next to this flick!)

Can't wait to see what's next!

Don't Quit

This is part of a poem from an unknown author, called "Don't Quit"

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and debts are high,
When you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse that you mustn't quit!

Great Quotes

After a tremendous time at a writer's conference recently, I came upon some quotes that captured the true purpose for the event perfectly.

Get in the presence of great people - avoid low-flying people.

Observing your close friends will speak volumes about you.

If you want to be great in any area of life, you must place yourself in the presence of people who are manifesting the level of greatness you desire.

You must do the things today that others will not do so that you can have the things tomorrow that others will not have.

- all from "The Resilent Power of Purpose" by Larry DiAngi

Love is blind

It's a very common saying.
But perhaps a little too black and white.

Better translations would be - Love is accepting.

Love accepts shortcomings and looks beyond them.

Love chooses to focus on the strengths.

Love sees the full potential.


Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Taking chances

A recent trip to Arkansas yielded so many great results! I met so many great people, it was astounding.

Funny thing is, most were stunned I would make a 15+ hour trip across country to be in Little Rock. Why not? Knew what I wanted and I found a way to do it! Back to that saying about selecting the goal and then figuring out how to accomplish it!

And I'm not Superwoman or anything. I get just as frustrated when I run into a wall as anybody else! Sometimes I whine about it, too. That usually happens when I've taken my eyes off my goal. (And when I am really tired! Always tackle problems when you're refreshed!)

I just believe that all things can be accomplished. Something to be said for pure, innocent belief! Being a little naive helps, too, but mostly it's just dogged determination.

I intend to continue taking chances. There's still some goals I need to accomplish - and I WILL find a way!

To feel alive, one must take risks!

Great Day!

Every now and then, everyone needs a great day.

Today was mine!

Thanks to everyone who made it possible!

More to follow when I return from Arkansas - hard to blog properly when one is on the road.