Today my daughter turns 16.

How can it be that 16 years have passed since the day I brought her into this world?

It just seems like yesterday…

So much has happened in those 16 years. I had such hopes and dreams for our lives.

Things changed.

Boy, did they change!

I hoped to buy her a car for her 16th birthday but yet I struggle to pay my current bills. (I’ve been reminded more than once that we got Brandon a car…)

I wanted the best for her but yet I have a hard time meeting basic needs. (Fuhhhhhhrustrating!)

Both kids learned how to deal with not having money available for the extras. Danielle’s heard “maybe next payday” more times than she can shake a stick at (there’s that darn stick again…)

She’s learned how to make do with what we do have and from time to time, I even get a hint of feeling grateful (she’s 16, can’t expect miracles…lol)

Both of my kids have watched the struggles over the years and have learned to appreciate the good times while tolerating the not so great ones.

On Being a Mom

I LOVE being a mom!

But I’ve got it all wrong, yanno…

You see, D (that’s what I call Danielle) laughs at me and says she’s gonna be the cool mom and let her kids do whatever they want.

Dream on, Sister!!!

She may think that now, but once she has her own kids, she will realize that it’s her job to make sure they’re growing up safely and into responsible adults.

Then again, I don’t know anything…

I’m relatively sure I’ve been sufficiently paid back for the grief I gave my parents as a teenager.

And yes, I’ve had heartache over the years.

I’m a mom.

I’ve made HORRIBLE mistakes.

I’m a mom.

I’ve gotten that call in the middle of the night, and spent it in the ER.

I’m a mom.

I’ve waited up at night to make sure they got home alright.

I’m a mom.

I’ve loved my kids with all my heart and always will.

I’m a mom.

And you know what?

I wouldn’t trade it for the world…

Happy birthday, D!!! I love you!

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I loved this video! It pinpoints the power of gratitude perfectly, in a simple and understandable manner.

Over the years, I’ve talked non-stop about the role of gratitude in our every day lives. It seems, no matter what I would talk or write about, gratitude always came up.

It always came down to gratitude…

No matter what’s happening in my life, if I stop to really feel gratitude for the wonderful people and things in my life, then it always changes the way I feel about whatever not so great thing is happening to me.

Did I mention always???

I wrote an e-book several years ago about gratitude (I had considered updating it and putting it out there again but didn’t want to bother if there wasn’t interest) and it was a small but practical guide, perfect for someone just starting to use gratitude in their life.

It’s amazing how something can seem like such a great idea but when you actually do it, the results are so much different than you had hoped. Such was the case for me with that book.

I had hoped it would generate enough income to cover my expenses. It did… For 2 months. (I don’t mean it sold like hotcakes for two months - I mean it sold a few copies and covered a whopping 2 months’ expenses!)

And I’m grateful for that.

For so many reasons:

No matter what has happened in your life, or is currently happening, there is so much to be grateful for!

I know I get stressed (usually with money - it’s been my thorn in my side and personal challenge) and in those times I feel backed against the wall, chest in a vice, don’t know where to turn, that I find myself looking to gratitude to change my focus.

And by changing my focus from what I DON’T have to what I DO have, I feel a different energy. Sort of like changing I HAVE to over to I GET to (another trick when I find myself griping about something I have to do.)

Other times, outside influences to boost your mood present themselves.

For example, as I was writing this, I heard something outside my window. I got up to see what it was and peeked out the window. It was two small birds in the tree by my front porch, playing. They were “talking” to each other and playfully flying around. It was adorable…

And I’m grateful I got to witness it.

When I was married, I used to sit and write and listen to the birds and my then-husband used to say, “Those f&*%$#g birds should be shot!” And I’d just smile and enjoy their music that didn’t cost me a thing (other than the weekly car wash since I parked under that tree.)

I have just learned over the years that no matter what is happening to me, there is always, always, always something to be grateful for.

And the more I engage in practicing gratitude, the easier it becomes…

Who knows, I may write another book on it.

This time, for me…

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I was doing a clearing exercise around my faulty beliefs about money a couple of days ago. Years of being around people who handed me their beliefs on a silver platter contributed to that faulty belief that has plagued me ever since.

When I went back to my computer, I grabbed my little Wayne Dyer book “Staying on the Path” (it’s one of those chunky little books that I keep sitting on my desk to grab for inspiration.)

I opened it and this was the passage I opened to:

“If you want to find a deeper meaning in your life, you can’t find it in the opinions or the beliefs that have been handed to you. You have to go to that place within yourself.”

-Wayne Dyer

And it happened again this morning!

I was working on something I felt guilty for and haven’t been able to get out of my mind (from my teenage years - you’d think it would be gone by now!) The page I opened up to said this:

“Guilt is an irresponsible choice. As long as you feel guilty about whatever you’ve done, then you don’t have to do anything to correct it.”

-Wayne Dyer

Gotta love the message you need just showing up at the right time!

Speaking of messages, check this out:

Finish Strong Movie - Lots of inspiring stories within 3 minutes.

Got me going and made me want to go for it!

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This morning I ran across this video and loved it! Will Smith is one of my favorite actors and I’ve always loved his take on success and life in general. This puts together several clips of his unique wisdom with some meaningful phrases.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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***Doing taxes this morning, and instead of not posting anything, I thought I’d bring back one of my first posts that got a lot of people thinking… (and just made me realize how far I’ve come!) Enjoy!***

Walking into work one day, I noticed a curious thing - my welcome mat was turned the wrong way. It was welcoming people as they left. Not very welcoming at all. In fact, it was just the opposite.

I thought to myself:

How did it get turned around?

How long had it been that way?

Why hadn’t I noticed it before?

Did anyone else notice it?

All valid questions…

I will probably never know the answers to the above questions, but it got me to thinking how many times we just fly by the seat of our pants, totally oblivious of the little things.

Are we unconsciously turning our virtual welcome mats the wrong way? In doing so, are we sending out a signal of being unavailable or unapproachable? Maybe we should all step back and take a look at how we are presenting ourselves to others. I know I’ll take stock of the present myself from now on…

How about you -

Which way does YOUR welcome mat face?

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