JUST BECAUSE

Just because it made me laugh this Friday morning. :-)

IT'S JUST ME

I am nowhere near perfect.

I eat when I'm bored.

I don't exercise when I should.

I'm easily flattered, even though I don't like that trait.

I am vulnerable to believing lies.

I believe in forgiving people and oftentimes find myself in the position to request it for myself.

I see the best in people, even when I should pay more attention to their 'negatives'.

I love being around people, but I do not mind being alone.

I am hoping that one day I won't need a fake smile as often as I seem to lately.

I live by quotes that explain exactly what I am going through.

I don't make excuses, but also don't appreciate getting the third-degree about my personal life.

I respect the personal lives of others and don't question inconsistencies. Note the trend?

I have never hurt anyone on purpose, though goodness knows I've had cause to do so.

I need to learn to take up for myself better than I do.

I've lost people in my life by keeping my mouth shut to protect others feelings.

I have best friends ... and enemies too, I'm sure.

I love my kids more than I ever knew possible.

I'm scared every day that despite my best efforts, I'm somehow not doing what I should be with them.

I'm terrified I either won't remember everything I need to tell them or won't be around to tell them, so I write this blog.

I have drama, laughter and memories (and that's life).

Live it, love it..learn from it. Right?


That's the part I keep working on. Hopefully that's normal, though everyone else appears to be doing it seamlessly.


Always remember and never forget: He never promised it would be easy, He just promised it would be worth it.

WE NEED MORE MIRRORS AROUND HERE

We sometimes experience a little (and by little, I mean a LOT) of drama in this house.

Reasons vary.

Having to do homework. Being told to clean a room. Instructed there's only 30 minutes left until bedtime. Folding laundry (ahheeemmmmm...yes that's me).

It's expected. When you're young, sometimes emotions are worn on the sleeve. Especially when you've had a full day of scheduled activities and may be extra-tired. Those kind of things I understand. Really I do.

However, there's a certain someone in the house who is getting just a TAD dramatic when they don't get fed in time.


CARTER

 This is Carter. Our 3 (over that now, actually) year old Beta Fish. I have never seen such personality in a dadgum fish in my life. You know how a dog wags his tail when he's happy to see you? Well...Carter does that. Don't believe me? Feel free to stop by anytime and see for yourself.

Ask him, "Who's a pretty fish?" and he will gladly show you.

The last few months he's done this little floating ritual. Of course, at first I thought he was entering flush-status. Then I moved his bowl a little and he jumped to life. He's been doing this more and more lately.

Tonight I kept moving his bowl and he just kept up the floating to the point I thought, "Well...maybe it IS his time to enter that big bowl in the sky".

Then reminding myself just who he actually belongs to (that would be Shelby), I decided the drama may have just jumped another degree. So I concocted a test. I decided to see if he was really sick or maybe wanted some extra attention. I fed him.

And this is what he did...

HAPPY, FLAPPY FISH

I should've known. It's all about the attention around here.

LAUGHIN-AZ

From my friend, Sam. Girl...you crack me up!


To all the girls who are in a hurry to have a boyfriend or get married, a piece of Biblical advice: 

"Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz." While you are waiting on YOUR Boaz, don't settle for any of his relatives; Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheatin-az, Dumb-az, Drunk-az, Cheap-az, Lockedup-az, Goodfornothing-az, Lazy-az and especially his third cousin Beatinyo-az.
Wait on your Boaz and make sure he respects Yoaz... .

NOT YOUNGER...BETTER

Today, Kirstie Alley was on television talking about how much weight she's lost due to her stint on Dancing With the Stars (hello? When are you going to have Dancing With the Single Moms Who Need to Get in Shape?). I digress (shocking)...the interviewer asked her if she had any plans for plastic surgery now.

Her answer?

"People get plastic surgery to look younger...", and while I know she said something after that, I did NOT hear it.

The plastic surgery I've always wanted has nothing to do with looking younger.

Do I want plastic surgery? Ummmmmmmm...YES.

Do I want to look younger? Not necessarily.

I want to look better.

In fact, I want to know what in the heck is going on with this getting older business. If I'm going to break-out like I did when I was a teenager, is it too much to ask I have the energy, abs and arss I did when I was a teenager?

I'm just sayin'... .

So good for you Kirstie. But I've just about had it with with this getting older BS.

And while I'm at it...there's a Melatonin supplement out on the market. Has been for many years. Where in the world is the serotonin supplement?

My answer: The drug companies are hiding it because if they released it...gone would be the money consumers spend on Abilify, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil and a whole slew of ones I didn't even recognized when I Googled "anti-depressants".

Please, someone give me a job so I quit obsessing on this stuff. :-)

TO TIP-TOE IN THE SUNLIGHT

Allow Your Own Inner Light to Guide You

There comes a time when you must stand alone.

You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams.

You must be willing to make sacrifices.

You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved.

Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.

There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities.

Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better.

Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by.

Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life.

Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.

LOOKING FOR THE 'EXCEPTIONAL' AMID THE 'NORMAL'

First the title caught me. Then the story did.

I've had amazing friends lend an ear, shoulder and more the past week and a half. Actually the past year and a half. And I promise I'm working...diligently...on getting back on track. Every time I think I make head-way, I end up getting a reality check as if to say, "Hang on...not yet. We aren't quite there."

So a huge thank you to those of you who are on my side, no matter what. You are apparent in who you are and you make me as comfortable as possible, being in what is an uncomfortable position for me. It gets old, this drama. Makes me want to crawl under a rock some days. I generally try and focus on the positive ("it could be worse" etc...) and that's still my M.O. But for the days I'm not all happy, positive, energetic and embarrassingly forgetful...thank you for understanding.

I'm looking very, very forward to the day where I am called on for support. Have no doubt...I WILL BE THERE.


Last Day of Normal
by Bob Perks

I could tell there was something wrong. He hadn't been the same the last few months. I just couldn't figure what it was.

"This is my last day of normal," he said to me. He had this half smile, half frightened look on his face. Unusual for my friend.

"You haven't been normal since I've known you, so I can't imagine why tomorrow would be any different," I said laughing.

He didn't respond. I knew then that this might be big.

I waited a few moments and then asked, "So, why will tomorrow be different?"

"I had some tests done recently. I was having problems with my thinking. You know, forgetting and stuff. I just thought it was a part of getting older," he said.
 
Then looking over the top of his glasses he said, "But this is more than forgetting where I put my keys."

"What kind of tests did you have?"

"Cognitive tests to test my memory and basic understanding."

"So, you're worried about the results?"

"Scared to death!" he said with big, broad expressions on his face. "I didn't do well in the tests."

"So, you're 'last day of normal' means that tomorrow things might be different?"

"Yes, today my life is the way it has been for as long as I can remem...," he stopped in the middle of the word.

"Remember," I added.

"Yes, remember."

"I won't get into 'every tomorrow is different,' or remind you that it may very well be different because it will be better, or happier, or simply a new direction for your life."

"Please don't do that inspirational stuff on me," he said.

"Nope. Not trying to. I just wanted to plant this seed in your brain. This will go one of two ways. Either there is a challenge or there isn't. If there is, I know you well enough that you will make it right, as right as it can be. If there isn't a problem, I want you to promise me that you will never be 'normal' again."

"What?"

"This may sound sick, but I believe we would all benefit from a life threatening moment, a near death experience. It is not until we come close enough to lose it that we really appreciate what we have. Sometimes, some people walk away from such events and go right back into 'normal' mode without any real appreciation for life. I want you to promise me that either way you will never see your life as normal again."

He was speechless.

"Do you hear me? I want you to live life bigger than ever, wider, stronger and fuller. That, by most people's standards is NOT normal."

He turned to me and said, "Will you join me?"

"Yes, I promise!"

He hugged me and said, "I'll never forget you, my friend."

So, if you are facing any new challenges in your life and fear that today may be your last day of normal, be grateful for it. Tomorrow will be your first day of "exceptional!"

© Bob Perks

BE THE BEST YOU

Do you ever change your opinions or viewpoints (I'm talking your 'out-loud' ones, not necessarily your core ones) while in the presence of someone you want to have more in common with? Or maybe you don't want to have to answer their questions about the reasons you believe whatever-it-is you believe?

I'm fairly certain we've all done this at some point or another in our lives.

Usually this is a harmless thing we do in order to just move past a conversation. But, there are other times this is done to try and form a bond. A bond you are anxious wouldn't be there unless you try to have more in common than really is the case.

I've noticed two things: The older we get, we either do this a whole lot less or a whole lot more.

For those who do it less, it's either because we've grown to not really give a flippity-flop about what others think or we've finally become confident in who we are. When we get questioned, our answers become simple. "Because". That's it. No diatribe. No over-analyzing of why. For most of us, a great deal has gone into the formulation of our opinions and viewpoints. How we were raised. Past events and experiences. Many things.

For those who do it more, it's either they are afraid to be alone or have grown less confident in who they have become. Even going to lengths to say, "Yes! Me too! I hate soft drinks also. Always have!" All the while knowing it was just last weekend they went through an entire twelve-pack of Mountain Dew. You know this person. They claim they've either always had this viewpoint or have "always thought the same thing...just never met anyone else who thought like me!"

Wow. The stars are aligning! It's fate! Wait...magic! No...neither. You've either become desperate or have lost all confidence to the point you think the other person won't give you a second look if you don't stop naming things you have in common. Even though you know, deep down, your desire to find common ground is what is grasping at anything even remotely similar.

Here's the truth...people actually appreciate you have differences. Intelligent and interesting people do anyway. GASP. Who would have imagined that!? The people who last the longest in our lives genuinely like us for who we are. Differences and all. In fact, the differences may just be what they think is interesting.

I do find it entertaining when I meet someone new and we have quirky things in common. However, I'm even more interested when they do things differently. Opens up my mind to new possibilities.

As for me, I am who I am. Like it or not.

I like to sleep-in on the weekends when I can. I watch (usually have to record) certain shows on television, like Food Network, Brothers and Sisters and whether it's cloudy or clear outside...I like The Weather Channel. I don't like wearing heels. I prefer jeans and a t-shirt. My hair is in a ponytail most days. I like creamer in my coffee and my Diet Dr Pepper in a cup, over ice and with a straw. I'm an aromatherapy freak. Candles, potpourri, whatever...I like things to smell good. I have a fetish regarding my feet...I can not stand for them to be rough. At all. And as particular as I am about that, I could care less if I ever have my toenails painted with a French pedicure. I prefer to purchase cheap purses over expensive ones. I'm just way too rough on them. Though I have a couple 'vintage' Coach's that were gifts and I do love them. I don't like being hot. I prefer the windows open with a cool breeze blowing. And I love plants. All kinds. Bring the green!

All this being said, if you believe or do the exact opposite of anything I've said above...I don't judge you or question you about it. It's none of my business. And it's also part of what makes you...you. And one of the many reasons I like you.

I hope Ben and Shelby know how important it is to be themselves. It's what makes great leaders. It's what makes a person solid. It's what makes the ground beneath you sturdy in the midst of chaos.

Always remember and never forget: You are the best you there ever was, or ever will be.