I'm Still Alive and Kicking...

I'm sorry to have worried a couple of friends by my extended absense. Life got complicated and busy. I'm again dealing with health issues related to my heart/arteries, Multiple Sclerosis, and now am at high risk for a left hip and leg fracture from osteoporosis. Yikes! Getting old is hard, but it's still awesome to be alive!

I continue to participate in the Grow Me a Story online classes, doing a bit of writing (not consistantly, but hey, still trying), playing with some creative art projects, and working to get my home back in order. Three years since my bypass surgery, during Covid, meant many things in my home got neglected, and I wasn't the best housekeeper before all that! Haha!

My intention is to try to write a new post at least once a week. I'm adding that to my long list of goals for the coming year. One thing I got done was my Vision Board for 2023.

On my Vision Board you can see my hopes, dreams, and goals for the coming year. You can also see images that bring me joy. 

I've been posting images to my Instagram account. Mine is private, but if you are a friend and you are on Instagram, you can send me a follow request if you're interested. It's fairly new to me, but I do try to post at least once a week there. This is the link:  https://www.instagram.com/anitajo75/

Here's to a year filled with many new and exciting things! Looking for the good! 

Regaining a Sense of Wonder

I wrote the following comment in response to a question on the Grow Me a Story Blog post, From Lamenting to Lauding.

"This time of year I tend to lean toward the lamenting, always feeling the absense of loved ones passed on or those I don't get to see very often. The morning pages have been very helpful, not just in sowing seeds for growth in creativity but as an outlet for examining feelings. It's a very healing activity. The 90 Days of Autumn Awareness has been wonderful in keeping me looking at what is around me and appreciating what I am observing. Little things like homemade chili, are normally not celebrated. As I focus on these small things, I find a new sense of wonder about my everyday world."

It is good to find things in life to celebrate, to regain our sense of wonder about the world and to appreciate the world around us.

Grow Me a Story

Hello again! I'm attempting to write a little more faithfully on this blog. This morning I want to share my latest adventure. Well, it's an adventure for me anyway. I signed up for a one year membership with Grow Me a Story. It has been amazing for me so far! I'll admit, I had some doubts going in. The two people running it are very special to me, my sweet cousin Paul and his lovely wife Carol, who also happens to be a dear friend of mine. My doubts were not in their ability to facilitate a business venture, which purpose is to help people live a more creative life. My doubts were in my ability to commit to the process. I am doing so much better than I thought I would! I've been doing the reading and the assignments, writing my morning pages every day, participating in most of the ZOOM classes, and listening to the weekly podcast. It's renewed an interest in writing as well as a desire to explore other areas of creativity. I will probably share more as the year progresses. In the meantime, I'm learning more about myself and having fun in the process!

Intentions for the New Year...

My cousin created a list of resolutions on her blog, found Here, which are similar to some of my own goals. I wanted to share Laurie's with you, because it inspired me to put mine in writing, which I had not intended to do. Maybe it will inspire you as well.

Too often, resolutions fall by the wayside. After a slip or two, the goal seems insurmountable. One of my former supervisor's gave me a tiny pebble when we were facing a huge project. It was a reminder to approach a mountain of work, one little piece at a time. That is how I'm approaching this year, a pebble at a time, being thankful for what I do accomplish, and remembering my joy is also in the journey, not just the destination.

My focus is on:

Health - Making better food choices. Exercise daily. Listen to my body and rest when needed. Don't be afraid to make changes.

Spirit - Pray with thanksgiving. Sing. Laugh. Love. Forgive. Be generous.

Soul and Mind - Write daily. Read more. Make time for family and friends. Learn something new. Tap into my creativity. Be true to myself. Be inspired!

It sounds like a lot, but many of the things listed are what I have already been working on. I want to continue improving, learning and growing. There is no downside to making these resolutions, because failure is also a learning experience. I'm ready to greet 2015! It's going to be an amazing year! Believe it!


© 31Dec2014 ajj

Off to a Great Start...

My week has been so busy, I just noticed how long it's been since I posted.  My "new year" is off to a great start!  Lucky 13 has been doing very well with the online school.  His health has improved some since my last update!  I'm feeling better today than I have in quite a while.  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

I've tackled a small portion of my reorganizing job, but I found that I am out of filing space.  Now I need to purge a lot of old files, before I will be able to file anything current.  I don't want to purchase a new file cabinet... that would just add to my huge inventory of paperwork, receipts, and ephemera. 

The main goal is still to simplify.  I know my creativity is hampered by too much stuff!  I've been visiting a few blogs and checking out photos of their work spaces.  Many of you have shared such great organizing ideas.  I just need to put time and thought into what will work best for me.

THOUGHTS ON...

TIME:

"Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life."    ~ Michael Leboeuf

CREATIVITY:

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."    ~ Thomas Edision

"Ideas can be life-changing.  Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea."    ~ Jim Rohn

TAKING A CHANCE:

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."    ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Updates on My Life...

Medical update: No Cancer! (I know I didn't say much, but was very worried.) All tests were great except the bone density. I'm now 5' 7" (formerly 5' 8-1/2") and officially have Osteoporosis. Yes, I'm taking calcium, vit. D, etc. Can't tolerate the hormone replacement, but increasing soy.

Life update: Nothing much going on. The weather is cooling again for the next 2 or 3 days. Love it! PJ is on a hiking trip this weekend with two friends. Lucky 13's been spending all of his time completing his three online courses. MJ keeping busy at work, and he's been attending lots of concerts and activities.

Creativity update: Well... I've begun several art/craft projects. Completed none. I have a major writing block. I feel like watching old movies or laying in the grass watching the clouds go by.
I did give up Diet Coke about a month ago... Time to pour myself a tall glass of iced tea, with the caffeine.

Quote for today:

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."

~ William Shakespeare