Spirits Up-Give Back to Yourself!

Hey-Hey, good morning Shiners & Shinettes!

It is Monday, a new day, and an open door to be awesome all week long!

This Monday’s post is short and sweet…well at least I think so!

Today’s post is about giving back to yourself, being the best you that YOU can be.  Do not dull your shine by trying to be like another, each of you are a Rock Star all of your own. 

So many times, I see that many will say, “Oh I can’t stand them” or “how is it that they have this or that” When we have these thoughts, we take so much away from ourselves.  Being in competition dulls us, and we may never be able to get that shine back; because it is hard once, that habit has started.  

Give yourself back your shine; give yourself back your blessings!  Do not allow yourself to be robbed of what is rightfully yours.  We have to dig deep and be happy with whom we are and what we look like.  Be happy with what WE have. 

It is time to give back to ourselves.  It is time to give ourselves a chance to really live and not through others.  Give Back! Make a deposit today, deposit positivity back into your life.

Its Monday…Be awesome!  Make that positive deposit today!

Lived My Passion and WON a Prize!!!!

                          

Hey there Shiners and Shinettes….I pray all is well with every one!

April 27^th, 2013 I was given the grand opportunity to Live My Passion at the wonderful Chasing Joy Brunch & Learn event.  I was asked months back if I would be a guest speaker at her event and with my spirits up and an excited heart I said “YES!”  Now, with great opportunities comes preparation, so that is what I did.  I created a PowerPoint Presentation that I never imagined that would touch the many attendees of the event.  As I stood and presented…I WAS LIVING MY PASSION!  Did you hear me?  I Lived My Passion!  As many of you know, I love to motivate others to be their best, love themselves, be kind, grateful, thankful, humble, and understand that you matter.  Below are some points from the Presentation.

To start living your passion here is what one must do:

ž Get up and get moving….

ž Think Positive….

ž Be CERTAIN of who YOU ARE!!!

ž Throw your passion out there for the world and let it make ripples!

ž Do NOT self defeat!!

ž Get Busy Living

ž STEP into your Passion

ž Get into YOUR zone of your Passion

ž Know your LIMITS

ž Test YOUR LIMITS

ž You have a great opportunity to bloom your passion into reality!!

ž Come ready to work, create, or motivate!!

ž Be patient, don’t rush it….

ž Smile because you’re about to change the world for the better.

We all had great conversation, food, and prizes.  Everyone received gift bags that included wristbands, key chains, and buttons.  Several bags had special bands that allowed the winners of a certain wristband color to win free services from me, such as, a free vision statement, and free motivational coaching session.  The event had many sponsors and the sponsors gave away gifts and services as well.  We had several raffles that were major fun because many attendees like myself stated that they never win anything.  Well guess what!?  I won the beautiful prize from "AHappySlappyGreeting"”.   Click the link to see her great and joyful work! 

This young and beautiful Dynamo has a major latent for making beautiful greeting cards.  Check out my prize (Picture at the top of the blog post) and other great pictures from the awesome event in the slide show!

Do you have a passion?? If so what is it!? I would love to hear all about it!  #ShineOn

            

Don't Be There Sponge....

        

  Hey, Hey Shiners & Shinettes….I pray that everyone is well!

When it comes to sponges, I love them when I first get them because they are all fresh and clean, I even get some with fancy designs as well.  However, after a few uses they are so gross and have to be discarded.  Sponges carry so many germs and if one keeps using them, they will just continue to spread the nasty germs.  Now how does this pertain to being positive? 

Alright, here goes….I know that we all know someone who chooses to inflict his or her negativity on us; it may even be a family member (germs).  Here is the deal Shiners & Shinettes, YOU do not have to be there sponge and absorb their germs of negativity that they want to impose on you.  If you happen to be that sponge, they slowly begin to poison your positive surface and their negativity will start to seep deeper under the surface.  When this begins to happen, it starts to change us and not for the better.  You can refuse to be a part of their negativity.  YOU are strong enough not to let it happen; YOU are strong enough to not let it affect you.  YOU do not have to be there dirty little sponge.  Keep your positivity shield on and keep those negativity germs at bay. 

Your past is the past; however, those negativity germs will keep trying to get you to absorbing them.  A mistake that happened years ago, is finished, those negativity germs will keep trying to get you to reabsorb that as well.  ****WE have been forgiven****, and WE shall NOT allow ourselves to reabsorb the negativity germs that are trying desperately spread through our minds, bodies, and spirits!  WE WILL NOT BE THERE NEGATIVE GERMY SPONGE! We will continue to Positively Shine Bright!

Ms. Positivity

Be CERTAIN of who YOU are....

                                                     

Hey Hey Shiners and Shinettes….I pray all is well with everyone.  I am just going to jump right in because this post is very important.

As the days of this year go by, I have come to realize who I am.  I know the basics, my name, age, height, weight, and where I came from.  However, what I mean by I know who I am is, I am certain who I am.  I am certain that I am Melissa, smart, caring, motivating, inspiring, motherly, compassionate and much more.  Many times, I feel that we know the basics, but deep down we are having an identity crisis.  What I mean by identity crisis is that, we forget to see ourselves as unique.  We start seeing ourselves through the eyes of others but not through our own beautiful eyes.  On top of that, we begin to place limiting boxing all around us as if we have forgotten who we are.

Well I am here to make things very clear….BE CERTAIN of who YOU ARE!!! Do not sit and allow another to provide you with negative thoughts of who you are when you already know WHO YOU ARE.  Many times, one will make you forget who YOU are because they do not want you to rise above and be great.  This is when the identity crisis begins to take root.  It is time to get the gardening tools and cut off all of the negative roots.  See Shiners and Shinettes, it all comes down YOUR mindset and not the mind of another. 

In the Lords eyes, we are wonderfully made, so why do we start looking at ourselves as junk and with uncertainty?  WE have to be certain who we are.  We have to seal up all of the cracks that may allow negativity to slip in and wreak havoc over how we look at ourselves or what we can do or not do.  We are WORLD changers, so “WE” should Speak it-Claim it- and EXPECT it!!! 

So I am asking from this day forth, no longer have an identity crisis, do not compare yourself through worldly standards.  Renew your mind, and stop allowing the enemy to keep making you uncertain, because you know JUST WHO YOU ARE!

Ms. Positivity

You Can’t….OH YES YOU CAN!

                                           

Hey there Shiners and Shinettes, I am so glad to be here with you once again!

Many times, we speak these hindering words of “I CAN’T”.  These words are so hindering to our lives that I wish that it would just disappear.  I have murmured this statement so many times in my life that I could have a small fortune if I were saving up.  How many of you can admit that?  Well one day I sat back and said; why am I so afraid to do something?  Is it because I want validation from others or when I run an idea past another, I would not get the response that I desired.  As I said, I ONCE lived that afraid-life full of “I Can’t”.  Hey, as the saying goes…I’ve been there done that…but NOT ANYMORE!!

Well darlings I am here to let you know that it is time…it is time for YOU to let go of “I can’t”.  I understand that there are some things that we are not able to do at that moment, and maybe we have to plan better so that we CAN accomplish some things, however, to say we CAN’T leads to I Haven’t and then giving up.  Can we afford to give up on ourselves? Uhhhh NO!

 We have invested so much into ourselves and many times, we just don’t follow through.  Is that what we stand for?  I am sure that is NOT what we stand for.  I know that we have dreams, and plans.  I know that WE are not weak and WE CAN do anything that WE put our minds to do.

I went from I Can’t, to I CAN, and I did.  WE can do anything as long as we do not hinder ourselves with self-doubt.  If we focus on US and not trying to obtain approval to see what another will say we will be able to achieve so much more.

I know that YOU can get that job.

I know that YOU can get your degree.

I know that YOU can be your OWN boss.

I know that YOU can be a homeowner.

How do I know?? I know because I could and I did just that!  I stopped thinking negative and planned better.  I wrote things down, made small goals, which turned into big goals, the big goals turned into accomplishments.  All you have to do is STOP saying or thinking that YOU can’t and then YOU will see what YOU CAN do!  Whatever it is in your life that YOU are speaking “I CAN’T over…STOP!! Step back-take a deep breath- nod, and state OH YES I CAN!

I have no doubt that YOU CAN…I am proud of you already!

Until next time…keep Positively Shining!!!

Ms. Positivity

Willingness to Change

Hey there Shiners & Shinettes….I hope all is well with everyone!

As I should be working, I felt the need to blog.  Yes darlings, when the mood hits me I try to run with it.

 As you look at the title, you may say what is this all about, well let me tell you.  Many times, we may want to change but many things that keep us from change.  To be honest-I myself have fallen victim to this many times.  Granted I am as positive as can be but I am human as they come. 

As I read my word this morning (I understand that not every one is of the same religion, but this will help you as well) I cam across a devotional that had the title just like the one above.  Instantly it stopped me in my tracks, why, because I feel that we all have to have a strong willingness to change.  Many times, we may sit and get to a critical point on our lives before we actually stop and profess that we need to change. 

Let me fill you guys in on some things, and how this applied to me because, I know we all have different situations. 

A while a go I said that I wanted to change for the better, I took small steps towards this change and thought that this was all good well and fine.  HOWEVER, I still kept seeing myself frustrated, annoyed, sad, angry, and not focused.  I said that I was not going to keep falling back into the same situation and habits that kept me that way.  I would be good for a few days and I was right back at square one.  HA silly little girl, I said I had the willingness to change but who was I fooling.  Mind you----this continued to happen repeatedly, until this past Friday.  I had so called friends driving me to continue my behavior through their behavior. Deep down, it was never them; it was my level of willingness to change.  It was weak and that is why I continued to be aggravated by their actions.  See Shiners & Shinettes…people are going to be who they are and we can no longer sit and blame them for how WE act.  WE have to have the divine will power to change. 

Well I did it…I removed the issues….yes ISSUES from my life because I know that I have the will to change for the better.  I am not one to make excuses, I have always owned up to my part of the foolery that I added to my life.  I am owning up to my part and going to make a change.  I have removed some people from my life because I want to be healthy.  Some people and their behaviors are toxic and I choose “LIFE”.  To get my LIFE back to the way it needs to be, happy and fulfilling.  Not finding away back to square one. 

Now when we want that good change, we have to understand that it is not going to be easy, and we will feel uncomfortable for a while, test and much more will present themselves (I know this first hand) but hold strong and fight.   

All of this to say Shiners & Shinettes….if you want change, do what you have to do and hold on tight.  No matter that the vice is, smoking, drinking, losing weight, eating, living, or letting some other bad habit go.  Having that WILLINGNESS to change is at you fingertips.  A better life, a better mind and a better YOU is waiting to flourish!

Ms. Positivity

 

Take the First Step!!

 One foot in front of the other!

Hey Hey Shiners & Shinettes….I was thinking and said you know that where would we be if we did not take chances?  I think that many of us would be still standing still and confused. 

Where am I going with this you ask, well walk with me and I will show you.

Many times when we are unsure of the next step we may not step.  Fear keeps us from putting one foot in front of the other.  Last week I wrote about needing a stepladder to pull you up and now I am blogging about taking steps.  The name of the game is to stop standing still and take the grand steps to get to the top.  It is time for us to stop being our own roadblock.  It is time for us to say "you know what I am going to take that first step and whatever happens-happens."

Granted even when we do that we may not achieve the results that we desire….but guess what who cares!  You had the guts to step out of faith and looked it dead in the eyes and said” Fear NOT I can do this~one foot in front of the other!!”  This is how it started even when we were kids…we were so scared to take that first step to do what we have never done before.  Mommy or daddy said come on take that first step and we may have stood there looking so scared.  Then we wanted to get to that special one who raised us, and goodness what did we just do???  We took a step, as scary as that may have been…we took that first step.  Yes, we may have fallen down but the next steps get faster and faster.

See darlings, we cannot be afraid to put one foot in front of the other, we have to keep stepping!!  We have to keep moving for the greater goal in life….the dream is right there waiting for us to snatch it up and have our way.  All the dreams, goals, love, test, designs, meetings, jobs, hugs, phone calls, words, phrases, even apologies are waiting for you to put one foot in front of the other and take that first step. 

Do not let the unknown keep you from doing what you love, all you need to do is put that one blessed foot in front of the other and keep on stepping!  You have the ability to do anything just make sure that you take the deep breathe, and pick up your foot and take that great step towards your dreams! Its waiting for you! 

Need A Step Ladder???

Hey there Shiners & Shinettes!

I’m back and on the move again towards my long life goal….you guessed it Positivity! (Not that it went any where)

I know I have stepped back from writing but…that has all ended.  So here goes!!!

                                                              Step Ladder

                                                 

Have any of you wonderful Shiners/Shinettes used a step ladder before?? I’m sure that you have…if not you just may have stepped on a good ole chair to boost you up just a bit.  The thing is darlings; we sometimes need a little boost to reach what we want. 

Many times when we want to do something we may not have the proper means to do it, but if we had that step ladder to reach just a bit higher we would be able to accomplish that much more.

Many times we want to give up….Never give up! Get on that step ladder and boost yourself up.  Many times things don’t go our way…Never give up! Get on that step ladder and give yourself that needed boost to look for a different avenue to see new change.

See guys, I needed that step ladder a little while ago.  For awhile, I thought that I could do some things on my own.  I never asked for help and by NOT doing so I began to get the notion to give up!  Well if anyone knows me “IM NO QUITTER”.

I know I can be honest with you darlings….haven’t we all been there when we just want to give up because things are not going our way…no matter how hard we try to make things right?? So if you can say “YES” to this then you know where I am coming from.  Well…I had to tell my stubborn self, that I needed to get up and get a little boost.  Many of us live with negativity day in and day out...well I refused to let that get me down once again!!!!

Negativity comes at us all kinds of ways, for example, words, actions, social networking, family, and mainly US! Yeah I said it OURSELVES!  We-Us-You-Me, will be our worst negative energy when things don’t go our way, when we read or feed into the mess we see before us.  Well I am here to say, STOP these actions and get on the step ladder.

It is time for us to get out of our personal-defiant ruts and step up on that good ole sturdy step ladder of positivity.  Pour positive things into our minds and lives.  No longer will we be the cause of us not being as positive as we can be!!  We will only surround ourselves with positive like minded people, we will turn away from negative news, no gossip, we will not be used and abuse but another's negativity!

We as Shiners and Shinettes are way better than that!

So I ask you Shiner and Shinettes….NEED A STEP LADDER!??  If so you can borrow mine!  Sharing is caring and best believe I care about each and every one of you!!  Soooooo let's get on the good foot and Step up for Positivity!

~Positive We Stand~

Ms. Positivity!!

I miss you.....Positivity Shines AGAIN!

Hey there Shiners and Shinettes!

I know it has been a while for us to chat and for that I am deeply apologetic.

Granted I have been away with the major new changes at work, new changes in my life (engaged), school (finals) and new changes to come I have missed you guys dearly!  When I say that I am entirely sincere.

Each of you that I know and even if I don't know are like my second family.  You know when you are away for too long you get home sick....and you know what my darlings I am just that home sick!

I have used the word CAN'T so much it hurts.  I can't do this I can't do that! All of these other things drain me to my core but its never a day that goes by that I do not think about you guys!

Sooooooo since I have some time on my hands (finals are over) I wanted to let you wonderful Shiners and Shinettes know that I am back and here to stay!  Each of you are important to me and I can't have you guys feeling as though I don't care or that I went away!

So let's start over, talk through our ups and downs, smile, laugh, and hang in there for we are the meaning of POSITIVITY! I can't help you guys scrub away the negativity and positively shine if I'm not here! Well I am here and we will tackle Negativity to the ground! We will not be bullied into giving up our positivity for negativity away! So Excuse me...I'm Ms. Positivity and We meaning my Shiners & Shinettes will not be broken!  So here is to Positively Shining together!

Positive We Stand!

Getting back to Me....Guest Post by Krystle Talley

                                   Getting Back to Me....His Spoken Words

After I graduated magna cum laude from college, I went from being a full time worker to being a full time mother and army wife. Although this new situation may have felt like an awesome break to some women, I didn’t feel “like me” being stuck at home all day every day while everyone else was out presumably working hard. I’ve always considered myself a hard worker. I have held down a good job ever since I was sixteen years old as president of the cooperative office education program in high school up until I became an employee with the Davidson County Sheriff’s office in Nashville, Tennessee.

So, it’s safe to say that this transition from working hard to not working at all (so I thought) was extremely hard for me and so unlike whom I thought I would be. According to my past desires and plans, I was supposed to be a lawyer by now. As a Christian, I started praying about where my life should be headed. I realized that God was waiting on me tell him what was on my heart. So one day I went to my secret place, and I told him.

Finally, I heard God speak to me.

I felt God whisper his assurance to me that everything I had done up to this point was for a reason. He softly said that I should not keep holding on to the burden of being helpless or making ill decisions. God said, “Working hard isn’t just about being on a 9 to 5, but it is about occupying my time to help those who otherwise wouldn’t receive it from others.” Working hard is not just vindicated by getting a paycheck every two weeks but about getting a blessing from Him to spread to others, especially those closest to me.

I started to understand that I should be taking my position at home more serious. Although I wasn’t getting up and going outside my home to work every day did not mean that I didn’t have a job to do. My husband still needed to be prayed for daily and my son still needed his mother to be there to back him up educationally and emotionally. That takes work. I needed to be occupied with encouraging my husband to be the best working man outside of home and encouraging my son to be the best growing boy he can be. That takes work, primarily if we want our home to be blessed regardless of what kind of income is coming in. I mean, who else is going to really pray for covering over MY family.

Once I started focusing more on doing these things I felt a burden being lifted off of my shoulders. So I prayed to God more and thanked Him for enlightening me. He then spoke to me again, reassuring me that I was headed in the right direction. I could feel him hug me and say, “Keep going. Let them see me.”

So one morning I found myself creating The Christian Chameleon. Honestly, I don’t know how I came up with that name. In essence, creating this website and enhancing this brand was not just because I was bored, sitting at home and needing an outlet. It was more spiritually geared towards being obedient to God and finding a way to reach others who wouldn’t otherwise be reached using other avenues.

This new blog is my work. It’s my way of occupying God’s time to incorporate His word into mainstream media and other social issues we deal with in today’s world. Working on The Christian Chameleon was my way of getting closer to God, thus getting back to ME. I encourage anybody out there to really take time, get in their secret place, and speak to God. Tell him what’s on your heart. I promise that your words to Him will not return to you void. He listens and he hears everything we speak to him. Just wait on it. Your confirmation is coming. It may not be in the form of a blog or working a 9 to 5, but I assure you it’s coming. Don’t give up and think that you’re failing or your time is wasting, because God always has our footsteps ordered before we even know where they’re going.


Be inspired, but STAY inspired.

Getting back to Me....Guest Post by Dina

                              

                                                   

                                                             Finding Dina

Ten years ago I was in my 20s, I was a full time student and I had a part time job.  I met and started dating my husband; we fell in love and decided to get married that year. Everything was working out perfectly, almost like a modern fairytale.  The most stressful thing about my life at that time was the wedding planning because I wanted it to be perfect.  And it was that desire for perfection that led me to making the worst decision of my life: taking a break from school.

I planned on taking one semester off to have a stress free wedding, a glorious honeymoon and blissful first few months of marriage.  I saw no harm in taking a little break because I only had one more year left to get my bachelors.  I was young and I thought I knew it all, had it all under control.  But one thing you never know is what may be waiting for you around the corner.

That semester off?  You guessed it.  It stretched into years.

The company my husband worked for laid him off and then went bankrupt a few months later.  Many companies followed suit and jobs were hard to come by.  This was 2001, the year of 9/11 when tragedy struck our country and the first whispers of recession were becoming audible.

I found work as a secretary in a hospital, a great job with great benefits.  And we needed those benefits as a young married couple that hoped to start a family someday.  I worked full time and was happy there.  I quietly gave up on my dream of becoming a teacher because I thought it would be too hard to work full time and go to school.

Then one day one of the new doctors was chatting with us while he was waiting for his patient to return from a test in another department.  This doctor looked so young that we liked to call him Doogie Houser.  On this particular day he was telling us about his wife who was pregnant with their second child and by the end of our chat I knew that his wife was to become my inspiration.  This day and this conversation literally changed my life.  Why?  Because this pregnant woman who was already mom to a toddler was also keeping herself occupied by being the Chief Resident at one of the leading hospitals in the state.

And I thought my life was busy?  I thought it would be too hard for me to go back to school?  I was willing to give up on myself so easily?  No.  I needed to get back to ME.

The next day I filled out the application to go back to school and I enrolled in classes for the new semester.  It took me a little bit longer to finish as a part time student, but a couple of years later I graduated, with honors.

Finally.  I was ME again.

You can find more of Dina @30ish_Mama and also  http://30ishmama.blogspot.com where she writes about motherhood, toddlerhood and her random thoughts.  She is married to her own personal Clark Kent/Superman and is mom to one sparkly little princess.

Getting back to "Me" Guest Post by Chivon Anderson...Finding Me!

            

                                                               Finding Me

So after a very long break my writers itch has begun to get the best of me. The box of treasure in the form of words and expressions have been unlocked and unleashed. The greatness in me only shared with a few is about to bless the world. These first few blogs are what I will use for practice, to get the kinks out, to stretch lol. After all it has been lying dormant for such a long time. Forgive me if it is not as eloquent as you might expect or if it seems a bit shallow. I am simply giving myself the freedom to be ME with no restraints. (smile).

After talking for a while with a friend and witnessing so many blogs birthed I thought it was time for me to break my silence. I am not one to jump on any bandwagon. As a matter of fact when I see one coming my way, I run in the opposite direction. I like being unique, I love being a trendsetter. It has taken me years to break out of the mold that I have allowed so many others to create for me but today I am finally free. I am the mold, the model, the standard. Lets not get it twisted this is not about self glorification but rather liberation. I'm free to be who God created me to be. And I have been raised for such a time as this to help others become truly free. I have been hurt before which is why I can declare that the Lord's strength is made perfect in my weakness. I have loved, been rejected and found true love, not only in my husband but in God. So I can shout with confidence "WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN? IF GOD BE FOR ME WHO CAN DARE BE AGAINST ME". "FOR I AM FULLY PERSUADED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER PRESENT NOR FUTURE, NOR ANY POWERS, NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATHION WILL BE ABLE TO SEPERATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS MY LORD.

Romans 8:38-39. It is this perfect love that has cast out all of my fears. I am a Kingdom Kid and their is no denying that. Hate it or love it, I'm here to stay.

To get to know Chivon better check her out on Twitter at @QueenChivs Thank for stopping by Shiners!!! Til next Monday! 

Getting back to "Me" Guest Post by Susan Silver

                                             A Story NEVER told

Here is a story rarely told.  Back in May 2010 I was steadily working on a blog with a colleague. That was the proving ground for many of my SEO tactics. We were finally building an audience and then... it ended. Not with a bang but a whimper as they say. My friend informed me that she had been hired and that she had signed a non-competition clause. That was the end of that.

At first I was a little devastated. I think anyone would have responded that way after building something for 6 months. I wasn’t quite sure what the next step was going to be. I had my own personal blog, but it was nothing. I needed a fresh perspective. I saw Darren “Problogger” Rowse’s tweet about the SITS Girls 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge and that seemed like a way out.

At that time, Cirquedumot was just a crazy experiment to show off the power of Twitter. It has become the cornerstone of my blogging experience. Through SITS I finally understood the power of networks, word of mouth, and having support for your ideas.

This seems all off topic right? This is supposed to be about getting back to me, not the tale of where things started. Off topic... the doom and gloom of any blog. It’s called a niche, not my continuing interest in the world & everything. Staying on topic is something any blogger will struggle with.

The bad news, my blog had plateaued at about three months in *faceplant*. My network trailed off and I find myself lost again. I was wondering if our online networks are nothing more than fair weather friends.  I focused on search engine optimization and content. After all, these two aspects where within my control.

I had forgotten something that made those early blogs stand out, heart.

Heart?

I forgot about heart!

You see those early success were built on the relationships I had with people on the forum. When the challenge ended where was I, not on SITS. Don’t get me wrong content and SEO matter. They will never replace your friends and supporters. They are what keeps us going when the going gets tough. That is what I was missing.

How am I getting back to me?

My blog is all about word of mouth and that means bringing back a sense that there is a person behind the content. I am just going to follow my original mission. Explain marketing mumbo jumbo and give real tips that people can use. My number one goal for the New Year is to treat my blog as the personal journey it represents. After all people relate to people not concepts.

I hope you will continue on this journey with me as we navigate the online world together. I want to take the time to thank Ms. Positivity for her support that has kept me on the path! Thank you everyone who has taken the time to visit, read, and comment! 

To get to know Susan better check her blog out at http://cirquedumot.com and you can catch her on Twitter!! 

Fighting Back! "Getting Back to ME" Part 3

Chapter 3....I didn't GIVE UP         

                                                         

                                                        

Just moments ago I felt off with my story with me fighting my anemia which is a major factor in my life.  I remember it like it was yesterday Shiners.  Again I lay in this bed sleeping away....I wake up wanting to go right back to sleep. I have never just slept the day away-not even when I am sick!

Oh well-once again the fighter in me would not stand for it and I'm NOT! Let me tell you what I did....I got up, got my butt out of bed  and took a shower, washed my hair, did my homework and more.  I kept moving. I turned on some music and kept moving.  I went back and read my blog, I watched my kids play and laugh, I Wii bowled, I just danced to Just Dance 2, I looked at my twitter and saw how so many look forward to communicating and getting their daily dose of Positivity from me.  I looked over my transcripts from school....A+ here B+ there more A's and more A's, Dean' list, President's list.  I am in no way gloating-this is what I had to do to get my mind right because I wanted to give it all up because of this blasted anemia. Then Shiners....I saw it!

I saw it alright....that Bleeping D!  Dang it!! I said all because I am anemic. That D saved me but crushed me. I never had one of them before. So I step back up to the plate this term Shiners and I will have 2 shiny fat A's! Let me tell you why-Because I'm getting back to "ME"

That's right...me and this anemia are going toe to toe!  I'm no quitter-I don't give up at anything!  I will find me in the process.  I will relax, I will eat ice cream, I will laugh, blog my heart out, smile abundantly, and whip anemia's butt!

See I am Ms. Positivity!! I am not mean in any way, I am a loving mother of 2, loving pre-wife of one, God fearing and as long as I have faith the size of a mustard seed I will prevail.  I will take my iron pills, take my B-12(because my body does not produce enough) and Shine as bright as I can for me, and every one I love and care for!  You will see a different me-I will be calm, spunky, witty, funny, and full of life.

This may seem simple, but for one who is dealing with anemia that has knocked me off of my square-it is major!

See Shiners I need you guys....One of my great friends sent me this on Facebook the other day: Kelly Reid
"Have I told you lately how special you are? You are an amazing woman! You are truly an inspiration. Here I am thinking how in the world am I going to balance work and school and then I think of you. Not only an FT employee, a student, a mother (dang good one at that!) a girlfriend, a friend to many and a blogger to name just a handful (among many others hats you wear) ;) Wow!!! Keep it up, you motivate me to be more and do better. Love you!"

See I never knew the affect that I had on people until I started Positively Shining. Without you their is no ME! That is why I have to get back to ME so I can totally Positively Shine for YOU!

So here is to getting back to "ME" The fight I  WE will win TOGETHER! 

So Let's show them how we get back to us! 

The Climax....Prelude to "Getting Back to "ME" Part 2

Chapter 2 of where I left off....

So I will refresh your memory a bit...I was failing, fatigue, anemia, school, kids, work, goodness it just seems like I'm complaining but trust me I'm not!  That is one major thing that I do NOT do is complain.  I suck it up and make the best out of a situation.

The main obstacle is this blasted anemia.  How can I be Ms. Positivity if I am beyond moody?  Anemia makes you this way....it took me a good while to figure out what is wrong with me and it made so many things much clearer.  I mean I love to sleep but this was becoming way to much for me.  I'm 31 why am I in the bed sleeping at somebody's 7:30pm!?!....Oh because I have no more energy to keep my eyes open.  This affects everyone and everything around me.

I prayed-I cried-I slept-I pushed myself to the limits.  This is bad Shiners....sleep trumped so much, even quality time with my kids.  I prayed more, and trust me you don't have to be super religious to not give up and dang it that is what I DIDN'T DO!

This is very frustrating BUT....I refused to give up.....

To Be Continued....

Less Duty More LIVING.....

Happy 3rd day of the New Year Shiners!

                                                     
If you look at the title many of you can probably agree that life isn't all about duty but also about living.  I feel that many times we-myself included have forgotten how to live.  This does not apply to everybody but again for many.

Have you ever watched your mood Shiners when duty takes over and you don't get to live?  You know what I mean, the likes of work, children (if it applies) school, being an important person for an organization, care giver etc.  I am not saying these are things that we should ignore but many times they get in our way of living and our mood goes way down. Duty strikes again. GRRRRRR!!!

Well guess what Shiners with this being the New Year and all I say lets start off by getting our positive mood back and LIVE! Yes LIVE!  I feel that we don't do this enough.  We work and work-care for and care for and we forget about our inner peace, happiness and positivity.

Oh well the buck stops here! RIGHT HERE! I know I'm tired.  Let us stop this routine dead in its tracks and live!!!! Lets live Shiners...lets stop putting duty before everything else! We matter just as much as duty matters!

Back burner no more! We will LIVE our days positive and to the fullest from this day forward!

Now lets go and LIVE!!!

Turn Your Light UP....

Hey there Shiners! I hope all is well with each of you and that you are ready for the New Year to ring in!!  This year has been great, and as with everything in life it has had its ups and downs.  Yeah we may not speak about them but trust me we have had buckets full of trials and disbeliefs.

                                                         


I was wondering Shiners, has dealing with such trials turned your light within down?? If so I say its time to "TURN YOUR LIGHT BACK UP!"  Many times what we think is good for us is not good for us and little by little that positivity that we had starts wearing away.  This can not happen-if we allow this to take hold of us, our inner and outer positive light will be gone forever and we will become negative towards everything that surrounds us.

I being Ms. Positivity can not sit and watch this behavior.  We must strive to keep our light as bright as it can be for this New Year.  How can we do this?? I am going to tell you how!

First and foremost You yourself must have the strongest AMBITION to be positive! (Reference last post on AMBITION)
*Take the negative outlook from your mind. (Start looking for the positive in life)
*Remove yourself from negativity. (Make sure who is on your team is deserving to be on your team)
*Surround yourself with positive people or actions (Removing the negative means add positive)
*Learn to laugh (She knows all about it)
*Learn to Chase Joy (Trust me she knows all about it!)
*Celebrate You (She knows all about it)
*Be Inspired to Thrive in life (She know all about it)
*Embrace your Struggles instead of letting them get the better of you (She knows all about it)
*Make life fun for you again
*Get to know you again (See even I know all about it)

See Shiners their is NO time to let your positive light go dim.  Surround yourself with enough positive fuel to keep you light #ShiningBright all through the New Year!  Treat negativity like a child its a "NO NO" It can't come in, hang out, get any attention, etc.  Negativity is to be pushed to the side like a red headed step child-as the saying goes!!

The only way our light will stay up is if we KEEP it that way,and it is our job to do so!! So for 2012-Lets keep our Positive light #ShiningBright into the midnight hour! Let others be blinded because we refuse to turn it down or let it be put out! If its time for change then this is it!!

Lets Go Shiners! Lets show them how to #ShineOn & #ShineBright

Prelude to "Getting back to "ME"

Walk with Me....

Just follow me for a minute, step into my shoes if you may.  I am Ms. Positivity and this is the start of the breaking down and the rising of ME!

                                                         
Gosh it started a while ago May of 2011 at some point.  I'm a mother of 2, I work full time, Psychology student full time with now 5 months left for school.  Like many out there i'm in a relationship but am not married yet (but truly happy to the fullest) house, bills, friends, problems, and so much more.

I'm feeling alone, feeling like I'm going out of my mind. Not doing well in school that term-what is going on.  I'm gonna get deep in a minute...I am an A+ B+ student am I getting a D in this class I actually wanted to quite...NO WAY!! What the BLEEPITY BLEEP BLEEPPPPPP is going on? (Hey we're family friendly here)  I'm tired, burning the candle at 3 ends...yes three!!! I'm burned out in the middle too! All I want to do is sleep-anemia is getting worse & worse. I'm at work being pulled in so many different directions but still I'm Ms. Positivity.  I help people reach deep down to be the best positive being they can be, but I'm broken inside-just a little but I can't figure out just what it was!

Trust me I prayed (I never stop praying) but the fact is I was not feeling like me 100%! I was gaining weight, losing weight, crying silently every other night, still smiling, still being positive, how can this be....I needed to hurry up and Get back to being "ME"


I will Show you how in a while!!!! I turned my Positivity Light Wayyyyyy UP!

To Be Continued.....

No Resolution-its called AMBITION!!

Ahhhh Hey there Shiners! I've so missed you wonderful people.  Let me tell you that it feels so good to write about something that I love instead of writing all of these politically correct papers for school. I mean really, what is the deal with 10 page papers?!? With psychology everything has to be just so and to be honest it makes you so drained that you may not even want to blog!!! GASPS!  No don't you even think that Ms. Positivity would ever leave her Shiners-this is all just to say that I appreciate that all of you hang in here with me through my journey of staying positive and trust me 2012 we are gonna take this to a whole new level.

                               

                                  Strong AMBITION-no RESOLUTIONS

As the year comes to a close I know many of us are going to do what we normally do, have a ball, and set the ever pesky new years resolution!!  Shiners can I stop you from doing this task??  I beg of you NOT to do it.  Let me explain......How many times have we done this?? Each year we set out to do something ONLY when the new year comes around and we do it for a little while but then we are right back to square one.

How many times have we done this and kept at it?? For me NONE! This is why I can speak so frankly about it. Well Shiners if you know me you all know I am about to change the game!! I say No to RESOLUTION  and yes to AMBITION!!

I look at resolution as being negative and we know im NOT about any of that, but to have AMBITION is great! This year I want us to have a strong ambition instead of going after something-anything in this up coming year with closed eyes! Lets set reasonable goals so that when we reach them we will feel that much needed positivity to keep us going.  No that is not a resolution its AMBITION!

If one wants to lose weight start off small something small like 5lbs in a month.  Don't start out saying I want to lose 50lbs. Every time you step on the scale it will look as if its not moving. If your thing is to stop smoking, don't stop cold turkey, stopping cold turkey will have a negative impact, instead smoke one less cigarette a day until your smoking less. See with AMBITION anything is obtainable.

I want all Shiners to think different and have AMBITION to reach that goal that you have been grabbing for.  I want for 2012 to be full of joy, laughter, smiles, positivity, and reasonable goal reaching ambition! So I say DOWN with the New Years RESOLUTION  its time to fly a little higher.  Its time to do things differently, if you want to be better have the ambition to be better, if you want to obtain something have the strong ambition to reach it....lets not get comfortable and let our ambition fall to the waist side! Ambition will take you higher and farther than any RESOLUTION could!!!!


So What do you say Shiners?? Lets not lose our zeal lets add tons of AMBITION lets not be afraid of heights and lets take the new year for a grand ride on AMBITION!

Here is to AMBITION-NOT RESOLUTION!


Here is to letting our AMBITION #ShineBright! 

The Side Eye!!!

Hey there Shiners! Goodness how time zips away from us.

Can you believe its going to be 2012 in a matter of a few days?? I cant believe this.  Just the other day we were getting ready for the holidays and BAM now they are almost over! Where is the time going?? Well I'm giving the side eye to the clock  because it seems to have some tricks up its sleeve for us.                                              

And they say money goes fast well time is right on its heels.  Many of us were just getting the kids ready for school, now they are on Winter break. Many of us are still thinking about that summer vacation that we took. I remember mine like it was yesterday.  The days and night are blending together, its night when we are leaving for work, its night when we are coming home from work!!! What is going on here!?  With the time going so fast I feel like I have been robbed and I'm ready to call law enforcement because it has been stolen from us.

How have we almost gone through 365 days so fast?? Oh well Shiners.....seems like its nothing we can do BUT..... Have a fab new 2012 and keep the positive moments, talk, actions, smiles, dreams, love and laughter going for another 365 days!

That's right why feel bad because a new year is coming in! No need-this just gives us more time to be the best Shiners we can be.  Letting nothing stand in our way of being positive, supportive, grateful, thankful and humble. Oh yeah lets use this time wisely because before we know it we will be starting all over again!!

So what do ya say?!? lets make 2012 the best it can be and lets start by NOT worrying about the time that has gone by! Make new moments in the new time upon us!

We are SHINERS for a reason...we let NOTHING and NO ONE stand in our way of #SHININGON!