ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

So the new moon is rising and it is blue.Nature has a way to remind us there is more in the universe. Many expressions like once in a blue moon comes from a natural event. The blue moon! Hope there is not cloud cover.
#bluemoon#onceinabluemoon#natureatherbest#naturalevents

JANUARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Each month brings opportunities to live and accomplish personal goals. Planning for the future. Caring for a sick family member. Being there for the extended family. Connecting with friends and family. So the little projects are good indicators of getting things done. Scrapbooking and keeping the photos up to date. Cleaning some corners and closets. Decluttering. Little goals but a good feeling the first month of the year accomplished some good things. Celebrations of birthdays and an annivesary made for some family fun. Buying useful equipment to make outings enjoyable. Yes reading some useful articles on self development. Always good to reflect on ideas that have been around for eons! As an undergraduate psychology major I love revisiting some of the theories and ideas. What is old is new again! Oh January, a good and useful month.
#Januaryaccomplishments#familyandfriendrelationships#smallprojects#caringforasickfamilymember#projectsandgoals#makingtheuseofthewintermonths

ONE LAST BLAST OF JANUARY WEATHER

Canadians love to talk about the weather. It's too hot. It's too cold. A mild winter. A tough winter. So January 30th brings another blast of cold and snow to many parts of Canada. Some snow here in the GTA but hear a big blast is heading towards the Maritimes. Keep the shovels out and salt ready! But a blast of snow the end of January is tolerable! Remember we are days closer to Spring. Even late day Spring snow storms can be good for the garden. So bundle up and brave the weather.

#winterstorm#Canadiansandtheweather#talkingabouttheweather#coldandsnowly#bravingthewinterweather#Maritimes

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Dale Carnegie wrote books and lectured on this topic decades ago. Bless him! Many new books and theorists have written modern versions of the same theme. Positive thinking emanates positive energy. When going through bad stretches, it can be difficult to think positively. But thoughts belong to us! What we think can affect what we feel. Feelings can spill out. So harvesting the negative thinking into positive thinking. Turning the difficult challenges into manageable parts. What can be done? How do you feel about it? It may mean a good cry is warranted to enable the feelings to come out. It may mean staying away from difficult people and situations. Finding solutions quietly and meaningfully. To be humans mean negativity can exist in our lives. But staying negative drains and saps all the good we have to give. Revisiting the strategies of positive thinking is a February goal for me.
#positivethinking#DaleCarnegie#ridyourlifeofnegativethoughts#managinglifepositively#negativethinking#gettingaholdonlife

PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE

When crap comes your way, the best thing is to put up a shield and throw some back. Rather than cowering in a corner, stand up and push back. So being proactive about the things in one's control is important.. Not being caught off guard. Stifling anger and being assertive. Our emotions can be hijacked and having strategies to step back and think about the answer. Always know there are others who want to catch you off guard! Put you on the spot!  Proactive- let me think about it. Not reactive. Learning to be proactive takes experience and learning. However, pushed into a corner can take lots of skill and knowledge not to react. The workplace is ripe with colleagues that may not have your best interest. Managers manage and often dictate what needs to happen. Concentrating on getting the job done well and professionally can be the best shield. Dotting every i and crossing every t becomes the mantra. Protecting one's back. Finding colleagues to trust. But mostly keeping the hand dealt close to the chest. Being positive and having a smile is a great defence too.
#howtodealwithconfrontation#proactive#reactive#lettinggoofnegativethinking#protectingoneself#yourbestinterest

THE JOY OF A WINTER STAYCATION

Winter planning can be done for the spring/summer in a big way. Organizing those corners of one's life that are needed. A day out with a friend downtown. Riding the subway from the west to the city's core. The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is always a wonderful adventure. To see The Viking Exhibition was a highlight. Serious future planning started, but on the way to being finished. Relief some serious decisions are being made. But very anxiety provoking so needs to be done a step at a time! Changed, yes changed my hair. Back to a cut I had years ago. The blond hair is subdued. Tried to phone some friends but not home. Connected with two siblings and informed about some serious matters. Getting up at my normal time but able to putter and putter. Being home on crappy winter days really worked. Doing the normal routines and lots more. Just not being at work and all the stuff. The changes there that are very stressful needed some distance. No say in the changes.
For my husband the cook, a break in his routine. Take out meals that lasted for more than one meal. Eating breakfast and lunch together. Going with him on a doctor's appointment. Sizing up the next stage of my life. Thinking about home work activities to augment the income. Mostly what will bring me joy, meaning and maybe opportunities to fulfill some dreams.
Oh staycation! It has been fun
#staycation#RoyalOntarioMuseum#planning#activities#takeoutmeals#timewithhubby#timetothink#takingwithlovedones#seriousdecisions#change#anxiety

LIFE IS LIKE A POINTED DECORATION

With you at the middle, your life can feel as if it is going off in all directions. North, south, east and west with each of their individual meanings. Sharp edges so others keep their distance. Maintaining personal space! Can be decorative and light up at night. Hard to set down in one location. Like a star, shine brightly in the sky or in life. Do you roll around? Can the points get broken!
#lifelikeapointeddecoration#life'schallenges#lightupmylife#individualmeaningofdirections#personalspace#