Through loss…I found my blessings

Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. The second is the remaking of life. ~Anne Roiphe

In an instant, what was supposed to be the happiest moment in my life turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.  When the doctor’s told me my newborn didn’t make it, the pain was so overwhelming and I remember telling myself that I would never ever do this again; no more kids for me.  Fast forward twenty-seven years and I am the proud parent of two wonderful children and grandmother to three awesome boys.  I will never forget that day as it will forever haunt me but with support from family and friends, I made it through it.  As I look at these five miracles in my life, I know that even through great loss, there is always a blessing.

Making a promise to MYSELF and keeping it

I feel keeping a promise to yourself is a direct reflection of the love you have for yourself. I used to make promises to myself and find them easy to break. Today, I love myself enough to not only make a promise to myself, but I love myself enough to keep that promise.  ~Steve Maraboli

I don’t know about you, but I am willing to go to the ends of the universe in order to keep a promise I made to someone, so, I wonder why I won’t do the same for myself.  I’m not talking about a new year’s resolution that may or may not have been made under the influence, instead I am talking about a promise like giving myself downtime each week, taking better care of myself, enjoying life more, etc.  So, today I PROMISE to allow myself to decompress at least once a week.  I am going to shut off my phone, stay off social media, shut myself in my room and listen to music in the dark or read a good book or snuggle under the covers and watch a chick flick.  I need to remember that it’s ok to be good to myself; I am just as important as the next “guy”.

Share what types of promises you make to yourself?  Do you keep them…break them?

Relax with a good book and reap the benefits

Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light. ~Vera Nazarian

Experts say that reading is good for your overall health; it reduces stress and provides greater tranquility.  Stress from work, personal life or just everyday life issues just melt away when you sit down and engross yourself in a good book.  Well, I think that it is time to check reality at the door, break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and slip into the world of make believe.  When I read a book, my mind shifts gears; I am instantly transported to a new world; a world where men are sensitive yet strong, at times have fangs or shape shift into wild animals or where they are super sleuths or avengers of the universe.  Reading is also soothing; to read, you have to sit and be still, which may be the only time of the day that I can do this.

Share what you do to unplug from the world.

The President

Every citizen of this country should be guaranteed that their vote matters, that their vote is counted, and that in the voting booth, their vote has as much weight as that of any CEO, any member of Congress, or any President.  ~Barbara Boxer

When my sister called and said “Do you want to be part of a history making event?”; I didn’t think that meant standing on the side of the street screaming “Vote for Obama”.  But, wow, what a moment that was; a moment that I could share with her and a moment that I could share with my parents who grew up in the era where blatant racism was simply the accepted way of life.  Do I agree with everything that President Obama has done with the country?  The answer is no, but I feel that he has always had the country’s best interest at heart.  I am proud to be an American and I am thrilled that I lived in the era where a black man could be and was, elected the President of the United States.

Share a story where you supported a political figure or became in involved in politics in your community.

Christmas Memories

When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window. ~Ogden Nash

Last year, I thought it would be a great idea to spend the morning decorating the Christmas tree with my husband and grandchildren.  In theory, the idea sounded like a warm fuzzy “Hallmark” moment in the making but in reality not so much.  The reality was my one year old grandson Khyson running around screaming and grabbing all of the ornaments off the tree as soon as we put them on; my four year old grandson Mekhi screaming at Khyson for taking the ornaments;  me screaming at Mekhi for screaming at Khyson, and then my husband screaming at all of us for screaming.  Once we got ourselves under control and the Christmas tree was decorated, I had the bright idea to take a picture of the boys in front of the tree; still striving for that “moment”.  But, like the picture says, Mekhi stood there like a wooden toy soldier and Khyson was just unwilling to stand still for even one second…CLASSIC!

Share a holiday story where things just didn’t work out quite the way you wanted or expected.

The Proposal

The love of your life will find you when you least expect it…the most exciting relationships happen when you’re not looking. ~Unknown

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This covert operation that my boyfriend, who I met via online dating, put in motion included my kids, friends, siblings and both sets of parents.  What started out as a quiet night out to dinner with one of my closest girlfriends somehow turned into a night that I would agree to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.  As my girlfriend and I were walking back to our cars after dinner, we passed the park where my boyfriend and I first met and I noticed that there was a candle and wine glasses on the table where we shared our first kiss.  I stood there confused and then all of a sudden my boyfriend stepped out of the shadows with that “gotcha” look and I almost hyperventilated because it finally dawned on me that this “was the moment”!  As I was calling my friends and family, who already knew, to share the news that I was getting married, my son hopped the small fence surrounding the park and we just hugged, laughed and cried; PERFECT!

Share your proposal story.