No way can it be August! Happy Birthday to all you Augie’s.
Here is one interesting tidbit for this day in history. At 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981, American cable television network Music Television (MTV) went on the air for the first time. WOW! I can’t say I remember when I first starting watching MTV, but I would bet it was in that first week.
I remember I LOVED all the videos. And I would race home after school to turn it on. I was in Jr. high, and I had the T.V. to myself for an hour, before my brother got home from school. Then it would be a big battle over who watched what.
As with most things, the original MTV was the best. The veejays rocked, and the videos rocked, the music was so cool. No doubt of what era I grew up in, is there . Well, I did not mean to take a trip down memory lane. I was looking for something to celebrate, and this was about all I could find. Want to know where the VJ’s are now?
Oh, and it is homemade pie day. I could sure go for some pie right about now. Anybody remember this?
Shoot, now I really want some pie. And I agree, fruit pie rules. Not cream. Must be a gal thing.
To celebrate making it past the half way point of the year, here are some free printable book marks for you. Feel free to print as many copies as you like, and share them with friends. But please do not sell them. You will want to print them on card stock.
Declaration of You will be published by North Light Craft Books this summer, with readers getting all the permission they’ve craved to step passionately into their lives, discover how they and their gifts are unique and uncover what they are meant to do! This post is part of The Declaration of You’s BlogLovin’ Tour, which I’m thrilled to participate in alongside over 100 other creative bloggers. Learn more and join us!
The Declaration of You website has all the information on how you can share your own posts, join Facebook parties and so much more! Declare yourself! This Friday, August 2nd, you can join us in the Facebook comment party at 12:30-1 pm EST. I’ll be there!
December 2007, I was diagnosed with Lupus. For the previous year, I had struggled with constant muscle and joint pain. I had the butterfly rash. Mouth sores. Extreme fatigue. I was always cold, and my toes and fingers were often numb, or painful due to Raynaud’s. I was sensitive to sunlight, sensitive to touch and my hair was thinning. I seldom kept my supper down. I had a cough that would not quit. I had so many symptoms, that one doctor treated me as if I was a hypochondriac, and advised me to take a nap in the afternoon.
December 11, 2008, my job was downsized. I was single. Living alone, with little in the way of savings. The kicker – the company wellness program had a drawing, and gave about a dozen employees nationwide, free health benefits for a year. I was one of the recipients. Or would have been.
I had been working 60 hour weeks, taking work home. Friends told me to go on a medical leave, but taking a cut in pay was not an option. I was in so much pain, that washing my hair was difficult. I could barely climb the stairs to my apartment.
I was working at a Casino, and as standard practice, I was escorted off the premises. As if I had done something wrong. Frustration, humiliation, desperation. I broke down and cried in my car.
Out of no where, the thought came to me. “If you are not going to take care of this, I will.” I didn’t hear a voice, but it was suddenly clear. The decision I would not make for myself, had been made for me. God took the wheel from my hands. After bawling for a few minutes, a phone call to my friend, and one to my mom. I drove home. And took a nap. I had a sense of calm. And I knew that somehow things would work out. And they did. They are.
I believe. I trust God.
This is just my story. Part of it. I could tell you about all the little blessings, and big blessings that have come my way. Or how each and everyday, new opportunities present themselves to me. Really, it amazes me. Yes I am actively looking for them, but they are there.
I trust:
Good will preserver.
Right will win.
I will be loved.
I will know more next week, than I do today.
My blog, my art, my designs will continue to improve.
If my heart breaks, it will heal.
That I will learn from each failure.
Red and blue make purple.
A cure will be found for Lupus.
That God is good.
After losing my job, my mom gave me a canvas with this poem by Roy Lessin printed on it. It hangs above my desk. I trust that I am exactly where I meant to be. And that God has great plans for me. As he does for everyone.
These words inspire me. I hope they will inspire you too.
The Declaration of You will be published by North Light Craft Books this summer, with readers getting all the permission they’ve craved to step passionately into their lives, discover how they and their gifts are unique and uncover what they are meant to do! This post is part of The Declaration of You’s BlogLovin’ Tour, which I’m thrilled to participate in alongside over 100 other creative bloggers. Learn more and join us!
The Declaration of You website has all the information on how you can share your own posts, join Facebook parties and so much more! Declare yourself! This Friday, July 26th, you can join us in the Facebook comment party at 12:30-1 pm EST. I’ll be there!
Do you do the happy dance?
I have to admit, it had been a long time since I had done the happy dance. Until a few days ago. Just a quick one mind you. A little toe shuffle I remember from tap class. But it was in front of three people. Three very good friends. (They all had a good laugh!)
And I have to admit, IT FELT GOOD!
So why was I doing a silly dance in someone else’s house, in the middle of the day? Because I FINALLY got the printer to work after 6 attempts! I was printing a 2 sheet booklet. 8 pages. Landscape, check. Flip on short side, check. But her poor, aged computer was dying a slow death. What I wanted it to do, and what it was doing, were two different things.
Just a little hump day hurdle. A minor victory, but I was happy. And I decided to show just how happy I was. I can’t claim any credit for taking a big scary step out of my shell or anything. Naomi and I have known each other for years. We have been known to dance down the aisles while shopping. And sing in the car. And just be generally much too silly for respectable adults.
But it is fun. Celebrating feels GOOD. We all need a little feel good in our day. I do not have a huge success to celebrate every day. But I can find a few small ones to smile about. Part of the fun of following blogs, for me, is sharing the joys of others. I was too shy to be a cheerleader in school, but I do a great cheer-leading blog comment! It feels good doesn’t it, to give someone a shout out or a high five? We can do that for ourselves too!
As creatives, bloggers, entrepreneurs, artists. We are taking the road less traveled. You know how hard it is for non-creatives to understand the intangible, much less to thoroughly appreciate the seriousness of your efforts. Your struggles, your accomplishments.
Give your self a shout out! Put your hands in the air and shake your booty a bit. Show yourself some LOVE!Some of the ways I celebrate:
Happy dance in my seat • High five in the air • Call a friend for a shout out • Buy art supplies • Nibble something sweet • Treat myself to take out • Turn on some tunes
Ideas I came across, that I am going to work into my celebration repertoire:
Get outside! Walk the block, or explore the yard for a gorgeous bloom, or leaf, stone, or twig.
Celebrate with a pet! Engage in play, or simply revel in their pure joy from being alive.
Celebrate a setback, as an opportunity to make myself better. (tough one)
Celebrate my accomplishments at the end of the day, instead of focusing on my to to list.
How do you celebrate big and little wins? What are your favorite songs to celebrate with? What songs remind you of the best, happiest times in your life? Help me build a top 100 Celebration list! Or join us at the Facebook party and share your gotta-move-grooves with all of us!
