Who Are Those People?!

They steal your clothes and eat all your food, but you love them. They teach you bad habits and talk too much, yet, you still love them. They get in your way and Lord knows they work on your nerves, and still, they are the first ones you call when it all goes down! Who are "they?" FAMILY!

If you're like me, your family is the epitome of dysfunction! Just kidding, but no, really! Everyone has a dancing uncle, a crazy cousin, bratty sibling and parents - well lets just say they are different from what you remember when you were little. Now they just seem all open and stuff (can we say T.M.I.)! Either way, crazy or not. We love them.

I believe we are all created with a special purpose - each one different, of course. And I believe that we were created in our family so that those people would help us become who we are destined to be. Maybe your sister steals your clothes so that you can learn to share. Maybe your auntie is loud so that you can learn to tune nonsense-talking people out. When you're older and your parents tell you way too much, maybe its so that we can see how cool they really are. And the best is when a baby is born because they teach you how to love one another more and give outside of yourself. We all have a role.

I know sometimes the chips don't fall so nicely. Just say a prayer and remember what doesn't kill you,  can be learned from in order to make you a stronger and better person - for you and someone else. Don't let someone else's mistake destroy you.

At the end of the day, no matter what, family is still family. They are the ones you learn from, lean on, cry to, tell all your secrets, hopes and dreams, laugh and pray with. Since you're a part of the family that means your role is to teach good things, be a strong shoulder, always carry Kleenex, listen well, encourage, tell a joke and say a prayer. 

I don't know about your family, but mine if full of crazy people! But they are good people and I love them. I'm almost certain you feel the same about yours so treat them well. 

Take care of yourselves and one another.

JC

Let It Go! Leave It Behind

Its a new year! Happy 2011! New Years resolutions are live and in full effect. But hey! Since we're starting new things and cleaning up our lives in the new year, lets talk about things we need to let go and leave in the past. What kind of things? You know, that bad habit we keep saying we're going to kick or that jerk of a boyfriend/ girlfriend we keep saying we're going to kick to the curb! A new year is here and I say LET IT GO!!!!

No matter how slow the process may seem, the only direction we should be moving is forward. Sometimes the journey we're taking could be made a lot easier if we let go of the baggage we've been holding onto. Sometimes that means forgiveness. We all have experienced that one "friend" that keeps hurting us and we keep forgiving. Well let me tell you, you can forgive, but that doesn't mean you have to keep toting them on down the road. Let them go and leave that baggage behind! That doesn't mean that you don't care. It simply means you no longer care to keep hurting yourself.

ENABLERS!!! Listen Up! Ever feel like you are constantly bailing someone out? Is it draining every ounce of your energy? Are you tired? LET IT GO! Don't get me wrong, it is great to help others, and you should.  However, always being the bail out, in the long run, can do more harm than help. Learn to say NO!

Want to stop smoking, cussing, drinking, etc.? Like Nike says JUST DO IT! I'm not saying it will be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.  Not sure where to start? How about removing yourself from people/ situations that promote those bad habits? Sometimes in order to reach a goal, you have to do something different. Instead of breaking when the smokers break, go alone and stay inside. Instead of going to happy hour, head to the gym or the park. Instead of calling that person that hurts you, delete their number. See where I'm headed?

Finally, are you one of those people who gets down on yourself based on past experiences? I'm telling you now, drop that baggage and don't even dare to look for it later! Its a new year! Today and everyday after is the first day of the rest of your life! So what if you didn't get things didn't pan out the way you thought they would! So what if that person walked away! So What! Its never to late to get a fresh start and you are the perfect candidate for one!

New Year = New Start. I challenge you to think about all the things that you want out of life and all the things that are a hinderance to your goals. Then say a prayer asking God to remove the things that He would not have for you. Sometimes, even if it hurts a little, the best thing to do is Let Go!

I pray for a happy and prosperous year for all of you. One filled with good health, lots of love and many blessings.

JC

The Great Resolve

Ever wonder why year after year we make the same resolutions (or different ones) then at the end of year find out we didn't stick to them or realize after the first month we've lost our way? You know, the resolutions that go "I'm going to lose weight," "I'm going to eat better," "I'm going to stop procrastinating." Yeah those! Well wonder no more. I'm going to tell you why they don't work and then explain how you can resolve to do something great and actually stick to it!

One reason why, often times, we fail at keeping our resolutions is because we set ones that are unattainable. The second reason is that we stop there. We set a goal but don't set a plan on how we are going to reach that goal. Third, and probably the biggest reason, is that we don't follow through - mainly because  we get distracted. 

Here is the biggest, most common example I can think of… Resolution: "I'm going to lose 30lbs by February." Let's be real! While not impossible, for most of us, it is unattainable - especially if you want to do it in a way that is still healthy. Then we drop the ball. How do you plan of losing all of this weight? Are you going to the gym, walk during lunch hour, change the what you eat? HOW? Finally, we're distracted. Instead of going to the gym after work, we get talked into Happy Hour with our pals, or we have tons of other stuff to do. Thus, we fail. Resolution UNRESOLVED! It doesn't have to be this way! 

Here are a few suggestions that may help you in all that you are trying to accomplish in the New Year! First, set a big goal. What are you ultimately trying to achieve? And make sure that it is realistic for you. Then set little goals - maybe a monthly goal, followed by weekly ones. Next you MUST COMMIT! Sacrifices will have to be made. Some things will require scheduling. To-do lists are always helpful. Remember there are always going to be distractions, peer pressure and other events of life. While it is ok to be flexible, you should still remain focused on achieving your goals. Another way to help you stay on task is to involve family and friends when possible. Don't be afraid to ask for help or encouragement. For me, personally, when I really want to get something done, I post it on Twitter and Facebook. Even if no one cares, I still feel a certain sense of accountably for doing what I said I would. Finally, believe in you! Other people may doubt you. Don't let them get you down, use that as motivation.

Setting goals  is one thing, but achieving them is another. And how rewarding is it once you've reached the mountain top! Remember, you can do anything that you set your mind to. Believe in yourself. I believe in you! Say a prayer and off you go! Happy Goal Setting!

JC

Tis The Season

Right now our power is out due to the storm last night. In my house it is cold and it is dark. My baby's hands are cold, the food in the refrigerator is spoiling and I can't turn on the stove to make a hot meal. This is only a glimpse of what some people out there are going through everyday. The electricians will come, fix the power line and my lights will be on in a few hours but what about those who aren't so fortunate?

We've all heard he phrase, "It is much better to give than receive."But I'm sure we all love to receive things too! Thats one of the fun parts about the holiday season - the hustle of shopping, the anticipation of Christmas day, and finally knowing that a someone else has thought of you when you open that present. Again, what about those who aren't so fortunate? 

For me, it always warms my heart when I can give something that puts a smile on another person's face. And sometimes, that feeling is even better than when I receive something myself. This Christmas I'm asking for others to, if they are able, help make someone else's Christmas a little brighter.

If you aren't quite sure how or where to get started, here are a few ideas:

Your local mall may be hosting and Angel Tree where you can pick a name of a child or a family and purchase gifts for them.You can try seeing if your bank provides stockings that you can fill and bring back. Similar to the Angel Tree, your church or the Salvation Army may have persons that need help during this time. And finally, one of my personal favorites, the United Way website. There you can find lots of opportunities for community service, providing meals for the homeless and even sponsoring families. The great thing about United Way is that they provide this information year-round. 

The holidays are a time to be with family, friends and loved ones. It is also a great time to help those you may not even know. I'm sure it will put a smile on there face and warmth in your hearts. Let's lend a hand this holiday and every season thereafter. 

And guess what... Upon finishing up this entry, my lights came back on! BEAUTIFUL!

JC

Thankful

As you all know Thanksgiving has just passed. Now everyone is busy with all the hustle and bustle of Christmas Shopping, meeting deadlines, preparing for family and wrapping up 2010. We're thinking about all the things we want  for Christmas and contemplating what may be our New Years Resolutions. In the midst of it all, I have had some time to reflect and you know what… I'm still truly thankful!

I have been blessed with a lot of things. I get to wake up every morning and start all over. I have my health. I have my family. I have been given an assignment from God that He obviously trusts me to handle (being a wife and a mom). I get to communicate with the world. AND I can make a difference in it!

The thing that gets me is that people (and I'm guilty of this too) use that one day, Thanksgiving, to really analyze what they are thankful for. Then the day is done and back to our normal routines and leftovers. I'm not saying that we're not thankful any other day. I am saying, however, that maybe we should take the time everyday to count our blessings. 

Everyone has a different situation, but we should all keep in mind that someone out there in the world is always going to have it worse and someone is going to always have it better. The blessing in that is that we can help those who have it worse and we can strive for what is better. 

Someone once told me that a thankful heart keeps depression at bay!  How awesome is that! So I want you to do me a favor. Think about all the things you complained about from the time you woke up this morning, stumped your toe and walked into that wall… Now… Count your blessings. Name them one by one, you can even write them down… Now smile!

I'm thankful for a ton of things and then some! And Im thankful for you! 

JC

Beautiful Change

Change is good! I know if some of my friends were reading, they would go "whoa whoa whoa who is saying this?!" Yes, I said it. Change is good. But I will also be the first to admit that I didn't always feel this way. Any time there was going to be anything different, I would be the first to scream "Ughhhh I hate change!" Looking back I can now say how silly of me!

The problem is that we get comfortable. We are creatures of habit. We get accustomed to things going a certain way almost all the time. I know this is what was happening to me. Everyday, get up, go to work, come home, exercise, cook, eat, shower, go to bed, do it all over again the next day. Then my world took a sudden turn… Before I knew it, I was engaged, moved across the country, married and had a baby all in less than a year! TALK ABOUT CHANGE! Whew! It all happened so fast (and to the girl who hated change)! I had to learn to be a wife, a mom and find my way around a new place! It was definitely overwhelming at times but the cool thing about it is with change comes growth.

When change happens it, in a way, forces you to grow up, look at things differently, challenge yourself and one another. Change allows you to look back and see where you may have fallen and lost your way, but it can also allow you to see how totally awesome you are and how good you have it. Sometimes change can be painful. Maybe you move away or lose a loved one or worse. Even in that there is good knowing that you have the strength to overcome and make it through.

I use to not like change because I was afraid. Afraid of the 'what ifs.' At least all the wrong what ifs… What if something goes wrong? What if I mess up? What if this messes me up? What if this take longer? What if I can't handle it? Ughhhh! What if?! I don't ever remember thinking what if everything goes right? What if I do great and get promoted? What if I have an opportunity to impact someone else's life? What if this is opening up new doors? Hmmm, what if the possibilities are endless? WHAT IF? 

The way I see it you have two options… Change happens, so you can either allow the world to leave its mark on you OR you can leave your mark on the world. Your choice. I say embrace it. Change is BEAUTIFUL.

JC

Beautiful Confessions

Ever carried something inside for so long that it just became a burden to you? It doesn't even have to be anything bad like a major sin. Maybe you're being mishandled and don't know how to express what you're feeling. Maybe you're keeping a secret from a friend. Or maybe its that you are deeply in love but too chicken to say - even though its killing you on the inside. Its not a good feeling when you think you have to keep things bottled up on the inside. Sometimes we have to just face the music.

Just recently I learned how to communicate by using something called the Awareness Wheel. This technique allowed me to do a few things. It allowed me to address an issue, uncover what I was sensing, say what I thought, tell how it made me feel, reveal what I wanted to happen, and chose a plan of action. Once you get that down, you do a practice run. I had to address an issue that, all before, I had been skirting around and boy did it feel great to get that off my chest! It was heavy and once release, I could cry tears of pain, then joy, and finally tears of release! It was out! Ladies and Gentlemen,  Elvis has left the building! I felt as though a great weight lifted off my shoulders!

Sounds good right? However, giving a confession or telling someone a secret can be scary for a number of reasons. Maybe it could backfire, maybe you'll be betrayed, maybe someone's opinion may change of you, or maybe you don't get the outcome you were hoping for. But for all those reasons confessions are scary, there's an opposite reason for them not to be. Maybe it goes your way, maybe you'll be forgiven,  maybe they love you back, or maybe, just maybe it goes a bajillion times better than you ever imagined it would turn out! 

Confessions are good for the soul, so get that thing off your chest! When your heart and mind are clear, it allows others to see your true inner beauty and your outward glow! That in itself is BEAUTIFUL!

JC