Day 523 ~ The "Blue" Time of This Year. . .

This time of year may bring joy to many, and heart felt kindness to others... but there are some people out there who do not see it that way, they don't welcome this time of year with open arms.  Too much sadness. . .   too much pain. . . 

People may withdraw... or not have any family to open up to... or even have a smaller circle of friends.  I want to be able to help you . . . so here I found out about some red flags to look out for ..  

according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)  here are some signs to look for:  

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings;  Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism;  Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness;  Irritability, restlessness;  Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex;  Fatigue and decreased energy;  Difficulty concentrating, remembering;  details, and making decisions;  Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping;  Overeating, or appetite loss;  Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts;  and Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment.

  For more informatioon on depression click here.

There are many wonderful people out there that have suffered a life altering loss and even at times may regret living to tell about it. . .  if that makes any sense.    This time of year brings "It" out in the air for them.  

I know. . . there probably isn't anything I can possibly say to  help. . . .   

Although, I truly understand how some people may feel.  I know what it's like to not want to get out of bed for days.  I know what it's like to let the phone ring and ring.  I know what it's like to make last minute excuses for not attending functions with a lot of people or even with one person. . .  I know what it's like. . . . 

I was about to tell you how I didn't gain anything from being depressed, but that's not true.  I had to go through things "my way" at "my pace" to get to where I am today, to be who I am and do what I do today.  I had to dacide when . . .  I was done?  When I was complete.

Whether we go through happy times or even regretfully bad times, all those experiences make us who we are including how we choose to "process" some life altering events. . .  all of this and more is what we are made of. 

All and all, I sit here very proud to be who I am and have made the choices I have-  what else can you do a tthis point?  . 

{BIG SMILE}

I am thankful for my life!

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 521 ~ Keeping Tradition Alive

Plimoth Plantation

When I was little (60s, 70s and even in the 80s) Halloween showed up in stores at the beginning of October each year... there were even neigborhood bar-be-ques (block parties) for Labor and Memorial Day. When Thanksgiving would come around, it was about being with family, very subtle at that... and Christmas/Holiday decor would go up the night of Thanksgiving.

2012... 
Halloween showed up while I was shopping for school supplies at the end of August... Thanksgiving is given a shelf or two ;) if at all! Except for Hobby Lobby where they really give us Thanksgiving! They have a beautiful collection for sale all of October through November.  {and} Christmas ... well with all it's decor and glory, including Christmas movies being shown on television, "Christmas" items showed up on shelves the moment Halloween did!


I guess the point I am trying to make is that the way holidays are being drawn out has been driven by the retailers.  After all do they ask us when we want the sales?  No.  As time has gone by they have stretched the dates more and more.  It is more about numbers than tradition to them.

As far as my childhood holiday traditions I acquired...  Those are my traditions and if they are that important to me, It is up to pass them on... I do not HAVE to follow the retailer's lead.

I am thankful for tradition!

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 520 ~ Be Thankful Everyday!

November is definitely the official month of being thankful.

I don't know if you've noticed... but at the bottom of each of my November posts I have mentioned one thing that I am thankful for eachday.  It is something I have always done however thanks to social media I've been able to share it.

I started a few years ago with my status updates on facebook, and last year I made it a part of my blog... then at the end of April of this year I turned my gratitude updates or daily gratitude into my online daily journal.  Humble Gratitude

I have made it an everyday habit to be thankful... come rain or shine, good or bad mood... I must write something that I am grateful for... everyday.

I do have to add that the daily journaling idea came from Oprah ... a gratitude journal.  She states ...

'As more of your thoughts and words become positive, you'll start attracting more positive people and circumstances, Michael says. "Decide today that you are going to reduce negativity in your life by getting rid of the 'don'ts,' 'nots' and 'no's'—the negative people, the negative thoughts," he says. "Get in the habit of appreciating things."'

That's right... as more of your thoughts become positive you will notice a big difference in your life... If anything you will start looking at life in a positive way, attracting positive things into your life as well.

You might think that this is a bunch of mallarchy...  but I am here to testify to you that it is true!

Besides... it is by far more positive to look at things in a positive light as opposed to being grumpy, depressed and in a bad mood. YUCK!!  Who wants to be around someone like that?

So I say... take more time in your life to be thankful, you'll be amazed to the wonderful things in your life.

I am thankful for my friends who believe in me!

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 330 ~ Finding My Purpose

I have so much to say tonight and am having trouble trying to figure out where to start.  Chuckle.  No Seriously.  How about at the beginning?  lol!  {humor/sarcasm- joking? lol-- whatever!!!} haha 

I started tonight's post like any other night by "typing" the day in the title... "Day 3-3-0"...

[okay... that's it!... do we say  "I am typing?", "I am keyboarding?" or "is it a keyboard we are typing on?" ]

I'm not green at computers either.  I've had a computer, worked with computers, been around computers, build... fixed... sold computers... I have had computers all over the place... used them as desks for my kids... used them as lunch tables for my kids... I, have even eaten meals on computers... all since the mid 80s... all thanks to my father.  Come to think of it, in all those years never have we referred to "it" as "keyboarding"... maybe "data entry", which my "typing", "stroking of the keys" or "hitting the keys"... is not.  I am not doing data entry, I am trying to put out a decent thought.  (attempt at humor, sarcasm, or a combination of both, lol!) Whatever... I am "typing".  I am going to call it "typing" because I am just that old (haha)... besides it flows better.  There.  That's that.  lol

"Day 3-3-0"... WOW!  I have to share with you that I just had the last 330 days flash before me.  Honestly... I feel unbelievable!  I feel I have grown so much... granted I have so much more to go... but...


It's like all my "aha" moments have come together similar to a choir singing "Hallelujah!"  

I have really been applying and repeating to myself all that I have learned, and continue to learn on Oprah's LifeClass... as I shared with you on Day 326, which you can read about it here.

The flash was about all I have shared here... my good days... my bad days... memories... experiences... love... anger... hurt... deception... I even had some dark days too.  Huh!  I even stopped talking to "certain" family or people... lol!  It's done.  It's over.  It's in the past.

Today, I think about everything that has hurt me... my trials and tribulations and I accept it all.  YES, I accept it.  The pain that I have endured throughout my life has shown me that if I did not love so much... care so much... then I would not be capable of loving so much.  

[In other words, if I am not complicating things to much here by elaborating that I must love a whole lot, and I must care so much... because otherwise it would not have hurt so much!]

Instead of telling the same story over and over again, I am going to change it around a bit. Because of the hurt, experience and knowledge I have gained from my "experiences"... I will use this to help other families get through their troubled times.

So... as I look at "Day 3-3-0" I think of how I have grown as a person.  I think of the faith that has grown inside of me... I think of how grateful I am for being who and where I am.

I am here for a purpose... and it's time to put it to use!  wink, wink.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

~Dalai Lama

The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly. The soul must languish when we give all our thought to the body. ~Mahatma Gandhi

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

~Dalai Lama

Blessings...

35 days to go...  

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  © 2012

Day 304 ~ "G" is for Grrreat!

Hahahaha!  Grrrreat is right!

Remember, (if you've been reading my A to Z Challenge, this question would apply to you as worded, otherwise this would be new information to you) ... I first stated that I was not going to read the blogs of my blogging brothers and sisters who are participating with me in the Blogging A to Z Challenge April 2012... only until I have posted my post first... then definitely I will read the posts.

Well... I went and did it!  I didn't mean to... but.. while participating in my daily blog hops I stumbled on three blogs in a row who were participating.

You're probably thinking, what's the big deal?

Thing is, I had sat down to write this post and I could not think of a single word that I would want to write about that started with "G" for the life of me!  I'm not being a drama queen either... really... I was thinking about it all day ... and nothing... zip... zilch... zero... nada! 

So I decided to visit my favorite li'l community ... voiceBoks...  such a great place to share your blog, meet other bloggers and read their work as well.  Well, enough with the free plug there... lol.. just kidding.  Anyway, I was making my daily rounds and then all of a sudden I stumbled on the first blog, their word was Grateful... OH CRAP!  I yelled.  While Calley hollered at me from the other room for swearing,  I realized what I had stumbled on.  How did I not think of that word?  I thought.  

I wonder if I would have kept thinking, would I have thought of that word?  Rats!  Now I can't use that word.  As ridiculous as that may sound, I couldn't even read her post yet.  I can't go back to check.. it's just that I do not want anyone's post influencing my writing.

Okay you're right, I thought.  I was being ridiculous.  SO I decided that I would come back later and to read the blog [I'll even come back and let you know the blog's link after I read it.]  I didn't think twice about continuing my daily rounds ... and then WHAM-O!! Another blog, this time their word was Gratitude.

Again with the voices in my head.  How did I not think of that word?  I thought.  I wonder if I would have kept staring at my screen... would I have thought of that word?  Rats!  Now I can't use that word.  That's a good one.  I'm grateful, I would have thought of either words.  Would I?  

I didn't want to be ridiculous, so without thought I just went on my merry way... back to my rounds.  AND AGAIN!! BAM!!  It was instantaneous.  Listen, I can't even tell you the word, because as soon as I saw the "G" I went back to the previous page.

I immediately came back to this page.. Oh  great!  I wish I hadn't taken a break!!  I wish I had not ... blah, blah, blah... and then all of a sudden... out of no where... I just let out all this air.. and out came a big roar... Grrrreat!

Then all of a sudden I thought... Grrrreat?  

YES! Grrrreat!

Grrrreat, is my "G" word.  (Big smile... why not?)  wink, wink

 When life gives you lemons, make lemonade...   ~author unkown

Blogging A to Z Challenge April 2012... What will "H" have for us on Monday?

Blessings to all!!

61 days to go...

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  U.S Copyright laws apply.  ©