Day 437 ~ #29 of My 30 Days of Truth...

My 30 Days of Truth challenge   I will admit that I changed one question and changed a few curse words... other than that the challenge is intact. 

Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself, and why...

For the past 437 days my focus has been on bettering myself, my life, as well as the quality of life for my family.

After all as my father-in-law quotes...

A happy wife is a happy life.

Not to say that I am a horrible person, because I am not... however I have allowed my life's trials and tribulations, my past, and all the horrible things that have been done to me by none the less "mean" people, affect my {quality of} life.  It made me a very bitter, grouchy person.

437 days ago I set out on a journey that was to be a year long... and has inadvertently blossomed into my continued growth, which in turn has kept me blogging.

I am a work in progress and accept that.  I now also accept the things that have happened to me, and have forgiven many as well.

I feel that I am on the right road. 

Sure, I understand that going through one of life's changes, {peri-}menopause, has had an adverse affect on my and I will have grouchy moments.  But the fact is that I am aware of it and am working on it.  Which includes some apologizing on my behalf for uncontrollable outbursts of grouchyness.  LOL!

The important thing here is that I am aware of it and am working on myself... 

Bottom line.. I wouldn't change a thing.  Everything that I have gone through... all that I have seen... all that I have experienced... has made me who I am.  {and} I wouldn't change a single thing!

With God's grace.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

Where I've been and where I'm going next...  

Day 01 : Something you hate about yourself.

Day 02 : Something you love about yourself.

Day 03 : Something you have to forgive yourself for.

Day 04 : Something you have to forgive someone for.

Day 05 : Something you hope to do in your life.

Day 06 : Something you hope you never have to do. 

Day 07 : Someone who has made your life worth living for.

Day 08 : Someone who made your life hell, or treated you horribly.

Day 09 : Someone you didn't want to let go, but just drifted.

Day 10 : Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.

Day 11 : Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

Day 12 : Something you never get compliments on.

Day 13 : A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough days. (write a letter.)

Day 14 : Write a letter to a hero that has let you down.

Day 15 : Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you've tried living without it.

Day 16 : Someone or something you definitely could live without.

Day 17 : A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

Day 18 : Your views on gay marriage.

Day 19 : What do you think of religion?  Or what do you think of politics?

Day 20 : Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Day 21 : (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

Day 22 : Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

Day 23 : Something you wish you had done in your life. 

Day 24 : Make a playlist for someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)

Day 25 : The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

Day 26 : Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

Day 27 : What’s the best thing going for you right now?

Day 28 : Name a decision you made that caused a chain of events that would not have happened if it wasn't for that decision.

Day 29 : Something you hope to change about yourself. And why. 

Day 30 : A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

 Here's to 30 Days of Truth!

I am second.

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

... 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 179 ~ The Naughty or Nice List

I never once thought that being a mom to a little girl would be so "crazy" compared to being a mom to two boys.  I am sure that you would tell me to take into consideration that there are fifteen years between Calley and Logan, and nineteen between her and Addison.

Oh I know I am older... believe me I know.  Then to put the icing on the cake, I am starting to show signs of perimenopause.  Let me tell you, between the hot flashes, mood swings and then Calley being such a curious and active little girl... AAAHHH CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!  

Earlier today, Calley was being naughty and I really snapped at her (deservingly so) ... after giving it some thought i thought to myself "I can be a bitch!"  Even if Calley is constantly touching things and disobeying, it doesn't make it okay for me to raise my voice to her constantly.  Or is it?

I really do not want her to remember me, the same as I remember my father... constantly raising his voice and just being plain mean (just to mention a couple of things.)

I guess one thing I do differently than what my father did...  I take a few minutes to cool down, I talk to Calley and try to reason with her, and then I do something with her.  I try to keep it low key, after all I do not want to reward the behavior that got her into trouble in the first place.

courtesy of bing images

Today, I said something to her that i had never said before... I told her that she was on the "naughty" list.  OH MY GOODNESS IT WAS AS IF THE EARTH ERUPTED!!  I might as well have had crushed her teddy bear!  I never saw her react this way!  EVER!  And I all I could think of was ... BINGO!! Finally! Something that gets her attention!

So I wonder how long I will be able to use the naughty or nice list for?

As I kiss her good night this evening, she asked me ..."Mommy am I still on the naughty list."  "No, Calley you are not."  I continued, "however, Calley if you do not do as you are told you are automatically put back on the "naughty" list.  "Yes, mommy.  I love you.  Sweet Dreams." Calley said ever so sweetly.

As I left her room, I ecstatically mouthed the word "YES!" as I clenched my fist to my chest and then immediately looked around in hopes that I did not jinx the use of the naughty or and nice list. 

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!  ~Author Unknown

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace, The gladness of Christmas give you hope, The warmth of Christmas grant you love.    ~Author Unknown

Blessings to all!!

186 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 149 ~ Rage... Be Gone!

One of the reasons I shared with you yesterday about my new found self... you know, the "ugly" side of me.. was that while channel surfing and landed on the Dr. Oz show ... and VOILA!  everything became clear!

These women on tv. were going through the same things I was... 

Irritable...   Edgy...   Agitated...  Emotional... Crying... Angry Outbursts...  

one minute, I wake up fine and then all of a sudden something is out of place... and Wham-O! 

Dare I say it? ...   According to Dr. Oz, our outbursts could be the result of perimenopausal rage. Basically, our hormones are out of wack and completely off balanced.  Yup... she said it!! The (P)M word!

What do we do... well we do have a few options...

1. birth control pills 
2. anti-depressants
3. progesterone cream
4. Cut out caffeine, alcohol and sugar
5. Therapy

Once I was done watching the show, I did a quick search on the internet on perimenapause and found quite a bit of information on this subject.  Rest assure that I will be looking into this more.  [it's times like this that I love the internet even more!!]

Personally, I am going to go about this as natural as possible.  No birth control pills or anti-depressants for this girl.  Now, you know I am not a medical doctor and do not claim to be.  However, as your friend I want you to know that you are not the only one going through this and that you need to consult your doctor.  

Additionally, get therapy.  I love therapy.  It's nice being able to bounce your life off of someone else and get it off your chest. 

Last word on this tonight is that... it's so important for you to understand that you are not alone.  

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.  ~Mark Twain

I am thankful for Dr. Oz and people like him, whom are helping others (like you and me) in our everyday lives. 

Blessings to all!!

216 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 148 ~ New Rage

I don't know how to say this, other than just blurting it out... I've been quite irritable lately.  Seems like the slightest little thing can set me off... anything or anyone is fair game.  

Funny thing is that more times than not, the result of this is that I feel like a complete jack ass after the fact and then I feel compelled to apologize afterwards. 

I have to tell you that I did not used to be this way.  I used to be happy all the time.  Very tolerable of others.  Let me tell you that It definitely does not help that I can not tolerate stupidity to begin with... now, well let's just say that I do not have a problem pointing out the obvious.

Regardless, I must say that I do try to avoid volatile situations.  If I see a situation ahead of time that I know I am going to rip someone's head off (figuratively speaking of course,) I will send Dean in to take care of it.  I must say that so far this system is working out great. 

“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”    ~  Robert Muller

I am thankful that I am smart enough to figure things out.

Blessings to all!!

217 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 25 ~ Reading the Fine Print in The Stages of Life

One minute I am standing in my kitchen talking to my friend enjoying the end of a quick summer downpour... she mentions it's kind of warm out... I agree... and next thing before I knew it... as if someone literally opened a faucet... the sweat was just pouring off of me!  Absolutely CRAZY! 

I have achieved yet another milestone in my life... a true, legitimate hot flash!  Out of nowhere!

Okay... no one prepared me for this!  This is absolutely N U T S!...  I did not sign up for this!  

courtesy of Bing images

First, as girls, we have to experience a most uncomfortable and inconvenient menstruation- and what's worse is that this beast has a mind of its own.  At first just when you start getting the hang of it and you think you know when it's coming to town, and low and behold... it pulls the rug right out from under you and then has the audacity of showing up whenever it wants too!  Dances, weddings, special vacations... you name it!  No occasion is too fancy or special for our dear friend!

Then... what for moments is the most painful experience a person can undergo, yet we fondly look back on it as one of, if not the most wonderful experience we  have the privilege of living... giving birth to our children.  And, of course this is only the beginning of what we will live through for our children!

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.   John 16:21

Finally, if we have not gone through enough... it has been bestowed upon us women, to denounce not only to us. but EVERYONE that lives with us, that our flowers will no longer bloom (ovulation no more,)  in such a way that it affects EVERYONE you come in contact with (and I mean everyone!  Animals aren't even safe!)... menopause! Only after having gone through its evil partner, perimenopause!!   really?!

Frankly, as I try to be fair about this...  Do we as women have it bad?  ...  Or ...   Or is it the men, who have to deal with the Dr. Jekyll/Miss Hyde persona in these three stages of our lives?

At this point that's as tolerable as I am going to get... from my perspective, I really do not give a damn!  I am hot!! If you don't like it ... well, then may I suggest putting a sweater on? ...  And, don't you dare touch the thermostat!!

One is not born a woman, one becomes one.    ~Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1949

Blessings to all!!


340 days to go.




All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.