My Gratitude List this Thanksgiving Holiday 2014

I've been going through a huge list of things I'm grateful for this year all day long!  I have so much to be thankful for; I know I have a blessed life!  I've worked hard for the life I have too.  I haven't always made the best decisions, and therefore, I've caused unnecessary suffering for myself in my past life.  Lucky for me, I've been able to recognize my mistakes, correct them, and I've literally changed my life around for the better!  If I could give anyone just one tip on how to have a blessed life, it would be to surround yourself with quality people.  This method has worked for me, so why wouldn't it work for anyone else?

This year I am eternally grateful for my sweet husband.  If you're lucky enough to know Joseph, you know what I mean when I say, he is kind, intelligent, talented, patient, loving, funny, and possibly the best person anyone could have as a friend.  He has helped me more than he knows, and I will forever be in his debt.

I am thankful to have such a sweet mother!  Marg is a blast to spend time with.  She loves road trips, listens to her music just a little too loud, sings along to the music at the top of her lungs, and anytime I need someone to talk to, she's there for me.  My mom and I have been through A LOT together; she isn't just my mom, she is my friend, and I treasure our friendship dearly.

I am grateful to have such a hardworking and sweet father.  My dad has always been a quiet man, but he doesn't need to speak much to be heard.  My dad loves his family, has always supported us in our decisions, and isn't too proud to let us know when he thinks we may be on the wrong road.  My dad has always been a great example to me and I am blessed to have him in my life!

I am thankful for my sweet and loving in-laws:  Mike and Cindy!  They are so sweet, kind, and such a great example of service to me.  They are always busy helping other people!  They also spend a lot of time with our children, and I know Joseph and I always feel a wave of comfort when the kids call us when they're at their grandparents' house!  

I am grateful for my sister in-law Tara.  We hadn't really spoken in length to each other for several years, other than small talk at family parties. This summer we were able to put the past behind us and I have really enjoyed getting to know her again! She is so much fun and inspiring to me.

I have a very long list of wonderful friends that I'm lucky to have in my life.  I am so thankful for my dear friend Stacey Tyler.  She takes care of her three young children, teaches classes at Weber State, is currently in her Masters program at Weber State, is always busy with her family and church obligations, yet she still has time for her friends.  We text each other at least 4 to 10 times a week!  We keep in touch with each other's lives, and talk about whatever is on our minds at the time.  Friends like this are hard to come by; we're all so busy with our lives, it's important to make sure the people you care about, know that you care about them.  I love this woman with all my heart, and will always cherish her!

My cousin Kandin is another person I am grateful for!  We talk every week about lives, goals, plans, current projects, or whatever is on our minds at the time.  Sometimes it's nice to have a sounding board who is willing to tell you if you're off base, completely silly, or right on track.  I am blessed to have her in my life!

These wonderful people are just a few of the great people I know and who I am very thankful for during this holiday season and always! 

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Steps to a Holistic Approach to Treating Depression Vol 3. . .

In my last post I talked about a step in a holistic approach to treating depression HERE.  There are a lot more steps one should be taking when it comes to managing depression such as:  Sticking to schedule, setting small achievable goals, exercise, eating wholesome vitamin rich foods, therapy, and even prescription medication if needs be.  Personally, I see no problem with taking prescription medications, and making yourself a holistic treatment plan.
It's a bit naive to think one should just pop a pill and all will be right with world.  Helping yourself should be the first and most important step when treating depression in my opinion.  Taking the time to reflect and analyze your emotions,  identify triggers, and writing out a plan to deal with those triggers, and maybe even prevent them can only help, and just think about the great habits you're learning in the mean time!  I see no down side to this approach.
I sat down and did just this:  I thought about all the circumstances that trigger negative emotions, and I listed them out.  I listed everything from someone looking at me wrong, to forgetting one white sock in the laundry, when I just finished the white load!  I mean just writing down every little thing was quite therapeutic.  Then I went through that list and rated each circumstance.  Some triggers are really just asinine; other triggers have merit, so I considered, explored, and included them in my treatment plan.  If I hadn't taken the time identify all of my triggers, I wouldn't have been able to choose which ones to throw out and completely disregard, and which ones need attention.
I can't express enough the importance of self-reflection, and how this step alone has helped me so much this year!  It's so easy to notice what other people are or aren't doing and criticize them for it.  It's much more challenging to look at one's own behavior, bad habits, and short comings, and realize change needs to happen if one truly wants to live a happy and productive life.  Now when I feel like I'm going to have a bad day, I first look to my plan, identify what I'm not doing correctly, and nine time out of ten, I've left something out that I should have been doing.  I have noticed something as simple as getting off on my sleeping schedule can mess me up for days!

My happiness is truly up to me, therefore I can only criticize my own actions and correct them one day at time.   

       My Depression Journey Vol 1 HERE!
       My Depression Journey Vol 2 HERE!