Word for 2015: Transformation

I can't believe Christmas is already over!  It seems it came and went by so fast this year!  I absolutely love the holiday season, but when it's over, it's over in my opinion!  I don't like to drag out the holiday by keeping the Christmas tree up until February; I like to get on with life as usual.

I am a goal oriented person, so I've always liked the idea of New Year Resolutions, family themes, 30 day challenges.  If you've followed my blogging you already know this about me.  This year instead of a list of goals for 2015, I'm focusing my goals towards one word:  Transformation.  I'm already on a path of change since managing my depression, so I want to keep the momentum going, and I feel like I've only just scratched the surface.  

I'm no stranger to change and even transforming myself.  My life has handed me much to deal with, and usually in a moment's notice.  But this year I want to focus on intentional change, not just reacting to what life hands me.  They say how you react to change builds character, but what about actually building one's own character?  Why not intentionally change things I don't like about myself and focus on what I do like about myself?

Intentionally transforming myself into the person I want to be is going to be my focus for 2015!

Wish me luck!


Like my earrings?  Check them out HERE!

   

Holistic Healing (Vol 4): Catching Up and Checking in!

Hello faithful readers and dear friends, whoever you are!  December is flying by so fast, as is does every year, am I right?  Joseph and I have been working our bottoms off at Eidolon House, which is exactly how we like it!  Being terribly busy has thrown us off schedule though, and I have noticed it has effected my physical and emotional health.  When one is hyper-aware of such things as mood swings and energy levels one tends to notice how just the smallest change in everyday life effects everything; it's been quite a learning process and totally amazing at the same time.

Part of managing emotional health obviously leads one to manage physical health.  Joseph and I have been making small but significant changes regarding our diet, drinking soda, and sleep schedules.  We're not perfect at all of this yet; as I've already mentioned, this month has been rough.  But we're taking each day one day at a time, and making sure we don't give ourselves too harsh of guilt trips either.

I have got to find a way to be more active, and not worry about my leg falling off!  This is our next hurdle to get over.  The life of an amputee is always interesting, I'll give you that!  Getting over this hurdle has led us to shopping for lightweight wheelchairs!  I've always had great upper body strength, and my legs, or lack thereof, are not my greatest feature, obviously.  So, if my leg falling off is the one thing keeping me from being active, then I'm taking the leg out of the equation all together!

Photo Source

We're saving our bucks and we're super excited about all the opportunities that actually open up by figuring out how to live with my disabilities.

What do you guys do to stay active?

Managing Depression Vol 1.

Managing Depression Vol 2.

Managing Depression Vol 3.

Holidays In Full Swing. . . .

The holiday season is in full swing here in Plano Texas!  Last year was a hard year for me; I missed my family, but more, I was in the thick of a depression that I was not aware of just yet.  But this year is so much better and I'm totally excited about it!

 I made delicious Pizzelle cookies that were lightly dusted with powdered sugar.  They looked just like beautiful snow flakes!

 The cookies were for our church's Christmas program and dinner!  The dinner and program were great, we enjoyed ourselves, and met new friends!

After dinner we drove home through beautiful neighborhoods decorated with bright lights!

Yes, the holiday season is in full swing!

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!

A Step in a Holistic Aproach to Depression Treatment Vol 2. . .

I've been researching holistic ways to treat depression lately.  One thing I've learned through managing pain and a constant state of discomfort, having lost my leg, is that the brain is a very powerful tool.  Have you heard of CBT , Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?  I'll save CBT for another blog.  One of the steps to holistic treatment for depression is trying something new.  When trying something new your brain releases dopamine which is associated with pleasure, enjoyment, and learning.

I start a new project at least every other month or so.  Mostly because I like exploring my creative side; I like to try things for myself to see if I really do like them or not. 

I've been so excited to start my next project!  Making necklaces out of my handmade marbled paper, and printing some of them with our lead type and decorative tools!  

I am in love with these necklaces and guess what?  Making these make me feel happy!

Of course you don't have to add trying something new to your depression treatment plan in order to try something new.

What fun new things are you trying these days?

 

Attempting to get back to fearless. . . ("Haters gonna Hate")

Every time I write a stirring blog such as my sharing about my depression HERE, I get a few negative reactions.  I call those reactions blow back, which is basically haters responding to my writing.

Here's the kicker:  I don't write for those kinds of people.  I mostly write for myself, I always have.  But I also love to share my experiences because I want other women to know they're not alone in their hard times.  I've been through plenty of hard times to know the only way to get through them is to have POSITIVE people on my side, cheering me on, listening to my thoughts and worries, and sharing with me how they get through their hard times.  No one can get through this life alone!   

To those who bag on my writing:  I feel sorry for you, and if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you. 

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