Quote - Humble

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The humble man receives praise the way a clean window takes the light of the sun. The truer and more intense the light is, the less you see of the glass, and the more you see of the sun.  ~Thomas Merton

Is there hope for the brokenhearted?

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I know, all too well, the story of the brokenhearted. I’ve played out the scenes many times. In fact, I may have even written the script.

It’s never easy when things come to an end. Picking up the pieces of your heart and trying to put the jigsaw puzzle pieces back together. The pieces never fit back quite the same.

I often relate breakups to dealing with a death. Yes, the death of a loved one is terrible, tragic, and gut-wrenching; I don’t mean to take that lightly. But all the same, a breakup means a loss in your life and leaves an emptiness that can’t be filled. The steps to recover are generally the same as grieving.

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Often during the recovery you begin to question yourself and your self-worth. Was I not good enough? Is there something I could have done to make things right? My biggest problem is the finality of it all – knowing you’ll never see that person again, never wake up to them again, and that there will no longer be a happily ever after. All your plans together for the future have dissolved into thin air.

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And if you still care for them it makes it even worse for the wear. It would be much easier to move on from someone you didn’t care so much for. But you do…

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So what happens now? How do you move on from here?

This is when you allow yourself some time to heal and work through that grieving process. It may seem hopeless but things will get better. They always do. You just glued your heart back together. Allow some time for the adhesive to set and the pieces to bond. Super glue doesn’t work instantly and neither will your heartbreak adhesive.

My Favorite Things - Sweet Treats

1) Cupcake print from Uplifting Prints

2) Happiness print from Gayana

3) Cake print from Rock the Custards

4) Cupcake tee from Dressing on the Side

5) Cupcake tank from Little Island Company

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.

Quote - In Chaos

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In chaos, there is fertility.  ~Anais Nin

Quote - Another World

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If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.  ~ C.S. Lewis

Quote - Planted in the soul

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Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seed so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity, and love.  ~Thomas Merton

Live in such a way...

Hugs,

My Favorite Things - Art Prints

1) Quote print from Uplifting Prints

2) Dream catcher print from Small Talk Studio

3) Graphic art print from Yellow Heart Art

4) Love poster from Sparkle Power

5) Vintage fabric love print from Little Tea Wagon

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.

Waiting. Patiently.

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Lately I’ve felt so lost. Unsure of the next step to take. I usually have a plan, something that I’m working towards. Right now I don’t and it’s so very scary. I don’t care to stumble through life not knowing where I’m going and what I’m doing. Some days feel like I’m not living – just existing. Not a good feeling.

I’m waiting right now for the doors of opportunity to present themselves to me. Waiting, patiently. Patience is not something I work well with.

All I know is that I feel this restlessness stirring inside me and nothing seems to quench that thirst. It’s like when you’re hungry but you can’t figure out what you’re hungry for. You nibble at this and at that but none of the bites quite fill that need. Maybe temporarily but it’s not a lasting fullness. What am I hungry for? What is it that I need?

So I sit here hungry in an abundantly stocked pantry and thirsty in a desert.

Still waiting.

Patiently.

Quote - Destiny

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Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny - he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally - you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you.  ~Osho

Quote - Plant a Dream

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You can plant a dream.  ~Anne Campbell

TGIFive on Friday

1) Miniature Garden with Herbs from Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss

2) Mod Podge Suitcase from Sis Boom

3) How to be Happy, Part Six from Jen Lemon

4) Channel your Inner Picasso from Alisa Burke

5) 16 Personal Empowerment Mantras from Roots of She

Hugs,

Quote - Taking Risks

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Do not be one of those who, rather than risk failure, never attempts anything.  ~Thomas Merton

My Favorite Things - Banner Love

1) Fabric scrap banner from Sweet Shoppe Paperie

2) Spring banner from Berry a la Mode

3) Scrappy banner from YoYo Cottage

4) Mirrored glass banner from Pamela Angus

5) Half circle mirror bunting from Fluxglass

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.

My Birthday Challenge

Back in February right after Random Acts of Kindness Week, I declared that I would devote my birthday to spreading seeds of kindness to others. This year I turned 36 years old so that’s 36 random acts.

I was initially inspired by the birthday mission of Becki (Whippy Cake) a few years ago and after a little Google searching for ideas I realized that these birthday projects are a growing trend. I found a wealth of information from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, The Bday Project, and Sweet Blessings. I compiled a list of ideas from these websites/blogs and set out on my mission.

I spread these acts over several days since my birthday was on a weekday when I would be at work. I also didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked. I was too busy being sneaky and unseen. :-)

Here’s what I did:

1) Left a gift card + Pass It Forward card (#3168) from The Shine Project at Chick-fil-a

2) Donated to the postal service canned food drive (Bonus: my kitchen cabinets are cleaned and organized!)

3) Left quarters on game machines in Wal-Mart lobby

4) Purchased goodies for coworkers/breakroom at work

5) Made donation to Children's Miracle Network at Wal-Mart checkout

6) Wrangled stray shopping carts in parking lot

7) Left kind notes on parked cars

8) Left laundry detergent + Pass It Forward card (#3169) at laundromat

9) Left quarters + Pass It Forward card (#3170) on RAOK note on soda machine outside of Winn Dixie

10) Opened doors for other customers

11) Bought special treats for my pups

12) Left an encouraging card for a friend in need of a pick-me-up

13) Said "thank you" to others

14) Left coloring books + crayons for kids

15) Dropped a bag of tennis balls in backyard for my pup Bella who loves tennis balls. Inspired by this video that makes me crack up!

16) Left bottles of bubbles at park (8 pack).

17) Left a scratch-off lottery ticket for postal carrier + thank you note

After: Now I know my mailman's name!

18) Left sidewalk chalk + chalk note on playground for kids

19) Left lottery ticket + good luck note in a gas station restroom

20) Took treats to petting zoo

21) Shared treats with a family for the goats at petting zoo

22) Left Kind Over Matter "Love is all you need." posters at various locations

23) Donated gently used items/toys/clothing to Goodwill

24) Paid for car behind me in McDonald's drive-thru + Pass It Forward card #3171 given to the couple by the cashier. I giggled with happiness the whole way home!

25) Donation to Ronald McDonald Kids at drive-thru window

26) Picked up trash from parking lot

27) Made an extra Kiva donation

28) Made a donation to the Alice Hansen Family Fund after reading this story and was touched by the grief the husband, children, and family must be going through with their loss.

29) Anonymously ordered pizza to be delivered to local fire dept.

30) Left Pass It Forward card #3172 + change + note on Redbox machine for rental on me

31) Left quarters in candy machines

32) Let other drivers go ahead of me

33) Cleaned/organized my son's room for him

34) Sent a Mother's Day card to a deserving mom

35) Left a generous tip to server

36) Saved a couple baby frogs from being squished. Okay, so I was running out of ideas and funds. But I really did save them! :-)

I have to say, this has been the best birthday ever. Not for gifts I received for my birthday but the seeds of kindness I gave to others and the happiness I received doing these acts. Thanks for sharing this with me!

Hugs,

P.S.
The car behind me at McDonald's who received Pass It Forward card #3171 paid it forward to the car behind them. Isn't that awesome?! I cried tears of joy reading their update on the card!

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop

Quote - Life

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All of life instructs.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

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Quote - What I Am

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Finally, I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am...  

~Thomas Merton

TGIFive on Friday

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

1) Free Zen & the Art of Loving You Cards from Kind Over Matter

2) Your Permission Slip from Roots of She. You have permission.

3) How to Create Joy Today from Tiny Buddha

4) Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pudding from Bakerella

5) Mother's Day Handprint Canvas via Mod Podge Rocks

Hugs,