Things will get better

I have been a little bit out of commission lately. At the end of October, I found out I am expecting my fifth child! Unfortunately for me, I get terrible morning sickness. For about three weeks I was down almost flat most of the day. Thank goodness I have some great medicine now that really helps with the nausea, so I thought I would finally get back to my blog!

Like many people, I have been thinking about the economy and how things are getting to be pretty crazy these days. Gas prices are down, but grocery prices are still up, people are losing their jobs all over the country and major companies are falling apart. Things look pretty glum.

However, I like to be optimistic. It's true that many people will need to cut back, maybe Christmas won't be too spectacular this year, maybe families will have to downsize their home or cars. The clothes we have will have to last a little longer and home improvements will have to be postponed. This can be frustrating, but let's remember that bad times don't last. If you choose to be optimistic, you can make it through the stressful, tough economic times and be prepared to enjoy prosperity again when the time comes. It doesn't hurt to cut back sometimes. Struggling through tough times can make you stronger if you choose.

So choose to have a good attitude. Show others around you (especially children) that life isn't always what we may want it to be, but we can learn and grow and rise up after the conflict stronger and better than we ever were.

My morning sickness will end. I'll get my energy back, but I'll gain weight and be uncomfortable for a few months. In the end, I will have a beautiful baby and all the pain will be forgotten in those first moments of seeing my baby's sweet face. There is always sunshine after the storm.

God bless you all.

Thanks Pink Teapot!

My friend, Janine, who started the blog The Pink Teapot just gave me an award on her blog! I am flattered. I enjoy visiting her blog because she talks about etiquette and how we can use it in our everyday lives. That's something that is missing on so many levels these days! She discusses manners (including children's manners), death, special occasions, thank you notes, and etiquette in many other areas such as; e-mail, weddings, driving,and tipping. The world needed a blog like this one. It's true that there are many people who have manners and tact, but there is no reason why we cannot try to improve in all areas of etiquette. Check out her site when you have a question about manners or etiquette.

I'm grateful to Janine for recognizing JoBloom because in my own small way, I am trying to improve the world with positive thinking and motivational insights. It's very rewarding to know that people read, and when they want to, comment on my thoughts. Whenever I read my comments section, I am amazed at the extra bits of information that I read. I am not alone in my feelings and my friends often say things that I didn't even think of. Your contributions make a difference.

Thanks to all of you who read my blog and share it. Thanks for the comments. Last but not least, thanks Janine with The Pink Teapot for your generous award!

McCain vs Obama

I'm thinking that everyone is probably sick of hearing about politics so I will make this brief. I think it is inexcusable that McCain and Obama have wasted so much of their debate and campaigning time with negativity towards eachother. Most people just want to hear the issues and how each candidate is going to deal with that. I know it's "politics", but maybe we could have a little human decency, too.

Fuel Your Destiny

I have a video I would like to share with you. The purpose of the program created by Garr is to help people take the steps towards improving their lives in any way they desire. Any goal that you want to achieve is within your grasp and this program is designed to help you focus on that goal and make things happen. What does success mean to you? Are you doing the things with your life that are making you happy? If you are feeling stuck and need some help moving towards your goals, perhaps this program is for you.

"Plenty of people talk about their goals but the truly successful ones are busy making them happen." - Garr Martin Ovard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKYIfsw1IW0

Marcia Brady thoughts

Maureen McCormick played Marcia Brady on the Brady Bunch before I was even born. Yet I remember watching it so they must have shown plenty of reruns since the show was canceled before I was even 2 years old. Now Maureen McCormick has written a book about her life - like so many other celebrities. It's great that people write books. They want to share their life experiences with others and for the most part the end of the story is a happy one.

The thing that bothered me when I first saw "Marcia Brady" on TV this morning was I almost felt like she was saying "Hey, I did all these bad things with my life and now that I have changed, I am going to dig up my dirty business and share it with the world." Now I have to say that I think it is so wonderful when people change their lives and pull themselves up out of the depths of their despair, but do they really need to share all the dirty details in a book? There is a difference between saying, "I was depressed and overweight, I sought help and even though it was difficult, I changed and my life is better." and saying, "Look, I was a prostitute, on drugs, and I did these horrible things, now I am telling everyone about it so they will read my book." It just doesn't seem like the most respectable thing to go telling the world about your weaknesses and downfalls, just to say, "I'm better now, so buy my book."

So let's hear it. Do you think that celebrities should write books about their lives sharing all their dirty little secrets? Do people really like to read about the bad things that other people do? Or should people keep the bad stuff to themselves and just share the good things that came out of a difficult situation - sharing minimal personal information? Do they feel better about themselves after letting it all out? Would YOU want the world to read about YOUR misdeeds. I don't know, maybe that's what people really want, the good, the bad and the ugly.

But personally, I want to show the best of what I am. I think people look at you and maybe even treat you differently when they know about all the dirty details of your life. You are not trying to hide anything, you are working to BETTER yourself, so why would you degrade yourself by telling the world about the things you have done that you are ashamed of? It's not necessary. You are who you are today and you are becoming better each day. So why pull yourself back to the past where you don't want to be? If you want to share your life story, do it by telling what you did when you realized you were on the track you didn't want to be on. Start with the good, end with the good. Move forward!

My Friend

Several evenings ago, when I was at the grocery store picking up a few items, I heard someone behind me say my name. I turned and saw a friend of mine. We stopped on the Halloween candy aisle and talked for awhile. She and I run into each other often at the store, the park and other places, and we always take time to talk.

Usually after I have had a good conversation with her, I think about the trial in her life that is probably the most difficult one for her. She has several trials that I know of and it's not because she talks about them all the time. She is, in fact, a very positive and happy person who listens to others and has pleasant things to say. Her way of communication is never complaining or gloomy, she simply states things how they are and seems very confident in the progress she is making in her life.

When I think about this one particular difficulty in her life, it makes my problems seem less troublesome. I guess I sort of "compare" her ordeal with the ones that are bothering me the most in my life and I have decided that I would rather have my trials than hers. She seems to be handling things well, but we don't always know what goes on in the secret closets of a persons mind and heart. We don't know if what they are feeling is something that tears them apart, pains them, and makes them feel empty or lonely. Do they cry out for help? Do they get on their knees at night when they are alone and the pain is too much to bear? Are they in constant agony but able to hide their suffering?

I ache for my friend and I would not want to be in her shoes. I will take my trials, thank you very much. But after seeing her, being with her, talking with her, I feel uplifted. I can learn from her and see the good in the world and they joys in my life. It’s wonderful to have a friend like that. I hope you have a friend like mine, but even better, I hope you are one.

Inside and Outside

On my last post, I wrote about the things that we do, externally, such as our jobs or careers. Today I want to talk about who we are, internally. I believe that both are important and that there can and should be harmony between the two.

If you desire to make an outward change, you may have to make an internal change. Also, if you are unhappy in your career, you might get a new job and still be unhappy so you need to work on some internal issues first and then go from there. You may still want a new job, or maybe not.

 Changing your circumstances on the outside will not change who you already are on the inside. Become the person you desire to become inwardly and it will be easier to revise any other aspect of your life that you wish. Look at who you are on the inside and decide if you are happy with the person that you are. Take some time and look deep within yourself and figure out who you and only you are. Reading good books on the topics that interest you, learning about people who inspire you and what you want to emulate is a great way to enhance your life. You are unique and your various abilities all together are yours alone to do with as you wish. How will you use those abilities in your life? How will you use your strengths to become the person you want to become?

Who you are on the inside should reflect and show through in the things that you do on the outside. You cannot be a kind, loving and generous person on the inside and be mean, selfish and unpleasant on the outside. If you love kids and teaching on the inside, it may not make sense for you a have a career as a pilot.

Do what you enjoy doing. Be who you want to be. Set goals for yourself and continually strive for something better. I wish you every happiness.