Here we go again!  A plethora of bloggers banding together to help each other post daily.  For me, it is more about keeping it short, which is virtually impossible for me.  I believe in sharing my thoughts…in 10,000 words or more!  OK, so it might take me a week or so to actually pen 10,000 words, but I’m sure you get the exaggerated point I’m trying to make.

In some ways, I feel rather like a veteran, having blogged for about 4 years now, but in others, I feel like the lowliest neophyte.  I don’t have a fancy site with multiple pages, gadgets and links.  I don’t offer any freebees, other than my words, and I don’t offer to teach you something, help you be a better [fill in the blank] or overcome any bad habits.

My blog is, first and foremost, for my own personal growth and second, for entertainment value.  If I happen to, in my innate klutziness, actually stumble upon something which is useful to another person, I can only be grateful that I was given the words to do so. 

I don’t make any money from my blog.  In fact, when I looked into signing up for Google’s earnings system last week, I was denied due to insufficient content.  I took it as my very first rejection slip in what will, no doubt, be a long line of them before I find myself that iconic being I intend to be, a published Author.    (of course, I did pause for a moment to wonder what they do consider “sufficient content” since my blog, since inception has logged hundreds of thousands of words.  But I suppose the Google gods have set certain standards and woe be to a corporate underling who violates those standards!)

For now, I will continue sharing whatever floats through my brain and lingers long enough to form a coherent thought (or at least a semi-coherent one!).  Some of that will certainly involve my quest for a life of positivity, love, forgiveness, acceptance and joy.  There may be a rant on occasion, though those have, thankfully, been less frequent of late.  I might share more of the book I have in progress, or get a wild hair and actually produce a work of fiction for your reading enjoyment. 

One thing is for certain, though, there will be no ruts because my brain doesn’t stay in one place long enough to form so much as a temporary depression in the ground, much less a full-blown rut! 

People who have been reading this blog for awhile will know that I draw inspiration from just about anything, which is not really surprising for a girl who grew up reading everything in sight, even cereal boxes when there was nothing else available.  Imagine my delight when Screaming Yellow Zonkers were introduced, packaged in an amusingly readable box!

I am still considering either changing the name of this blog or starting a new one entirely and giving it the title “Writer Run Amok”.   The alternative title (as I look back over my typical kaleidescope of topics) might be “ADHD on Steroids”. 

With only two more days until I will enjoy another four day weekend, I see a great deal of writing in my near future, especially if the temperatures force me to remain inside my wonderfully cool abode. 

One of the things I’ve learned, and become quite attached to as I travel this journey is positive affirmations.

I pick them up here and there, or dream them up as I go, but I always have my eyes and ears open for new ones!  (refer back to the previous discussion about ruts).  I do, however, have a couple of personal favorites.

The first is used while looking into a mirror first thing in the morning.  I gleaned it from one of the many webinars I listen to, in hopes of finding new ways to improve myself, or, at the very least, material for my writing. 

The original affirmation was “I’m beautiful, sexy and delicious” and I loved it because it always brings a smile to my face.  But I realized it would be more effective if I personalized it, so now, my furry children are entertained by my daily declaration that I am “Beautiful, Sexy, Sassy and Delicious!”  As far as they are concerned as long as there is food, water, belly skritches and lap time included, I can pretty much do whatever I want.  We should all be graced with such unconditional love!

My second favorite came from an email that was being forwarded around for awhile:

“What other people think of me is none of my business.”

Too often, we pattern ourselves by what we believe other people want to see and hear.  There are two major falacies, here.  First, there is no way we’re ever really going to know what, if anything, someone else expects of us.  And Second, why, in the name of all that is good, would we want to be something that has value for someone else?  We need to value ourselves, love ourselves first.  Only then will be truly be valuable and loveable.  Validation from outsiders is fleeting and fickle.  One misstep and we’re back on the rails. 

But once we eliminate the self-deprecating behavior, the dissatisfaction at our perceived lack of perfection, we’ll find that there is one person who will always love and accept us no matter how much we weigh, how lazy we might decide to be on occasion, or how off-key we might sing our song.  We are, or should be, our own most favorite person in the entire world. 

In case it isn’t clear yet, I’m a strong proponent of the belief that to be loved by another, you must love yourself unconditionally first.  Otherwise, how will anyone realize how loveable you are?  If you can’t love yourself fully and completely, the message you’re sending is that you’re lacking, even though you’re not! 

Think about this.  Have you ever met a person who just seems to have their own glow, their own personal lighthouse, shining from within?  That, my friends, is self-love.  That is someone who is madly, passionately in love with themselves!  Once you achieve that veritable Nirvana, the well of love you have to share is infinite, and self-perpetuating!   

Tonight, I challenge anyone reading this to be your own lighthouse!  Light the way for yourself, and see how quickly others jump on board!

My gratitudes tonight are: 
1. I am grateful for the love I’ve found within myself.
2. I am grateful for all of the positive, supportive energy I receive from my friends.
3. I am grateful for a short week in which I can indulge my passion to write without interruption.
4. I am grateful for a week of joy and celebrations.
5. I am grateful for those times when I give someone else something to think about that might even help make their life a little brighter.

Love and light