Goodbye 2009. Hello 2010. One of the best things about welcoming in a New Year is always the hope and promise of a fresh new start. For all of you who have struggled through a difficult year (you know who you are), here is your chance to put all the yuck from the past year behind you and begin the new year with a renewed attitude. In reality, that's what life boils down to - attitude. Go on, give it a try. Get up tomorrow morning and before your feet hit the floor, convince yourself that no matter what, it's going to be an awesome day. Now, you may have to give yourself some reminders throughout the day. It won't happen automatically. But you will be surprised at how much better you will handle things tomorrow. Go on and give it a try, and be sure to let me know how it went. I want to hear, good or bad, the effect it had on your day.
Now get ready to usher in the new year, and your fresh new start. Happy New Year everyone!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Merry Christmas Everyone
As the Christmas rush falls upon us, I hope we all make time to slow down, take a deep breath, and remember why we are celebrating this holiday. I dread Black Friday. Only because I know what it brings. It brings out the worst in people. Not everyone. But most everyone. The stores are packed with cranky shoppers who cant find that perfect gift they are looking for. I'm not even sure most people know what the perfect gift is. They just know they cant find it! The poor cashiers are ready to pull their hair out because they are having to deal with all the rude, hurried shoppers who cant find what they are looking for.
I really just want to crawl into a hole and wait for January 1 to roll around. Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas anyway. I love the decorations, the tree, the fresh baked breads and carols on the radio. I even love the corny Christmas movies that come on every night. I especially love the fact that Jesus was born and I know he loves me. I wish we would all take more time to reflect upon that. We are way more concerned about what little Suzie is going to think about her present when she opens it. It stresses people out. That's not what Christmas is supposed to be about.
Now if you are here because you are one of the unfortunate people who is jobless, homeless, car less or all of the above, this is definitely a stressful time for you. It doesn't need to be. You are focusing on the wrong things. Stop worring about not having money for presents, and focus on what Christmas is really about.
My husband and I took the kids to a play in town put on by some of the local college students. It was called "Every Christmas Story Ever Told". It was cheap, fun and hilarious. We came up with every excuse not to go at first. There was too much to do, the kids had school the next day, it was waaaay to cold outside. We finally decided the excuses were only going to hinder a lovely night out together. We went and we were so glad we did.
Take some time to find inexpensive things to do with your family to make some holiday memories. Lots of churches have free programs this time of year and from my experience, some of them are quite good! Don't spend the entire holiday feeling sorry for yourself and finding excuses not to enjoy yourself. Don't let the frenzied holiday shoppers get you down. Just keep telling yourself, January 1 will be here before I know it and it will once again be safe to shop!
Until next time, Merry Christmas and keep your head held high.
Trina
I really just want to crawl into a hole and wait for January 1 to roll around. Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas anyway. I love the decorations, the tree, the fresh baked breads and carols on the radio. I even love the corny Christmas movies that come on every night. I especially love the fact that Jesus was born and I know he loves me. I wish we would all take more time to reflect upon that. We are way more concerned about what little Suzie is going to think about her present when she opens it. It stresses people out. That's not what Christmas is supposed to be about.
Now if you are here because you are one of the unfortunate people who is jobless, homeless, car less or all of the above, this is definitely a stressful time for you. It doesn't need to be. You are focusing on the wrong things. Stop worring about not having money for presents, and focus on what Christmas is really about.
My husband and I took the kids to a play in town put on by some of the local college students. It was called "Every Christmas Story Ever Told". It was cheap, fun and hilarious. We came up with every excuse not to go at first. There was too much to do, the kids had school the next day, it was waaaay to cold outside. We finally decided the excuses were only going to hinder a lovely night out together. We went and we were so glad we did.
Take some time to find inexpensive things to do with your family to make some holiday memories. Lots of churches have free programs this time of year and from my experience, some of them are quite good! Don't spend the entire holiday feeling sorry for yourself and finding excuses not to enjoy yourself. Don't let the frenzied holiday shoppers get you down. Just keep telling yourself, January 1 will be here before I know it and it will once again be safe to shop!
Until next time, Merry Christmas and keep your head held high.
Trina
Monday, December 7, 2009
Telling your kids no -- harder for some than others!
We all want whats best for our kids. This statement means lots of different things to people. Whats really best for our kids? Is it giving them all we never had? Is it giving them every opportunity to experience all they can in order for them to figure out what they really want in life? Is it never telling them no? Or, in doing what we feel is best for them, are we creating little people who will never learn to survive on their own in life because they have been sheltered from reality?
The reality here is.....you are broke. You can no longer afford to give them everything under the sun. As difficult as this may seem for you, your children will be much better off in the long run if you allow them to face reality and come to terms with it in their own way. By continuing to let them drain your pocket, you are giving them false hope - a false sense of security. You are allowing them to believe that everything is ok and it is not. How can they be expected to trust you, if they wake up one day and suddenly everything they thought was true, is not?
If you allow them to make sacrifices along with you, you are giving them the strength they will need later in life to handle circumstance such as these. It will be good for them to know that they have contributed in some way to the well being of the household. Sure, they are not going to be happy about having to give up some of their extra curricular activities. No one likes having to give things up. You were not happy about having to give up -- your job, your car, your home, your sense of being able to provide for your family. The hard fact is -- you did it anyway and here you still are. The important thing is for them to see that everything is going to be okay. Things always manage to work themselves out and by picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and pushing on, you are showing them how to cope in tough times.
Do yourself and your kids a favor and tell them no. No is good for kids - sometimes just because.
As always, keep you head up high until next time.
Trina
The reality here is.....you are broke. You can no longer afford to give them everything under the sun. As difficult as this may seem for you, your children will be much better off in the long run if you allow them to face reality and come to terms with it in their own way. By continuing to let them drain your pocket, you are giving them false hope - a false sense of security. You are allowing them to believe that everything is ok and it is not. How can they be expected to trust you, if they wake up one day and suddenly everything they thought was true, is not?
If you allow them to make sacrifices along with you, you are giving them the strength they will need later in life to handle circumstance such as these. It will be good for them to know that they have contributed in some way to the well being of the household. Sure, they are not going to be happy about having to give up some of their extra curricular activities. No one likes having to give things up. You were not happy about having to give up -- your job, your car, your home, your sense of being able to provide for your family. The hard fact is -- you did it anyway and here you still are. The important thing is for them to see that everything is going to be okay. Things always manage to work themselves out and by picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and pushing on, you are showing them how to cope in tough times.
Do yourself and your kids a favor and tell them no. No is good for kids - sometimes just because.
As always, keep you head up high until next time.
Trina
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