Find Something That Inspire You

In 2011, as I talked about in my last blog, we need to make changes that are going to make this a better year for us individually before we can work on helping others.

I have been an avid reader of Break the Illusion for quite some time now, and there are countless entries that have been posted that have inspired me. Davey Wavey's newest entry, A Fresh Start in 2011, really hit home with me; leaving the past behind you to make a better future.

Check the video out here:

2011 - The Year of Change?

We all say that, with the start of the new year we are going to make changes to our lives. Studies have shows that most resolutions that we make last less than 2 weeks, and we're back to business as usual. The more people I talk to, I get the feeling that this is a thing of the past.

Over the holidays, I for one, along with many people I know, had a tough going and weren't in the holiday spirit. Having had a rough year, many people vowed never to be in that situation again. People are figuring out why they had such a bad time in 2010 and are, 9 days in to it, still making the changes they need to in order to make 2011 successful.

Little things that you do in your life can make a huge difference. For example, writing blog entries or writing down your thoughts/frustrations in a journal can make room for the more productive thoughts in your mind. Making a change in your diet or adding exercise to your weekly routine can make a difference in your mental state as well; I know that I think much more clearly after a trip to the gym. If you are fortunate enough to be able to take a (much needed) vacation for a couple of days if for nothing else than to clear your mind, do it. Keep in mind that you don't need to go somewhere where the hustle and bustle of the city will consume you; make that choice wisely.

Perhaps the simplest thing that a person can do to make a difference is to change their way of thinking. If you're constantly thinking that you're going to have a horrible day and that nothing will change - guess what, it's going to be exactly that. You have to manifest what you want and how you see things going for you. A dear, dear friend of mine declared that this is the year of "doin' me", and I couldn't agree more. There are enough things in this world that are going to make life hard on people. If you wake up one morning and decide that this is the day things are going to be different, I firmly believe that is the exact moment that things will turn around for you. We are all going to have bad days where you think that things couldn't get any worse, there isn't much we can do about that. We do, however, have the power to change the things we can control.

Before you can make a difference in the lives of those around you, you must first be able to make a difference in your own life.

Go out and live like you have never lived before. Make 2011 the year of "doin' you".

I've Voted... Have You?

I know that we're all busy with work, school, kids, etc., but tomorrow is Election Day in America again. I know that some people think they don't have time, but it doesn't take very long to fill out a form and slip it in to a box. Although we aren't determining who is going to sit in the Oval Office again quite yet, we are going to be determining the direction this country is going to go. With many seats up for grabs in the House and the Senate, we all need to take interest in what is going on and where we would like to see the country go in the future.

While I would love for the election to go one way, and others would like it to go another, that is besides the point. Getting out and having your voice heard is the biggest thing about election days. Here is the way I look at it, if you don't get out and vote, you don't have a right to complain about what is going on in this country. Is there something that you want to get done? Is there something that you don't want to see get passed? Vote. It's that simple.

Voting not only makes a difference on the State/National level, it also makes a difference in your local community. Take, for instance, the voting in Iowa's Pottawattamie County. For people like myself, and thousands of other people, our jobs are on the line. What is something that many people, old and young, like to do for a night out? People like to go to the casino; whether you're pulling a lever or playing cards, that could all be gone because of one vote, don't let it be yours. Every eight years the casinos are put up for a vote, each and every one of them. Just because you may not like Ameristar or Harrah's, but love playing at Horseshoe, you must vote (for those of you in PottCo., please vote "YES" on C & D (one is for the riverboat casinos (Harrah's and Ameristar) and the other is for Horseshoe)) to be able to continue to enjoy that.

I can't stress enough the importance of Election Day. We need to get this country back on track, and back on the forefront of economic development, putting people back to work and making sure that people know that the United States is back in action and means business.

Tomorrow. Election Day. Get Out. Vote.

The Real Me

Bars and clubs aren't really my scene.

I don't really drink.

I'm more comfortable at a hole-in-the-wall bar if I do drink.

I don't dance.

I like to be home before midnight.

I would rather spend my nights curled up with a good book or watching a movie with someone.

I can get very uncomfortable, very easy.

I don't like to be around a lot of people I don't know.

I can only be the third wheel for so long before it gets old.

I like to help others.

I am a good listener.

I am always going to be there for you.

I may be single, but I'm not miserable.

There are times when I want nothing more than to be left alone.

Then again, there are times when I want nothing more than to be with someone special.

I have a big heart.

I am willing to let you in.

Thank You...

To those of you who continue to stand by me: I thank you from the bottom of my heart. There have been times lately, and now, as they continue to arise, that I haven't been the easiest person to be around, but knowing that I have people there for me when I need them means the world. If I'm going through something and it seems like I'm taking it out on you, yet you have nothing to do with the situation, or you're just caught in the middle, please forgive me.The person that I'm around when things go down is usually the one that gets the brunt of the venting.

I'm one of those people who is great at wearing their heart on their sleeve, but when it comes to hiding their emotions, that's when I'm not seen at my best. I'm now at that point in my life where I'm just becoming more and more vocal about how I feel after I get past the "I'm not talking to anyone stage".

There are things that come up in life that I find incredibly easy to deal with, and then there are things that, no matter how hard I try, for whatever reason, I just can't cope. Perhaps it's the insecurities I have in my life, most of which have nothing at all to do with the situations at hand, or perhaps it's something else completely that I have no clue about. Whatever it is, it seems to, nine times out of ten, get the best of me.

This year I told myself that I'm not playing games with people, nor am I pulling any punches when it comes to letting people know how I feel, but overall that hasn't gone too well. I still just sit back and let it happen, unless it's something that I feel someone should know. There are also certain times where I get so worked up about something, and I swear I'm going to tell someone off, yet when the time comes and I have the chance, I usually respond with some half-assed remark and let it go. It's like I can't find a happy medium. I'm either telling someone to go to hell or telling someone that it's okay when it really isn't.

What a way to turn a short message in to a long, overdrawn post, huh? Anyway, I really just wanted to thank everyone who has stood by me in the past and who are still there for me today. You are my rocks... I truly couldn't do it without you.

It's Almost That Time Again

Now that we're almost half-way through December, Christmas is right around the corner. It's funny... Christmas is my favorite holiday, but this year I couldn't help but want it not to come. It's been one of those years where nothing seems to go as planned and you just can't wait for it to get over.

I still have well over half of my shopping to do, and that's something that I'm just not looking forward to one bit. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving we put our tree and decorations up, and after a week and change the house still doesn't feel like it usually does around the holidays. We, like every family, have our "Grinch", but usually that doesn't stop anyone from having fun and enjoying themselves. This year, however, even the most festive of people just can't get in to that holiday spirit.

All we can hope for is that something great will happen and that our luck will turn around and that next year will bring nothing but the best of everything. High hopes are what I've found can get a person through the toughest of times. All I know that I'm looking forward to next year is my baby brother getting here! February 12 is the day that my dad, Audra (my step-mom), and I are all waiting for!

Italy, Here I Come!

Those are 4 words I want to hear come out of my mouth like you would not believe. I've always wanted to go to Italy, but over the last few months, the urge has become greater than ever. Just today, I finished reading "Italian for Beginners", by Kristin Harmel which, no doubt, fueled the desire even more. It was an amazing book and one that you'll just have to read to find out more.

My family on my grandfathers side, came from Italia-Sicily, to be exact-and that's been part of the reason I've always wanted to go. I want to be back in the home country and experience Italy like so many family members must have done in the past. The country itself is home to some of the most beautiful landmarks the world has and will ever see, and I can't imagine myself never getting over there to see them.

I'm hoping that, at least one of my friends-she knows who she is-will be able to go over with me when I'm finally able to. I'm sure that Italy would be a great place to escape to, but it's one those places, to me anyway, that you shouldn't experience on your own. (Besides, who's going to take my picture in front of the Colosseo and the other places that I know I'm going to visit???)

I'm sure that millions and millions of people will be able to have those "stories" that will be told for years and years to come about the fantastic time they had in Roma, and I just want to be able to join the ranks of Americans who have been to Italy and can just say "been there, done that".

I know this post wasn't much of anything and was kind of just put together in a hurry, but it was something that I wanted to get out there. Someday, you'll be getting a post while I'm sitting at a cafe in some piazza in Italy sipping some espresso, prosecco or limoncello just having the time of my life.