It's MY party!!.......

Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the fun kind of party with balloons, cake, and presents... I'm talking about a Pity Party.

Self-Pity:  pity for oneself, especially a self-indulgent attitude concerning one's own difficulties, hardships, etc.
(Dictionary.com)

Self-pity is an emotion that any one of us can feel from time to time.  This seems to become more of a problem when it is excessive.  Self-pity starts out as a sad emotion, but when execised regulary it can lead to depression and/or become an addiction.

You simply have to decide that you refuse to live life feeling this way, and that something or someone else is not the main source of your problems.

Say this with me:
I "fill in the blank" accept responsibility for my own life.
YAY for Empowerment!

Also.... Think about how this act will affect your relationships.  Let me tell You.....The people closest to you won't put up with this behavior for very long.  So don't be surprised when one of your loved ones pulls the "tough love" card out on you and decides to leave you alone at your own party.  But don't worry, those that leave you to work out your own issues will more than likely be there for you when you decide to leave that ol' boring party of self-pity and come to the "Party of Gratitude" instead.

So come on people!  Lets go make some lemonade out of these lemons!

Love Your Guts!
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Making a List, Checking it twice

No, It's not Christmas, although I do adore the holiday... And impatiently await its arrival year after year.  (:

This post is about To-Do lists:

Do you make To-Do lists?  I do. Making lists has been very helpful for me.  Creating a To-Do list can help you to focus on things that you want to get done.  If you write things down as they come to you, you won't have to worry about forgetting them.  Right?

For those of you who've never considered using To-Do lists, I sincerely urge you to do so.  At least try it out for a week.  It will only take a few moments of your time.  What do you have to lose?  I'm sure that you'll at least notice that your thoughts will become more organized.  How beneficial is that?  So try it!.....

There is one more thing I would like to add:

While making your To-Do list, adding task after task.  Don't forget to put YOURSELF on your list.  Always find room to do some of the things that you like To-Do.  The people in your life will appreciate you for doing so.

Also:
When you get a chance check out this book: Eat that Frog By: Brian Tracy
Its a quick read, jam packed with useful info.  Enjoy!

Love Your Guts!
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Rain Rain, Go Away

Rain Rain Go Away
Come Again Another Day

This little nursery rhyme that we all learned at an early age, dates back as far as the 17th century.  Wow! That is certainly a long time.  So... people have been dreading rainy days for over 400 years now?!

Well, lets take a moment to think about this....

There are tons of benefits to having rainy days:

 -Rain water is better for growing plants than tap water because of flouride and chemical treatments. (which we need)
  -Rain keeps our rivers flowing and our lakes full.
  -You can spend the day in bed.  Don't you always sleep better when its raining?  You could probably use the extra rest, anyway.
  -You can relax on the couch and read that book you've been wanting to read for the last 3 months.
  -Catch up on phone calls to loved ones.
  -Clean your house. ( I'm surely not the only one behind on this task? Am I? (:
  -Redecorate
  -Download new music
  -Catch up on bills and To-Do lists

As you can see, I could go on and on with this list.  So, really? When you stop to think about it.... Rainy days aren't so boring after all.

What are some of the things you do on rainy days?

Love Your Guts! (:
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Life is too Short

In the United States the average life expectancy is 77.7 years.   The average life expectancy for all people worldwide is 64.3 years.  The numbers get as low as 33.2 years in different areas of Africa. (geography.about.com)

Now.. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that some of us could live to be 100 and beyond.  However, I give you the above information to put things into perspective of how short life really can be.  We are only on this Earth for a short time.  So life is much too short to live with regrets.

 Live life to the fullest!  Mend broken relationships with family and friends.  Go Skydiving! (If thats something that you've longed to do)  Take that extra vacation this year (if your finances permit it) (Rem: Stay out of debt people)!  Paint your living room wall an obnoxious color if you want!  Hey, you can always change it later.  (: (:

Love Your Guts!!
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What if?.......

Second guessing yourself can be a debilitating habit.  If you're not careful, you can find yourself having an inner battle with yourself over some of the simplest things.

Like:
     -  short sleeves or long sleeves?
     -  steak or chicken?

Yes. The examples I've given aren't a huge deal, but you get my point? 

I will admit that some things take time and require more thought before making a decision.  However, some things just aren't as complicated as we tend to make them.

Then of course, there are times that you just have to toss aside "The What If Factor" and trust Yourself.
What is it that you feel deep down inside?  What's your gut telling you?

Look there and you shall find your answer.

So, the next time you choose to step in the ring with "Second Guessing" (the opponent) Beat'em to the punch and go for the K.O. (knock out)

Love Your Guts!! (:
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Shhhh...Did You Hear Something?

One of the major keys to effective communication is Listening.  This is an area that many struggle in.     
Think about it:

How many times have you had a conversation with someone, and completely missed whatever it was that the other person was saying because you were waiting on your turn to speak? (Be honest)  Probably too many times to count. (:  I'm sure that we've all done it, and its quite possible that we weren't even aware of it when we did it!

It's ok.  We are only Human.

But....I do have a small request.

Please DO try this at Home (and anywhere else):

So... the next time you're having a conversation with someone, make it a point to talk less and listen more.

Trust me on this!

This simple act will transform even the most boring conversation.  Plus there's plenty of benefits involved for you (the listener)

1.)  You (the listener) single-handedly are creating a more comfortable environment for the other person.
2.)  Now that a cozy environment has been established, an element of trust has come into play.
3.)  Along with that comes respect.  Everyone respects someone that's cool, calm, collected, and doesn't feel the need to take center stage.

Try this.....It works.......Seriously

Love Your Guts! 
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Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

I definitely wouldn't say that Patience has been one of my strengths, but it is something that I continue to work on daily.  And I am proud to say that slowly but surely I am seeing results! (:

Let's face it.  Patience is a choice.  We are in control of how we react when things don't exactly go our way.

Setbacks don't last forever.  Rough times will always pass.  However.... Rough times will surely come.  You just have to keep your faith, be strong, and get yourself into problemsolving mode so that you are able to find resolution.  Then just sit back, and Wait. (I know, I know.. this is the tough part!)  But I know you can do it.

Hey, if you feel that you can't do this, then my guess is that you could possibly be dealing with an issue that is beyond your control anyway.  So don't waste too much of your time and energy worrying about it.  Go find something fun to do if things get to this point.

After all:  Our time here on earth is precious and You can't get it back!

The Power of Patience isn't something that can be mastered overnight.  It is something that takes time and continuous effort.

You know what they say:  Rome wasn't built in a day. (It actually took about 500 years.)  (:

Love Your Guts!
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