life

Stop for a moment and reflect through the years of all the challenges you have faced, overcome, achieved; or perhaps...got the best of you. Acknowledge just how different each circumstance could have been different just based on courage or lack of, and positive or negative actions you chose.

Our own self-esteem, fears, and even our ego is truly the largest giant we will ever face in life. Many times we beat ourselves by our own fears, etc. before any other giant ever have a chance. None of the giants we face can ever beat us, if we let them. We often times make situations harder for us to over come simply because of these things. Think of an extreme case where someone has commit suicide, and sadly, how truly it was the giants within them that beat them. No matter what giants come your way, life will go on. And no matter what, you can simply choose to beat those giants, including the ones within you. Yes, there is a lot of turmoil, misfortunes, sorrow, and hate in the world. But none of these will ever out weigh all of God's goodness, joy, and love in our lives...

With lack of self-esteem and fears, we reluctantly move forward because we are afraid of the outcome. Simply put, we are afraid of the unknown. And afraid of ourselves and what we can accomplish or achieve. And in this case if we needed to hire a body guard, we wouldn't choose ourselves because we have no confidence or trust in ourselves. When in fact, it should be the opposite; if there was anyone to choose from, one should trust his own judgment, power, and strength more than anyone else.

So what is the outcome that you are afraid of? And do you really think that if you approach this fear head on that you will lose in the long run? Sure it may be difficult, and it may even take several tries. But it is not the victories that determine our true ability and strength in life. Instead it is really the concept of approaching the fears itself that is what makes you strong and victorious.

Embrace those fears. What ever it is you fear, it is of great meaning and importance to you. Instead of allowing those fears to rule over you, stagnate you, or sabotage your opportunities, choose to be courageous and take the actions necessary to move yourself past them. The more you practice fighting against the fears, the easier it gets each time.

Truly, fear can be a good thing depending on how you choose to use it. It is with fear that you acknowledge something important that you need to face in life in order to move yourself forward in a positive direction. Courage is driven by fear. Courage is the strength and will to move forward and past those fears, despite those fears. Without fear, you would have nothing to be courageous about.

Today my schedule is open, like, this is NOT the norm. However, I woke with a drive to GET GOING! So, whilst half asleep, I started the chore of making myself ready to make something happen! But as I briefly sat to fashion myself, I had a thought telling me to take seven deep breaths.

Upon the completion of this slowing down instruction, I returned to my room, sat still, and told the Lord, “I am actually tired, really tired.” #honesty to God and self can move mountains. I therefore returned to bed and started reading and studying a wonderful Bible verse. Once that was complete, I viewed my weather app: 90 degrees heat wave. Mind you, I was heading outdoors to work in an open field.

Did the Lord part a sea for me, this morning? Did the Lord protect his child from the heat today? Did the Lord intervene by stopping me from making myself habitually busy? Did the Lord let me know that this day is reserved for me to enjoy his divinely gifted day off? So I say, #Depression #Anxiety and #Guilt , you can leave, for #busyness can take a backseat—until tomorrow—because this day is reserved for stillness by my Heavenly Father!

Yes, to you, #TheMighty #Christian , we can be #christ like and sleep on a wind-blown and tossed about boat, especially in the midst of the storm(s) called #Life . How? Well, we can take heed to obey Jesus’s words inviting us to “abide in Him” and “follow Me.” And that I will do!

Today’s Agenda:
I am heading to the back of the boat because it is time for me to take a nap!

#rest IS #stregnth !😁
#peace not #PTSD !

#party ….nope
#Guest ….nope
#dressup ….nope
#Orders ….nope
#drive ….nope
#Directions ….nope
#Late #home ….nope
—————————-
#rest ….YUP
#relax ….YUP
#Fun at #home …YUP
#Stayed inside….YUP
#Loved the day….YUP
——————————
#Reality ….Fabulous #mentally #Healthy #Birthday without any
#Anxiety #PTSD #CPTSD #Depression #FinancialPain #worries #Guilt #Stress

Can someone tell me how long does the wilderness season last???😳! My Lord, I am existing through what seems like a prolonged season of weirdness. If I open Facebook, I have to close it, quick because I start wondering how others are living and traveling and celebrating great events as I am laboring to get through each day.

Very weird season. Prayers appreciated. And your shared experiences are welcomed, but without guidance on how I ‘should’ feel. Believe me, I have already received counsel, rumination, and offered internal therapy from my mind’s version of psychological professionalism…I canceled the sessions.😌!!! One thing I am aware of as a missing ingredient in my healthy living diet is a lack of fellowship and my inability to find a quiet place for an enjoyable sanctuary.

My new living environment doesn’t even have a local church sanctuary to sit in. Oh, and taking a walk somewhere is null. Gosh, I really miss the quiet cathedrals and abbeys I was able to visit after a short walk along a city’s street. This season’s rural living really lacks pedestrian retreat spaces. Heck, it lacks the ability to be a pedestrian. The back country roads offer the locals a place to exercises their car’s engines speeds without limits.😵‍💫. So I greatly miss the hallowed times of splendid respite retreats I often discovered in cool, quiet, and holy marble and wood adorned shelters I frequented during my time of living in a bustling city.

As my writing ends, I have found the wilderness I am strolling through. It is a deserted place of sought after friendships and beauty found in the unexpected places nestled in everyday bustling living spaces that become a retreat from the mundane aspect of routine life, which is now the most prized and coveted way of living in this rural place where I find myself now residing.😔

Following this group’s leader’s “Elephant in the Room” first topic, let’s discuss suicide…as a preventive approach to the act of ending one’s life.

Two deadly enemies: suicide and silence. When discussing suicide openly it then becomes exposed. However, when it remains hidden, it festers.

Silence fuels suicide.

And those of us, like myself, who suffer with suicidal ideation (thoughts) tend to fuel this way of thinking by dismissing the logic of sharing our pain with others because it is easier to convince ourselves that we will only bother them if we call, especially during a suicidal ideation attack.

The act of silencing ourselves and the act of not openly and publicly discussing suicidal thoughts thus fuels that dark way of thinking. But exposure to this (now) common issue—that MANY people are experiencing—allows us to freely express ourselves, in person, virtually, or on social media writing platforms.

Basically, how about if we vastly expose the reality of suicidal ideation so that those of us who suffer with these thoughts can freely say, “Hey, I am struggling with thoughts of ending my life” without any hesitation. Swiftly exposing those thoughts allow us to release the weight of those dark thoughts that govern our minds in the midst of the suicidal thought’s storm.

Honestly, which is easier to do: respond to the vulnerable suicidal ideation person who exposes their dark thoughts before the act, or posting an emoji on a Facebook post that informs the world that our friend took their life?

Let’s #Talk about #Suicide and that #MentalHealth issue so that our conversations become the preventative vaccination for the act of suicide. Too many people are giving in to this disease of the mind:

An estimated 703 000 people die by suicide worldwide each year. Over one in every 100 deaths (1.3%) in 2019 was the result of suicide. The global suicide rate is over twice as high among men than women
(https://www.iasp.info › WSPD
Global Suicide Statistics - IASP; 3.19.2024; 10:15PM (EDT)).

Let’s curb this grim statistic! I believe we can.

Let’s #Talk #Life , #TheMighty #Family , and make it common to discuss suicide, instead of wishing we only knew our friend or family member was silently struggling with ending their life.

#Depression #SuicidalIdeation #MentalHealth

#mental #Health #It #matters

#MentalHealth #Thank

I just discovered my membership in this group. So, here’s to the “little things” in life that bring me joy.

The photo shows a last minute Christmas present that was given to me because I lost my two cats, a few years ago. My friend knew how much I love cats. Nice! I truly enjoy this soft neck thingy, or whatever you call them. Hmmm? Neck message…er??? Ha! And the mug is a replacement china coffee cup after my older one suffered an accidently cracked and shattered handle.

Last week, in the midst of serious issues, I spontaneously stopped in a Marshall’s shop after buying mechanical items at a store next to the building for my new 2024 repeatedly broken older car. Geez! It has me on pins and needles EVERY TIME I drive. However, after going into Marshall’s due to my fear of trying to start my car, I found all of the mugs at the back of the store. I then noticed one tucked away on a bottom shelf. Once I pulled it out and away from all of the larger ceramic mugs, I lifted the tag on the bottom of the cup. To my absolute delight and surprise, the printing stated it was a “Bone China” mug. Wow!!! Call me crazy, but coffee in a china mug seems to have a more gorgeously purer taste, in my opinion.

So, here’s to the #littlethings!