Tag: acceptance

Personal Growth

My First Day

AngieLeave a comment

It’s official: I’m 49. Starting the first day of my best year EVER! AND the first day of my New Job!! YEASSS! Feeling positively positive and blessed.

I’ll be honest… it’s weird realizing I’m 49. I feel like I’m still 18 (in my mind 😉) then I realize that’s totally not possible. I have a 14 year old daughter. I’ve been married for 26+ years. My body makes funny snap, crackle, pop noises if I stay in one position too long… and the Grey Hair! OMG! My husband’s hair is silver and white!!

We can laugh at these things together because we’ve gone through all the life experiences together, which have brought us HERE. The ups the downs, the highs and lows… we’ve managed to grow and still grow together. I am blessed to have such an amazing life-partner.

So 49: my baby starts High School (I refuse to think about driving!), I start a new career, and a new faze in my marriage. Date nights have returned! Long talks and future planning.

I am changed. Transformation on-going, and going strong.

  1. Today I care more about what I think and less about the opinions of others.
  2. Today I am comfortable in my skin, knowing that I continue to grow toward my Best Self.
  3. Today I say “No” way more often
  4. Today I say “Yes” to things that matter to ME.
  5. Today I am okay that not everyone likes me (or will like me), I may not like the either!
  6. Today I let go of resentment and things (thoughts, emotions, stuff, people) that do not serve me or my higher purpose.
  7. Today I live with intention.

Wherever you are in your personal journey of self-discovery, I wish you peace: peace of mind, body, and spirit.

Make the choices that serve you best, don’t worry about what others think.., you may not be headed in the same direction!

Free yourself from the bondage of other people’s attitudes, opinions and beliefs.

Be uniquely YOU.

#openandbrave

Personal Growth

Who I Am

AngieLeave a comment

Why would YOU, the searcher, reader be interested in what I have to say?

What could you learn from me?

Me

I put myself into counseling at the age of 12. Knowing, somehow that I was not ok and that my living situation was not ok. I stayed in therapy through high school, eventually getting a therapist outside the school system.

Since then, I have been in and out of therapy healing from childhood trauma. I have learned so much about myself and others. I have extensive knowledge and experience about setting boundaries, healing from trauma, tools for dealing with PTSD, depression and anxiety… from years in therapy, years of study, years of practice, and years of living life on life’s terms.

I started my recovery from alcohol and drugs at the age of 17. One Day at A Time, I have accumulated over 31 years of sober living. I have “recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body” based on the daily state of my Spiritual Condition (Forward, Alcoholics Anonymous). The 12 Steps are am integral part of who I am and how I live.

Sober and working on healing myself, I have overcome abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), addiction, depression and anxiety.

I am still here. Sometimes struggling, sometimes enjoying, always succeeding in being a better version of myself than I was yesterday

I am not my past. I don’t blame parents, or situations, for my struggles today. They are a part of what built me, but they do not deter me from living my best today, being the best version of myself as I continue to grow and change.

I met my husband when I was 17, and we started dating after my 18th Birthday. We have been together ever since that first date. We married when I was 22. God bless this man, he is my truest Angel.

Our love, friendship, and respect has held strong and held us together. We are not the same people we were at 18 and 21 (his age). We are not the same people we were at 28 and 31, or 38 and 41, or today. We continue to grow and evolve as individuals and as a couple. Something else I know a lot about: relationships and marriage.

My husband and I struggled for 4 long rough years to have a baby. Fertility issues, then pregnancy difficulties, and finally a premature baby. Our beautiful pride and joy, our daughter. I know the struggle of wanting a family, of facing the challenges of preterm birth and a child in the hospital.

I am a mother. I have an amazing, smart, driven and kind daughter. She is our world in so many ways. I know the struggles of parenting: sleepless nights, hospital trips, sickness, fear, amazing success, joy, holding on tight and learning to let go.

I know what it’s like to be a stay-at-home mom, your family is your whole world. I know the challenges of relearning who I am, after giving up so much that I forgot. I know the struggles of being a working mom and trying to balance it all. I know the struggles of trying to break into the workforce after staying home for years.

Art is my self-expression

I know I am flawed and imperfect, and I’ve learned how to be ok with me. I know I still have so much to learn, and I am eager to meet those who will teach me and learn all that I can.

My goals are: to live my best life and find the joy in each day and to help others do the same.

I look forward to getting to know you!

#openandbrave

Personal Growth

Be The Change You Want to See

AngieLeave a comment

Originally posted on Facebook Page February 2019

Today I have something on my mind… respect, kindness, tolerance, open mindedness, and courtesy:

* Where have these things gone?

* Who is teaching these by example?

* When & How did our society become so divisive?

I am crushed by the constant criticism, shouting of opinions, name calling, and judgment that seems to have become even more pervasive, instead of less.

* When did we become so close-minded that an opposing viewpoint is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity to learn about a different perspective, life experience, cultural diversity, or even… *Gasp* NEW information or facts?

* Why has our country become the land of “I’m right, you’re wrong!” Instead of an open dialogue that leads to understanding and acceptance, and maybe even assimilation?

We ALL have differences. Our differences are what make us unique and special. Those differences of opinion, beliefs, political views, religion, culture… should be opportunities to LEARN. To learn more love and acceptance and celebration. These should NOT be opportunities to say, “you’re wrong,” “you’re bad,” “you’re racist or bigoted.”

**Here is where the FREEDOM comes in: RESPECT & RESPONSIBILITY.**

I Feel as though everyone is shouting their opinion of how you (society) should live, without a thought or care that just because THEY think it’s right… YOUR way must be wrong. In fact, it IS wrong, IF you don’t agree.

* Why not have a respectful conversation with an opposing viewpoint?

MAYBE, you will LEARN something important about the other view!!

MAYBE you will even QUESTION your own view!

MAYBE the opposition will question their view!

Either way, you will LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

**It’s this amazing thing called: EVOLUTION.**

Freedom of speech isn’t about who is right and who is wrong, it’s about opportunities for opposing viewpoints to LISTEN and LEARN.

**BE kind
**BE respectful
**BE tolerant
**BE open minded…

YOU just might learn some amazing things.
You may even grow into a better version of yourself.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: you will teach your children and your community to do the same.

#openandbrave

Food For Thought

Roller Coaster Called: LIFE

AngieLeave a comment

Post from earlier this year…

I’m sitting here reflecting on this week… it’s amazing how many emotions I can go through in a day x7!!!

This week felt like a roller coaster. It started with excitement, turned nervous, turned self-doubt, turned affirmation, turned acceptance…. And that was Sunday-Tuesday’s ride.

Wednesday-Friday was another ride: resolution, turned frustration, turned acceptance, turned hurt, turned anger, turned understanding, turned acceptance, turned peace… and an emotional HANGOVER from all the turns!!!

Friday was its own roller coaster with the hangover coming along. I hit highs (laughter with friends) and lows (anxiety mixed with pride) and lulls in the middle where I just sat taking it all in.

Today is a new day. Looking back over the week, I experienced a lot, I learned a lot, and now I ponder how to use all this knowledge to its most useful and meaningful purpose.

Food For Thought

Survival Tools

AngieLeave a comment

Here’s some survival tools I use:
1. Cut yourself a break. No shaming/bashing myself over how I “should” feel or what I “should” be doing.
2. Accept where you are. I admit this is probably my biggest struggle, but when I CAN accept where I am in a down place I find love for myself and do positive things to help it pass.THIS IS NOT FOREVER!
3. Reach out. Ask for HELP. I know, this is hard to do when you’re in “the pit of despair.” Trust me, one text, phone call, conversation can change everything.
4. Be KIND to yourself. Take a shower. Eat a healthy meal. Read a favorite book. Watch something that makes you laugh. Play your favorite music. Take a walk or do stretches. DRINK WATER.
5. Give yourself permission to feel your feelings. Know “this too, shall pass.”
#openandbrave