Goodbye March ...

66 glorious degrees today.  Tomorrow is the beginning of a new month.   Spring bulbs are popping up. Trees are budding.  April showers are imminent.   Soon we will be planting our gardens.  This time of year represents new life and new beginnings.  The dark and dreary days of Winter are over.  Jump start your attitude.  Appreciate the little things.  Choose to be happy and enjoy the ride ... life!

Goals ...

2014 is well underway.  The month of March has one day remaining.  New Year's resolutions may be wearing thin by now or gone altogether.  Why is it so difficult to succeed?  Sometimes we set our sights too high.  Other times we may not have put enough thought into them.  If asked today, you may not even remember what you  resigned to.  Regardless of the goal, we are looking for a result, and in order to achieve that result we have to make a commitment and develop a plan.  Yes, you have to commit.  Unless you have a genie in a lamp ;-) ... it will require diligence and usually hard work. Most things we'd like to change didn't happen overnight, so quick solutions will not bring quality results. Things to consider ... In order to increase your chance of succeeding, make small attainable goals with a designated time frame.  Make changes to the plan along the way if necessary.  If you fall off the wagon, get back on and move forward again.  Most importantly, REWARD yourself along the way.

An Attitude of Gratitude ...

"Gratitude" ... Merriam Webster defines this as a feeling of appreciation or thanks.  We all have things in life we are grateful for.  We are grateful for air conditioning in the heat of the summer.  We are grateful for a signal on our cellphone when we are stranded with a car that won't start.  We were grateful for snow days when we didn't finish that paper for school.  But do we truly have a grateful heart?  Every day I stop what I'm doing to reflect upon all the things and people I am grateful for.  On good days, when everything seems to be going my way, it's easy to have a long list of gratitude, but on the days that I struggle, I sometimes have to dig pretty deep ;-)  To live a life of gratitude takes practice, but the benefits are very rewarding.  Being grateful reminds us of what's important and the positive things in our lives.  I challenge you to give it a try.  It will truly make a difference in your life.

Time Flies ...

I thought I knew what that meant "time flies".  Little did I know that it would pick up so much speed.  It's like a snowball rolling down hill, only to go faster and faster the closer it gets to the bottom.  Funny, just when we think we are finally in a position to enjoy life, the snowball is barreling down that hill at it's fastest.  When I started blogging, my kids were young. Two still at home and one in college.  Now the oldest is married to a DMD who is continuing grad school and  my son is nearing completion of his MD/PhD.  My second is continuing his education at University, getting married in November.  The baby, my only daughter is a Sr Pharmacy Technician, still deciding what her life calling will be.  Much time has been spent making them my primary focus, as parents do.  Then, out of nowhere, it hit me like a ton of bricks ... Boom! ... I'M AN EMPTY NESTER!  No more lunch money.  No more gas money . My money is now my own.  It's the largest raise I've ever received.  Ironically, now I don't want to spend it.  It's now more fun to watch it grow. No more meal stretching of Hamburger Helper.  The menu now just may be a glass of wine.  Because I can ;-) ... The days spent running to ball games, plays, scouts and concerts have ceased. Changing your mindset is challenging,  but it is well deserving.  You did your job.  If you did it well, they will always know you will be there for them.  Mission accomplished.