Serenity Now!

As many of you already know, I work night shift at a hospital. On the seventh floor of my hospital, tucked into a corner, there's a little treasure.
It's called a Serenity Room.
In the Serenity Room, the lighting is dim. There are pretty, peaceful pictures on hanging. There are window seats. There are Serenity Prayer posters on the walls. There's even a little kitchenette.
But most importantly...there are massage chairs.
These aren't those stupid chairs like they have at the mall. You don't have to put quarters in them. You don't have to get weird looks as your eyes roll back in your head you enjoy your massage.
These things are free, and the time is unlimited. Of course, you can't fall asleep and spend hours in there.
Who would do that?
ahem...
Anyhoo, they are free. They are adjustable, so after about 15 hours minutes of intense massage, you can tone it down to a slower, gentler setting.
They have leg rests that massage your calves. They are heavenly.
The one small issue I have, is that I'm short. I'm only 5'2". These things are built for giants! The part that's supposed to massage my neck and shoulders, squeezes my head. (shut UP! That is so not funny.) And I don't consider a skull fracture Serene. At all. So I have to shut that part off.
Then I set everything just right, close my eyes, and get Serenity.
Ahhhh. Lovely.
I wonder if they need anyone to work in that room full time...


**I'm going to post the last parts of the Chiari Story (4&5) over the weekend.

Chiari, Part III

Part 1
Part 2

The surgery was scheduled for February 11th, 2002. It was a difficult time. T-bone's headaches got worse and more frequent every day.
The community was amazing, though. The teachers were wonderful. His baseball team, coaches, & Team Mom went out of their way for us. One of the baseball moms offered to help with transporting Ladybug to school while Tbone was in the hospital. A group of fellow PTA/Volunteer Moms got together and raised a chunk of money for us, which made me cry. The coaches were literally fighting to have him on their team the next season, as a show of support for him. I never loved my small town more.
So, the day came. The girls were with my mom, and the baseball mom was helping get Ladybug to school. We got up at the crack of dawn to be at the hospital (the one I now work in!) for the dreaded event.
I vividly remember sitting the waiting room thinking, we could just take him right now, and run out the door, and call the Neurosurgeon and tell him to forget it. I wanted so badly to run out of there with him that I could literally feel it in my body.
But we didn't. We stayed and they called us back. We stayed with him through all the prep, until it was time to wheel him into the OR. Only then did I let myself cry, and the nurse almost stopped to comfort me, but I was so determined that T-bone didn't see me cry. I wanted him to feel only confidence going in. I waved her away, and they kept on going.
The wait was long and brutal. My sister and niece were there too, for moral support. At first we walked around outside, but then as time went on, we got more tense and anxious. We were in the waiting room when the call came in.
It was the same nurse who almost stopped to comfort me. She told me the surgery was over, and he was doing great.
And then she said, "Do you want to talk to him?"
I wasn't sure I'd heard her right, but I said "yes!"
And then I heard a very groggy, eight year old boy say "Hey Mommy."
It was the best phone call I had ever received, or will ever receive in my life. I'd never heard anything more beautiful than those words.
I cried and cried (and am crying now). I was so relieved that the worst part was over!
But there were still rough days ahead.

To be continued...

Part IV

Chiari, Part II

Part I

We took him for the MRI in January. Then we waited for a phone call. When it came, although I was expecting this news, it was still devastating.
He did have a Chiari I Malformation and it had caused a syrinx. We were being referred to a Neurosurgeon.
I remember calling the kids' dad and telling him he needed to come home right away. And I remember a lot of crying and praying. But at some point, a sense of peace came over me. Deep down, I felt that everything was going to be ok. I knew it would be a hard time, but I felt that in the end, T-bone would do fine.
During the wait for the Neurosurgeon appointment, things only got worse for T-bone. The headaches became more frequent, and much worse for him. He got nauseous or vomited more frequently because of the headaches. I took Tylenol to the school clinic for him, because the headaches were causing him problems at school. He was just miserable.
When we saw the Neurosurgeon, he explained Chiari Malformation to us. Then he explained the decompression surgery used to treat Chiari.
Then he told us that although he did recommend the surgery, the ultimate decision was up to us, his parents.
That was tough. I would've preferred to hear, "he needs this surgery, he needs it now, sign here". It's not that I wanted all of the decisions for my child made by someone else, but to choose whether or not your child has brain surgery is a very difficult thing to do.
So, we left the surgeon's office and told him we'd let him know our decision. We talked about it all the way home, and were leaning towards doing the surgery. We knew that his quality of life was being greatly affected by this illness, and he was only 8 years old. He should've been an active, fun-loving kid, but he was being held back by being sick.
That day, for the first time, he had two of these debilitating headaches in one day.
I called the Neurosurgeon's office and asked them to schedule the surgery.
We knew we couldn't let him go on like that.

to be continued...
Part III

One of the Closest Families I Know.

When I was a freshman in high school, I met a new friend. Her name is Sandy. We immediately clicked and became very close friends.
When I spent the night with her, I was introduced to a different world.
Her family was so much fun. All of the kids in the neighborhood hung out at their house. It's not because they let the kids get away with anything. They just had fun. We watched movies, had parties, listened to music, they took us to the beach. (I lived in Florida all of my life and hardly ever went to the beach!)
Their house was a mess. They had 2 big dogs and who knows how many cats. The laundry piled up. The dishes piled up. Nobody seemed to notice.
Except my mom. My mom was kind of mortified by them.
I remember Sandy's Dad walking around the house, singing all the time and drinking a beer. He wasn't a drunk, but he enjoyed a few beers on the weekend. I still always think of him when I hear "Saturday, in the park, think it was the fourth of July..."
Sandy has three sisters, and those girls could talk to their mom about anything. It's not that she never got mad...oh, boy, did they get mad...but there was just an openness that I so envied.
They loved passionately and they got angry passionately. Sandy was the huggiest person I knew! She hugged everyone, all the time.
I remember once, Sandy's mom caught us sneaking our boyfriends up to Sandy's room. We weren't up to anything terribly bad, just a little smooching and giggling and kid stuff. But her mom was pissed! And I remember Sandy asked her Mom if she was going to tell my mother. And Sandy's mom said, "No, but if she has any kind of relationship with her mother, she'll tell her herself."
I didn't tell my mother.
Sandy and I have been in and out of touch since high school. I looked her up and called her when I read in the paper that her father had died.
She told me all about it, and she had me sobbing on the phone. Those girls adored their father.
And still to this day, all four girls are so close to their mother.
Were they perfect parents? Nope. Did they do everything right? I doubt it.
But the love in that family is almost a tangible thing. You can feel it when you're around them. They are unbelievably close, all of them. They practically worship their mother, and their dad's memory.
That's the kind of family I want to have. That's the kind of parent I want to be.
Sandy's parents knew what was important. It wasn't having a sparkling house and manicured lawn. It wasn't holding back your feelings so as not to rock the boat. It wasn't what the neighbors think of you.
It was yelling and hugging and spending time together as a family having FUN. It was talking about anything and everything. It was something I can't even put a name to; it was a feeling. I only hope that I can replicate it with my family.
Sandy's mom can look at her grown, successful girls now, and how much they absolutely adore her, and know without a doubt that she did something right.
And truly, in the end, what could be more important?

Chiari Malformation (Alternate Title: The Worst Days of my Life)

I remember the day of the phone call most clearly.
"Yes ma'am, the test results are in and the doctor would like to speak to you in person."
Can that ever be a good sign? I'm thinking no.
It had started a few months earlier. T-bone, just eight years old, had a lot of headaches. In the beginning, we attributed it to his allergies. But they got worse, and more frequent.
Then, on Thanksgiving Day, he ate heartily. He's always loved good home-cooking. But later in the day, another headache came. This one was so bad, he threw up everything he'd eaten.
These headaches were getting unusual, and seemed to be on another level.
There were other symptoms too, but by themselves didn't seem terribly alarming; numb/tingling fingers, and visual oddities.
The doctor recommended a CT Scan, "just to rule out any problems". So he had the CT, but the doctor reassured me that it was probably indeed just his allergies and/or something viral.
Until that phone call.
I had just iced cupcakes for Ladybug's birthday. I was taking them to her class. I managed to call the kids' father (my now-ex husband) and told him to meet me at the doctor later. Then I managed to smile and fake it through Ladybug's classroom birthday party. Meanwhile, I felt like my whole world was falling apart, and any time I had a moment to think, I prayed, Please God don't let it be cancer. Please God, take me, not him. I was horrified. My first thought was inoperable brain tumor. Because that's how my brain works.
The news was not that bad, but still terrifying. They suspected Chiari Malformation. A term I'd never heard before, but would run through my mind constantly for the next several months. They wanted to do an MRI. If they were correct, he would most likely need neurosurgery.
Brain surgery.
My little boy, my firstborn child, still (always) my baby.
I didn't even have the internet back then, so I hit the library. I researched and printed pages and pages of information.
Then I went home and cried.
I knew in my heart that he had it. And I learned that it wasn't something that surgery would magically fix forever. It was something he could deal with, to some extent, for the rest of his life.
I cried out of fear, sadness, and guilt. What did I do wrong, to cause him not to develop properly in the womb? I thought I'd done everything right; I ate right, took my vitamins, everything. But I was sure I'd done something wrong, to cause this.

to be continued.......

Part II

Friday Two-fer

Please make sure and read the post below, too!

I couldn't just end on a negative note, because (a) that's just not my style!
and (b) I have good news to share, too.

First, doggie pictures! This is the newest foster, Kato. They said he was named after a character in The Green Hornet comic? I'm not into comics, so it makes me think of OJ Simpson's buddy. I can never remember to call him Kato and for some bizarre reason, I usually call him Lucky. He's fat and very sweet, and follows me around like a shadow. (I can't figure out why ALL of these fosters instantly attach to ME? Why can't someone else get this privilege occasionally?)

Kato/Lucky:





He actually looks just like Suzie, except twice her size. Literally.

So, the other good news is, my best friend in the whole world, since high school, is graduating from college tomorrow. I don't get to see her often but I'm NOT missing this, and I'm so excited just to see her, not to mention the graduation! AND, her daughter and my Ladybug adore each other, and consider each other their numero uno best friends, and they have been together since Wednesday and I will get Ladybug back on Saturday. She is having SO much fun over there!

I could probably think of more happiness to share, but this is pushing it considering the last couple of days I've had.
Have a great weekend!

These Are a Few of my LEAST Favorite Things!

First, a bitchfest.
My van broke down on Wednesday. It won't shift out of park. It's being fixed today, to the tune of $300+.
Because of dealing with that, I only got 4 hours of sleep yesterday, and there was no way I could work a 12 hour shift after that. So I called out of work.
I have two things I need & want to do tonight and I can't figure out a way to do both of them, which really stinks.
I could go on, but I'll spare you.
Here are a few of my LEAST Favorite Things!

*Black olives.
*Snakes. Yes, I'm an animal lover, but I am terrified of snakes.
*Feet.
*Irresponsible pet owners.
*Irresponsible breeders.
*Puppy millers.
*Kids who pick on other kids.
*Mushrooms.
*People who judge others based on their house, car, job, etc. and feel superior to others for these reasons.

*Fake People

*People who visit your blog and tell you how fantastic it is, only to never come back again.

Oh, I get it! They were only drumming up readers for THEIR blog.
That sucks.
*Celebrities who are famous for no apparent reason.
*Drunk drivers.
*Broccoli.
*Empty toilet paper rolls. Seriously, how hard is it to put a new one on? I even have a very simple TP holder. You just slide it onto a bar. Still doesn't help!

*Long toenails.
*Greasy, fried food.
*Litter.
*Inconsiderate, selfish people.
*Negative thinking.



What are some of your LEAST favorite things? Let me know if you blog about them!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

~Hubby's days off.
~Back massages after a long night at work.
~Long kisses.....in the shower.
~Snuggles with the kids, big kids and small kids.
~Pickles.
~Pajamas all day long.
~Weiners.

~Books & bookstores.
~Playing in the rain.

~Snuggling in a storm.

~My bedroom. Shades of blue, it is so cozy and always stays cool. I love to light a candle and just relax in there. Ahhh...
~Sleeping. Seriously. I love to sleep.
~The ocean.
~Tattoos.

~Laughing.
~My best girlfriend in the world.
~Star-filled skies.
~Night shift.
~Bonfires.
~Turtles.

~Small Towns.
~Getting my eyebrows waxed. Not the part where they rip the cloth off, but the part where they pour that hot wax on. Love it.
~Helping people.
~Elderly men. It sounds weird, but I just love little old men.
~Putting a smile on someone's face.
~People who try to right wrongs, change the world, help the needy.
~Happy children.


What are YOUR Favorite Things? If you participate, please let me know and feel free to steal the graphic! I did

Mindless Rambling Monday

~I went to the bookstore today. My favorite bookstore. A.K.A Heaven on Earth. The girls and I had a great time.
~I started reading a new book today that is wonderful and amazing. It's realling making me think.
~I have had a Grouchy Pouch today. This means that everything I put into my Pouch (my new, small stomach), did not please my pouch and it let me know that quite rudely. I didn't throw up, I've only thrown up twice since surgery, I'm lucky. But it kicked my butt!
~Good things are coming our way! No doubt about it!
~My sister is also losing weight. She's diabetic and is FINALLY no longer in denial, and following a diabetic diet. She's lost 26 lbs!
~T-bone is visiting my brother, his wife, and their son in Pensacola this week. He's having a great time!
~We had our first Meatless Monday. We decided that at least one night per week, we'll have a meat-free meal. Since Meatless Monday sounds so catchy, we chose Monday. Now the Princess has decided we should have Fruit Friday and eat only fruit, and Thirsty Thursday and only have drinks! Meatless Monday went very well and is definitely a tradition we'll keep. So if you have any good vegetarian recipes, send them my way!
~We had the most relaxing weekend. We did nothing. And we enjoyed every minute of it.
~We're getting a new foster Wednesday night. Pictures will be posted!
~I recently got props from THREE wonderful blogging friends. My Fantastic Firecracker & Sweet Beany shouted out, and Amazing Alison gave me an award! I will be sharing it soon, and I am also in the process of making an award of my own to pass out.
Wow! I feel special, I should disappear for a few days more often. :grin:

Beware the Turd Burglar

Survival Guide~HOW TO POOP AT WORK

We've all been there but don't like to admit it. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORK-POOP is inevitable. For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.

CROP DUSTING: When farting, you walk briskly around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff but doesn't know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.

FLY BY: This is the act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers. If there are others in the bathroom,
leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

ESCAPEE: This is a fart that slips out while taking a leak at the urinal or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

JAILBREAK: When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

COURTESY FLUSH: The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water. This reduces the amount of airtime the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME. WALK OF SHAME: Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk the bathroom. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist. This very uncomfortable walk can be avoided with the use of the COURTESY FLUSH.

OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER: This is a colleague who poops at work and is damn proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under his or her arm. Always look around the office for the out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.

POOPING FRIENDS NETWORK (P.F.N.): A group of coworkers who band together to ensure emergency pooping goes off without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of Out Of The Closet Poopers and identify SAFE HAVENS.

SAFE HAVENS: A Safe Haven is a seldom-used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

TURD BURGLAR: This is someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the Turd Burglar leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

CAMO-COUGH: A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall is called a Camo-Cough. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential Turd Burglars. The Camo-Cough is very effective when used in conjunction with an ASTAIRE.

ASTAIRE: An Astaire is a subtle toe-tap that is used to alert potential Turd Burglars that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear an Astaire, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can poop in peace.

WATERMELON: A watermelon is a big poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See CAMO-COUGH.

HAVANA OMELET: A case of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet water. Often accompanied by an Escapee. Try using a Camo-Cough with an Astaire.

UNCLE TODD: An Uncle Todd is a bathroom user who seems to linger around forever. This person could spend extended lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An Uncle Todd makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait to poop when the bathroom is empty. This benefits you as well as other bathroom attendees.

Hope the Survival Guide helps, as the WORK-POOP is an inevitable part of life!


**this is NOT orginal. But it's so funny I nearly busted a gut reading it (ha ha, busted a gut, get it??). I tried to find the author to give proper credit, but it appears this has been circulating 'round the internetz for years so that proved impossible.

Thankful Thursday 7.17.08

~~I am thankful for a teenaged son who still gives me hugs, snuggles on the sofa with me, and tells me that he loves me all the time.
~~I am thankful for a preteen daughter with a great smile and loving spirit.
~~I am thankful for a seven year old princess with a love for life and an amazing mind.
~~I am thankful for a husband who totally gets it when I have a really horrific visit from Aunt Flo, and tells me to take a hot bath and go to bed, while he takes care of everything.
~~I am thankful for my friend's healthy, brand new baby. 7 pounds, 7 ounces of beautiful baby girl!
~~I am thankful for a wonderful co-worker and friend, who has assisted me in resolving some work issues.
~~I am thankful for Weight Loss Surgery. I could not have lost 84 pounds without it. I am so glad I made this decision, and have made such a healthy change in my life.
~~I am thankful for a loving family.
~~I am thankful for being involved with a wonderful Rescue Group.
~~I am thankful for all of the things that led me to where I am right now in life.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Rebirth

Monday Mantras ~ How to Stay Young

This actually came to me in an email, and I loved it so much, I decided it needed to go on my blog as my Monday Mantras.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG


1. Try everything twice.
On Madams tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph:
Tried everything twice...loved it both times!

2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)

3. Keep learning!
Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'


4. Enjoy the simple things.
Simple as that!

5. Laugh often, long and loud.
Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.


6. The tears happen.
Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.




7. Surround yourself with what you love.
Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants,hobbies, all of the above, or whatever. Your home is your refuge.


8. Cherish your health.
If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.


9. Don't take guilt trips.
Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
I love you, my special friend.


11. Forgive now those who made you cry.
You might not get a second time.

12. Lost time can never be found.

13. Be kinder than necessary.
Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

14. Now go and have a great first day of the rest of your life.

This Weekend's Adventure

This weekend's Springs Adventure was at Fanning Springs. (if you check out that website, be sure to look at the visitor photos.....there are some amazing shots in there!)

This park doesn't offer tent campsites, so it was a day trip for us.
I didn't take many pictures, as we were busy having fun.
When we arrived, it was raining, and it rained for about an hour. But we waited it out and enjoyed the rest of our day.
My niece Reh-roh went with us this time.
This is her with the Princess:



Awww....



We grilled hot dogs for lunch. (notice the full mouths)



Princess & Ladybug swinging:



And this is my tired Princess, on the way home. (no idea what the deal is with the shirt!)



On the way home, we stopped at a roadside stand and got boiled peanuts and delicious Georgia peaches. YUM!
And now we're home. Dysfunctional Dad is cooking dinner, while I plan the next Springs Adventure!

True Love

I was just a witness to true love.
I entered the room of one of our patients, a 68 year old woman. While I was taking care of my duties in there, I noticed her husband trying to sleep.
I say trying to sleep because he had his head in one very uncomfortable weird mesh chair, and the rest of his body laid across 2 hard wooden chairs.
We have a slightly more comfortable waiting room just outside of the unit, but this man wanted to be by his wife's side. I said to him, "Mr. NeedsAChiropractor*, that does not look comfortable!" and he said, "Oh, it's fine."
I brought him a sleeper chair. It's not a California King with a pillowtop, but it's far better than those awful, hard chairs he was stretched across. He thanked me over and over.
I got him all settled with pillow and blanket, then the nurse and I got his wife repositioned in her bed. Before I walked away, his intubated wife grabbed my hand and mouthed, "Thank you."
But what I took away from that encounter is, that is true love. Who else, but someone with a true and deep love for you, would sleep stretched across three hard chairs, just to be by your side, all night long?
That is love. And there is nothing more beautiful in this world.

*Not his real name, HIPAA.

Wordless Wednesday ~ This Is My Life.

Wordless Wednesday



Seriously....as soon as I get one thing taken care of, another one pops up!
But, like the game, it's a whole lot of fun, so I'm not complaining.

Peaceful Easy Feeling

This weekend it was just me and the hubs camping. The kids were with their dad. And hubs got the whole weekend off!

Sunset on the Suwanee River



We rented a canoe and canoodled down this section of river. It was my first time canoeing and it was a blast!



This deer walked right up to our campsite. I was still sleeping and she was just behind the tent!



The sun had set and the moon was out, over the dock.



Look closely...that glowing dot is the eye of an alligator who was taking a leisurely evening swim in the river.



We also walked down this dock late one night and I swear, I'd never seen so many stars in my life. It was overwhelmingly beautiful, and I had an amazing spiritual experience just taking it in, with tears streaming down my face.
Then later I got the crap scared out of me by what might have been a bat, but I swear was a ghost. Freaked.Me.OUT.
While hiking, we looked down into a small sinkhole and saw 3 does and a fawn, relaxing in the shade.
We saw an big, beautiful owl in a tree one night, many jumping gulf sturgeon, and of course the alligator and deer. It was just so peaceful and quiet. We can't wait to do it again!

~79 lbs, gone forever!

Spreader of Love

Just a quick post today to show off this lovely award I received from The Love Blog. We came home from a fantastic, relaxing weekend of camping, and I found this in my inbox.
I truly adore all of my awards, but...a Spreader of Love award? Does it get any more special than that? I am truly touched and honored.
I'll bore you all probably tomorrow with pictures from our camping trip. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Fireworks & Freedom

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta ~ Fireworks & Freedom!

St. Augustine, Florida. 2007. Fireworks illuminating a cross.



Happy Independence Day!

Wordless Wednesday - An End to Suffering

TN Puppy Mill Shut Down

Peace from Within

I read a quote a while back.
"To be at peace, you must create peace."
I truly believe this.
Does that mean I live it all day every day?
I wish.
I'm only human, and outside events get to me.
But I do work against that. I do work for peace in my life. For the most part, I'm happy to say, I'm successful at that. At home, it's easy. We have a peaceful home. It's crazy, don't get me wrong. Barking dogs, playing kids. But it's peaceful in that there isn't fighting, anger, screaming, or drama. It's outside sources that challenge me; work issues, and other random things.
Sometimes I lose sight of my goal of creating peace, but I'm unfailingly drawn back to it. (it was even the inspiration behind my last tattoo.)

I recently read this post over at Cafe Kel. It brought my thinking back to creating peace once again. What a wise Cherokee Chief.
Think about it...is there anger, strife, or drama that you're feeding?
Would you feel better if you eliminate that from your life?
When you have inner peace, you can remain calm while everything around you is chaotic and out of control.

On a message board I used to read, one member often said "Don't let people rent too much space in your mind." You, and only you, control how much space you let people occupy in your thoughts. If you make a conscious choice to focus on the positive, and not dwell on the negativity, it can make a big difference in your life.

This is another blog post I found inspiring.

I love to add quotes like these to my blog, myspace, computer wallpaper, etc. to remind me where my focus should be.

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without."
- Buddha


"What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality."
- Otto Rank

"As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness."
- Dalai Lama

“Acceptance of others, their looks, their behaviors, their beliefs, bring you an inner peace and tranquillity -- instead of anger and resentment”. (unknown)

“When you're a beautiful person on the inside, there is nothing in the world that can change that about you. Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance. The Lesson: If you can't accept yourself, then certainly no one else will.”
Maalanyc Sasha Azevedo

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” Peace Pilgrim Quotes

Creating inner peace is a journey, not a quick fix or a destination.

Do you have people or things taking up too much space in your mind? Things that you just need to let go of? Think of how freeing it would be, not to have these things running through your mind, occupying your thoughts.
It's up to you to let it go. Can you do it?