Quote of the Day: Having it all

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. 

– Oprah Winfrey 

When we focus on everything that isn’t there, or could be lacking, we can lose sight of all the other blessings in our lives.   It’s important to remember to be grateful and appreciative of what we do have.  When you’re upset or frustrated about something that you’re having trouble attaining, stop and remind yourself that your life is still full of great things, great people, great places!   Don’t forget to look around and see that you probably already have everything you need, anything more than that is a bonus.  If we feel happy and fulfilled that we already have so much, we can appreciate everything else we may get along the way even more.  

This is one of my favorite pics of my cousins and I on a weekend family getaway!

Among the many, many things I love about my life and are incredibly grateful for, here are a few…big and small, that make me happy: 

• God.
• My family who help me appreciate everything I have, to remember what’s really  important, and have taught me so many lessons to help me face the world.
• My fiance Ryan.  He keeps me grounded, is amazingly loving, genuinely kind, selfless, and makes me laugh from the heart every day!
• My wonderful friends!  Those awesome people in my life I know I can always depend on to lift me up.  Together we laugh, cry, and tell the painful truth to one another to help eachother grow.  They will be there when I’m old and gray.
• Godchildren
• A reliable car to get me safely through my commute each day.
• A comfy bed to sleep in every night.
• My health
• A career
• Learning something new
• Being able to see other parts of the world
• Growing up and living in San Diego
• A camera to capture the moments
• Being easily amused
• Sushi rolls
• Dim Sum
• Cadbury Mini Eggs, which are only sold during spring time
• Carne Asada Fries (an SD thing!)
• The Twilight Saga
• The amount of clothes I’ve managed to collect
• My favorite boots to wear in the rain
• The beach
• My cell phone
• The internet
• A creative outlet
• Music
• Dancing
• Art
• The kindness of strangers
• Daily inspiration
• Today

Choose.

I’m an indecisive person.  I admit it.  I’m probably even known for it to people who are close to me.  That is why I know from personal experience that not being able to make a decision can leave you at a standstill.  Instead of moving forward, you might be stuck contemplating all of the what if’s, and ironically the opportunity may even pass you by.

If you make a decision, then you allow the outcome to happen, even if it may not be the outcome you had originally hoped for.  Sometimes you have to just make a choice, be positive, and hope for the best.  It may turn out that the decision you made could ultimately lead you to an even better destination, open more opportunities, and maybe even be the best choice you’ve ever made.   Regardless of the outcome, something positive can be gained, but first you have to choose.  Let’s make some moves!

sharon =)

Don’t Dwell…Do!

Some people call me the “Get Over It Queen” because I have the ability to process my emotions and move forward.  I don’t dwell on things,  I do something about it.   I process the situation and figure out how to turn it into something positive and constructive.

Bad things happen all the time,  it’s how you take it that matters.

We’ve all been impacted by a not so fortunate situation.  Instead of looking at them like they are a dead end, look at them as an opportunity to grow and learn.  After all,  life is about the journey.

Miley Cyrus sings a really sweet song that sends a good message.  It’s about “The Climb.”  Below is the video.  If you can’t see the video click here.

When it comes to dealing with the “not so great” situation,  I go through 3 steps:

1.  Who, what, where, how and why did this happen?

Through understanding the who, what, where, how and why a situation happened you gain a better understanding of how to better tackle or avoid this situation again.  Try to weed out all the emotions and focus only on the facts.  Try to be objective and focus on things you know for certain are true.

Example: I was  laid off from my job due to funding issues.  The budget couldn’t accommodate all the needed resources.  I was laid off and it had nothing to do with my performance on the job.

2.  What did I learn?

In all all situations, I believe that we learn something.  Weather it’s something about work or people.  Most importantly it’s important to identify what you have a learned about yourself.

Example:  I learned that I need to do more research and ask more questions before deciding to work for a company.  I also learned that if my goal is to become a really good project manager I need to do some reading, take some classes, and become certified.  Through that process I will feel more confident in my abilities.  I know I don’t need to be certified to do the job, but it gives me peace of mind.

3.  Accept what has happened and look at the “bright side.”

Acceptance will help you get over it.  You can’t fix what has already been done,  the only thing you can do is is accept it and move forward.  Identify the “bright side” and turn it into something constructive and positive.

Example: The bright side is,  I have had some time to look closer at myself and identify my strengths and weaknesses.  I’ve had some time to remind myself about why I work.  It’s not about the money.  I work to contribute for the greater good of mankind, even if it is a small contribution…I need to know my job helps people.  Most importantly, I work for my family so I can provide food, shelter, and water.  The bright side is I have emerged as a stronger person and I can help others make it through a similar situation.

Be strong, be positive.  Your height of happiness awaits you …. I know it!

just me,

Cat

Have A Great Day!

I’ve had a lot of time to think about what makes for a GREAT day.

It really doesn’t take much to have a fantastic day. All you have to do is appreciate all the good things that have happened and will happen throughout the day. Try to see past the negative.

For example:
Don’t focus on the clouds … Focus on the sun that is shining behind them. Although the clouds are hiding the sun from us, we know that the sun will be able to shine again with all its glory. The clouds will soon disappear …. Why? It’s just temporary.

That’s the thing … EVERYTHING in this world is temporary. Appreciate what you have while you have it. When you loose it … Just know that it’s temporary.

Focus on the good things and you WILL have a great day …. No matter what clouds you have to see past.

Just me,
Cat

Spring Thing

Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year.  San Diego is almost always beautiful, but spring is one of the nicer times.  You get a little bit of everything nice…a little bit of needed rain and some gorgeous sunny days.  

They say spring rain is supposed to be symbolic of a time to wash things away, and when the flowers bloom it symbolizes a renewal , new growth, hope, and beginnings.  I think that’s a nice notion… that every year we can do this for ourselves too, and our environment even reminds us of what a beautiful thing that is.  

Maybe this spring we can all find a way to  heal, grow, and try something new!

Quote of the Day: Forgiveness

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” … love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
(Matthew 5:44,45)
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I’ve seen the little monster that starts to grow inside people when they choose not to forgive someone.   This little monster is called the grudge.  The grudge has the potential to turn a normal person into a little ball of bitterness and tension that shines negative energy.   This little monster ball has the potential to bounce around and make the world a horrible place.

The little monster that you tun into will often suffer from:

1. chronic pain … from being curled into that ball all day and the stress
2. depression … because the negative energy will attract more negative people
3. high blood pressure … from being angry all day

Choosing  not to forgive someone has many more affects on the body and you mental health.  I can go on and on about it, but Instead I’ll point you to this article written by The Mayo Clinic.  Click here .

Start forgiving people today.  If you do,  by the end of the week,  you might look younger and more refreshed!!

Attitude is Everything, My Dear

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“The most significant decision you can make on a day-to-day basis is the choice of your attitude.”

Quote from Positive Choices by Alexander Lockhart
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I believe that we radiate our attitude from our bodies in the form of energy.  This energy, depending on how strong it is can be felt by the others around us.

Have you ever felt the tension in a room?  Or felt the love in the air?  What we feel when we walk into a room is a reflection of the attitude of the people in the room.  Sometimes we walk into a room and feel neutral.

So I say again … Attitude is everything, my dear.

The great thing about being human is that we have the power of choice.  We tons of decisions on a daily basis, but the most important decision is our attitude.

We can choose to project a pleasant attitude or we can choose to project a grim attitude.  We have the choice to smile in the face of adversity or we can choose to take on its traits.

The choice is yours and only yours.

Maybe,  if we all choose to be a little more cheerful … the world would be a happier place.

Quote of the day

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
– Michael Jordan

My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.
– Michael Jordan

These are some of my fav Michael Jordan quotes.    I’m personally not a fan of basketball, so all of the records he’s held don’t  really mean much to me.   When my fiance and I were first dating, he told me that Jordan was one of his role models.  It sparked my interest to look into why so many people admire him and want to “be like mike”.  What I found was that this man had a great story, a lot of awesome things to say, and now I understand his influence so much more.  He went from not making it on the varsity team his sophomore year of highschool, to being deemed by many, as the greatest athelete of all time.  He showed that hard work, perseverance, and believing in yourself is the key to getting where you want to be. 

Although most poeple were introduced to him through basketball,  he still continues to be a positive influence on so many because he encourages everyone to take a challenge head on, and not give up.  He believed it, and he lived it.  Some loved him for his game, some for his shoes, and some for his passion in everything he set out to accomplish.  He wasn’t just a great athlete, but also a positive thinker and a role model who inspired an entire generation.  His words can still continue to move and motivate us.  Shoot for your dreams!

Check out Michael Jordan’s “Maybe” commercial for some inspiration.

It’s Gonna be Alright

I ❤ Bob Marley’s song “Three Little Birds.”

It’s a very simple song that tells us to stop worrying because every little thing gonna be all right.

Here’s a video I found on youtube … if you’re a in a bad mood this song is guaranteed to lift you up.

Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves to stop worrying and go with the flow.

With a optimistic view on life all things are possible.  I believe it and you should too.

Have a safe and happy weekend!

The Happy Outlet

Blogging…what a great way to express yourself and acknowledge all that’s good in the world.  A couple of friends who want to embrace and celebrate all things positive in their lives.  To inspire themselves, eachother, and anyone else along the way.  Be positive. Be grateful. Be happy!