Illness...

Well, today seemed like a good day to talk about something we all face, some of us more often than others. Illness is something that plagues us all from time to time, and it makes it hard for us to see the bright side of our lives.

I know it's hard to feel good when you feel ill, but there are some things that you can do to help yourself.

When you're ill the best cure is rest, but you don't need to lay around and feel sorry for yourself. Sit back enjoy a good book, or watch a movie that you enjoy but haven't had time to watch in a while.

We are all so busy in or lives that we rarely find time to sit back, relax, and take a little us time. The brighter side of being sick is that no one will question or challenge you taking some time for/with yourself.

Have a bright day.
T. Summers

Little Gifts of Life

Little gifts are the most amazing things in the world. I'm not talking about the worldly gifts, I'm talking laughing children, smiles from strangers, or long awaited visit with family members.

Some people lose sight of how great these gifts can be, and how strong they can help you be through hard times.

If you are having a hard time, just remember no matter how much you may be hurting or scared of what might happen there is someone there who loves you and wants the best for you.

Look for the small gifts in your life and be grateful for each and every one today, tomorrow, and forever.

Have a bright day.
T. Summers

Could Anything Else Go Wrong?

Could anything else go wrong? I'm sure you've heard this question before. I'm sure you've asked this question before. We are all guilty of having a "bad" day.

Here's a hypothetical story, probably not so hypothetical as I'm sure it is actually a quite common story. You wake up to a loud beeping alarm clock, but you're not ready to get up yet, so you hit the snooze button once (ok twice), you run around the house looking for the other shoe running precisely 18 minutes late. When you finally find the shoe it's more like a half hour late, so instead of a nice healthy breakfast you grab a cup of coffee for the road. About a mile from home you are rushing through stand still traffic, laying on the horn hoping it will make the cars start moving (of course this never works). You decide to turn off onto a side road to avoid the traffic, and that is when you find the pothole. Now you've spilled hot coffee down your shirt and gotten a flat tire...

Let's stop there at this point what are you thinking? Can anything else possibly go wrong? Right? And the answer is yes, just about everything you do today is going to go wrong. If you don't change your question that is. If you ask for things to go wrong they will.

On the other hand you could ask a better question. What could go right? If you seriously think about this question the world is wide open to you. Maybe by turning off onto the side road you avoided an accident. Maybe you will meet a new friend or business partner in the person that helps you change your tire.

There are endless possibilities to why each of the things in your day has happened. The question is do you want to change your day or let your day change you?

I challenge you the next time you are having a bad day, stop and ask yourself, "Is this what I want for my day?" If your answer is no, I suggest you ask a new question?

What could go right? Then start thinking about those things and your day will change. Give it a try.

Have a bright day
T. Summers

Everything good

I have been talking to an old friend today who is having a bit of a hard time with some people that should have her back and don't really seem to.

It seems like everywhere you turn there are so many people having such a hard time, whether it be stress, grief, or some kind of physical ailment, like cancer, m.s., or arthritis. Anything really has the potential to turn a bright day dark.

My challenge to all those out there reading my blog today is to think of one good thing that happened in your life and made you smile or laugh.

When you think of it and you smile again, please comment here and share some of your brightness with others. Sharing will make your sun shine brighter.

Thank you to all that participate, and have a bright day.
T. Summers

Who Is On Your All Star Team

I had every intention of posting this yesterday, but my day got away from me so here it is a day late... ;)

This has been the week of the MLB All Star Game. Being HUGE baseball fans in our home, this is a fun event for our family. As I prepared for an evening of hot dogs and baseball fun, I found myself wondering who my All Star Team would consist of.

There would of course be my husband, who is the most supportive and caring man. He has given so much to make sure that his wife and four babies have a great life that they can be proud of. He has traded his health and sometimes happiness to put a roof over our heads and food in our mouths. He has dealt with ups and downs as he helped me to get off of multiple medications for Bipolar Disorder which seems to have just been a bad mix of chemicals and hormones. No one would have fixed it if it weren't for my husband, so that definitely puts him at the top of my roster.

My oldest daughter is up there with her daddy. She truly is an All Star. At seven years old she is already a very responsible and smart young lady. I could not be more proud of who she has become and I look forward to watching her become more as the years go by.

My oldest son is also a very smart and responsible young man. He keeps me on my toes, you never know what he'll do next. Because he goes through the same challenges as I do when he eats certain foods, or does not do certain things to stay healthy. It becomes obvious to me how important it is for our family to maintain a healthy chemical free diet and active lifestyle.

My youngest daughter can put a smile on anyone's face. There have been many times that we are walking through the store and she is singing for everyone there. She writes her own songs at five years old and is a very smart and creative soul.

My baby boy is a sweet soul with a smile to light up any room or day. He is the happiest baby I've ever known and I am so excited to watch him grow into his personality and watch the ways he can continue to light up our lives.

I would also have to add my father in law and my parents, they are always willing to help when we need them and have been a great source of strength for our entire family.

My grandma and my husband's grandma would also make my roster. They are amazing ladies that I know I can turn to at anytime, for anything.

My All Star Team is packed full of people I love and care about with everything I am. They are there to help me and my family reach for the stars and reach our potential. They are the people that without a doubt impact my life for the better every single day. They are the people that deserve to be honored for their role in this game we call life.

How will you honor your All Stars today? Who is on your All Star Team? Let them know how great they are.

Have a bright day.
T.

Living For Now!

Have you ever had a bad day? You know the kind I'm talking about, the kind that tend to keep going for days, a week, or longer. Why do we let one little thing get us down for so long? I had a bad day Fri-sat-sunday, all over a small incident I can't even remember today.

This makes me wonder why it was so important to hang onto through the weekend. Why did I let precious time with my loved ones slip away? Just so I could feel bad about something that is not even important enough to remember on Monday morning.

So I ask myself what do I want to feel right now? How do I want my life to be today? Do I want to be sad, or do I want to turn the page and live for now, live for today, for this afternoon, for this hour, for this minute, for this very second? I want to

Live For Now!

I want to enjoy the laughter of my children, the sun on my face, the nice warm summer breeze. I even want to enjoy the privilege of being the only thing that can help my teething baby feel better, even if that means the dishes don't get done, or the laundry doesn't get folded.

I have a terrific life and I am so grateful for every heartache, every smile, every laugh, every second. I wouldn't trade anything for the life I get to live today.

Tomorrow I will live for tomorrow and yesterday has already been lived. So, for today I will live for now.

I think I will go hold my baby under a shade tree as I watch my other children play. What will you do to live for now?

Have a bright day,
T.

What is right?

As a mother of four I often find myself feeling tired and I'll admit frustrated, maybe even angry. At these times in my day I am met with that daunting... "What's wrong?" Now in the heat of the moment I may have a million answers for this question, and you may very well know this feeling, as I'm sure we all have had moments like these.

Today I had one such moment. My husband asked me, "What's wrong?" as he often does, but today in the midst of my breakdown he answered it for me with one simple word, "Nothing." Then he went on to ask me something else, a much more empowering and motivating question. He simply asked... "What's right?"

He went on to answer this question for me as well. Again with one simple word, "Everything." And he was right.

Everything IS right.

Even when things aren't quite going the way we would like in our lives, everything is always right. We are all exactly where we are supposed to be, and all is right in our world. We have all had struggles, and problems that the rest of the world may never understand, but it has made each and every one of us into the strong person we are today.

So the next time you feel down, or frustrated, or angry, or sad, instead of pondering the question, "What's wrong?" Seriously consider this new question...

"What is right?"

Have a bright day,
T.