simple pleasures

The little things, yes the little things really mean more to me than a lot of the big things combined. It is in the little things that I find peace, content, happiness, joy and pleasure. One big thing can sure make me happy but it doesn't seem to linger as long as the things that others do to make my day all that more amazing, my job easier, my encounters more pleasant. The other day I went grocery shopping and came home and the laundry had been started, I didn't even have to ask. To a man it may seem like no big deal, and sometimes it is far better to respond with a simple thank you than make it an embarrassing production how impressed you are by his grand gesture, (because to him it is not a grand gesture)!

I have started to keep a little gratitude journal in my purse where I will write down little things that I am grateful for every day, quotes that I hear and like, books I want to read and songs that I want to look up the words because they truly have great meanings! A little book for me to keep my thoughts and recollect all the beautiful blessings in my life. Gratitude and Attitude speak volumes. I think the more grateful you are for what you already have, the more likely you will be to come into more abundance. I want to be a patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled woman. One step at a time.

May 15th 2004

I Danielle take you Steve (I Steve take you Danielle)

 As you are now

And in whom you will become

 loving what I know of you,

 trusting what I do not yet know

No matter what life brings our way

I will be your best friend,

Your confidant

And strongest supporter

I will grow with you

In life and love

for all the days of our lives.

Let these words be remembered and placed in our hearts each time we have doubts, each time we fail to believe in the other person. Let us live for each other, for our truly amazing son that we created together and for fulfilling a lifelong commitment. Not taking anything for granted, with a sense of gratitude for every blessing we have no matter how small, for the unknown that is yet to come our way, planning as best we can but living for each moment knowing that it could be taken from us in a blink of an eye, grateful for every moment whether easy, hard, difficult or rich, stormy or full of blessing. We don’t know what is around the corner no matter how hard we plan. Loving and caring for each other in this very moment in time is all we truly have, why miss it, why linger on past regrets or future things that may never happen. Life is amazing and things happen for a reason, even if we somehow never figure out what the reason is.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (1 Corithians 13:7)

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

                                                                                                                               

Missing the Challenge!

The stress of work, daycare issues, money and more... Oh how I am just looking for the answer that will solve all/most of my concerns. I want the peace and happiness back in my life, not the chaos and stress. Oh how I miss the challenge or working for myself. The motivation and excitement of getting that next sale, helping people find rental homes, buying homes, selling their homes and land. Writing when I want to, reading a good book, spending leisure time, I am not sure if I remember much what leisure time is. I know working for myself it is something I have a passion for and have continued to do over the years, but i am really getting to the point that I am craving it full time and would do just about whatever I can to make it happen. I love the people, the obstacles, the set backs, the challenge of helping that person find just the right property. At my full time job lately they have been stressing the push for recommendations (referrals) and how we need to ask on a regular basis, In my many years of sales, you receive a referral for your excellent customer service, your dedication to your client, the little things you do to go out of your way to make their transaction go as smoothly as possible, those are the services that render referrals, not because you asked, but because they gave it to you freely out of the utmost respect for your service and loyalty. Who wouldn't want that for a friend of family member. What a way to be truly blessed. Give 100% of yourself as much and often as you can and things will fall into place. You are going places and you are leaving behind a little of your warmth and care each time you come in contact with another person. Your words and deeds speak volumes. Be kind, be respectful, be considerate, think before you speak and share your sunshine with the world.

Peaks and Valleys

It is amazing to me how we can experience so many highs in lows in one given day. You can be up, down, sideways, happy, sad, angry, exhausted, energetic. No wonder most of us are tired by the end of the day and need that rest to get back up and do it all over again the next day. I know that my day started out with a bang, my car dying in the middle of the road, did I mention for the 2nd time in 2 weeks? Well, luckily they fixed it at no charge... but it did seem to set the course for my day, which I was able to quickly swing around and change my attitude toward the other instances in my day. I felt pretty productive at work despite being 3 hours late and seemed to pick up 2 new clients out of no where. Great! Did have a few other ups and downs not worth mentioning. I am extremely proud of myself that I can forgive and forget so easily and let things roll off my shoulder. I wish that everyone out there was like that. It is truly a conflict when you can be that way but someone else can not. Still working on my reactive self and slowing down the pace. I know I am doing all of this for a reason and I can't wait until it pays off and I can look back and say it was all worth it... not that I would do it again, but that it was all worth it! Today I am grateful for the pinal county sheriffs that stopped to help, my husband who handled my car repairs, my father-in-law for escorting me back to the car dealer and my mother for watching my sweet child, and all the friends I have out there that encourage me to be the best me I can be.... (well most of the time)

It is weird how motivated you can get by something that you really want to see happen. When you can actually visualize it coming true. When you think about it non-stop to the point that you lose focus on everything that you are wasting your time doing. For the past 2 weeks since I have clearer energy and stronger focus, forcing out all the negative energy strangling me, sometimes sweeping right back at the person sending it my way.   I have written down my goals, I have shared them with others and I am doing everything that I can to make them possible. I feel like God and the Universe is pushing me to do a certain thing and I feel a strong calling. It is hard when you have others to think about and it is not just you. You are not the only one who has the risk and convincing others of what they cannot see is often very challenging and stressful on all parties involved. Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. Hebrews 11:1 But most of the time with convictions as strong as you feel it is worth the extra push and effort to get there, to truly be happy and believe in yourself, your dreams and your abilities, and KNOW in your heart, not just your head that everyone involved will prosper. Don't let go of what you know is right, pray that things fall into place and you are guided to speak the right words and share the right actions to get you to the place you ought to be. Remember in one of my past entries I spoke about the sticky note that I wish God would leave on my bathroom mirror. I think I found it.