"Some Thoughts About Christmas Past, and the New Year"

 

I have some thoughts about this past Christmas, as well as about the new year.

In my last "The Art of Positive Living" blog post on Sunday, December 3, 2023, I discussed the spirit of Christmas. I mentioned several things that the spirit of Christmas could be, but there's another important one that I should have mentioned, but didn't, and that was-

music!

Around the first of December, I was really busy painting portraits and making coal jewelry, as well as doing the usual pre-Christmas activities, so much so that I just didn't have that spirit-of-Christmas feeling, until I was shopping in one store where I heard a beautiful song over the store's sound system, with the words, "That's Christmas to me." I researched those words, and I found out that the song was sung by a group that was new to me, Pentatonix. I also discovered that besides Christmas songs, they sing other types of songs, as well. So now, I'm a yearlong fan!

So, music is another great way to get yourself into the spirit of Christmas.

Thankfully, most of us have a relatively merry Christmas with family and/or friends, with Christmas cards, holiday gatherings, and various other holiday activities, but for some, the Christmas/New Year's holidays are not so happy, especially if a loved one has passed away during that time. In that case, Dr. Laura Koniver has the answer for depression, sorrow, and anxiety, etc., for then, as well as for any time of the year. (See www.intuition-physician.com for more information.)

For 2024, I started thinking about a quote that I really like, "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" (Dr. Seuss) The truth is that we are all unique individuals, and we should just try to be ourselves, to be who God created us to be, instead of trying to be like everyone else.

For example, just because everyone else is wearing black tights, doesn't mean that is necessarily right for us. Instead, dress however you like; wear whatever suits you; don't try to be a carbon copy of everyone else.

Also, don't go along with the crowd on even more important matters. We need to decide if the path we're taking is the right one. 

I'm still working on several New Year's resolutions. I'm devoting one week for each one. For example, Greg and I tend to be workaholics, and we need to get more sleep, so we worked on a plan to get in bed 15 minutes earlier each night until we reach our target time. Another week, we're working to incorporate more fun into our lives. We've made out a fun-list of things to do and places to go, to just have fun! Sounds like a plan!

What positive changes would you like to see in your life?

~Cute pet feature-

This doggie (above) is all ready to go-"2024, here I come!" (Are you ready to go, too?)

Positive thought: "What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?" -John Steinbeck

Thanks for visiting! Until Saturday, February 3, 2024, Becky

Positive Changes, a Time of New Life

Welcome back!

Hope you're having a wonderful, fantastic, positive day!

The butterfly "...undergoes a metamorphosis and emerges in a new and beautiful form."-"American Bible Society"

I've missed being with you these past few weeks, but I have been extremely busy, just living my daily life and starting new endeavors which I hope are positive changes, not only for my life, but for you, my blog readers, as well.

This time of year, the spring and Easter seasons, are a time of new life, a time of renewal.

This is the time of year that I evaluate my own life to see how far I've gone and where else I need to go.

Right now, Greg and I are trying to change our eating habits from eating conventional food to food that is organic and healthier.  One book that has helped us greatly with this is "The Food Babe Way" by Vani Hari.*  Check it out!  It's a real eye-opener.  You'll never look at food the same again after reading this book.  Also good is Vani's website, foodbabe.com.*

We're on the lookout for places to eat that have organic food, but that has been a bit of a challenge for us.  However, just today, our niece Bonnie filled us in on a new restaurant in Franklin, Tennessee, Thrive Cafe, that has organic, gluten-free and dairy-free food.  She also mentioned  Vegan Vee, a gluten-free bakery in Nashville.

One place Greg and I enjoy eating is at the Whole Foods food bar.*  Whole Foods seems to be really catching on, since more and more of their health food stores are opening all the time.  I believe as word gets out on what conventional food is really like, there will be even more restaurants, etc. that serve genuinely healthy food.

All the while, I'm trying to be more positive with different things, like posting more sayings on my special bathroom bulletin board, like, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.-Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Also, the other day while I was in the dentist's office waiting room, I decided that instead of sitting in a chair to wait, I'd go look at the reading material on a nearby table.  I felt like there was something on it that I needed to see, so I kept searching, and there it was, an intriguing little book that seemed to be calling to me, "Going the Extra Smile" by George Foreman.*  On the cover it said, "Discover the Life-Changing Power of a Positive Outlook."  I glanced through the book that tells how George Foreman went from being a very negative, angry person to one who smiles and has love in his heart for everyone.  It's now on Amazon at a bargain price and has excellent reviews.

I'm currently working on a new website which should be up and running soon.  I'll let you know when it's ready.  It will be a place of the arts-art, photography, and writing.  I'm excited about it, and I hope you will like it.  I'll try to connect with you more often then, once it gets going.

*Disclaimer:  What is right for me, may not be right for you.  Please use your own judgment on anything I recommend.

Positive thought:  "Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life."-S. D. Gordon
Thanks for visiting!  Until Sunday, May 3 (or sooner!), Becky

Positive Changes

Welcome!

And, a special welcome to two more Followers since last week!

A few months ago, Greg and I moved from a region we'd lived in most of our lives to another part of Tennessee.  The move was not an easy one.  We had to leave behind the familiar, and our loved ones.

Although things seemed strange at first, we adjusted, and learned to adapt to our new environment.  In fact, we now believe we did the right thing.  Greg's career move was a really good one, and new opportunities have opened up for my art, writing, and organizing business.

There's a ton of things to see and do where we live now.

We've met a lot of new people, and we've made friends along the way.

Our family members are only a phone call or an email away.  Besides, we get back to our old area every few weeks to visit and to shop at local stores.

Right now, we're living in a rental house with a beautiful view of a farm with its array of farm animals.  (Better than TV, and our cats love watching all the animals, including peacocks!)

We have definitely made some positive changes, and we plan on even more to come!

We need to move to a house with land of our own, closer to where Greg works, maybe even to another nearby town.

This blog post was inspired by another blog, River Cliff Cottage ( http://www.rivercliffcottage.com ), written by fellow blogger and new friend, Eva Beaule who lives in an area of Southwest Virginia near where I grew up.

I'm enjoying reading about her life in that rural part of Virginia which she finally came to terms with and decided she loved.  With words and pictures, she describes (sometimes humorously) her day-to-day activities and her beautiful house which is a work-in-progress.  I appreciate the fact that she's sharing her experiences which include the changes she's going through as she lives her life.  It's good that we can learn from each other along life's journey.

Nothing ever stays the same.  Change is inevitable.  We can either fight change, or we can go with the flow.  If we look for the good in every situation, we can always find it.

Positive thought: Every change is a golden opportunity.
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky