Reasons To Be Thankful

I was going to write about something else today, but decided to write about things that have made me thankful in my life. Since I think this can be a broad topic--as there is a lot to be thankful for--I will narrow it down--quite a bit.

I will start with my dogs, as they brought about these thoughts. Yesterday, it was time to take them for their rabies shots. They shivered up a storm on the way there, but never moved, never made a sound. When we got there, even though their eyes were opened wider than mine, at a scary movie, they looked at me with undying faith. Even as they were getting their shots they looked at me with love and trust. This made me feel thankful for having such wonderful dogs.

And I'm thankful for: the love of my family, the wonderful friends that I have, the fact that I was able to take my schooling online, and the joy I see in my daughter about the simplest things in life. It is through her joy, that I have so many times looked at life, and what we have around us, in a different way.

And maybe crazily enough, I feel thankful for the Internet. When I first got the Internet I was inundated with possibilities and stayed online for hours playing games, chatting and looking up things and finding out information.

But I learned, after the newness wore off, that the Internet is so much more.  It's not something to take for granted, and it's something to be thankful for too. Because I have encountered--online--so many people that have given freely of their knowledge and reached out to help others, some gaining monetary things, but so many offering help and advice for free. 

So it is my hope that the following links can be as useful to others as they were to me. These links are for free job offerings: http://www.pandahi.com/ , http://www.zaarly.com/ , and http://www.mediabistro.com/ .

I also found some sites with helpful Photoshop video tutorials. As I love graphic design--these really stood out. They were: http://www.pxleyes.com/ , and http://www.tutvid.com/ .

I also found two sites that I really appreciated for their creativity and thought that they would be good to have. One was:-- creative videos for all occasions, http://www.lodocinema.com/ , and the other free instructional art classes, http://www.5pencilmethod.com/ .

Of course, with Utube and endless sites offering free videos, the possibilities are endless, to learning  everything from screenplays to helping my daughter with her math.

So in conclusion, I think there are many things to be thankful for in life. Each thing, no matter how insignificant it may seem, brings us a reason to be thankful.  It might not make everyone feel the same way, but if it makes us feel thankful in our hearts, that's what matters.

As We Go Through Life

As we go through life, there are often people that will effect us in some special way. These people may be in our lives from the time we're little, like family.  Or they may be the neighbor, teacher, or friend that's been there for you as long as you can remember, listening when your down or worried.That person that I always turned to, that was always there for me, that got mad at others she thought had done me wrong, was my mom. 

So the upcoming date, the 15th of October will be a terrible blow to me, once more.  It is on this date that my mom passed away over one year ago. I feel such an emptiness inside.  A place that's hurt and never heals. That loss, her no longer being there for me, has not grown any easier and never will. She was my champion, always there for me, as well as my family, her friends, and the many clients she'd had for over twenty years.

But even though I feel so alone, there are times when I still feel her presence.  And  I feel sure, if she's looking down on me, that she would be saying, "Good job I knew you could do it" especially if she's seen the progression of my writing. I know she would have been proud of my chapters that are online at http://www.chainbooks.com/  and of the book I'm currently writing, as well.

There are some changes people have to accept in life.  Getting old, gaining weight, going bald, and having the inevitable sagging of skin. But one of the things in life that can never be accepted, with change, is the loss of a loved one. I so miss my champion and wonderful mom who believed in her family unconditionally.On this day of loss- this coming Saturday- sadness will devastate me once more, for on this day moms love and enduring spirit was extinguished for good.

Just As Deadly

It waits in the wings, opportunity just right around the corner.  It is silent, ever present.  It will get you if you let it.  What is this?  What is this that can get us at unexpected moments in our lives?  It's depression and it's a worthy challenger.  One that we need to take seriously.

You might say this is no challenger.  This is something that can be controlled.  But it's not a pet that you keep from biting someone.  It's a deadly enemy that if left untreated can take you down into the pits of hell.  It will keep you there then -an unwilling victim- until your voice becomes tiny and far away and eventually it will not be heard again.

It strikes us at any time.  And most times we can keep it at bay with positive thinking.  With activities that keep our minds stimulated all day.  But it's the times when our  minds are at rest, it's the times when the sun puts down the shade and the moon comes out to play, that the darkest thoughts can come in, and set up shop again.  You might wonder how this narrator can have such knowledge?  How would you know, someone might ask?  Some might think?  This narrator has seen this monster take over a big part of two family members lives- and a big part of her life as well.

So seek the positive, seek the company of friends, seek any positive means of escape.  Even break out the old credit card if you have to, to get out and leave those dark clouds of sadness, hopelessness, behind if they are lurking around, because if the hooks of depression get into you they will not leave without a fight.

Depression, deadly, serious, and more than willing to take over your life.