What better way to start off the year with a positive attitude. 2013 definitely had its ups and downs for our family and our community. Rather than focusing on the negative, I am going to start 2014 off with a positive attitude and say "2014 is going to be my year!"
I once read, the way you ring in the New Year is how you will spend it. Rather than spending the New Year partying in a bar or club somewhere, I have opted to organize a New Year's Eve Party and Potluck for our community at my church. What better and more positive way to start the New Year off right than to celebrate it in a family friendly atmosphere with your family, friends and community. I want 2014 to be more focused on doing things as a family and supporting each other as a family rather than doing everything as individuals.
This year, I am also competing for my fourth year for the title of Mrs. Colorado America. I feel more confident than ever that this will be my year to excel. Last year, I was blessed with two awards: Most Creative Ad Page and Director's Choice; however, this year, I want more....I want the crown. I already have two great sponsors: Dwayne Glapion (Grafxmd) and Samantha Koch (SK Makeup Pro) and am seeking other sponsorships. I have my orientation dress, interview dress and evening gown and hair stylist. I have never felt more prepared and I'm still over three months from competition night.
I started 2013 off pushing my advocacy, but began to slack off after the fire. I'm getting back in action in 2014 and pushing my dating/domestic violence awareness and sexual assault awareness advocacy even more in 2014. I am already working with a great person to put together a fundraiser in January/February to raise money and awareness for the NO MORE campaign and for Tu Casa. I'm in talks with some local middle schools to give a dating violence and building healthy relationships presentation and seminar. I'm also working on a video about my own story to put on my website and YouTube channel. I'm going to take my advocacy even farther this year.
All in all, 2014 is going to be my year, because I'm going to go into the new year with a new attitude. I have been a people pleaser in the past, but I've often found that while trying to please everyone, I lose who I am because what pleases them may go against my own personal beliefs, religious beliefs, wants and/or needs. Because I was a people pleaser, I always worried about what others thought about me and whether or not they liked me. This resulted in me keeping my own personal opinions or beliefs to myself, as well as allowing others to walk all over me. I have learned that I don't have to agree with everyone all the time and that if I can disagree with someone else's opinion and still like them, then they can do the same. And if they can't, that's their problem and not mine. I am going to stand up for what's right and for myself in 2014 and not let others opinions dictate who I am and/or what I do and/or say.
As a counselor, I encourage clients with certain issues to change the way they think. Rather than thinking negatively and focusing on the negative, I encourage clients to think about the positive and to focus on that. I also encourage clients to think positively and say positive things about themselves. Once you start thinking positively, you start believing positively and your life changes positively. In order to make 2014 my year, I'm going to think positively about myself, speak positively about myself, believe positively about myself, I am going to be my true self, I am going to work hard and above all else I am going to make my relationship with God and my family my top priority.
What are you going to do to make 2014 Your Year????
I leave you with some quotes I find inspiring....Go out and make 2014 your year!
"Go where you are celebrated - not tolerated. If they can't see the real value of you, it's time for a new start." - Unknown
"Don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone." - Unknown
"Optimism is the most important human trait, because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow." - Seth Godin
"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can di it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." - Mahatma Gandhi
"
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Better to Give than to Receive
It's just 5 days until Christmas. I just love this time of the year. I love coming together with community members, friends and family to celebrate the birth of Christ. Every year, I join the choir and take part in our Christmas program at church. Christmas music is some of my favorite music to sing and can be so emotional and moving.
Another part of this time of year that people love is the gifts. Now, like any woman (lol) I enjoy getting gifts, but I get more joy out of giving them than receiving them. This is not something everyone agrees with or understands. Living in an area that is so poor (Rio Grande County is one of the poorest counties in Colorado and the San Luis Valley is made up of the two poorest counties in the state), and working with children who's families are struggling, I see a huge need for not only gifts, but also for food and clothing. Many families are struggling on a daily basis to just to keep a roof over their head, shoes on their feet and food on their tables and can't afford Christmas gifts for their children or some other basic necessities.
My family has been blessed with the ability to sufficiently provide for ourselves through hard work and dedication on both mine and my husband's parts and I love sharing that blessing with others. Whenever I can, I purchase gifts or make donations to help make someone else's holiday season a little brighter. Whether it's picking up a name from the giving tree at church, putting together a shoe box to send overseas, making a donation at the grocery store or buying a gift for someone else you normally wouldn't buy for "just because", it makes me feel good inside to know that I am helping someone or making them feel special. With just a few days left until Christmas, I encourage you to do the same if you are in a financial position that you can do so. Whether it's $5, a teddy bear, a can of food or box of macaroni, a coat, a scarf, a pair of gloves....families in your community can use your help. After the fires and floods this year in Colorado, hundreds of families are in need of assistance. To find out how you can help these families visit http://www.helpcoloradonow.org/.
I encourage every person reading this to seek out organizations, families, or individuals in your community, regardless of where you live...Colorado, Texas, California, New York....and make a donation or drop off a gift to help make someone else's holiday a season a little brighter and to let them know that there are people out there who care about them and their families.
When I was a child, I remember my parents buying gifts for the children of friends of ours. It wasn't that this family needed the gifts, my dad just liked to play "Santa" and I'm not sure that even to this day, that family knows who was leaving the gifts. Mom and dad would wrap a gift for each of the children and on Christmas Eve, they would leave them somewhere at their house for them to find Christmas Day. I can only imagine that these children either really believed in Santa or they knew there was someone out there who was thinking of them and made them feel special. Families who are expecting nothing for Christmas I'm sure are very appreciative of our giving and I promise that they won't forget it and neither will you. Knowing that I have helped someone have a happier holiday or get through one more day warms my heart and will warm yours as well.
Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season and if he can give his life for us, we can give this small thing for others. Show love for your neighbor this season and help out a family in need.
Another part of this time of year that people love is the gifts. Now, like any woman (lol) I enjoy getting gifts, but I get more joy out of giving them than receiving them. This is not something everyone agrees with or understands. Living in an area that is so poor (Rio Grande County is one of the poorest counties in Colorado and the San Luis Valley is made up of the two poorest counties in the state), and working with children who's families are struggling, I see a huge need for not only gifts, but also for food and clothing. Many families are struggling on a daily basis to just to keep a roof over their head, shoes on their feet and food on their tables and can't afford Christmas gifts for their children or some other basic necessities.
My family has been blessed with the ability to sufficiently provide for ourselves through hard work and dedication on both mine and my husband's parts and I love sharing that blessing with others. Whenever I can, I purchase gifts or make donations to help make someone else's holiday season a little brighter. Whether it's picking up a name from the giving tree at church, putting together a shoe box to send overseas, making a donation at the grocery store or buying a gift for someone else you normally wouldn't buy for "just because", it makes me feel good inside to know that I am helping someone or making them feel special. With just a few days left until Christmas, I encourage you to do the same if you are in a financial position that you can do so. Whether it's $5, a teddy bear, a can of food or box of macaroni, a coat, a scarf, a pair of gloves....families in your community can use your help. After the fires and floods this year in Colorado, hundreds of families are in need of assistance. To find out how you can help these families visit http://www.helpcoloradonow.org/.
I encourage every person reading this to seek out organizations, families, or individuals in your community, regardless of where you live...Colorado, Texas, California, New York....and make a donation or drop off a gift to help make someone else's holiday a season a little brighter and to let them know that there are people out there who care about them and their families.
When I was a child, I remember my parents buying gifts for the children of friends of ours. It wasn't that this family needed the gifts, my dad just liked to play "Santa" and I'm not sure that even to this day, that family knows who was leaving the gifts. Mom and dad would wrap a gift for each of the children and on Christmas Eve, they would leave them somewhere at their house for them to find Christmas Day. I can only imagine that these children either really believed in Santa or they knew there was someone out there who was thinking of them and made them feel special. Families who are expecting nothing for Christmas I'm sure are very appreciative of our giving and I promise that they won't forget it and neither will you. Knowing that I have helped someone have a happier holiday or get through one more day warms my heart and will warm yours as well.
Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season and if he can give his life for us, we can give this small thing for others. Show love for your neighbor this season and help out a family in need.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Tomorrow isn't Promised
Wow. I just realized that I haven't posted since May. It has been a crazy few months. In June my family was evacuated from our home for a week because of the West Fork Fire Complex. Once we were allowed back into town, my parents opened a gas station and liquor store and I helped them get open and organized a huge grand opening celebration with musical performances by Dave Mensch, Bittersweet Highway and opera singer Michael Mayes (and the Pig Whistlers). During the first month or two, I was putting in 65+ hours a week. It was exhausting. Well, enough with the excuses...
I think we all know that tomorrow isn't promised to any of us and we all have differing ideas and opinions on what happens when we die. If you're a Christian, as I am, we believe in Heaven and look forward to living eternally with our Heavenly Father. I have this belief, but I am also not ready to leave this Earth yet. I have so much left to do and see.
These past couple of weeks have really reiterated how short life really is and that regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, health or circumstances, tomorrow is not promised to any one of us. Fans of Paul Walker were all saddened (at least I was) by the news of his tragic death. A couple of days later, a guy I knew from my hometown passed away at the age of 32 of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (an ultra rare autoimmune disorder); my sister-in-law, her husband, their two toddler aged daughters and her husband's parents were in a bad car accident (all are now home thankfully) and Nelson Mandela passed away along with all the other news stories we hear day in and day out about military lives lost overseas.
Celebrity deaths usually don't upset me. I typically think, "Oh, that's sad" and go about my business. I grew up 15 miles from Anna Nicole Smith and am sure at some point in my life spoke to her when she worked at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken. Her death, however, wasn't as upsetting as that of Paul Walker. Neither was Michael Jackson's, Whitney Houston's, Aalyiah's, Lisa Lopez's or Selena's. Paul Walker's death was different. I'm not sure if it was because I've been a PW fan since 1999 when I saw him in Varsity Blues and he became my all time celebrity crush (I started a collection of his movies years ago and have been working on having most of them) or if it was because we lost a great actor and humanitarian, or the circumstances around his death or all of the above (pretty sure it was some of all of it). I've really been bothered by this and I think it is partly because I think so many of us take life for granted. We forget we aren't guaranteed tomorrow and that we can put off things until tomorrow, when in reality, we may not have tomorrow, we may not have tonight, the next hour, the next minute. I saw a post on Facebook by Tyrese Gibson who posted something that is so spot on..."My inspired thought through this tragedy has been....'It's arrogant to believe that next week or even the next second of life belongs to you.' Live, love, forgive and spread love today cause tomorrow isn't promised."
While I believe that we should prepare for the future, Tyrese has a point. It is arrogant of us to believe that the next second of life belongs to us, because for those of us who are Christians, we know that God is the only one who knows if we have that next second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, etc.
My encouragement is to plan for the future, but not to forget to live in the here and now. I challenge you not to wait until tomorrow to show and tell your children, spouse, parents, friends and other family members how much you love them. Don't put your dreams on hold thinking you have plenty of time to do this or that. Don't put off getting your life right with God, get right with Him right now. Live your life like every second is your last and have no regrets.
I leave you with one of my favorite songs: One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
In Memory of Paul Walker, Tyler Archibald, Nelson Mandela and the many other lives lost in the past weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXxRyNvTPr8
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I think we all know that tomorrow isn't promised to any of us and we all have differing ideas and opinions on what happens when we die. If you're a Christian, as I am, we believe in Heaven and look forward to living eternally with our Heavenly Father. I have this belief, but I am also not ready to leave this Earth yet. I have so much left to do and see.
These past couple of weeks have really reiterated how short life really is and that regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, health or circumstances, tomorrow is not promised to any one of us. Fans of Paul Walker were all saddened (at least I was) by the news of his tragic death. A couple of days later, a guy I knew from my hometown passed away at the age of 32 of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (an ultra rare autoimmune disorder); my sister-in-law, her husband, their two toddler aged daughters and her husband's parents were in a bad car accident (all are now home thankfully) and Nelson Mandela passed away along with all the other news stories we hear day in and day out about military lives lost overseas.
Celebrity deaths usually don't upset me. I typically think, "Oh, that's sad" and go about my business. I grew up 15 miles from Anna Nicole Smith and am sure at some point in my life spoke to her when she worked at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken. Her death, however, wasn't as upsetting as that of Paul Walker. Neither was Michael Jackson's, Whitney Houston's, Aalyiah's, Lisa Lopez's or Selena's. Paul Walker's death was different. I'm not sure if it was because I've been a PW fan since 1999 when I saw him in Varsity Blues and he became my all time celebrity crush (I started a collection of his movies years ago and have been working on having most of them) or if it was because we lost a great actor and humanitarian, or the circumstances around his death or all of the above (pretty sure it was some of all of it). I've really been bothered by this and I think it is partly because I think so many of us take life for granted. We forget we aren't guaranteed tomorrow and that we can put off things until tomorrow, when in reality, we may not have tomorrow, we may not have tonight, the next hour, the next minute. I saw a post on Facebook by Tyrese Gibson who posted something that is so spot on..."My inspired thought through this tragedy has been....'It's arrogant to believe that next week or even the next second of life belongs to you.' Live, love, forgive and spread love today cause tomorrow isn't promised."
While I believe that we should prepare for the future, Tyrese has a point. It is arrogant of us to believe that the next second of life belongs to us, because for those of us who are Christians, we know that God is the only one who knows if we have that next second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, etc.
My encouragement is to plan for the future, but not to forget to live in the here and now. I challenge you not to wait until tomorrow to show and tell your children, spouse, parents, friends and other family members how much you love them. Don't put your dreams on hold thinking you have plenty of time to do this or that. Don't put off getting your life right with God, get right with Him right now. Live your life like every second is your last and have no regrets.
I leave you with one of my favorite songs: One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
In Memory of Paul Walker, Tyler Archibald, Nelson Mandela and the many other lives lost in the past weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXxRyNvTPr8
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