Admin Update for Email Subscribers

        Because while it's not exactly what I want to post after so long... but it needs to be mentioned. 

        For those of you who follow by email, this website service - Google's Blogger - will no longer be automatically sending the blog posts via email as of July 2021. I'm sharing this here so anyone who follows via email will get the message.

Some General, Gentle, Grounding of Grief

        I've a lot of friends and whanau who have lost much, this past while. So since it's on my mind, I'll share something with you.

        Take this as you will.

Positive Spins and Nudgings of Change

        A couple of weeks ago I pinned an archived post to the top of the PB Facebook Community Page, again, and the experience I had while searching for it had me thinking of something which I ended up sharing along with the actual, shared link.  After typing out that whole thing, I realized it would just as well work for a blog post, but I was too tired to try to make that work right then, so I decided to just copy it, paste it into a new post on the blog, wiggle around with it, and ta da!  New post! Then last week happened, and I pushed it off again, and this week I'm just gonna do it!  With slight apologies to those who might remember much of it.  Here's how it went:

In Review, and in Preview

        Something a little different this week.  I posted this elsewhere in my little world, but I felt like it was something worth sharing here, so I'm going to do it, maybe with slight differences.

My Friend, I Just Want You to Know...

Dear Friend,

        I know you're going through a tough time, right now, but I just want you to know...

A Friend, Indeed

        When I create a post, typically it is founded by something on my mind or heart, the week before.  If I'm not moved by emotion in some way, it is less likely I'll be effective in expressing a point or message in a way I'm satisfied with sharing.  Inasmuch as I've had something significantly on my mind, let's see how this happens, for this week!

A Very Special Request

I'll warn you, now... this post will cover a rather serious, mental health topic, but one which is evidently, very much needed, and often gets overlooked, but this post may not be suitable for every reader.

For those who are struggling, right now, there may be some triggers for you, and you may want to consider giving yourself some time before reading it, if you read it at all, hopefully in a time it won't be so difficult.

For those who love someone who has struggled, whether or not they are in some semblance of recovery, you may want to seriously consider reading it as a way to possibly find some answers.  I don't promise you'll find the ones you need, but it might open you to some ideas, anyway.

I Believe in Hope and the Power of the Inner Spirit

        Because of the chaos of both my own experience, and that of all around, this is what I have to say about the chaos of life and the darkness in this world, so evidenced by events like the ones of this past week.

Perpetual Monsters and Chronic Demons

        I've been debating about whether or not it would be better to skip another sensitive topic, altogether.  Actually, I've been debating it since I began the PB Project!  I know I did post along this line a while back, but mostly we're just gonna move on, from here.  That is the best way to keep moving forward, yes?

The Freedom to Be Better

        I've an interesting topic this week, my friends.  At least, I think it is.  Perhaps I should preface each one that way, since it's better promotion than starting off with, "Well, sorry, but this is another boring post."  But I was talking to a friend about choosing a topic for this week, and this friend suggested using the subject of our little chat we had been having.  Of course it was an interesting conversation, or I wouldn't have chosen it, nor would I have prefaced the post this way.  Ahem.

Dancing, Every Moment of the Journey

        This week, I decided we needed to lighten things up a bit.  I've been going on about such heavy topics lately, and while they have their own merit, I do have the occasional, lighter moment, and so should you!  However, I never, really know what is going to fall out of my head, so we'll see when we get there.

Finding Meaning and Value in a Positive Spin

        I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about some of the really horrible things that can happen in life, in general.  Between things like catastrophe, accident, illness, loss, pain...

        Stress, strain, grief, and pain, are all a part of life, but we don't need to have it rule our lives.

I Think We Can... I Think We Can... Just Don't Stop!

        This post has had a bit of a slow start.  I normally have the majority of the thing done by Sunday, but honestly, I guess this week has been listening to the chosen quote, because while I've worked on it, I've had to restart more than once, and I've just not felt that what I've tried to say was "right".  So... here we go again.  Let's hope it's a bit more fitting than I've felt, up til now!

Never Make It Late to Your Own Future!

        I have to admit I've been chuckling, trying to decide how to carry the rest of my personal challenge of answering the "Motivational Mondays" posts out, for this year...and clearly I didn't plan it out, ahead of time!  But that's okay!  Because you know what?  Life is messy, and it's beautiful that way, so I'm going to pretend that totally carries over, here.  Especially since last week, I was beginning a pre-Christmas post on Christmas night, and I'm now beginning this one shortly before New Year's Eve begins! \o/ (Yes, I do these before Sunday at midnight, folks!)

Let's Just Can the Can'ts, Shall We?

        Happy Monday, my friends!  How about we tackle this week's challenge of mine, together, hmm? :)

"Do not let what you cannot do

interfere with what you can do."

~ John Wooden

How can you ensure that you have a week filled with cans?

(and not the aluminum kind)! 

        This topic happens to be both a good fit for me, and worth a good roll of my eyes, all in one! Of course, I've never been one to roll my eyes at much of anything...as many of my friends will tell you! *averts eyes* Ahem. Where was I? Oh yes...

        This week's topic is all about "cans" and "can'ts". We each of us have things we can or can't do - that's just part of life! In fact, we humans are an interesting bunch; we are communal creatures for a reason! We've developed the inborn knowledge that we need others of our kind, in order to progress as a species! I'm not exactly talking about the Circle of Life, here, though that is an important factor, too!

        We humans are smart, in that we realize that, because we have individual talents, likes, etc., if we work together for a common-good sort of thing, we come along much better! If we have some people growing crops, others hunting/gathering, others practicing medicine, and so on, then we can all manage to have our needs meet, much easier than trying to do it alone, separately!

        When not focused on the Greater Whole, Bigger Picture, or Grand Scheme of Things, we have smaller, more personal things we would like to do in our lives. This can range from self-care, to greater goals like getting through college or raising a family! Whatever our more immediate, personal goals, we have our own, individual skills and abilities that mean that sometimes, there will be things we simply cannot do.

        So then what? There are a variety of ways we can connect what we need with how to get our needs met.  The most obvious, given everything I've said already, is to connect with others who also have needs, and hopefully our needs match what they have to give, and their needs match what we can give.  This creates a kind of symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship, which allows all involved to have what they need, as well as have the satisfaction of being able to contribute to a greater whole!

This is the most basic answer,

and one that I pretty much find is my actual answer.

However...

        In a more personal context, I suppose I could say that there are many needs I have, especially more in comparison to when my body hadn't decided to attack itself and fall apart!  While there are times this feels like a huge, humiliating battle, I am deeply grateful that I have whanau in my life who are willing and able to give me loving support, when possible.

        I've come to realize that this concept of interpersonal exchange is vital, not only when I am not doing well or when they aren't, but to the flow of everyday living.  There are many times when I can't figure out how to get something accomplished, be it balancing my inner chaos; dressing for the day; developing ideas for this blog or share to the PB Facebook Page; or fulfilling aspirations I desire for my outer life.  It is in those moments when reaching out and connecting with others, if only for inspiration and ideas, can make all the difference in achieving my goals.  And in return, I can help support and counsel others who may need me to pay my own gifts forward.  It is a beautiful system, and one in which I am grateful to play a part!

        So there you go.  That is how my week can be full of "cans", even when I'm challenged with "can'ts" of various descriptions.  Tally ho, and on to greater things, together!

        Better days ahead, together, my friends!

Sunshine and Shadows

        Week 34 of my personal challenge includes one of my favorite quotes.  Actually, it isn't a quote, so much...

Turn your face to the sun

and the shadows fall behind you.

~ Maori Proverb

I Can Do This. I Am Doing This!

        What do the words, "confident optimism", mean to you?  I was watching a movie, full of the antics of a man who, while being a bit narcissistic and quirky, is nevertheless brilliant and successful at his endeavors.  He could never imagine being unsuccessful at anything he put his mind to, and is usually quite surprised when things aren't quite what he surmised.

Learning... Living... Hoping...

        In this week's Motivational Monday post, Christine Morgan has me thinking about hope.  I hope my meditations on this topic actually come to some kind of positive conclusion.

"Learn from yesterday,

live for today,

hope for tomorrow."

~ Albert Einstein

"What are you hoping for this week?" Christine asks.

        I've been having an interesting conversation, with a whanau brother who also experiences chronic pain.  After a number of years of tests and treatments, they have yet to discover what is happening, nor anything that treats it properly. 

        This man is a huge and very much loved example to me, and I have been grateful for his place in my life.  He was telling me about his latest adventure in searching out relief for his debilitating pain, which sounds as though it will add to his pain before it relieves it, and as we discussed how healing can consist of pain, in and of itself, he said to me, "Hope itself can aid in healing." "True.  It can," I said.

        For me, the answer to the question, "What are you hoping for this week?" changes from week to week. But this week? Good question.

        To be honest, hope is one of those tricky subjects, much of the time. I can have hope for my brother and his treatment, so that he can live a full, comfortable life with his amazing, lovely wife and beautiful kids whom I adore.

        I can have hope that my sweet, beautiful sister of my heart will find her battle with the C-Monster will be eased and her last days on earth can be sweet to her and her incredible strong and loving husband, and their kids who have had a life that no one would wish for children: to grow up in a home where their mother has had a fight for her life, almost as long as they've been alive.

        I can have hope for my friends and other family, whose hearts are burdened with Life as it seems to tap into their deepest fears, hurts and regrets, taunting them as they struggle to keep moving forward.

        I can have hope that people I love will forgive the burden that I and my illnesses have caused them, in whatever form that that has taken for them. I can hope to have the ability to lift that weight from their lives, so I am not just another thing they have to either manage, work around or ignore altogether.

        Because... I think no matter what my body nor my mind can throw at me, 

nothing hurts like knowing that my issues make more issues for others to carry. 

 And I know I am not the only person with chronic pain and illness who feel that way...

...because I've spoken to several who have admitted the same thing. It's a tricky balance.

        I don't believe I've answered the question, but I have admitted that I can be a bit of a hypocrite at times, in the fact that I'm one of those who can have hope for others, but I've a hard time feeling much for myself. I'm not sure what kind of person that makes me, other than an honest one. But I never said I have it all together. I'm no guru, no teacher, no licensed counselor/therapist, no professional life coach...there is no certification to say I've done anything more than live through some things and simply survived others. I'm empathic, and can understand the human mind and heart, but what is that without letters after my name or a document on my wall? *sigh* I'm just another person on the Path, trying to keep moving forward and not hit too hard when I fall.

        Maybe that is what my heart is telling me, someone needs to know. I believe I said that at the beginning of this blog; this Project is not a professional undertaking, nor promises anything but to hopefully help you know and feel you aren't alone in whatever struggles you face. I know there are a lot of sites that promise more or less, and they can be valuable resources.

        As for myself, I'm just meandering/stumbling along the Path, and am happy to have you along for company, and to share what we've learned, together. In that spirit, you are very welcome to post comments either here, below, or on the Project's FB community page.

 Better days ahead, my friends.

Controlling... What Lies Within

        I think I'm going to have to preface this maybe mostly, magically manic, Motivational Monday post, by saying the following:

        I have no idea what I'm about to say to you.  Not a clue.  Nope.  I've got nothin'.

Yup. I'm Stuck.

        What is it with these posts that start out feeling like the irony of timing is more "Manic Mondays" than "Motivational Mondays"?