What to do when feeling down???

~ Write it down. Write until you have nothing left inside. Just write.


~ Run. Run until you can't run anymore. While you're running look around at all God has given you to be thankful for.


~ Volunteer. Share the gift of your valuable time with someone who needs it.


~ Visit with family. Reminisce about old times. Make future plans.


~ Cry. It's okay. Sometimes it just feels good.


~ Chat with an old friend. They know you best.


~ Remind yourself that things could be worse...much worse!


~ Sleep. Rest your body and your mind.


~ Shop. Spend money on yourself.


~ Smile. Life is a journey to bliss. 

~ If all else fails...just ride the bull. You will forget about everything besides aching body parts! :)

Heidi

Anyone who knows me knows that I've spent my life surrounded by people. I was always a quick phone call away from something to do with someone else. In fact, too many times I put this ahead of what was more important. Until recently I didn't know what it meant to be alone. It has taken quite a bit of time and  tears to come to terms with these changes in my life but without them I wouldn't be doing this.

Now I realize the importance of a little solitude. It helps you find yourself. It forces you to think about your life and the direction you're heading. It allows you to decide what it is that is truly important to you. You and your thoughts...that is the definition of solitude.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Adventures of "The List"...

#48 Volunteer at an animal shelter...
On Tuesday I visited Pets Without Parents, a local shelter running strictly on the generosity of others. I've always liked animals but never really got all ga ga over them like others I know.  This item was put on my list because of those darn sad commercials with the Sarah McLaughlin song and because I no longer have a pet of my own (miss you Oscar!).

I started off my morning with the most glamorous of all tasks...cleaning cages! I cleaned several kitten cages and ended with a puppy cage, which was pretty gross for a first-timer! :)

Then the fun part...I took River for a walk...or rather he took me for a walk!

He is sweet little mutt who constantly tries to put things in his mouth. On our adventure he tried to eat my camera, and actually jumped into my trunk whenI went to put it away. :) He also picked up two different gloves, an empty cigarette pack, a few sticks, plastic flowers from someone's yard (I put them back, I promise), and a water bottle. He was a wild man but very lovable.

He loves to give kisses!

It was EXTREMELY difficult to take a picture because he did not want to stay still. Who can blame him though since he spends so much time in a small cage?

As I left the shelter, I told all the animals to look pretty and behave because today just might be their day to go home. If you're thinking about adding a pet to your family, please consider adopting a rescue! Also, shelters like these rely on fundraisers, donations, and volunteers to survive. There are a variety of ways to help out without actually going to the shelter. Consider it!


Even though I can cross this item off my list, I'm not through volunteering for this wonderful organization. I didn't write my list just to simply check things off. My list was written to help me do a little good on God's great earth. Pets Without Parents needs help and if I have a little time to spare, why not?! Besides, too much downtime just makes me hungry, and that's not good for my waistline!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On my way home from PWP I stopped in Sew to Speak and signed up for my Intro to Sewing class...no turning back now! It's time to get Hope moving! :)


Now it's time for a run...

Heidi

Life has certainly thrown a few curve balls my way. As tough as it has been, I'm a long way from the Heidi I used to be.


In my quest for "redemption" I have started writing down things that I would like to do for myself. Some refer to this as a life list. Once again this was something that I saw my cousin Dawn (I'm learning how to link, I think!) doing and I thought it could help me find focus (thanks so much for your inspiration, seriously...blogging, life list, biggest loser...wow! :)). It is not complete in any way, nor will it ever be. As I grow and change, so will the list. Check it out and start one of your own. It really is quite empowering!


Adventures of "The List"...

#9 Blog...
What better way to document my list than to start a blog. That's why I'm here learning my way through Blogger. Hopefully I can get good at it like so many of the examples that I've looked through. Right now I'm definitely a beginner and really don't have a clue what I'm doing!


#27 Learn how to sew like my mom...
To be honest I'm not sure I'll ever be able to actually cross this off the list. In my eyes, my mom is the most creative person on earth. She can see the beauty in things like no one else can. I've always been amazed at things she has created from fabric, paper, paint, wood, and so much more including just plain junk. Until recently I was never much interested in doing these things for myself. Now don't get me wrong, I've always loved bright girly fabrics and pretty ribbons and bows but I just never thought I would want to do the creating myself. Well things change...maybe!

Meet Hope, (yes I name things, my GPS is referred to as Sally) my $45 garage sale find. I have no idea how to use it but obviously if I'm going to learn how to sew I need one of these. :)

After doing a little research I found Sew to Speak, a cute looking sewing shop in the area that offers classes. I'm hoping to take the very basic introduction to sewing class next Saturday! This store looks like my new inspiration...but first I should probably plug Hope in and try reading the manual. I don't even know if it works yet...

Heidi

Or B is for beginner :)

Cheers to my first official blog post! I must admit that I have no idea how to "blog." This should be an interesting adventure as I learn to use all these fancy buttons. Why is it called blogging anyway? Why am I publishing things about myself that I'm sure are considered dull and unexciting to others?

Well the only reason I have right now is that my cousin Dawn is a blogaholic and I think it looks pretty neat (insert that fancy button that automatically links you to her blog). Plus I have always wanted to keep a journal. This is a long way from my pink ballet slipper diary from circa 1992 but I'll give it a shot. :)

Before I go any farther I must inform you I'm the queen of starting new things going full throttle only to fizzle out when the excitement wears off. That is my warning... :)

As for the name, bliss just happens to be my favorite word. I actually hope to someday live on a street named Blissful Way (which is almost as cool as having it as a last name). I'm not sure how I'm going to pull this off yet but it seems perfect to me! It just sounds wonderful the way the word rolls off your tongue. I can't help but smile every time I say it. :) Bliss has such a wonderful definition; extreme happiness. So maybe this blog should be renamed Journey to Blissful Way...

Off I go...

Heidi