No you can’t have my joy!

I refuse to allow anyone to steal my joy! Did you hear me? I refused to allow anyone to steal my joy! This is a confession of a former people pleaser that included allowing people to steal my joy. No, Don’t feel sorry for me I willingly participate in opening the path for people to come Into my life and steal my joy.
How did this happen? Let me explain.
I cared too much about other people’s opinions about me regardless if their judgement was right or wrong. I poured my heart and soul into doing whatever I could to make them like me.
I spend way too much time catering to other people’s needs and disobeyed that voice in my head that whispered ” what about you and what you need”. I was under the foolish impressions that people cared. It took me a long time to come to grips with the fact that people are only out for their best interest, and if they can use you its because your a means to an end.
For years I bite my tongue held my peace and refused to talk back to defend myself. I swallowed every insult and stood strong like a dummy and smiled while saying,” its ok.”
I did things I didn’t want to do and visited places I had no business going. I conspired against people because someone asked me to. I denied myself simple pleasures in life because I was too busy giving them to others who I felt deserved the blessing more than I did.
During all of this I carried a cinder block of unhappiness that I couldn’t explain. I was angry, but I did not know who to be angry at. This cycle continued for years until a incident happened that shook me to the core of my thinking. The first thought was to kiss up to the individual and get back on their good side. But that voice in my head overpowered me and roared No! We are not going to allow this situation to steal our joy! It was amazing. It was like I saw the sun for the first time. I asked myself why? Why should I bend because another person chooses to give me the silent treatment. No. No. No. I will not allow you to take my joy! I have armed myself, I have a plan, I am smiling because my plan doesn’t involve revenge, being angry or showing my discomfort. My choice is simply to go about each day and not allow you to steal my joy!
I refuse to be miserable. I refuse to lose sleep think of way to make things right. I refuse to submit to your will.
Today, and every day, I close the door and will not allow you to enter to steal my joy!

Grant me Peace

Dear readers,

I am thankful for a peaceful morning. We need to become aware of the effects of NOISE. Too much chatter/ NOISE can have damaging affects on us mentally, NOISE prevents us from staying focus. NOISE is also physically draining. People are afraid of silence because they might hear what they need to hear and not what they want to hear. If you life lack clarity, I challenge you to try one day without TV, Radio, Social Media, turn off the Cell Phone, computer, JUST TURN OFF THE NOISE. Instead, take a walk, talk to your family, play a board game, read, or just sit in a favorite chair and BE Still.Today my strength is restore. I am grateful!

What Say you?

The Challenge

Dear readers,

I am thankful for a peaceful morning. We need to become aware of the effects of NOISE. Too much Chatter/ NOISE can be mentally damaging, NOISE prevents us from staying focus. NOISE is also physically draining. Some people are afraid of silence because they might hear what they need to hear and not what they want to hear. If your life lack clarity, I challenge you to try one day without TV, Radio, Social Media, turn off the Cell Phone, and Computers,  TURN OFF THE NOISE! Instead, take a walk, talk to your family, play a board game, read, or just sit in a favorite chair and BE Still.Today my strength is restore. I am grateful!

What Say You?

A Throw Back From The Past.

Dear readers,

The Absence of Silence and Etiquette

Thank you, pardon me, please, would you mind if I… I am sorry…I did not mean to…..

There was a time when people used their inside voices and manners in place like: libraries, museums, churches, theaters, restaurants and even on public transportation. Initially, being quiet and respectful was too expected, appreciated and the norm. The pleasure of closing out the business and noise of the outside world was a welcomed relief. The act of disturbing someone’s peace was considered a breach of social protocol.

Nowadays noise and being rude is the new commonplace. It seems that the louder and the ruder the better. People are learning to adjust to an increase in noise and bad mannerisms by plugging up and tuning out with more noise; or speaking louder than the conversation next to them. Moreover, making matters worse, we are living in a society of advanced technology that contributes to people exhibiting bad behavior. Furthermore, proper etiquette is no longer being instill in homes, schools and in the work environment. The attitude is that it’s an imposition to ask others to use proper decorum because we have become accustomed to conducting ourselves in an improper manner, and being corrected is considered as an insult.

Do you agree or disagree that we are living in a society that supports the lost art of manners?

What say you?