Birthday Tribute to my Husband

I want to use this forum to send birthday wishes to my husband, Greg. He's been my partner for over fifteen years. We were together two years before we married, giving us nearly eighteen years together so far.

Eighteen wonderful years. I wish for all your birthday wishes to come true and for you to enjoy every one. I love you so much. You are my rock. My partner. My love. My life.

Without you in my life, I would be truly lost. You are my safest port in any storm.

Married couples have their ups and downs throughout their married life. We have the added drama of my Bipolar Disorder. You are always there for me, no matter if I'm suffering from depression or mania. You always know exactly what to say or do to help me. You are truly my perfect companion. You know me better than I know myself at times.

I depend on you. I lean on you. I need you to take care of me. Without you, I would have succumbed to madness long ago. You are a steady influence over me.

I know I can go to you for comfort, safety, protection, and sanity. You always know exactly what to say to bring me out of a foul mood or comfort me when I'm depressed.

You keep me walking the right path and help me when I lose my way. You are the candle in my dreariest darkness.

I am truly, madly, and deeply in love with you.

We've grown close, you and I. Closer than I could ever imagine two people could be, married or not. You know me so well. You know my moods even before I recognize them myself. You protect me, even from me, which is why I love you so much.

If it's in your power, you give me whatever my heart desires. I adore you for that. And, all I want to do for the rest of my life is to make you happy.

You are the perfect compliment to me. My other half. My better half.

You love my children. You love our grandchildren. And, they love you. Life is about balance, and you ensure our life is balanced with fun and seriousness. When I'm sad, you balance me with your happiness.

You are my Love. My Best Friend. My Life.

I am always safe with you, my protector.  You are my hero. I am your biggest fan.

Happy Birthday, my dearest love. I want to grow old with you. My favorite place in all the world is next to you.

Always and Forever Yours,

Staying Focused - Through the Good Times and Not so Good

A friend of mine asked me how do I stay focused with all my medical issues both mental and physical and keep up with writing my blogs.

Well, my friend, that is a very good question. And, I'd like to answer it here, if I may?

Staying focused isn't all so much as focusing on one thing at a time, but having the ability to focus on the present while keeping an eye on the future.

When I'm feeling particularly well, I not only write my daily blog, but I'll write down ideas for topics of future blogs. This way, I have an on-going list that I can glean ideas from and come up with new posts. 

Another way to stay ahead of an illness or behavior, is to write those blogs out and have them sitting as drafts so that you can pull any one of them out, polish a bit, and voila! You have a ready made post for that day.

Staying stable is so important when you are ill, either mentally or physically. That's very crucial to building your blogs and maintaining your blog topic idea list. So, it's very important that you listen to your mind and body and know when enough is enough and it's time to spend quality time with yourself, healing yourself, gaining your strength back, in whatever fashion that may be for you.

For me, it might mean a quick trip to Busch Gardens for a walk around the park. That always rejuvenates. me. Kayaking in a local estuary looking at wildlife, getting astonished when fish jump, or a bird takes flight, always brings me back to earth.

Lying still, letting my dog lay his head in my lap, softly petting him. Just laying my hands on him. Finding the peace of mind I may have been missing for a while is always helpful. 

Sometimes, I need to read a bit from my Bible, just to find a bit of attachment with the One above who knows all and sees all. Sending Him my prayers and asking for help is always a good way to keep myself grounded and find motivation to stay focused.

Staying focused. Doesn't always mean sitting at your computer for eight or nine hours a day pounding on the keyboard. 

Staying focused can mean, centering yourself, knowing yourself. Being yourself completely in the moment. Once you have mastered that. You may only need to spend an hour or two working on your blogs rather than all day. It's all about balance.

Find that balance in your life. Life for balance. Practice Balance. It won't be easy at first, but with practice come repetition and repetition means you are learning. Balance your life. Balance yourself.

So, when you are well, work on your blogs, build up your cache of posts and topics. When you are ill, take care of yourself. You come first. Don't worry. We will all be here, with gentle hugs of welcome when you return.

So, do you have any tips for how to stay centered and focused while writing your blogs? What keeps you going?

--

Finding Balance in Life

I'm having a great day. I'm sitting and listening to my ipod, which is currently playing the Doors, while I sit at my computer, with my dog at my feet. The sun is streaming through the trees and into my window.

What a day.

Later I'm going to lay out by the pool and relax and do some reading. Life in Florida. Nice, huh?

I'm not telling you all this, to feel envious, or to brag, but to show you that when you have a good thing, don't let it pass you by. Grab a hold of it. Enjoy it. Savor it. Live it. Don't think you'll just wait for the next time.

What if next time didn't come?

Live each day to the fullest. Take advantage of the opportunities you have now, don't wait for another to come.

I used to live that way. And, what did it get me? Way too much stress. Sick. And a terribly unhealthy life, both mentally and physically. It's not a good way to live. You can't live that way for long. Something's gotta give, and it's usually a breakdown of some sort, either mentally or physically.

Mine was both.

I learned the hard way. I don't want you to make the same mistakes. Give yourself permission to have fun. Take a few extra minutes out of your busy life and give them to yourself. Start small. Work your way to giving yourself more and more time until you're able to find the appropriate balance in your life.

That's what's it's all about.

Balance.

And, while you're finding that balance, blow some bubbles. No one can be stressed while blowing bubbles!

Have a great day!