Leisure, Mental Health

My favorite cartoon character…

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

SNOOPY!!! I’ve watched Charlie Brown growing up and have fond memories. Who doesn’t love Snoopy!

Incase you don’t know the story behind Snoopy and Charlie Brown, let me enlighten you.

Charlie Brown adopted Snoopy from the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm after Snoopy was returned from his first owners. How lucky both Charlie and Snoopy were to have found each other. They built a relationship full of love, loyalty and trust. The show was based on real life experiences by the artist, Charles Scultz and his dog Spike.

Charles didn’t have anyone really close to him, people made fun of him and he just had a rough time. His gf rejected him and he was left alone. Instead of turning that heartbreak and rejection into something worthless, he took it and made a comic about his life and his beloved dog Spike, aka – Snoopy. How incredible and inspirational.

Since 1950 Charlie Brown with Snoopy has been a comic and character on many television sets, that never died. Its filled homes with love, laughter and relatable content for some viewers to let them know, they’re not alone. What he did for himself and others is very selfless. He let strangers into his world and we had no idea it was actually based on the artist and his dog.

Sometimes we either take what comes at us and let it eat at us or we turn that rejection into something positive. Excellence on Charles part.

While I was writing this it reminded me of the prompt from yesterday, how your mindset can influence your financial success. Charles Scultz is a prime example of how cabaple we are to be successful even when you’ve been rejected your entire youth and young adult life. Turn that negative mind into a positive mind.

While he was silently creating and healing his inner child, he was helping so many other people and I’m not sure if Charles even realized how many he helped.

Thank you Mr. Scultz for your comics and cartoons and Snoopy ❤️

Leisure, Pets

If my dog could talk, this is what she would say…

If your pet could talk, what would be the first thing it says?

Our golden retriever Gracie is so full of life. She has so much energy and is ready for any date. Her absolute favorite activity other than hunting for the perfect stick to demolish or playing hide and seek with her ball, her favorite activity is swimming.

The first thing Gracie would say is, “Take me to the beach!” Her absolute favorite is crashing the waves or chasing the birds until she realizes they win every time.

Gracie is our second Golden. Our first, Molly, was my sobriety emotional support and she did such an amazing job. She is now an angel with her earned wings.

Gracie came to us in 2023 and she is a beautiful AKC big ball of fluff and a cuddle bug.  We got her down in Florida before Christmas and she has brought so much joy to our life. Gracie is also a sort of therapy dog for our daughter in her recovery.

My husband asked after we lost our Molly, why and how could I go through another loss like we are with Molly? I said , because of all the love they give and coming home to a dog is something noone can describe, unless you own a dog. The greetings and happiness they show us. The instant we see them the world melts and it’s all about the pets and kisses. I have always had a dog. Not having one would be so miserable. Gracie keeps me active, she sits with me and keeps me company while the hubby works. She’s also a great listener.

If Gracie could talk, oh boy, I don’t think she’d ever stop lol. I think I prefer her little growls or moaning when she wants my attention.

Mental Health

What I’ve been up to the last couple years…

Hello fellow warrior’s!

I hope you’re all striving to be your best selves!

As you may have read I’ve been getting creative and picked up Art and wrote a children’s book. We now have 7 grandbabies and loving every minute of it.

We moved in both places, here in Ontario and down South. Both were such good decisions. We are closer to our grandsons and our daughter down South and enjoying them tremendously!  

I’ve been watching my kids grow into their 30s and although it’s been a rough road at times, we manage. I try to be open minded and advise them as best I can. I’ve learned to step back and let them figure things out.

Hanging out with my son’s children, 4 and 1, has been wonderful. I love seeing him with his son’s. He interacts with them and plays and disciplines and loves them. Its amazing seeing he turned out that way after the way his father treated him. I worried about that. I prayed he would be a good dad. A good dad is what he is, a good provider and partner. Making Mama proud!

I turned 56 this year! Only 4 years to 60!! Whoohoo!! Hard to believe because I still feel so young. I actually find it comical. Onwards and upwards 🙌

I often think my life started at 40. A year after I left alcohol in the ditch, when I really enjoyed living alcohol free. I stopped thinking and living in the past. Finally having someone who stood by me and loved me and my kids. I have truly never been so adjusted, calm or happy. I’ve never felt I had a home, until I built one, ( not literlly ) with my husband, I was always running or given a reason to run. My life, our life improved tremendously when I got better. I got therapy, I went to AA, I know not for everyone, I had proper support and the right group of friends. I weeded my garden. It took years for me to break free from some toxic relationships but eventually I chose myself and removed what didn’t bring me peace. More weeding.

I have a life I love and that’s from making choices that I didn’t think I needed to make until faced with loosing everything I loved so much. Making choices of who was part of my life. Who deserved a place at my table.

It’s an illness that never goes away but once we get to the better side of it, a new you emerges. The one that you looked for, the one that’s been waiting to flourish, the one that matters.

We all hear the stories of what alcohol did to us but what about the good stuff. The positive and great things that come to our lives when we make that choice to live different and authenticly. Love ourselves enough to be who we are meant to be. Be amazed at what you can do, the potential that lays in you, and the opportunities that come your way. Embrace what life has to offer while we are here. Be the change. Have as much courage to set that drink down, that you did to pick it up for the first time. Think back. Remember how scared you were to drink. What’s gonna happen? It made us sick.

Trust me, it’s far from a boring life. It’s adventurous and so much more than you realize.

But, who am I to say, you should just try it and see for yourself! I dare for you to make a liar out of me 😋 I hope to see you on the other side.

This is, Being Me Sober

Leisure, Mental Health

A common misconception people have about happiness?

What’s a common misconception people have about happiness?

Its the big one, Money Will Make Me Happy! If I just had more. If I get that new boat, house, car….

We’ve all heard that. There are so many things we think will make us happy or, happier.  Its never something you can buy, practice or fake. 

Are you happy a little, or happy, or whole heartedly happy?

There’s only one way to be truly happy and that’s to love. Love yourself, love others and be grateful. Be grateful and love what you have,not what you don’t.

Happiness comes from within, your inner peace and happiness.

You can find happiness by doing things for others and not expecting anything in return. Paying forward. Loving and supporting one another. Smiling and saying hello to a passer by. Letting a car merge in-front of you when you can see their blinker….don’t speed up, don’t curse and yell at the person who clearly cannot hear you. You get it!

Myself, I’m a happy person.  Thankfully. There are days, like today, you’d think I was miserable. But if you knew me you’d know why I am in a mood, but I get through and know tomorrow is a new day and it will be better!

Is that happiness or optimism 🤔?

I know money or status will not bring happiness. Those are temporary. I know happiness is a gift and not always granted so easily for some, but if you open your heart and look within, you’ll find some happy there.