Be Positive in Life and Writing

I strive for Zen!

Having a positive attitude is the road to Zen. Once we can eliminate the negative, we can achieve inner peace. Some days may be incredibly hard and if we haven’t managed to reach Zen, or even start on that road, tomorrow’s another opportunity to make things positive.

Remember, each rough day you get through, you’re batting a thousand. And that’s pretty good!

• Ava Quinn posted on May 5, 2014
  A fantastic word to finish with. And awesome advice! I've really enjoyed your atoz posts. They've been awesome. And your…
• Stephanie Faris posted on April 30, 2014
  Remaining positive can be challenging some days, but it’s important. People don’t really want to be around someone who only…
• C. Lee McKenzie posted on April 30, 2014
  It's all about practice. I'd love to say I'd tossed out those negative thoughts, but then up pops another one…

My mind is still Young

While there are days when my body screams at me, telling my to stop, my mind is still young. If you can keep that going, you’re doing good! Age is only a number. It doesn’t matter how old you are. Be comfortable in your mind!

• Rebekah Loper posted on April 30, 2014
  While I'm not necessarily where I wanted to be in my life as I'm getting ready to turn 29, I'm…
• Damyanti posted on April 29, 2014
  My body is creaky, but my mind is young, too! :)
• Su-sieee! Mac posted on April 29, 2014
  Yup. Age is a number. Some of my body parts feel the oldness, but not my mind or spirit.

X out the Negative

In order to live positively, you must cross out the negative. Eliminate it. Focus on the positives!

• Ava Quinn posted on April 29, 2014
  Beauty! Just perfect!!
• Holli posted on April 29, 2014
  I like that photo! Very creative. I think it's my favourite so far.
• Yvonne Ventresca posted on April 28, 2014
  True! Good one for X! Two more to go... Yvonne

I am worthy!

Listening to the negative voices that scream inside my head, it’s hard to quell them some days. I wrote about exactly this on over on my other blog, where I am starting to admit openly my feelings. If you have time, please stop by and read all about it.

• simple girl posted on April 27, 2014
  Okay. You are worthy definitely.. And I am commenting here to say I love your nail paints. Beautiful colors and…
• Damyanti posted on April 27, 2014
  You're worthy. Let no one tell you otherwise. On another note, love me some of that nail polish!
• Ava Quinn posted on April 26, 2014
  Absolutely, you're worthy. And then some!!!!! And that shirt is adorable! :)

I love voraciously

I love everyone. I try to show how much I love and I hope everyone sees it. Sometimes my heart hurts because it is so filled with love and I can’t share enough. Sometimes it feels like it goes unnoticed, but I always love no matter what.

It is one of the qualities I want to be remembered for.

• Michelle Wallace posted on April 27, 2014
  What a wonderful quality... it's a blessing! <3
• Holli posted on April 26, 2014
  It's definitely a good quality--one well worth celebrating!
• melaniegobledvm posted on April 25, 2014
  Very nice. I love, and it hurts so much sometimes. I think a T-Rex would love voraciously :)

It is utterly impossible for me to be fake

It is utterly impossible for me to be fake. I’ve tried. When I was much, much younger. I adapted to fit into whatever group I was hanging out with, but I really didn’t “fit.” I quickly realized what fake was and decided I just couldn’t do it. I think it kind of secluded me, or maybe that’s just my personality. I don’t surround myself with a lot of people. Genuine is my thing. I am genuine, therefore I require genuine. Close friends are what I treasure. TheHubs has taught me, over the years, how to be confident in myself, how not to care so much about how other people see me. It’s hard. But the older I get, the less I stress over it. So, I am who I am. If you don’t like me, oh well. This is me. I’m kind, loving, and honest. I’m happy with who I am.

• Ida Chiavaro posted on April 26, 2014
  Hi Lady Jai, as usual I had have visited you every day - your posts are always great... reminds of…
• Patricia Lynne posted on April 25, 2014
  Not faking it is an awesome way to approach life (even if you feel a little isolated.) It means your…
• Arlee Bird posted on April 24, 2014
  I like that attitude. A person who is genuine is more trustworthy and likeable. I might put on some airs…

I’m Trustworthy

I believe in being honest, genuine. Along with those traits comes trustworthy. If I say I will do something for you, you can rest assured I will. I take pride in my work, in my love for everyone, and I just want to do the best that I can for everyone around me.

Not only am I trustworthy, I also tend to trust easily. Because I am honest and genuine, I trust that everyone else is too. Unfortunately, not everyone is and I have learned this the hard way, many many times. But what do I do? I keep on trusting everyone no matter what. Because if I don’t, I would miss out on that one person who is just like me. And that would be a sad day.

Love,

• Cheryl Wright posted on May 6, 2014
  I have also learned the hard way and like you I continue to be me....I am really enjoying your posts.
• Katie thecyborgmom posted on May 5, 2014
  What a wonderful post. You are right to keep on giving people the benefit of the doubt. It's a much…
• Lexa Cain posted on April 23, 2014
  I’m very responsible and trustworthy, but as far as trusting others — uh-uh. Been there, done that and it wasn’t…

I Am Strong!

A lot of people tell me how strong I am for dealing with the things I have to deal with and how I try to have this positive outlook on people and life. (If you don’t know my story, please read it here.) It has been a real struggle to accept that I am strong because, to me, when I break, when I cry, when I want to run away I feel weak. Asking for help has always been weak in my eyes. But I’m learning it’s really not. And I AM strong! Because when all is said and done, my track record for getting through those really rough times is still sitting at 100%. 😀

• Michelle Wallace posted on April 22, 2014
  You are stronger than you realise... I admire you!
• Elsie Amata posted on April 22, 2014
  You and I have that tiny inner voice that tries to keep us from asking for help. It takes a…
• Valerie Lawson posted on April 22, 2014
  amen, sister! :)

I Respect Myself & Others

If I don’t, who will? It all starts with me. My view on myself reflects outwardly and should be what others see. This is my goal. 🙂

• S. Katherine Anthony posted on April 21, 2014
  Oh I love this. It starts with ourselves. No ifs, ands, or buts.
• Mary Aalgaard posted on April 21, 2014
  That is so true. If only we could learn it at a young age. Play off the Page
• Alex J. Cavanaugh posted on April 21, 2014
  Very true! It’s like loving others – we must first love ourselves.

I don’t quit!
Or rather, I try, really hard! 😀

While there have been long dry spells in some things, I really don’t quit anything I set out to do. The only thing I remember that I truly quit was when I was 5 and my parents stuck me in ballet. We rehearsed and by recital time came along and I couldn’t wear a tutu, well…I said I didn’t want to do ballet anymore. 🙂

There have been many instances where I’ve pushed things off to the side for a while…sometimes a real long while. But eventually I come back to them. I realized this when I remembered my dream of being a published author. 20 years I had forgotten. But I came back to it. I’m in a holding pattern again, but I’m constantly thinking about it. I just need to get back to it. There needs to be more hours in a day!

And when it comes to love and family and friends, I never give up!

• S. Katherine Anthony posted on April 21, 2014
  Nobody loves a quitter, eh? Seriously, we have to keep on going and keep determination alive. Otherwise regret will consume…
• Diane Jortner posted on April 21, 2014
  It took me 16 year to graduate college.. mostly one class at a time. Just keep moving forward, that is…
• Felicity Writing Away posted on April 20, 2014
  I can relate about the pushing things out of sight for a while (a long while). That’s not the same…

I’m passionate

No matter what I do, no matter what I believe, no matter who I love, I am passionate to the end.

• Damyanti posted on April 19, 2014
  Passion is all that there is in this world, imho– for things spiritual and physical, both. Damyanti, Co-host A to…
• Holli posted on April 19, 2014
  Passionate people are the best! If you're not passionate about something, why do it?
• Julie K Pick posted on April 18, 2014
  I admire your passion, and hope it continues to motivate you to accomplish your goals. Cute photo!

I Try To Remain Optimistic

This one is the *REAL* challenge. (In case you don’t know, I’m a wife, a MomMom, and a caregiver, while working full-time.) When everything happens all at the same time, you are bombarded with negative, you start to lose yourself, your way, your optimism. This is my life. I know the only way to get through to the other side is to seek out the positives and remember that tomorrow is another day. But some days are easier than others. My logical brain knows this. My logical brain understands that negativity kills. Positive thinking is the only way to survive. I learned this a long time ago when my husband was sent to Kosovo. I had an epiphany.

But, sometimes, my emotional brain overrules everything and I start to listen to the negative and start believing the lies it tells me. This is what happened to me recently. What got me through though is my determination to find those tiny bits of positives. It was hard. Sometimes I could not see them. But in the end, I managed. They are there. No matter if you see them or not. Have faith. Believe. And they will reveal themselves to you once again. (Here’s proof, from last year’s A to Z)

Love,

• Kristin Smith posted on April 18, 2014
  Beautiful post and so true! Optimism is such an important quality to have in life!
• Mary Aalgaard posted on April 18, 2014
  Sometimes, we just get worn down by all the stuff of life. You are strong and beautiful inside and out.…
• Hilary posted on April 18, 2014
  Hi Lady Jai .. staying positive is all very well and quite right to do - but oh so difficult…

I’m a natural beauty

I don’t much care for make-up, never have. The only thing I put on, on occasion, is nail polish. Maybe a little lip tint. But I own no makeup. This goes along with my Genuine and “this is me” posts.

• Bonnie posted on April 18, 2014
  Love your reflective photos, and yes inner beauty shows through in acts and personality!
• MAJK (@Safireblade) posted on April 17, 2014
  I love how pretty you are. I confess I don't wear make-up out of laziness nine times out of ten.…
• Sue Kuentz posted on April 16, 2014
  I consider us non or little makeup women very lucky – we have more time to spend with what we…