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A to Z Challenge Archive

What a coincidental post this is. We’re supposed to reflect back on our journey through the alphabet last month, yet the whole month I spent looking in the mirror and trying to find the positives within to reflect back at me through that mirror.

I learned a lot about myself. I learned not to listen to all those negative voices inside my head.  No matter how hard they try to tell me what an awful person I am, that I will never amount to anything, that I have no talent, I have a minimum of 26 positive character traits I can go back and remind myself that I am good.

I’d like to challenge you to spend a month, even a week, maybe one day at a time, just to look yourself in the mirror and find that one positive trait you really didn’t think you had. We could all use a little more positive in our lives, and it starts from within.

I am Strong

I Am Strong!

My favorite one this year was realizing just how strong I am. Which one was your favorite? Any suggestions for another Positive Challenge just to keep the energy flowing?

If you didn’t have a chance to visit them all, I’ve compiled the list here for easy access. I’ve also added it to my Power of Positive page. I hope you enjoy!

2014 April A to Z Blogging Challenge
Reflecting The Positive In Me
Reflecting the Positives in Me – A is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – B is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – C is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – D is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – E is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – F is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – G is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – H is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – I is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – J is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – K is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – L is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – M is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – N is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – O is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – P is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – Q is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – R is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – S is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – T is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – U is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – V is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – W is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – X is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – Y is for…
Reflecting the Positives in Me – Z is for…

LadyJai

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Morning Has Broken

As many of you know, I’ve been dealing with a lot of emotional stress these last few months. I really can’t believe it’s already the 5th month! MAY! What the heck. I had so many plans, so many goals. I wanted to get back to writing my novels this year since I’m actually going through the healing process.

I spent all of April in the A to Z Challenge, posting my Reflecting The Positives In Me. If you haven’t seen them, please take a moment to browse through. They aren’t long. It’s helped me identify, and focus on, my positive traits. That’s helped immensely. I highly recommend taking some time to do this for yourself. I’m currently trying to find another challenge like this so I can continue helping myself, and possibly helping others as well.

One of my Veteran Caregiver groups asked the question if any caregivers use art for healing. They wanted a few caregivers to give examples for their newsletter. I went to reply, found out it was too long of a response for their newsletter, and posted it on my blog instead. I’m a writer, what can I say. I’m long-winded. 🙂 I did manage to cut it down for their newsletter, but I expounded on it in more detail on my blog. If you’re interested please visit Writing To Heal.

So, Hubs has been to countless doctor appointments, and two ER visits. No one seems to listen, only want to treat the symptoms. At least the first ER visit and the CT scan they did went to the VA and his “doctor” there said he had some serious calcification going on in his sinuses and that could be causing this migraine that’s not a migraine. We’ve been told that this year has been hell for pollen and those who’ve never been affected before are now showing symptoms of seasonal allergies. They sent him out some meds straight away. Of course he had some reactions to one of them. That’s just our luck. Not sure if that was the reason for the massive headache or not, but maybe he’s doing better? It’s hard to tell a lot of times with him because he likes to put on his mask. I mean, he suffered tremendously through Easter with TheRents just to do something with the family. So, I just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best, or at the very least, a little lessening of the pain.

Also, I’ve been going through some massive tests with the doctor. I guess it’s high time I took care of myself, because you know, if I don’t how can I take care of TheHubs if I’m done for? So, I went. More money out of my pocketbook! Ugh. And I know they won’t find anything because they never do. I always have “odd” symptoms. I have to go back in a couple of weeks to see if there is anything definitive. We’ll see.

Anyway, on to the goals….

April Goals:

Same as last month since March slapped me in the face…

  1. Read through my WIP. This is the first step to get back into the head of my MC and the world he lives in. I hope. – Nope, didn’t get to WIP#1 to read this. I just did not have any time and, well, I think my MC for WIP#1 called to me. See #2.
  2. Write words on WIP. – While my intent was to write words on WIP#2, I did manage to write a few paragraphs towards the ending of my WIP#1 so I consider this a win 😛
  3. Keep up with blog posts for both blogs – this one and my Caring for My Vet. – I excelled at this I believe.
  4. Comment/cheer on my fellow #WriteMotivation peeps on Twitter, FB, Google+ and their blogs. I did the best I could with this. The A to Z challenge took most of my commenting time away as I tried to comment on other bloggers’ sites.
  5. Write motivational post for #WriteMotivation – Didn’t happen. Nothing came to me. No one suggested anything. 🙁 Oh well.
  6. Continue with my positive thinking. I think I am managing this just fine at the moment!
  7. Read another book. Almost done with Insurgent. Didn’t get enough “me” time to finish it up.

 

May Goals:

1. Since WIP#2 wasn’t working, I switched to WIP#1 and I’ve written a few paragraphs towards the ending. So, continue that. Unless my MC in WIP#2 starts talking to me again! I’m flexible like that!
2. Keep up with blog posts for both blogs – this one and my Caring for My Vet.
3. Comment/cheer on my fellow #WriteMotivation peeps on Twitter, FB, Google+ and their blogs.
4. Continue with my positive thinking
5. Read another book.

 

LadyJai

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I strive for Zen!

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!

LadyJai

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My mind is still Young

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!

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X out the Negative

X out the Negative

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

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I am worthy!

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.

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I love voraciously

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.

LadyJai

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It is utterly impossible for me to be fake

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.

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I'm Trustworthy

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,

LadyJai

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I am Strong

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%. 😀

LadyJai

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I Respect Myself & Others

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. 🙂

LadyJai

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I don't quit!

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!

LadyJai

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I'm passionate

I’m passionate

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

LadyJai

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I Try To Remain Optimistic

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,

LadyJai

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I'm a natural beauty

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.

LadyJai

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