Hey Y’all – it’s been a while since my last post. Life has been super busy and I finally found some time this week to sit down and meditate on my next post. So here goes…….

For years I learned to make excuses for bad behavior from people in my life. I know everyone has that one family member (or two or three) that we don’t particularly enjoy being around but…. we are obligated to invite them to all family functions because well…. they are family. Right??? Ummm no not necessarily. I came to realize that there are no excuses for bad behavior. They are grown adults who make a conscious decision to behave the way they do and they make a choice to treat people the way they do. I am not talking about personality conflicts. I do realize we don’t ALL get along ALL of the time. I am talking about that toxic person who is always critical, always the victim and always thinks they are better than you. The ones that use you for their own gain offering nothing in return except to talk about you behind your back. Well I am here to tell you – we all put our pants on the same way. And if you have never walked a mile in my shoes don’t judge the way I dance through life.

I had an aha moment one day, and that was, that I can choose to surround myself with the people I love and who love and support me for the person I am in spite of all my flaws. We celebrate life and love together. It is ok to disagree with the way I live and it is ok for me to disagree with your choices and the way you live.  Because we are not all the same and we all have different journeys. You see, I found myself  judging them because I didn’t like the  way they made me feel. I fell into that negative trap, always complaining about their behaviour. Oh dear lord!!! I have become like them!!!! I have become the very thing I hate! Uh-uh I ain’t doin it! I CHOOSE to get away from the negative people and the negative behaviour. Yes, I have walked away from the poison. And it is ok. It is ok to walk away from relationships that are not healthy. Forgive them and move on. Without forgiveness there is bitterness and I do not want to be a bitter angry person. I forgive for my peace of mind. What they do with their anger and jealousy is up to them. It is none of my business.

The Bible says we are put here on this Earth to enjoy the things God has provided for us. So I choose to enjoy the blessings God has placed in my life. I have friends (true friends – not people who just claim to be my friend) that think I am funny, smart, caring, generous, hard-headed, stubborn and sometimes a little bossy. (I choose to call it Good Management Skills – LOL) But guess what!!!!!????? They love me for who I am. They don’t always agree with me but they don’t have to. It’s ok to have different opinions and still support and love each other. Take my children for example. Do you think they have always agreed with every decision I made when they were growing up? Of course not. Do you think as adults they now agree with everything I do? Of course they do!!! HA Just kidding!!! Of course they don’t. But one thing I can say for sure is that they love me unconditionally and they support me in everything I do. And that goes for me as well. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE my kids with everything that I am. They are a part of me and I will always always always support them in everything they do, even if I don’t think it is the best thing for them. Because it is their journey and they have to live it. And then there are the Grands. Just when you think your heart could not love any deeper, grandkids come along. I would absolutely lay down my life and give my last breath for these precious gifts in my life. So naturally I want to spend as much time with all of them as I possibly can. And my man. I love him fiercely. He is a true gentleman to the core and truly gets me and he loves and accepts me for who I am. I am so grateful for him every day.  He is my best friend. And let’s not forget my biggest fan – my Mom. She has been through so much heartache and hurt in her life and still just loves people. She is a very forgiving person and I enjoy our time together.  I could go on and on but it would take me forever to list everyone that I celebrate life with. My cup runneth over with Blessings.

Celebrate living. Take the time to make that phone call because one day you will want to and they won’t be on the other end to answer. Use the good china everyday because everyday is a special occasion. Get up in the morning and put on that red lipstick, walk around the house in your high heels. I learned this from my grands. Since they could walk they would go into my dressing room and put on my lip gloss and my high heels and walk around the house. In fact they still do this twelve years later. This makes my heart happy. Do what makes you feel good and who cares about what others think. Buy the unpractical sports car. Go on that trip you always wanted to take. Buy that little red dress and wear it to the grocery store. Drink expensive wine at least once and don’t feel bad about it. Buy the biggest zirconium you can find and wear it as if it were the Hope Diamond. Do what makes you happy. Life is short Y’all! Celebrate EVERY DAY!!!!!!