HAPPY NEW YEAR!......TO YOU ALL.

To all my fellow bloggers, I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a most splendid New Year in every possible way. May all your dearest wishes and desires become realities and fill your lives with happiness!

SOMEBODY SPECIAL..........

"I am somebody. I am me. I like being me. And I need nobody to make me somebody" - Louis L'Amour

Often we spend so much time taking care of all the special people in our lives, we forget that we are somebody special too. I am special and you are special and each and every one of us is just as significant and necessary to the world as the next. It is not until we begin to realise this very important truth, however, that we allow ourselves to recognise what very special somebodies we are.

May we always be aware of our specialness.......

72 TIMES......AND STILL COUNTING!

If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence. The will to endure to the end, to get knocked down seventy one times and get up saying "Here comes seventy-two"

It may take 71 times or 72 or 112, but the wonderful thing about life is that as long as we keep getting up, dusting ourselves off and starting all over again; as long as we persist in persisting and make up our minds that nothing will stop us.....as long as we do that....nothing will! We win by relentlessly molding ourselves through all those ups and downs into the winners we were born to be.
May we always be willing to get up and start again.

'My life is in good hands......my own!'

'THE AUTHOR OF MY OWN LIFE' !........

CHILE....... ARGENTINA......BRAZIL......

Well, what can I say!....except Yippee! 'I'm over the moon with excitement' I'm going on a Grand Tour of South America. I've paid my deposit, I've booked my place, and so, on the 16th March to April 1st 2008 I will be spending 17 days visiting this vast continent's most spectacular countries, I will be dancing to the rhythms of Latin American music.....looking in wonder at the soaring mountains, grasslands and glaciers.......discovering the rich culture and vibrant spirit developed from great Inca civilizations, blending with modern cosmopolitan cities.....it is going to be absolutely fantastically wonderful!!!
I shall be visiting......*Santiago * The Andes* Buenos Aires* Iguacu Falls* Rio de Janeiro.....I will be seeing places that I have previously only heard mentioned in songs i. e. Copacabana, Ipanema, and I'll see Sugar Loaf Mountain....etc..etc.
The time for thinking and talking are over, this is the time for doing!...and action! Now I have started, I just have to keep up the momentum and not stop.

'I'VE DECIDED TO GET UP AND LOOK FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES I WANT IN MY LIFE........AND IF I CAN'T FIND THEM........I WILL MAKE THEM'!

SINK....SURVIVE....SWIM!

In reflective mood (yet again!) I have come to realise that throughout my life, there have been occasions when I did sink. Then I learned how to survive. Now however, I know that the time has come for me to swim! Over the past 11 years or so I have made many small changes, now I feel the time is right to make a huge change in my lifestyle. This change is long overdue, (at one time I thought it was a work plan or maybe a business plan I needed) Not so!... it is a..... 'rest of my life plan'. I have worked for over 30 years, raised my daughter as a single parent for 10 years and also cared for my mother for the past 9 years. I need to capitalise on the freedom that not working can bring, and begin to really enjoy my life to the full. Just surviving is no longer an option. It feels like I have been 'treading water' or floating on the surface of life just to keep my head above the water. Every new day is so precious, I can swim! and I will!

TO HAVE WHAT I'VE NEVER HAD..... I MUST DO WHAT I'VE NEVER DONE.

MY AFFIRMATION..........

I wrote this affirmation in order to give myself the 'boost' I needed.

No journey is too long, no hill too high, nor storm too strong.

I will not look behind, I will just look ahead.

I will not be sad, for I will look for joy.

I will not be weak, for I will seek inspiration.

I will be of firm hand and foot,

Fair heart, fair smile and calm.

I will be of one voice, against all storms,

One strength against adversity,

For I am all these things and more.........

MY PERSONAL TRIBUTE TO MINDBLOGGLING....

I know that mindbloggling means different things to different people....and that's fine. For me however, it has become very important indeed, for all of the following reasons. It allows me to express my thoughts, and feelings, (which can be quite cathartic, and is certainly empowering) It has raised my confidence level and also my self-belief. I am able to connect with people, which in turn, reduces feelings of complete isolation and loneliness, that are at times quite difficult to live with, (because of my personal circumstances, which I am doing my best to address.) Just as importantly as the benefits I receive for myself, I feel privileged to be able to 'give something back' by being as supportive and encouraging to my fellow bloggers, as they are to me. This mutual support and involvement I think is a vital ingredient of our bloggling community.

It is extremely 'heartwarming' to know that not only has someone read your post, but they have also taken the time to leave a comment. It is so appreciated, to be acknowledged in this way.

Long may our bloggling community continue to grow and expand!