"Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity"

Have you ever taken a second to stop...realize how much you have on your plate... AND COMPLETELY FREAK OUT?!  Anxiety has been taking its toll on me lately and it doesn't really sink in until I actually take a second out of my day to stop and organize in my head what all I have to accomplish in the next coming months.  Wondering if I should be writing more in my planner, making more reminders and calendar notes in my phone or add to my post it note collection also sparks anxiety!  Sometimes my mind races so much it is hard for me to even concentrate on what is at the top of my list and or my extreme priorities.

Conducting my lists and all the numerous upcoming events in my head I come to terms that my apartment is in fact at the top of my list.  With our lease being up at the end of December with scheduled move out date to be New Years, you can only imagine how much I am stressing about this situation in this already busy time of the year!  Reassuring myself that I will find a new place as well as coordinating with my current leasing office to see about other possible move out dates whether before or after our scheduled one is in my best interest as well.  I hope to plan and prepare things out accordingly as I am sure most people know the stresses of moving are horrific.

Learning to better plan ahead and prepare is something I am always striving to do better with.  Waiting to the last minute not only causes stress but more often than none a faulty outcome or just not the best.  In order to be successful and push myself and my capabilities I think taking on being a better planner is a great task for me to manage.  I feel thinking about all my tasks I have yet to complete and resolve only worries me more and makes me spiral down a path of anxiety.  I feel as if I look at things differently in the sense of a positive manner and that "they will get done," and "first things first," attitude all will be okay and work out well in the outcomes of each event or task.  It is all about maintaining that positive attitude while actually getting stuff done that will help me to better prepare as well as be completely successful in anything I do as a result. :)

 

She is Lucky, and so am I

This week and weekend I endured a scary happening that came very unexpectedly.  I was rushed into an unexpected surgery where my heart had then taken an even more unexpected reaction to the anesthesia.  I had known I had an abnormal heart beat for quite some time now as other doctors have noticed but it has never been a huge issues to me (as it really should saying it is my heart!).  After waking up and from the anesthesia and feeling as if an elephant was sitting on my chest, the doctor had explained that my heart rate would not stay at a normal rate as well as pattern during the procedure.  It often shot up and then dropped to extreme and worry some levels.  He referred my mother and I to a couple cardiologist to talk about possible procedures from here.

When I arrived home the first presence to greet me was my adorable and sweet old dog Lucky.  I had rescued Lucky a little over a year ago now and I am so happy to to have provided her a wonderful home to carry out the rest of her life.  She had come from a family where husband and wife were both physically and verbally abusive so she is scared of nay loud voice or noise and is mortified of thunder storms.  Having known all this and witnessing her reactions for myself I knew I had done the right thing in giving this sweet girl a new comforting home where she would not have to live in fear anymore.  What I didn't know, was how much of an impact that little lady was going to have on me and my life.

Lucky did not leave my side the entire time spent in bed.  When I got up to do absolutely anything, Lucky was right there to aid me.  I have never felt more comforted and taken care of as I have with her considering the state and condition I was in.  I cannot be more thankful to have her in my life and it means the world to me knowing how she did not leave my side and knew I needed to be watched over.  I feel I have truly been blessed  and she is the absolute perfect addition to my life.  When ever I need to be reassured or a push to get through something I know she will always be there.  I truly believe animals are smarter than we give them credit for.  I also believe they are guardian angels in disguise.   

Lucky is my best friend and I can't help but feel at ease every time I see her and she plops herself in my lap.  I truly believe she sensed that I took her home that day to give her a new life and she is in return has made mine a brighter as well.  One of the best feelings I think I have ever come across is taking her home and knowing in my heart how great of a thing I was doing and the wonderful life I was saving and now knowing that she in return would do the same for me.

 

"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list."

Just like any of us, a lot has been going on in my life lately, both great and not so great.  One things for sure though is that I have definitely been carrying a smile through it all.  :]  One of my greatest weaknesses however (and I am certainly not afraid to admit it) would be committing the crime of over thinking leading to a negative outlook or attitude.  My biggest issue is that sometimes I tend to find things or situations to good to be true and often seek out negativity in them so a sense of reality can strike me.  However I am learning that this evil method of mine is known as self sabotage.

This quote is very... very true.

I am learning to take things as they come.  Both with an open mind as well as an open heart.  To be curious and not judgmental and just enjoy the moment that is in front of me.  To not skip out on chances and seek every opportunity I get no matter what it may be.  With all that being said, I start a new chapter in my life titled "Journeys" and will be adventuring to Okinawa, Japan in November to attend the United States Marine Corps Ball.

Now, although very skeptical as well as anxious to the max I am learning to put those thoughts behind me and bask in the amazing concept of this opportunity.  This will be my first time out of the country and I never expected I would be traveling to Japan out of all places. I can honestly say I have never been more excited.  Excited to start my chapter of Journeys and hopefully be that much inspired to continue to add to it in the near future.  My dress has finally been purchased for the ball and in doing so, I had to stop and think to myself how surreal this all really is.  How many times in ones life does an opportunity such as attending the United States Marine Corps Ball in Okinawa, Japan come up?  And how lucky and fortunate am I to have been asked by one of the most amazing people and friends I have ever had in my life.  Totally cliche but it is true... I am one very lucky girl...  And more importantly I need to stop myself sometimes in the midst of craziness and realize, things happen for a reason, life carries on and all in all... everything is going to be okay... So continue to smile. :]

I have always wanted to venture out and see the world someday and I think this is  great place to start and cannot thank my Marine enough for helping me and giving me that little extra push with this process.  This is going to be a trip I will remember and cherish forever and cannot wait to see where it will go from here.  I am already looking forwarding to adding to this this chapter. :]

Follow your heart, but be quiet at first

This weeks lesson was all about trust in timing and in given situations.  No matter how organized we tend to think we can keep things together in our lives, there are bound to be those times and incidents where we have to accept and trust a situation will get better.  The hardest part about this concept for me, is the fact that I tend to over think things... a lot!  I may be accepting of a situation, however when my mind decides to, thoughts beyond thoughts and anxiety even begin to take over.  I am slowly but surely learning to handle and challenge these inner thoughts and feelings by accepting something for what it is, moving on from it and having a positive encouraging thought in the back of my mind rather than a million potential negative and questionable ones. 

A sad reality has to come to me where I have to sell one of the most important things in my life, my sweet horse Marvin.  I found him a great home and am very excited for his new owners to take him places and teach him new things since he is still a baby and learning.  This week Marvin caught himself in a fence and ended up tearing a hole in his skin that led straight to his bone.  Luckily there was no fracture and he was placed under vet care immediately.  I was mortified to call his new owner who had driven from California to Arizona to tell her the horrible new.  I could not help but think to myself on how horrible the timing was and more so how horrible it is for me to see him this way.  He is having a difficult time putting pressure on the leg but I have been working with him every day to help him walk at his own pace.  He has made great progress even within a few days but it is still a hard sight for me to see him in so much pain and struggle.  My concept of trust in this situation, is to trust that he will for sure get better and he will be even stronger than before.  Oddly enough I have found that I have to trust in the timing of this situation as well.  Instead of over thinking why this could have happened to me or poor Marvin at this time, I have to be strong and stable for the both of us and trust in his progress, health and future happiness.

His new owner was very understanding of the situation and wishes him all the best.  She cannot wait until she can finally come pick him up once he is healed, and I am grateful to have found such a wonderful person to take further care of him.  It's interesting the situations we find ourselves having to use trust in.  For me personally, I thought this was a new way to utilize this concept and I can even see it along the lines of having and keeping up with faith.  This one sure has been a difficult lesson to watch because I absolutely cannot bear seeing my child (as I call him since I have raised him since he was a baby), be in pain, suffering and struggling.  He is a tough boy though and I know he will pull through with the faith that me and his future owner are executing.  Lesson learned, trust that things do get better as well as fall into place accordingly.