Mindset - Is Yours in the Right Place?

Over the last week or so, the blessings in my life have come in the form of trials.  I would sing "Blessings" by Laura Story but I wouldn't want to scare you away with my singing.

As we have dealt with my hubby's heart issues (some form of cardiac failure yet to be determined), my mind set has been changing towards my business and my weight loss.  An ex-boss told me once that when you cry a lot it means that you are growing!  I guess I am ready for a growth spurt!  

When all is said and done, the determining factor in our weight loss journey or in the success of our business is our frame of mind.  If we have doubts, we won't do it for it is never easy defeating the negative nellie monsters that come with doubts.  The people who succeed at their weight loss and in their business, are mentally and spiritually prepared.  They truly believe in themselves and their Higher Power, knowing that nothing on earth can get the better of them.

As for me, my mindset has undergone a transformation this week.  My Director, Hope Shortt,  did a training call this week on "Successful Mindset" which helped me to answer 3 questions, changing my doubts into believing that I can be successful.  How do you answer these three questions?

1. Why do I want (my business, weight loss, etc) to be successful for ME?
2. Why do I want (my business, weight loss, etc) to be successful for my FAMILY?
3. Why do I want (my business, weight loss, etc) to be successful for my TEAM?

By answering these questions HONESTLY, I am able to move forward with a positive attitude ready to move mountains in my business and reach my goal weight.  What is holding you back from being successful?  Write the answers down to the questions and change that mindset - YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL if you believe it - I mean TRULY BELIEVE.  

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

A Chapter Ends

 A bittersweet moment on Tuesday... for the last 6 years, I have been holding the mortgage on our old home (a double wide trailer in Atlantic County).  The buyer was a single mom with 4 kids who has struggled with growing up over the last 6 years.  A milestone for both of us, the mortgage has been paid in full.  WOW!  Who would have thought it would have been such an emotional day!

When I look back on the 22 years that I have owned the trailer, I can't help but think of the memories - good and bad.  As my daughter Belinda Heldreth said, it was the only home she ever knew.  My hubby, Rob, shared about how we became a couple and struggled to become a family.  As for me, I can't even begin to share all of the memories that are wrapped up in our old home.  The remodeling that was done by us - Belinda & I along with my aunts Edythe & Elsie.  The Christmases spent decorating the house and setting up Belinda's Department 56 village.  The family dinners.  The tears as we came to terms with my grandmother's Alzheimers and the need to place her in a nursing home.  The years that Elsie lived down the street so "her buddy" Belinda got to visit daily.  The week-end home that Edythe had around the corner so that we could all help take care of Grams as she got sick.  The list goes on, and the tears are again flowing.  I never thought that it would hit me this hard.

That chapter of my life is closed, worn like a good book that will be opened and revisited through pictures and stories for years to come.  It is a new chapter for Julie and her family.  A single mom who I have seen grow into a women who is working towards opening her own business.  Someone who actually thanked me for the tough love and the support along the way.  In her own way, she was a blessing to me.  A reminder of where I was, how far I have come  and the importance of giving back in some small way to others who may be struggling.  Something that I have tried to do since I got into recovery those 22 years ago.  

As a chapter ends, a new one begins.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Random thoughts

Good Morning Everyone - today is one of those mornings when I don't have much to say.  AMAZING, right?  LOL.  Just some random thoughts to clear my head.  

Words can't describe the emotions that I had on Monday when I heard about the bombing in Boston at the marathon.  My thoughts quickly reverted to that dreadful morning on 9-11.  The day of the dreadful shooting on the Virginia Tech campus.  The days were similar.  No one was expecting anything this horrific to happen. Lives lost and lives changed forever.  These days brought me to tears of gratitude for the safety of my family and friends.  911 and the VT shootings could have had different impacts on my life as family and close friends were "too close for comfort" to the events of those days.

During times like these, I reflect on all of the blessings in my life.  Whether those blessings have come through trials or whether we see them as precious gifts - we have all been given them.  My blessings include my family - although we don't see each other as often as I would like (life always gets in the way) they are always in my thoughts and prayers.  The people that God has placed in my life for sometimes just a moment, for a season or for a lifetime are a precious gift. The trials of my life include my battle with drugs, my bulimia, cancer that struck and took my grandfather, my Aunts - Edythe & Elsie and Alzheimer's that took my grandmother all helped to shape me into the person that I am today.  The greatest blessing of all is my daughter, Belinda Heldreth and of course my hubby, Rob.  

What are your blessings?  Think about all of the things - good or bad - in your life that have helped to shape and guide you to where you are.  Hug the ones that you love and tell them that you love them.  Reach out to old friends when you are thinking about them instead of waiting for the "perfect moment".  Life is short.  God has a plan for all of us and although we don't know what it is, we need to savor every moment.  Take the good with the bad.  Turn it over to God and he will get you through it.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings... Have a ThirtyOne-derful day.

Blessings

As the sun begins to rise on Easter morning, I think of Easter's past...

As a child, memories include my parents going to sunrise service and leaving me at my grandparents, large Easter baskets filled with candy, new outfits to wear to church, trips to the boardwalk for the Easter parade and always the family dinner.

As the years passed, life seemed to get in the way -no more fancy Easter outfits, no more Easter baskets combined with a feeling of not belonging.  Then I was blessed with my daughter, +Belinda Heldreth

Childhood memories and traditions came back to life from Belinda's first Easter.  Although fancy Easter dresses were not her favorite thing, she always gave in at least for a few hours.  Belinda didn't eat chocolate - I know SHOCKING - so Easter baskets were filled with other treats. Trips to the boardwalk in Ocean City became a regular event ending with dinner with the family.The family was smaller now - Edythe, Elsie, Grams, Mom, Belinda and I but we were blessed with 4 generations at many dinners for several years.

Now, Belinda is grown, living 12 hours away in NC. Edythe, Elsie & Grams have gone home to be our guardian angels  in heaven.  Mom is in South Jersey but again life gets in the way.

Blessings come in a variety of ways as the song from Laura Story says...I am blessed.  I have a loving and supportive family.  I have a devoted husband.  I have a faith that at times is as small as a mustard seed but is enough to get me through the toughest days for I know that even the trials are blessings from God.  Count your blessings - even those that don't seem like them.  I know that I do.
Happy Easter!