Ending 2014 in Pure Bliss!

I have been doing a lot of reflecting on 2014. Wow, what an epic year! I am very proud of the choices and actions I took to improve my outlook on life. Also the daily steps I took toward happiness, without turning back to the lagoon of anger, fear, guilt, and shame that tried to swallow and take me back. 

As I wrote out my list for 2014, I was blown away at what occurred in only 365 days.

I walked through several fires and was able to make a decision to not stop or hesitate. Or look back, I think that was a big step for me. A miracle to take the time to evaluate my options and then take a leap of faith! I am doing the best for me. The consequences of my leaping will be exactly what I need to live.

I am absolutely perplexed and awed by how every little thing added up over the year and my hard work allowed me to take the power back and start living my life to the fullest! Versus trying to live and fit into someone else's life. I know some people don't believe everything happens for a reason. However, I do believe. The ripple affect of my thoughts and actions affect the energy force around me. I have lived, learned, and experienced, in 2014, how to shift my daily perspective to more positive and open minded thoughts of myself and those around me. This has revealed miracles beyond my imagination.

Looking back years, such as 10 or 13 years ago, I think of some of the choices I made it makes me shutter! However, I pause to reflect some of those decisions and steps I took helped build the foundation of who I am today. Some of those decisions, whether I thought right or wrong, were planted in the dirt and today I am starting to see some of the plants sprouting that have been doormat for years. What a beautiful miracle.

I am grateful that certain things didn't work out the way I had once wanted them too. Letting go of the fantasy I desperately wanted to live and breath. The desire to live in a fantasy always poisoned my reality. It is ok for me to dream and strive for better and new things. I feel that is extremely different than striving for an unrealistic fantasy drenched with expectations.

When I share my story, I have found that my perspective has become quite positive and I work really hard to live in the moment; therefore, I forget a lot of the details of my life that helped me get to this point. I am beyond grateful for my journalling and blogging, to help remind me of my journey, step by step.

Blast to the past, I had to find the awareness to start healing from the inside before I could see the outside world, 2011 reflecting. Then in true fashion I always have to over do it before I find my balance. I explain in my reflection of 2012. Then I took the roller coaster into the next year, 2013.

I am looking forward to 2015 and all the wonderful things to come!! A few people have asked what I want 2015 to look like or what I want to accomplish. I have a few key items I want to focus on, but mainly I want to keep doing what I am doing today. Living in the moment and filling my time and thoughts with those that I love, make me laugh, fill me with happiness, and love me for me. Everything else that comes along will fall into place if I focus on those items in my relationships. Also, I am finding when I take care of my needs in those area, I can give back to those around me ten fold! I will also continue to remind myself to take a deep breath, and admire the world around me and relish is all of it's beauty.

Happy New Year! I hope each day is filled with joy, laughter, and happiness for you!

Amicability Continues to Blossom

I took the day off today to get a few things checked off the list. As an added bonus I got to spend some quality time with a few ladies that mean the world to me. The reading in Courage to Change today focuses on keeping an open mind in regards to each person I encountered today. If I approach each situation and every person with an open mind and compassion, there is always an opportunity to learn. I am filled with willingness to learn, and Courage to Change reminded me that anyone can be my teacher. I had nothing but positive interactions today. One was even with H filled with amicability, respect, and full of boundaries. I am forever grateful for my own recovery program that has helped me come to such peace, respect, and compassion for those around me. 

I enjoy and relate to just about everything Melody Beattie writes... These words are perfect to what I am experiencing today. Gratitude is beautiful and powerful!

International Convention

Last week I had the honor to visit Vancouver, B.C. for the International Al-Anon Convention. The city was beautiful, lush and green. Every direction I turned there was a beautiful view. My friend and I were there for about a week, exploring the city by public transportation and foot. The convention it's self was amazing from the workshops to the big meeting speakers! I loved walking the halls of the convention center and hearing the laughter. In fact, our hotel was down in Richmond, so we took the SkyTrain back and forth. The locals are very quite on the train and although very nice and courteous, really keep to themselves. Well you add a few Al-Anons here and there through out the train (I could tell because they were still wearing their badges) you get laughter and calling out to each other about something funny. Made my heart and face smile. I also thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of attendees from all over the world; such as Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Singapore, Germany, England, South Africa, every state in the USA, Canada, to name just a few places. I found it very inspirational to hear experience, strength and hope from all over the world, although different perspectives, essentially the same story. I learned some new tools, some new slogans, and many, many new perspectives for me to process for a while. Thank goodness I take notes so I can go back and digest all the amazing information. I picked up many of the CDs to listen to, since it was not physically possible to go to all the workshops. I feel like the convention has continued since I got home as I listen to the CDs. While in Vancouver, I did a lot of listening and simply being present. I needed exactly that, to be in the present and detach from reality for a while.

That is all for now. Please enjoy a few of the photos I took while on the trip. I was able to capture some of my own reflection photos! We had amazing weather the entire time we were there, no rain, just beautiful puffy white clouds! 

Delicious!

I survived **wink**

View over side of suspension bridge

Red Hawk

Leaf Reflection

Tree Reflection

Water Lily

Clipper on left and Barry on right - Stanley Park Tour Guides

"Easy Does It" is a beautiful thing

Naturally I ended up at the barn in Stanley Park

Anybody know what kind of flower this is? Found it in Stanley Park

Lion Gate Bridge

12 Principles of Healthy, Intimate Relationships

Cleaning out my book bag I found a flyer I received at the Al-Anon convention last year.

The 12 principles of healthy, intimate relationships adopted from the twelve traditions of Al-Anon.

1. Our common welfare comes first. A healthy relationship depends on unity.
2. In a relationship there is but one authority, a loving God as God is expressed in our relationship conscience. Each member is God's trusted servant; none governs.
3. Two or more persons, when joined together for mutual benefit, may call themselves a relationship. The only requirement is a desire to be in the relationship and to make it work.
4. Each member should be autonomous except in matter affecting the other member, the relationship or society as a whole.
5. Each relationship has but one primary purpose: to serve as an expression of God's love.
6. Each member ought not be overly supportive lest problems of money, property or prestige divert the member from the relationship's primary purpose.
7. Each member ought to strive to be fully self supporting - spiritually, emotionally and financially.
8. Each relationship should remain a freely giving relationship - one to the other.
9. A relationship should be flexible in its organization and may delegate the functions of day to day living through an informed relationship conscience.
10. A relationship should avoid heated controversy: no one wins in a heated controversy. When a member loses or is hurt, the relationship suffers.
11. Each individual best conveys his or her beliefs or philosophy of living by attraction rather than promotion. Acceptance and respect guide interactions.
12. Self-care is the spiritual foundation of all relationships ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.