My mom has this thing about finishing what you start. For as far back as I can remember, it has always been one of her life lessons for us. The problem for me is that I love trying new things and I will go from one thing to another.......just trying them out. If I don't like it, then I move on. I don't see this as failing or as wasting or not finishing what I start but instead I see it as trying new things, figuring out what I love and don't love, what I am good at and what I am not, its an adventure.

Having said that, there are definitely areas in my life where this lack of finishing is not beneficial and I know that I need to put more effort into focusing on what needs doing and just do it.

This month I have been taking part in my own 31 Days and I have been enjoying it but two weeks ago something came along that I wasn't expecting.  It's fantastic and it is going to be life changing for me.  I am loving what I have done so far and I know deep down, that this is the right thing for me to putting my effort and focus on at the moment.  Due to this, I have decided to stop doing the 31 Days posts and take the time that I would have spent posting every single day and focus that on this new thing, this blessing that is going to require work to see benefits - but whose benefits are going to far out weigh the decision to end this 31 Day challenge early.

So I am going to end this post with a challenge.... Are you doing what you know you should be doing or are you going with the flow?  I am learning that sometimes you have to say no to things in life in order to say yes to other things. So be brave, and say Yes - even when you know you will have to go back and say No to something else!

adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character ; honesty

Life would be no fun if all we did was work. Now working full time and studying part time really doesn't leave me much time to play, but I have found that if I don't put aside time to do things that make me happy and help me to relax, then I very quickly find myself out of balance.  So, over the past three days I have make an effort to take time out to play. To have fund. To do things that make me feel alive.

Nothing is finished just yet, but when it is I will definitely share. Tell me, what have you done this weekend to play?

You know what I love about the first few moments of waking up in the morning?  Those initial feelings of calmness and peace.  Moments where nothing in your day has yet started.  Your just you. Free from the worries of yesterday, unaware of the troubles that potentially lie ahead.  It is in these moments where I get to make a fresh start, no matter what took place the day before, no matter what decisions I made or actions I took, yesterday is gone and today is a brand new fresh start.

So, what are you going to do with your fresh start today?

After yesterdays post I thought it would be good to do something a little lighter....

* Thing you cannot leave the house without? My iPhone. 

* Favorite brand of makeup? MAC, although it is on the expensive side.

* Favorite flower? White roses or lily's 

* Favorite clothing store? OK, I know your not going to believe this but I'm not a fan of clothing stores at the moment.

* Favorite perfume? D'jore, but again very expensive.

* Heels or flats? I am 5'9 so I very seldom wear heels....and anyway, flats are way more comfortable! 

* Do you make good grades? I do alright, although next year I need to do better!

* Favorite colors? Pink and brown together, egg shell blue

* Do you drink energy drinks? Nope. 

* Do you drink juice? Most days as it helps me drink more water.

* Do you like swimming? I grew up in the pool so I love swimming, but getting into a cosie is another story.

* Do you eat fries with a fork? Fries are meant to be eaten with your fingers, at least in our family.

*  Favorite moisturizer? Body Shop's sweat pea body butter

* Do you want to get married later on in life? See yesterdays post, I just don't know.

* Do you get mad easily? Not at all. I'm pretty laid back and don't take things too personally.

* Are you into ghost hunting? Nope

* Any phobias? The dentist

* Do you bite your nails? No, but I do apparently grind my teeth

* Have you ever had a near death experience? Nope

* Do you drink coffee? Only at my parents place

That's today's theme for sure. I just don't know. I just don't know. I have a lot on my mind and I'm tired of feeling as if I am never finding the answers, especially when it feels like everyone else has been "let in on the secret" except me. I just don't know.

I just don't know what I am going to do about my job situation. I'm grateful for the job I have, for the fact that it helps me to pay my bills, but I'm miserable 5 days a week. I hate the politics, I hate the constant stress levels, I hate the beyond high expectations and the ever increasing work load. I know what job I want to do but there just hasn't yet been any opportunities open for me. I don't want to stay but I don't know where to go or what to do. I just don't know.

I just don't know how to lose this weight. I mean I know how in my head, but practically I just don't know.  I keep trying but it only takes one occasion of "badness" that unravels all my hard work. I keep thinking I need to try to find something to motivate me but I just don't know. I consider the option of thin photos of my....but isn't that just reinforcing the fact that I hate how my body looks right now. I can't really say that is motivation. I've thought about rewarding myself with money which will go towards this course that I want to do,but that says that if I don't lose the weight then I'm just not worth the money to pay for the course. I just don't know. I just don't know. My weight is such a major area of negativity, sadness and depression for me and yet I don't know what to do.

I just don't know what to eat for lunch this week at work. I know - a small issue by anyone's means but when you combine this with the weight issues above it seems a lot bigger. Too cold for salads, my soup didn't turn out like soup. I just don't know.

I just don't know what I am supposed to do with my life.  I don't know what my purpose is. Having a family was always a part of my plan but now I just don't know. It doesn't seem to be happening and if I'm honest, I don't see how it is going to happen.  If I have no children, no husband, then what's the point of my life.  Doing the job that I am doing means that I am hardly changing lives, no where near making a difference in this world. What am I supposed to do?  I just don't know.

There are many more "I just don't knows" going through my head. I feel like I am torn between where I am and where I feel I should be, between how I feel and how I should feel.
I just don't know. I just don't know.

Sometimes you need to stand up for yourself, you need to speak that truth that is sitting in your heart. Its hardly ever easy and will take every ounce of courage that you have.  But it is necessary for you, to stay true to who you are and what you think or feel, because when we stop speaking up, when we choose to quieten your own voice, you begin to lose the most important person in your world. You will begin to lose yourself.

We all make mistakes right? We are after all, human.  Yesterday I made a mistake at work, nothing huge, nothing that had consequences or altered any ones life...but my boss didn't see it that way.  In my opinion, the punishment doesn't fit the crime....but the punishment I seem to have to bear.

The thing that seems to be  bothering me the most though, is that while I know it was an honest mistake, I also know that the words spoken have really gotten to me.  They seem to have affected how I feel about myself and how I feel about my abilities.  I don't want this to continue, it's not right that it does....so what I have decided to remind myself this evening is that I am good enough. I am good enough. I am good enough...and so are you! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

I am actively trying to have more peace in my life and what that means for me is that I am actively going out and looking for it.  With our lives being so busy, its often easier to simply want these sort of things rather than to go out and do the things that are necessary to get it.

Peace is an attitude, a way of life. It speaks powerfully to others and says that you are trusting God.      

Here are some of the things that I have been doing to have more peace in my life:
1. Less rushing around and more organisation.
2. Staying out of debt when ever possible.
3. Loving and accepting myself - no matter what.
4. Keeping my priorities in check.
5. Focusing on what I am good at, what my strengths are, instead of focusing on what I can't do.
6. Doing everything I can to protect my health.
7. Make my environment as peaceful as I can ....and for me that means giving my home a good spring clean.
8. Keeping my thoughts focused on God rather than everything that is going on around me.
9. Being aware of what is "on my plate" and therefore knowing when I need to say "no" to new things.
10. Eliminating distractions which I know steal my time.

Why don't you pick one of this or one of your own and apply it this week. Make sure to come back and leave a comment about what you did and how it went.

Today I'm not at work - I have two days of holiday and I plan to enjoy as much of it as possible.  This afternoon I needed to get some fresh air so I decided that a walk was in order.

The moment I stepped out the front door, I knew that I had made the right decision. It was such a gorgeous Autumn afternoon.  As I walked through the neighbourhood, music playing in my ears, I made sure that I was paying attention to what was around me; taking in all of the beauty.

And as I looked up, I saw a beautiful blue sky being hidden by dark grey clouds.  It really did make me smile because it reminded me that behind every grey cloud is blue sky. So if your facing some tough times at the moment, just remember that it will last for a season and at some point, blue sky will shine through.

Sometimes our lives are so busy that we forget to pay attention to the things around us. The things that should cause us to stop, to take a moment, to breath it all in are instead rushed by unnoticed.
I want to challenge you today to take a moment and look at the world in which you live.  Look up and notice the changing leaves or look down and notice a small little snail with a cute shell on his back. Don't let life rush past you - enjoy every moment of it.

It's tough to enjoy your life when you don't like yourself....especially when you suddenly find yourself single and living all alone. It's when you find yourself in these sorts of situations that you quickly learn just what sort of relationship you have with yourself.  We all have one, its just either good or bad.

So what do you do if your not sure what your relationship is with yourself ?  Set aside some time where you can be alone, pick up your favourite journal or any blank piece of paper and honestly consider the type of relationship you have.  Would you want to spend time with yourself ?  Do you like who you are ?

Once you have had an honest  look at where you are, you may want to pick one or two of the following activities to build on where you are.

• Stop saying or thinking negative things about yourself - we talk to ourselves all the time but we probably aren't aware of the conversations we are having. Try to be aware of your thoughts. Are the negative? Are you being mean to yourself?  I good test for your self talk is to ask the questions; "Would you be happy having someone else talk to you like that? ". If the answer is no, then you need to replace those thoughts and words.
• Find what you are good at - and do it over and over again!
• Speak good things to yourself - If your battling with something in particular, try to find something good to say to yourself while your going through the situation.
• Remember that the only person whose opinion matters is your own - forget what other peoples opinions are. Your worth is not based on them.
• Never compare yourself with others - I find this the quickest way stop liking myself.  Spending time wishing you had or were like someone else takes your focus off yourself and your own good things, and puts it onto someone else and what they have.
• Focus on your potential and not your limitations - We all have limitations but we also all have potential. Take your eyes off what you can't do and onto what you can.

Have you tried any of the above, or perhaps something completely different ? Feel free to share what it was and how it helped in the comments below.