The Last Day of the First Month of 2006

Well, well, well… only 31 days into 2006 and it has already had its ups and downs and that is the focus of today's entry. From spending time with family and friends to a death of a dear loved one. There are also things that I want to accomplish and as a method of holding myself accountable for those things I am contemplating the idea of doing monthly resolutions with small personal rewards and punishments.

Let me address the “downs” first…
 As I look over my resolutions and I can report the only thing that I can report that I have not been accomplished is volunteering for this month at CCC.
 The passing of a wonderful lady, my Aunt Shirley and how it affects our family
 Today they announced the passing of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the widow of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now to the “ups”...
 Have improved on eating breakfast regularly
 Had a great New Year’s weekend with my wonderful & handsome boyfriend
 Spent time with family & friends
 Each day learning a little more about myself
 Learning to “hold my tongue” more

334 more days of adventure in the year 2006. No one knows what the future holds but I pray that there are many positively wonderful blessings in it for all my loved ones and those who share in my message of encouragement and creating opportunity.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" - Thomas A. Edison -

Thank You for Your Condolences

I am truly blessed with wonderful friends and family. I would like to thank each of my heaven sent friends for their emails, calls, prayers, and positive thoughts. This blog is simply to say thank you to each of you and to share a poem that a friend wrote for me on yesterday when she found out about my family’s loss. I extend a special thanks to her for this poem and to my (I know I say this a lot but it is oh so true!) wonderful boyfriend for being by my side on last evening (even when he was under the weather) and everyday. Thank you again.

There is no sadness
there is no fear,
no more wearyness
and no more tears.

There is no pain,
There is no cold
no more rain
and no more old

There is only happiness
there is only cheer
only rejoicefullness
and only happy tears

There is only streets of gold
and friends of old
and loved ones to finally hold

slt 1/16/06

Please continue to keep me and mine in your prayers.

Celebrate Life... do not morn

Today is a day of momentary sadness because I am only human. On last evening my Aunt Shirley who had been diagnosed with cancer some time ago passed away. Because of deaths as a youth I suppose death as always sent me into extreme sadness that was skillfully masked to many. I believe that that is a normal, typical human reaction.

However, I am blessed at this time in my life with a WONDERFUL boyfriend who I feel is a gift from God. When we talked about her illness recently he encouraged me not be discouraged and more yet to celebrate her life. Celebrate the good time, great memories and joys that she brought to my life and those around her. He, as well as other friends, reminded me that she is no longer in pain, that the negative of her life is no more. And that is my first message/challenge of this blog…

When a loved one passes away, morn them as little as humanly possible, instead CELEBRATE THEM!... know they are in a better place .. Celebrate their life!

When I received the news of her passing no one could be with me for they were at work or had prior engagements and I was slightly discouraged. I did not feel I could just yet go to be with my mother and grandmother. Still great friends called when they could, imed me, and my sweetheart sent me an email. In his email he reminded me of the faith that I have shown and shared with him and to let that guide me through the day. And he was right! There is a song goes something like “When it seems like all the world has forsaken you or just cannot be there … call on the Lord” And that is the second message I would like for you to take from this blog today...

If you feel like you cannot turn to anyone you can always turn to God, meditate in Him and ask him to guide you.

We love you Aunt Shirley and we will miss you but we know that you are with God smiling down on us and praying for us.

Love, Money, or Education...

Love, Money, or Education... that was a pageant question I was preped for several years ago that has always stuck with me...so that is the thought I would base my blog off of today. My answer then and now has not changed...Love

I feel that Money and Education are things that have little value if in the end that is all you have. I am not by anymeans discouraging attaining higher education. In actuality, I have personally attained almost all the education that I want... I believe. Not the path I had originally set out to take but I am well educated nonetheless. I have a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences and a Master's of Human Resource Development... and I am currently thinking about pursing my PhD and brought to my attention today possibly a JD... we will just have to see about all that.

I just feel that you can have all the degrees and money in the world but if you do not know what it is to love then I feel you may be missing out on a true blessing in life. I am not necessarily talking about the love of a significant other, but also the love, support, meaning healthy and true family can bring to ones life. I have been blessed throughout my life with a wonderful and supportive family and network of true friends.

Also, the love that I am talking about can be the love of oneself. How can you love another be it family, friend, or significant other if you do not love yourself? I think for a moment I was missing this aspect of love in my life.

Nonetheless, in my case the love that I felt was missing, after I learned to really love myself, was that of a significant other...finally after years of wondering if anyone could ever love me and I them... I finally know what it is like, and it is wonderful... and well worth the wait. I have fallen in love all over again with my high school sweetheart. As the song says, "Reunited and it feels so good"...We are just taking things day by day, and I am asking for prayers of support for God's will to regin in our lives. Possibly in the future we will write a blog together sharing our story...which is quite interesting.. Stay tuned....

True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights.
- Erich Segal -

... The Pursuit of Happiness

"The Pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase; if you pursue happiness, you'll never find it." - CP Snow

I will have to agree with CP Snow in the aforementioned quote... There are too many people out there looking for, pursing, happiness. Whether it be love, monetary success, that next promotion, the next job, or whatever makes YOU happy...

I used to be one of those people even when I didn't try. I believed that if I got this degree or accomplished that great feat that ... happiness was just around the corner. I would say that I wasn't looking for it, but in the back of my mind I believe I was... I am not saying do not give your all in whatever you do. Instead, I challenge you to do your best ... solely for the betterment and representation of YOU!... and guess what... when you start and continue to do things in that manner.. happiness truly is just around the corner.... Happiness may be found in the smile of person you pass in the street, it may be landing the job you always wanted, or it maybe getting engaged to the man of your dreams...

So I challenge you to stop pursuing happiness, and live life to the fullest for YOU!

"Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, but who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others. - Martin Luther King, Jr. -

Reach for the Stars

"When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either." - Leo Burnett -

Today I challenge you to do your best at whatever you do! Give it your all and that is all that is required of you. Time and time again we compare ourselves to this person or that person. When in actuality we must realize that we are each unique individuals who can never truly be equally compared. Even identical twins may have a lot of similarities; genetically, physically, and mentally, but they are individuals.

It is great if you are the best at whatever you do professionally, academically, physically, etc.; and I applaud you for that. However, if you are not at the top and have given your all often your efforts reflect such dedication. If necessary, realize when you may need a little help, you can do even better.

Again my challenge to you today is to do your best at whatever you do!

Acts of Kindness!

Small acts, grand acts, all acts of kidness return to the individual in ways that bring happiness to all.

I really feel like one of my purposes in life is to encourage others. That is something I have felt for a long time and feel deep from within. I think for a while I may have over done it. I failed to help myself. I was more or primarily concerned with helping others. However in order to help others one must have a secure sense of oneself. I am not saying that you should not give your all to helping others, however I feel that we must understand ourselves in order to be an asset to others.

Today's Challenge
Today I challenge you to do something really nice for yourself and something really nice for someone else!

Do you accept my challenge?

Liza Corrine's 2006 Resolutions

The following was posted by a college friend on her internet bulletin board ...

"I'm conflicted about my resolutions b/c the typical ones[resolutions] tend to be so superficial and shallow.... I challenge all of you to think about your 2006 resolutions this New Year's Eve.... Change always begins within ourselves, but sometimes we need to think beyond ourselves... So tell me.... with this in mind..... what will be your resolution" - Julie D (NJ)

I think that it is good for us to have a few superficial resolutions... things that challenge us to improve ourselves...because we must be at our best in order to help others. However, I understand my friend's point.

Therefore with that in mind here are...

LizaCorrine's Resolutions 2006*
(1) Volunteer for no less than 1 hr a month at Clemson Community Care
(2) Reach a desired weight by June 1, 2006
(3) Try not to overbook myself
(4) Learn to tell people no or not right now
(5) Focus on what is important to me

*This list will increase over the course of the week!

2005 Reflections

I will take a moment and reflect on things good in my life for 2005. This year I …

• launched my personal website
• started a blog … but stopped .. now started again
• drove up to Maryland with my sister
• traveled to Miami via car no less than 3 times with my wonderful parents
• found out no less than 3 of my friends were pregnant
• traveled to Las Vegas for my cousin’s wedding in the Belligo
• traveled for work
• created brochures and other material for serveral people & organizations
• fell & am falling in love with my high school sweetheart all over again :)

Now not all things were good that happened to me in 2005, however it is my choice to reflect, focus, and share that which was good in this past year. I do recall those things that were less positive for I believe we are to learn from all life’s experiences.

I challenge each of you to reflect on the positive and learn from the negative in your life in 2005! ...To make a positive difference in someone else's life... and to simply ... ENJOY LIFE!