"Formulas to Express Things I Know and Believe" A combination of essential oils diffusing + complete silence = peace A good movie + cuddling = comfort
A pool of water + sunshine + warmth + my kids = a perfect summer day
Mel + a small handful of friends + sushi = a perfect girl night A truck + pond + geese = a perfect memory
A chilly night + Mel + Ryan + Dylan + bowling = a perfect winter Saturday
A perfectly fit hug + a soft warm hand = love
A dark bathroom + warm water + lavender + salts + a candle = a perfect bath
A heartfelt blog + visitors + positive feedback = satisfaction
"If You Looked in My Fridge Right now, You Would Find..." So many jars of salsa...no one ever needs that many jars of salsa. Or pickles...or salad dressing. I also have a lot of fruit and a lot of vegetables. Some milk...juice...bottles of water, and some leftovers I probably need to throw out. Healthy cooking Pinterest is my best cyber friend...I've got blueberries, a pineapple and strawberries. I also have some peaches. All of that sugar is healthy and it keeps my sassiness sweet. I've got broccoli and cauliflower, some zucchini and squash. Cut those up, brush them with melted butter, sprinkle them with garlic salt and Cajun seasoning. Stick them in the oven and amaze yourself. You don't like vegetables? You will if you try this. I promise.
What Was a Time When Everything Changed in the Blink of an Eye?
It was on a chilly fall night, almost winter. I sat with someone who'd been a friend, someone I'd known for so long, yet hadn't seen much of until not long before that point. We were sitting in a car under a flickering light, listening to music and talking. We connected on a deep, crazily familiar level and formed one of the best and most memorable bonds of my entire life. Those kind don’t happen often, so it’s nice to recognize and appreciate them. I will always be happy and grateful for the goodness that it held.
What Was the Last Thing I Read, Heard or Saw That Inspired Me?
Actually, it's one of my previous blog entries. I recently read all of them because my blog is nearly a year old. The one that answers this question is titled, "I Miss You." It's one of my favorites for so many reasons. There are a handful of blogs I've written that just flow out of my mind and onto my laptop screen, while others I have struggled with. The ones that come so easily are the ones most heartfelt, honest, and raw. For a handful of these, I've cried so hard while typing that I'd have to stop because I couldn't see or I needed to calm down. They were all finished, and that's what matters. This site has been an inspiration in itself. I created it on my own and I've been honest and sincere. I've had friends share my entries, and they have surprised me in doing so. This entire thing is public yet was all written for myself...It's been my way of venting and releasing feelings and thoughts that were stored up inside way too long. While I know where each and every single word comes from and calls home, to the readers...it's entirely open to interpretation.
What Am I Recovering From Right Now?
Emotional damage. Most days I feel like it's permanent and can only be lessened, but some days I think I can really fix it. I'm also recovering from feeling replaced and discarded. It's happened more times than I have fingers now, from the time I was a baby until just last year. I'm also realizing that this kind of recovering is a form of education. I'm seeing things about myself that needed to change...things that weren't the best about how I think, act, and react at times. They're things I've needed to work on for a very long time and I think I'm doing okay with it. Progress is rewarding.
What Do I Think is the Most Important Thing for Today's Kids to Learn in School?
Accountability and responsibility. If they learn these two things as early as possible, adult-hood will be easier for them. I don't see a lot of accountability or responsibility in young children or teenagers often anymore at all and that scares me. I look around and I see coddling and babying, far beyond normal love. I get afraid for our future sometimes, because the kids we're all raising now are who will be in charge of this planet when we're old. Over-fluffed and babied adults sound scary like a disaster.
Why do I Think Some People are Successful in Life and Others are Not?
Everyone has a different definition of success. Is it just having a lot of money? Is it having a happy family? Does it involve a career that college or a trade school are necessary for? Does it involve materialistic things, or the simple basics? It's all so subjective but I will say this... If we are repeating negative patterns that haven't worked for us in the past and keep us down, we aren't going to be successful. That's the definition of insanity, they say. If we talk about things a lot more than we actually try for them, we aren't going to be successful. If we only try half-way and either poop out or give up, we're not going to be successful. If we don't give our goal whatever we've got, without fail and without excuses, we're not going to be successful. If we wait for others to continually do things for us instead of doing it ourselves, we're not going to be successful. Everyone has their own definition of what a realistic goal is based on what their life is currently like. If the goal is attainable, it will be successful. When it's attainable, we can achieve and have anything that we want. Period.
What is a Memory I Would Like to Erase? Any that has to do with my real dad. His purpose in my life was my creation and that was it. Any involvement afterward was unnecessary. I've done amazing without him, considering the circumstances. I always felt like Jesus had a bubble of love and protection around me. I still feel that way, and I am grateful. It could have gone so much worse.
What Do I Think is the Most Important Question in Life?
What good purpose is my life serving? I want my purpose to be good.
In What Ways Am I Strong? Sometimes I feel stronger than a diamond and other times,I don't feel strong at all. I suppose that's subjective so I'll say this: Once I've been hurt, I can push the person and situation entirely back to the point that neither exists. It's a mental block. An example? My biological father. I have no feelings either way now, good or bad. I haven't for years and I feel that is a success.
How Do I Act When I Am Afraid? Ironically, I get angry. My fear is nervousness and anxiety inside and expressed as anger on the outside. It's a crazy, fucked up internal defense mechanism that I wish was a little different. I also wish that others understood that about me. I'm not all sass and I'm not bitchy. It's fear...and there's always some kind of root of it.
When Have I Experienced Heaven on Earth? Any time I've spent with people I love more than anything in this world, and any time I've traveled to the coast to be near the ocean. Nature is God to me, and to sit with complete awareness for all of the sights and smells and sounds of it...the way it touches every sense...it's just amazing to me. I feel grounded and connected. I feel like more than a busy, hectic, working, worrying mom/friend/sister/etc. I feel peace, and that is amazing. It's powerful. It's realer than real.
- Sher