Wow! that snuck up fast! I wish I planned something special for you all, but really I just realized it was my blog b-day yesterday and have nothing planned. gads.
I did spend yesterday thinking about this whole blogging thing and what it means to me. What I give and what I have received and it is amazing. What I realized when I was trying to figure out exactly why this last year I have made more new connections with people than I have in the last, oh, 10 years (seriously. perhaps this means I should get out of the house more.) is that the blog thing is all about choice. I can go where I want and find real people that inspire me, make me laugh, help me cope, and cheer me on. So, thank you so very much just for being out there. I love blogging, I love reading blogs even more.
This is from one of my favorite books of all time, The American Red Cross Home Nursing Manual, published in 1942, originally owned by Pete's grandmother. I read it all the time. It's so amazing. It has everything you need. How to make hospital corners for flat sheets, tie a tourniquet, raise a child, clean a bed pan, and my favorite:
Common Sense Rules For Mental Health
There are a few simple rules which can be depended upon to help you develop habits of thinking and acting that will safeguard mental and emotional health:
1. Waste no time in looking backward. Concentrate on plans for the future.
2. Learn to get your satisfaction out of simple daily accomplishments. A row of beautifully white clothes on the line may be just as satisfying as a burst of applause over the footlights.
3. If you cannot change an unsatisfactory situation, face the fact and make the best of it. Don't wear yourself out "beating your wings against the walls life's duties have imposed."
4. Try to distinguish between the things you want and the things you really need. Often when you have attained your heart's desire you find that it isn't as important as you had thought. Learn to deny yourself little things for the sake of bigger ones. If you weight what you want today against what you know you must have later on, you will probably decide in favor of that which has the more permanent value and get greater satisfaction out of the experience in the long run.
5. Cultivate the spirit of tolerance. Try to understand the point of view of other people and concede them the right to their opinions. You may not agree with them, but if you had had the same background and experience they have had, you might think and act as they do.
6. Remember that real happiness comes only through being helpful to others, so practice the golden rule.
7. Let your sense of humor grow. Learn to laugh at yourself instead of at other people. Look for the funny side of the difficulties you get into, and they will not be half so irritating.
Thank you all for such a great first year, hopefully the first of many. big hugs. big time hugs.
