I'll never do THAT again

Life is teaching me to never undestimate God's ability for meeting our needs.  Even in relationships.  Even if you think you've done everything wrong and there is no hope.  Even if you think you're almost over the hill.  Now, I freely admit "relationship expert" is not my calling. Head of the broken hearts club of dunderwomen, could possibly work. So,at the start of this year after recovering from a bout of relationship discouragement from past and most unsuitable choices in men, I decided to revamp my values in that category.  It was time to never again settle for less than God's best.  Over a weekend of reexamination and journaling I raised the bar, wrote down exactly what I wanted should someone special come into my life,and wrote down what I wouldn't tolerate.  No more losers in my lane.  No more overlooking red flags and flat tires. Period.  Maintaining dignity and self-respect was worth whatever the cost and if I was to meet someone, he had to be of sterling character.  Gentle kindness, sensitivity, respectful to women, caring and communicative were also high on my list. It's funny how letting go of what we think we want leads to grace at work.  After vowing to never do that again, to never settle for less, God has indeed brought me the best in the form of a wonderful man named Harrison.  Hold onto your dreams, hold onto your standards, raise your own bar, open your eyes, and embrace each new day with gusto.  Your dream man may be closer than you think.

Until next time...Top Blonde Taking the Day!

Personal Best

Several years ago I'd developed a seminar called, Changepoints.  My material was partly based on a book I'd read and partly based on my own life experiences.  The seminar is on how to deal with the unexpected, unplanned and inevetible crises of life that land in our path from time to time.  Things were going fairly well in my own life ... that is until last fall when the fellow I was seeing blurted he'd met someone.  Just like that; I was out, she was in.  No mind that he wasn't the least right for me...pieces of my heart still litered the floor.  However, God has designed our bodies with amazing restorative abilities and when we seek Him in our times of weakness, He makes us strong.  By January and after a trip home, rejuvenation and recovery had taken root and once again I was embracing each new day with enthusiasm and expectation.  And then my very own personal change point emerged and we were all face to face.  Gulp!  For a split second I wished could glance at my seminar notes...let's see now, what did I teach in my class?  A change point can either break us or become a time of self-discovery and a personal best.  And so it was for me that day.  I whispered to myself, I can do this and stepped out in poised confidence congratulating them on their upcoming wedding.  I don't know the state of their hearts but mine was at perfect peace .......I'd experienced my very own personal best ... and was free.  It was time to celebrate. 

Until next time...Top Blonde Taking the Day! 

 

Two Swans A-Flying

The past couple of days have brought us folks in Northern New Jersey near pristine evenings.  Sparkling clean air almost made you feel the shimmer and sheen of dusk as the sun began dipping against colbolt blue skies.  Whether you only had five minutes to spare or fifteen, the clear signs of spring were beckoning.  Last night I was helpless to resist and called my friend, Stephanie, to see if she wanted to take a jaunt around the lake at Wooddale, one of our local parks,  Now, you've probably seen swans gracefully gliding across a pond or lake, right?  But, have you ever seen a swan fly?  I hadn't ... untill last night.  Suddenly, Stephanie and I heard a swosh and looked up to see the two swans flapping their expansive white wings while circling the lake.  They continued and then crossed the lake and began descending for their landing.  Gradually, they skidded across the water and came to a stop.  That answered my question, do swans fly?  I had wondered if park officials placed the swans in the lake or they arrived on their own.  I guess if they can fly, they can choose their favorite lake.  Curiously, answers come to us ... and sometimes from the birds.  The previous night while rounding the lake on the adjacent walkway, I kept hearing squaking sounds and wanted to know what they were from?  Soon, I discovered the near screeching sounds were coming from the Red-Winged Blackbirds nesting in the reeds and cattails.  Now, just why they make all that racket or what they are squaking about is unbeknowst to me at this time.  If you have that answer, enlighten me.  Of course, I was delighted by witnessing a couple robins.  They are quieting to the heart since they are our signature sign of spring.  Well, so much for hanging out with the birds...maybe today I'll run into a few bees:>.

Until next time ... Top Blond Taking The Day!

Graduation into the 21st Century

Yesterday, I finaly sucumbed to some of the youth of America's directives to update my antiquated cell phone.  A few months ago I said, OK, I'll at least call my cell phone carrier and find out if I qualify for an upgrade.  So, I called and learned not only did I qualify, I qualified a little over two years ago!  Well, if it's taken me nearly the life of the phone to figure it out and it works, why upgrade?  But, when a member of the opposite sex slipped me his and I saw how fancy and flirty it was...and how sleek it looked when he slipped it into my handbag, I thought, humm.  Mabe it is time after all.  Knowing I had a free upgrade coming cinched my consideration and my decision was made.  Of course, stepping into the 21st Century with all the swank features quickly prompts madness as one now trys to use the phone.  If I can decipher the handbook along with decoding the accompanying CD-Rom before my two-year contract ends ...that will be my saving grace at least in the eyes of the communications savy teens of today.

See you next time....Top Blond Taking the Day!