Every 40 Seconds…

Every 40 Seconds Someone asks Why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-2EkA4LgI

This song by Rascal Flatts poses the question Why? So beautifully to those lives lost to Suicide…. EVERY 40 seconds a heart is broken

Floundering

©Sue Anderson, All Rights Reserved 2009 – 2011
An-ders-(S)on-shine, Silliness, Stories, Legends, Laughter, & Love™
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Ps.18:32

Like a fish out of water, I flounder

Determined yet needing to swim

I don’t understand what’s happening

Or what’s got me to the shape I’m in.

 

Finding a way to balance

To change and blossom and grow

Each step I take seems to require,

Something that I simply don’t know.

 

As I turn to the left I wonder

Was there something I missed over there?

What if I’ve left something behind?

Then before long I’m pulling out my hair.

 

A fish out of water can’t survive long,

It’s like taking away the air that it must breathe.

Yet with each change that must happen,

I find there is something to grieve

 

I truly wish this was easier

This feeling of being a mess

Why does growth have to be so hard,

And cause such exhaustive distress?

 

So as I test out these new waters

I pray I don’t cause a fright

For any of my fellow fishes

Who swim with me on this fight.

 

Each fish is a treasure so precious

Far more than they’ll ever know

Internally I’m simply frightened

That they’ll give up on me and simply let go.

Your Life – The Greatest Show on Earth

Your Life – The Greatest Show on Earth 

This past Wednesday (actually several months ago now), I heard that the Ringling Brothers train was parked on the train tracks not far from where I lived. I thought about those childhood stories I’d heard, and maybe even dreamed, about wanting to run away and join the circus. 

Within moments, I was out the door… after that is a few brief phone calls to share my excitement. At one point, I received a call back, asking if I was okay. My friends it appeared had forgotten my sense of humor and were questioning my sanity (or lack thereof). “So there REALLY IS a circus train?” “Yes”, I assured them… I can’t help but chuckle at the memory. I drove to where the train was parked. 

I sat for a few moments once I arrived, trying to figure out what to do next. My goal… to get a picture boarding the train as if I were truly joining the circus. I saw a few cars around, but no people. Eventually two young men emerged and I saw them getting in and out of one of the cars and so I, rather gingerly, approached them. 

So there I was, face to face with a real live circus person. A million and one questions went through my head, all that came out was “Would it be possible to get a picture looking like I was boarding the train”? 

 

The pictures were taken, and I thanked him. Again the million and one questions went through my head, and then the moment was gone as his crew started up the car. I walked back to my car still trying to sort, got in and drove home thinking about all the questions I wanted to ask. 

• What is life, being in the circus like? 
• What role do you play?
• What are the pitfalls or challenges?
• What are the rewards?
• What keeps you doing what you do?

Don’t you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you’d want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Don’t bother, they’re here. (That would be ME of course!)  

 
I wonder if you saw your life as “The Greatest Show On Earth” what it might it look like to you? I’m not talking of the 3-ring circus kind of show. I’m talking REAL life, the kind that you and I live each and every day. We each have a gift, an ability to explore, discover, and create. Believing in those gifts and abilities you have within yourself is a key to your wellness. This is what will make YOUR life the Greatest Show on Earth. 

So take a few minutes and think about those questions. 

• What does this life look like?
• What role do you play?
• What are the pitfalls or challenges?
• What are the rewards?
• What keeps you doing what you do?
• What about this life would appeal to others you meet?

Now ask yourself what steps you might take to make even a small piece of that life a reality. 

All ABOARD!!! 

TICKEEEETS!!! 

For the moment, I’m going to dream. The circus is in town til Monday, maybe I’ll see if there’s a chance to get those questions answered I so wanted to ask. Oh to be a clown for a day!! 

Your Life – The Greatest Show on Earth
©Sue Anderson, All Rights Reserved 2009 – 2011
An-ders-(S)on-shine, Silliness, Stories, Legends, Laughter, & Love™
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Ps.18:32

Take The Challenge!! :)

Pickles & The Hokey Pokey

A Challenge!

• It’s no use!
• I give up!
• WHY does this have to be so hard?
• I must be doing something wrong!
• I HATE this!
• I can’t do this anymore!
• I’ll never do anything right!

Some time ago while checking my email, I’d received an e-blog with some cool fun facts about pickles… “Mental-Floss” comes up with the most fascinating trivia… Well this post has nothing to do with pickles, but I want to give credit where credit is due. The Pickle Trivia managed to catch my attention!

Those of you, who’ve gotten to know me, know I have a passion for silliness, and for encouraging others to be more positive. At the end of the fascinating trivia about pickles, some of the T-shirts the magazine sells were advertised. One in particular tickled my funny bone, while inspiring a rather fun and comical way of motivating ourselves towards positive thoughts.

Take each of the statements at the top of the page. What do they have in common? Well they’re all rather negative. They’re what we say often times when we get to the point of frustration. Expressing them doesn’t make us feel any better, but there isn’t a turning point that’s mapped out in them either… We’re just done… or are we?

So I know by now, you’re probably wondering how a t-shirt, could possibly have inspired such thinking?

You want to know what it said don’t you? I can hear you, at the edge of your seat… Alright already!! What DID it say?!!!!!

Imagine your next negative thought…. Leading to, of all things… “The Hokey Pokey”… yep, that’s what it’s all about.

The first official meeting of…

“Hokey Pokey Anonymous…”

will now come to order!!!

You put your right foot in,

You put your right foot out,

You put your right foot in and,

You shake it all about….

You do the Hokey Pokey and…

“Hokey Pokey Anonymous… a place to turn yourself around”

That’s the T-shirt.… Pretty inspiring isn’t it?! I can’t help but giggle!! I think I might just have to get that one!! lol

Can you imagine, doing the hokey pokey with each negative… aside from the dizziness, with the right attitude, you’ll be dancing, joyful, feeling light hearted, and maybe even a bit positive… Really how seriously negative can you be doing the hokey pokey…

So come on… let’s give it a try….

You put your right foot in,

You put your right foot out,

You put your right foot in and,

You shake it all about

Give It ALL you’ve Got!

You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around…

That’s what it’s all about!!

Ahhhhhh I feel better now, don’t you?!

So now I’d like to propose a rather fun challenge. My hope is that this will help turn those negative thoughts around to positive, joy filled thoughts. Will you commit to doing the hokey pokey over the next week or two, when those pesky negative thoughts break into your head?

Caution is advised – Don’t send yourself spinning into a wall or anything! THAT would not be any fun at all!

Oh, just in case you were stuck on the pickle story, I’m including the link.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/29950

Pickles & The Hokey Pokey – A Challenge
©Sue Anderson, All Rights Reserved 2009 – 2011
An-ders-(S)on-shine, Silliness, Stories, Legends, Laughter, & Love™
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Ps.18:32

May I Have an Exemption Please

 ©Sue Anderson, All Rights Reserved 2006 – 2011
An-ders-(S)on-shine, Silliness, Stories, Legends, Laughter, & Love™
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Ps.18:32

I have a human body
Complete with toes and all,
I just have a short one,
While others are really tall. 

My dear friend now has cancer,
It’s really sad to see,
But I have another illness
And I’d like an exemption please! 

 You see I’ve just been informed
That my illness isn’t real,
So on behalf of my brain,
I’d like to file an appeal.

 It doesn’t fit within the guidelines
Of an illness that’s accepted,
So tell me then, what am I to do
if the brain I’ve been given’s defective? 

 Perhaps someday I’ll be okay,
At least that’s what they say.
I’ve read my Bible, You know I have faith,
Have you listened to me pray? 

 I have a human body,
It’s still in perfect form,
I’m just a little different
‘Cause my brain is not the ‘norm’. 

 Why is it Lord, they don’t understand
How outrageous this is to me,
But if it’s Your will, I must keep it,
So may I have an exemption please?

Recovery is a Journey

I Believe in Recovery

Words by ©Sue Anderson, 2009 – 2011
An-ders-(S)on-shine, Silliness, Stories, Legends, Laughter, & Love™

Inspired & Egged on by Naomi & Julie

(WRAP Facilitator Training Classmates extraordinaire)

**Sing to the Tune of “I Believe in Music”**

 

I Believe in Recovery

I – I Believe in You

I Believe in Recovery

I – I Believe in Me

 

Recovery is a journey

There’s no beginning & there’s no end

It’s all about learning

To manage the symptoms in your head

 

I Believe in Recovery

I – I Believe in You

I Believe in Recovery

I – I Believe in Me

 

Now if you are a doubter

And don’t believe Recovery’s true

Let me tell you ‘bout my peers

And all that they’ve been thru

 

Life’s that’s had no meaning

Homelessness & Such

Went through this lovely thing called WRAP

And now they have so much

 

They’ve identified their triggers

And made an action plan

So what they thought they couldn’t do

Now they know they CAN

 

I Believe in Recovery

I – I Believe in You

I Believe in Recovery

I – I Believe in Me