Finished! :)

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." [e.e. cummings]

Ok...so this doesn't truly qualify as a "real" post... but I just had to share :)
I finally took down the wreath that has been hanging on my front door ~ since December (sad, I know). It was initially intended to be a "Christmas" wreath; however, I was able to convince myself (for 4 months!) that it could double as a "Winter" wreath, given that it was icy blue, brown, and silver :)

Now it is officially Spring, and displaying a "Winter" wreath is no longer a viable excuse for my lack of seasonally appropriate decor. That said, I have been busy creating my new springtime, girly-girl, shabby chic-ish front door wreath. I ran out of gerbera daisies this evening and had to make an emergency Hobby Lobby run (thank goodness it is only a 3 minute drive... as it was 7:30pm and the store closes at 8:00!). While driving home, I realized I am either frighteningly coordinated or my OCD has reached new heights. Regardless... my current project (CLEARLY a work in progress, as you can see!!!) matches the color and theme of my blog! Yikes! Friends, you must know that this was entirely unintentional! I chuckled as I returned to my apartment and glanced at my pink, green, and ivory colored flowers, together with the green and ivory striped ribbon. Sometimes we need to take a moment to laugh at ourselves. It adds beauty to our days and enhances the character of our lives.
AND... as far as the wreath itself, I hope to post a picture of the finished product soon... preferably before the next seasonal shift!

~ aeb :D

"Love is the Movement" [TWLOHA]

Friends, please join me for an important event! TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms) is an organization dedicated to the cause of providing hope and help to those who are struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Write the word "LOVE" on your arm this WEDNESDAY, to show your support for those in need (literally ~ take your favorite marker, pen, eyeliner pencil... and write "LOVE")! The process of recovery and healing is a difficult and painful path... an honorable journey... a life-giving opportunity. None of us can control the circumstances we encounter (as fair or unfair as they may be), but we have the ability to respond to our circumstances with compassion for ourselves and for others. We (especially as women) have to learn to surrender our impulsive reactions of self-hatred and doubt, and replace them with loving responses... toward our bodies and our hearts. Freedom exists.

♥ ♥ ♥ "Love is the movement." ♥ ♥ ♥

To Write Love on Her Arms Day
Location:Everywhere
Time:12:00AM Wednesday, April 21st

http://www.twloha.com

"It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going." [2 Corinthians 5:7]

For my Facebook buddies, this will be YET another repeat read... HOWEVER, I promise to post NEW entries very soon. :) Sometimes we need the "oldies but goodies." They bring insight relative to who and where we are... HERE and NOW.

[See picture above] These are the hands of a man who is blind (I keep a framed copy of the picture in my office at work). His passion, perseverance, and determination to complete a masterpiece of his own (on his own) was an awe-inspiring process to observe. With intense concentration and radiant joy, this patient (who makes my heart smile on a daily basis) spent an hour painting his coffee mug a brilliant shade of red... never resting... never asking for assistance... never complaining. In the words of wisdom shared by my mom, "He may be without sight, but he is not without vision." What a beautiful reminder.

The challenge ~ Follow your heart. Acknowledge, honor and recognize your dreams, your visions ~ and start painting your future. Remember, "It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going."

~ aeb :)

Hi...my name is Amanda, and I am a Blogger :)

Hi!
My name is Amanda, and I am (now) a blogger! The concept of blogging is entirely new to me, however, writing has always been one of my passions. I created this blog about 3 months ago, but have not had anything of interest to share! I have a feeling that is going to be my most difficult challenge... but I am ready to close my eyes and take a leap of faith. That being said, my first entry will be a repeat for many of you (I say that as though I have multiple followers!). There are times in our lives when communication is not only important, but it is crucial. This is one of those "crucial" times. With tragic teen suicide rates on the rise, and adults facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles (related to finances, careers, relationships...), perhaps we could all benefit from a message of hope. As you read my Letter to the Editor, printed in the Mobile Press Register, July 5th, 2008, please maintain an open mind and a compassionate heart. There are people around us who are suffering, and we each have the ability to make a difference. Thanks so much for your time and interest! ~ aeb :)

The Elephant in the Living Room...

I never really liked to say the word. Instead, I would use such terms as “disappear” or “go away”. The concept felt so taboo, so unacceptable, so misunderstood. The thoughts were unrelenting, and the reality painfully grim. Suicide was (and still is) the “elephant in the living room”… a silent killer… and the cause of approximately 35,000 deaths in the United States, alone, each year (NIMH).

Through the world’s eyes, I am a successful woman, yet I have never been able to meet my own expectations – my self imposed standards – my full potential. For far too many years, I lived to die. I played the part of living but embraced the act of dying. As a victim of chronic clinical depression, I manifested my pain through a myriad of self destructive behaviors. Over time, these manifestations began to pervade and ravage every fiber of my being…until I prayed that each breath I took would be my last.

Two weeks ago, the body of a father, husband and businessman was discovered on a local golf course. He had taken his own life, with the aid of a hand gun. I don’t know the circumstances that surrounded the premature death of this promising young man; however, his story has compelled me to share mine - with the hope that it will provide insight to those who read it. Time and time again it has been said that “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” and while this is spoken in truth, it paints a very narrow picture of the disease that drives an individual to bring an end to their existence.

In the course of depression, there are stages, the last (and most tragic) being the point of wholeheartedly believing your loved ones would be better off without you. You firmly hold that if you were to die, they could truly live. It is at this stage that you lose the ability to make rational decisions, as your tainted mind guides your thoughts and your actions. The organ that controls your ability to reason is biologically disordered. Just as you can’t walk on a broken leg, you cannot think clearly with a brain that is in need of repair.

I don’t know how to halt the increasing trend toward suicide in our country, but I do know that silence and ignorance will inevitably fuel the fire. I urge you…talk to your children, your parents, your spouses, your friends. Look into their eyes and listen intently. If you suspect trouble, don’t dismiss your suspicions. An elephant in the room should never be ignored. Communicate with the people around you. More often than not, if you have not noticed an elephant in your home, someone near you has. Please don’t allow fear, denial, busyness or stigmas determine your loved one’s fate. You can make a difference, you can break the silence, and you can save lives. If you or someone you know is suffering, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800- SUICIDE, today. Pick up the phone; there is help available. With help, you can find hope. With hope, you can begin to heal... and through the process of healing you can rediscover and learn to embrace the gift of life.