Jenny Evans Dunham

This weekend my parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. My siblings and I have been busily planning a party in their honor. As in every family, some of my family members don’t want to take part and are making it difficult for the rest of us to get everything together.

After repeatedly hearing about some of these frustrations, my husband, an outside observer, suggested that we just proceed with our plans and not let the negative people control how we feel about the day. Of course, he is right.

As I wrote to one of my siblings, “I think we should focus on the positive time those of us who come are going to have and stop letting (negative family member’s) actions or inactions have so much control over everything.” My parents will love the special things we have planned no matter who shows up and I’d hate for there to be a negative feeling overshadowing their special day.

In every aspect of life–family, friends, work, etc–you will come across negative people who try to keep you down with their negative attitudes and actions. Realize that you have a choice in how you respond. They can’t keep you down unless you let them. Choose to reject their negative influence. Be the positive person that you want to be.

Most of us are familiar with the expression,”I guess I’ll have to put that on the back burner,” referring to the fact that you will set something aside for now and think about it later. As you move through your life, how many dreams and goals have you put on the back burner? Have you checked it lately to see if it’s overloaded?

I think that sometimes we are so busy doing the “right” thing or the “necessary” thing that we forget that some of those things on the back burner are really important to us. How can you reach your full potential as a human being if you never give yourself the opportunity to reach for that lifelong dream? Yes, everyone has reasons to put something on the back burner–good reasons. But you also have good reasons to keep track of what’s there and bring it to the front when the time is right.

Take some time today to check your own personal back burner. Is there something you would like to bring to the front and work on right now? If you knew that you only had six months to live, is there something you would want to try that you’ve not allowed yourself to do yet? Life is precious and each of us is born with special gifts and desires. Don’t deprive yourself or the world of experiencing what only you can give.

I was watching the news last night and heard a truly heartrending story. During the recent earthquake in China, many parents lost their children - their only children. For a number of years, China has had a “one child only” policy in place. Therefore, when these parents lost their children, they truly lost their entire future. Watching the news story, I could see how utterly devastated these parents were. One set of parents who were interviewed said they did not plan to have another child because it would be too painful to risk also losing that child.

I have two daughters and three grandchildren whom I love dearly. Losing any of them would break my heart into little pieces. Just another reminder to enjoy each day that you live because you don’t know what tomorrow will be like.

In line with this same topic, I recently borrowed a book from the library called Focus on the Good Stuff by Mike Robbins. I’m just starting to read it but so far it’s great. I know from experience that when I focus on positive things my whole outlook improves. I’ll post more on what I learn from this book as I go along.

Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone–and that’s what I’m going to do on this blog. Instead of trying to create some marvelous marketing wonder, I’m just going to be myself and share my thoughts and experiences with you.

I truly have no specialty in life or in Internet marketing. My interests are many and very diverse. My life has been filled with multiple different types of job and life experiences. I love reading, writing, and researching. I have been a Work at Home Mom. Then I graduated to a Work at Home Nana. Now I am a Work at Home Empty Nester. (Is that even a title?) I am a lifelong musician and was a piano teacher for many years. I am a health-conscious individual who thinks that alternative medicine is often better than traditional options. I am a network marketer who loves sharing my favorite candles with people.

Now that my children are living their own adult lives, it’s time for me to work on myself. I am realizing that this time of life is a great time to work on personal development so as to enhance my entire being. I invite you to come along with me on this journey. Maybe you’re doing the same thing in your life right now.

I hope you’ll visit my blog regularly and see what I’m up to. In addition to my own experiences, I will probably be posting some book reviews and recommendations. When I write new articles or create new websites, I’ll let you know. If I hear about something that really strikes a chord with me, I’ll post about it here.

To a new beginning…