Shiner the Dog at the Ranch I stayed at a couple weeks ago.

I've had a rough few months

After not working I have had a rough few months now trying to sort out my problems and get back to a new routine. I had a lot of anxiety and have had some depression. Monday, I stayed in bed all day, Tuesday was better and today is a little better, but I'm still trying to get my energy back. I'll be taking a trip this weekend for a couple of days. I hope it goes well and I feel alright. I get insecure sometimes when I feel bad. Hopefully I will overcome a lot of this. It takes work but I know it can be done to an extent. Working very hard on this. Also working at my spirituality. Not all people use spirituality as a "therapy", but it helps me. There are different things a person can do and to use as therapy. We have to work on it. It doesn't mean life will become a breeze to live in, but there will be some measure of manageability.

TGFPS!!!!

Thank
Goodness
For
Photo
Shop

Some blemishes I've been self-concious of for years can be covered up really Well!

You don't have to be ashamed to show your pictures off anymore!

I've known about this little secret for awhile now. I just have to tell the world-or those who don't know that you can hide it! Even what make-up misses!

BEFORE!



AFTER!!



You can also use online photo editing programs that are completely free. You can cover up
anything. Have you tried www.picnik.com or https://www.photoshop.com/express/index.html

Those are but a few. Picasa is also a great free program. I like to work with many different programs as some do more than others or I get a bit from everything to make my photos and other photography look the best!!

Give Out and Give Up

Sometimes I feel like I am giving out. I'm drained. By the time I have time to sit and read stuff to help me change my negative nad bad thoughts I'm too tired to do it. The mind has to be open, alert, responsive. Not head hurt, pain, dizziness and etc. Also PMS is making it hard and I'm at the end of my rope as it last day after day, with no end in site. At times I feel I am going crazy. I can't understand all these people who can manage a life and have family. I'm single and have no children and I still can't be structured!!!!

I can't really concentrate either. You can only do so much at a time and have your mind on one thing at a time. What is wrong with ME????

Some of my FAVE sites!!

http://www.flickr.com/

http://www.picnik.com/

http://www.youtube.com/

http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/

http://www.imdb.com/

Food 4 Thought

My Photography 2008 Compilation 1

The following are some photos I took this year so far. There are a few taken last year.

walk 4 your health

People often underestimate the benefits of walking. There is more to walking than you might think. It's great for getting fit and trim. It is good for your heart and reduces bad cholesterol. It also produces a feeling of well-being and works better than taking medication for depression and anxiety for many others. I have found that in just the last few weeks of walking that it has helped my depression and anxiety and I am getting more energy. Even my dog had lost some extra weight. I've never had a weight problem, although my stomach is a little pudgy.

I started out a couple months ago doing aerobic exercise indoor. I didn't notice much difference. Then I got sick with bronchitis and for a month didn't feel like getting back into it. I've decided to continue walking first, and work my way back to that when I build up my strength again. By all means, get a good walking program started. Walk a mile a few times a week and work your way up. It gets easier. You will feel better and it is well worth it. it can extend your life and you can be much happier. Your life will change.

One of my photographs submitted in a travel guide

Don't know if this even works.. but I'll see.

Macro photography

I was stuck in a rut for several days but now that spring is in the air, I felt like getting out and taking some pictures. I am an amateur photographer and a pro member on flickr.com

Many people find dandelions to be unattractive and do what they can to eliminate them.
Though there are others that use them to their advantage-take pictures of them!
I'm going to post a few of mine.

Accept yourself

Accept yourself because you are unique. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, because you are no one else. True, people have similar likes and dislikes and may even look alike, but of the 6 billion people on the planet, no one else is exactly like you. Enjoy being different. Why do you want to be exactly the same as everyone else? Maybe you are self-concious about something about yourself. "Too short"? "Too tall"? "Too thin"? Well we come and different shapes and sizes and life is much better that we are not all clones. Neither are we hive mind robots. Sure, you can be like others if you admire them and they are a great example to you, but always cherish who you are and don't alter your personality or appearance in order to be accepted by others. Don't let others' (negative)opinions of you dominate you.
Don't beat yourself up over your differences. Accept yourself!

reinforce your mind with positive thinking

We all have negative thinking to some degree even if we are generally positive people. Some of us have a harder time feeling positive. It is so important to reinforce your mind with positive self-talk, and affirmations. Doing so DOES help if you so so daily and use a little self-discipline. Even if something disappointing happens to you, you can still choose how to deal with it. It really is about attitude. If you are feeling blue and don't want to go to work or don't want to do a chore tell yourself over and over, "I CAN do this." or "I WILL get through this." You may not believe it at first but believe me I have been working on this for several weeks now and something really good is happening to me. No, I am not always positive but I have choose how to deal with my challenges.

Negative thinking can be changed. It is a bad habit that you can work on if you are willing. So again it is about attitude and self-discipline. Have you not been determined and done something else you thought you couldn't do or something you couldn't change? Yes, you have!

A really good thing you will discover in your positive thinking is you will have greater self-esteem. You will really be able to do things that you didn't think you could handle before. I will get into this more later with my own experiences. Normally I am a fraidy cat and I am very anxious. I also doubt myself but I am seeing things in a new way and I am not so afraid of the things I was before. I ma surprising myself everyday. I am seeing myself in a new way and I don't see things so badly as I used to.

The Internet is filled with information on positive thinking. You can search it for yourself. It is great stuff that has helped me. The cost is nothing really. I print info with a little ink and highlight points that I can use personally. I make it a point on my way to work to tell myself positive things and I use affirmations. I repeat them several minutes to myself until I must do something else.

You can use these affirmations as well. You can also learn other ways of fighting negativity. believe me it is well worth it!

'Totally Positive' cd

Went and got a couple of self-improvement cds today at Borders. One in particular is really good. It is a cd you can play while you drive and it repeats affirmations. I had some others like it on cassette but I can't rip the stuff on the cassette to my computer so I can put the cd onto my iPod as well. It has some music in the background. Some of it like the Weather Channel music, lol. Anyway I listened to it in the car while my mom and I were out running errands and it was really good. I feel so much better that I am working on being positive. The negativity is not gone, it is just not as powerful. I know I will have my bad days but I really want to be comitted to this changing my thinking. I always seem to stop doing it and I go back into my old pattern. I really want to break this pattern. It's like someone who is trying to stop smoking. It's really that hard. But it does get a little easier as long as you stick with it. If you let up a few days and don't work on it, the negativity starts to take over. So for right now, I can do what I can. Nobody can blame me for not trying.