Be back after the 3 Day Novel Contest is over..

It is again, that time of year where my attention turns to the 3 Day Novel Contest. This will be my 5th year of participating so I know how much work is involved and how challenging it will be. Yet I also know how good it feels to complete a novel and send it off for submission in the contest.

In that regard, I'm going to take the next two weeks to work on my research and my outline (yes, that is allowed *lol*) so I am as prepared as I can be. I have an idea in my head that I have been working on - and for 3 of the previous 4 years I have stuck with my outline and have been really proud of my achievements. The one year I strayed - well I am glad I finished, but wish it would have been more detailed, full and rich. One day I will go back and edit it so it is something I am really pleased with and perhaps even ready it for submission somewhere.

So.. with this and life happening, something has to go for now and it will be my blogs. Wish me luck and I'll see you after the long weekend.

Happy Birthday Dad...

Today would have been your 62nd birthday, I just wish you were still here to celebrate it.

I've always loved you, no matter what and I just hope you knew that in your heart where it mattered.

I'll always regret the times that we missed and the memories we never shared but I will never regret having you as my father.

There is so much more I could say here, but nothing you haven't already heard from my soul that crys for you.

I love you dad...and I miss you more than words can say.

Beauty is in how you choose to see things

As always when a new month starts I seem to take a look around to see where I am, what is going on, what direction I am headed, what I have accomplished - a general check in if you will. This month is no different.

I am feeling healthier than I have been in a long time and for that I am extremel grateful. My life is really good and I am enjoying living it. I am continuning to learn how to be open and allowing to enable my life to happen and that feels good.

I am realistic about the potential challenges I have this month. The first being tomorrow would have been my fathers birthday and while I may not have always been with him to celebrate it - I never once forgot it. This year seems different - which would be for obvious reasons - and instead of getting lost in the "what if's, could haves & should haves" I will not let myself get stuck into the potential drama of this. Instead I am going to choose to be open to the goodness and happy parts of having a birthday and what they mean - even what that person is no longer with us - no matter what the relationship was or could have been.

The second "challenge" is going to be August 29th - that is the day I start my 5th year of the 3 Day Novel contest but it is also the anniversary of my fathers death. It is my greatest wish to honor that in a way that is right for me, while being able to keep a clear head and focus on my goal of competing in this contest for the 5th year in a row. I do not think that is selfish and I know that he would understand this.

Over the past few years and after a few major surprises in what I thought were true friendships I have learned lessons about drama - its purposes and its effects - both good and bad and have made a pointed effort to stay away from it, to not get embroiled in it and to not create it in my life. In my books yes, but in my life no.

There is so much good to see in the world and many would perhaps say I am wearing my rose colored glasses - but for me that is right. What I see I take into my heart and I cannot forget so why not fill that with goodness and beauty instead of horror and rage?

To that end I have been limiting what I expose myself to these days. I was a self proclaimed "news junkie" until I realized how detrimental taking all that into my heart and life was - for me. Changing my focus ever so slightly has allowed me to change the name to an "information junkie" and for me that works.

My insatiable need to learn and experience things can be fed through learning about life, things in life, experiences in life - instead of being fed through only the news stories which primarily focus on the negatives.

I am choosing to be a citizen of the world from a place of beauty. I am purposely entering into any situation with a goal of seeing the good side of the situation, the happiness and the wonderment of it all. That does not mean I won't see the entire picture - what it means is that I will not get stuck on the negatives and will instead focus on the positives. I want to bring good things into my life so will focus on them instead. I want to bring love, harmony, peace and abundance into my life and will focus on those qualities. I believe in the law of attraction and do think it can be as simple as changing how you choose to see things and say things - to yourself and to others.

Your words are what you create for your life and I am happy, I am in excellent health, I am constant flowing wealth, I am spiritual bliss, I am abundance and I am all the good things life has to offer and I am going to live with that focus each and every day. Today I am going to work on my vision board to gain further clarity for my future both personally and professionally.

I have always been a student of vibrational energy and believe that like attracts like. I believe being positive and happy raises your vibration which means you enjoy more and attract the same into your life and your personal world.

I believe there is more if you are willing to open your eyes, your heart, your mind and your soul. I believe I am on the right path for me and I am truly excited to be on this journey.

I am grateful for the gifts of knowledge and insight that I have gained to date and will continue to initiate and welcome them as long as they continue to flow into my life.