Life begins out of my comfort zone

Posted on April 30, 2016 by spearfruit

A couple of weeks ago, the American Idol series ended. I missed the first season, but I faithfully watch season 2 to this ending season, the series finale.

Even if you are not a fan of American Idol, you have got to admit there were some good artists that came from this TV series. These were people from all walks of life who took a step, a journey and chance to see if they could do something and to be something. Some made it and others did not. But the one common factor of all these thousands upon thousands of people over the years of American Idol had in common, they stepped out and took a chance.

On one of the episodes this past final season, a contestant performed with a song they were not necessary comfortable with, a song not usually in their genera. Upon the completion of their singing, Jennifer Lopez praised the contestant for the performance and said something interesting. She said “Life begins when stepping out of your comfort zone.”

In July of last year, Gary and I went on our first trip of 4 to Florida to find the next location that we would call home. Upon our return home I wrote a post ‘The Home Comfort Zone‘, and I wrote the following –

To grow and to live, I must move from my comfort zone and let go of the familiar and let go of the past. Is there a magic to this process of movement from static to dynamic? What will be waiting for me during the process? What will be waiting once completed? What if I fail to leave the comfort zone because of fear? What will and what if should not be in my vocabulary, these are fear words that keep me from moving from my comfort zone.

The results of moving from my comfort zone I believe will be living a happy life. It will be tough as I am set in my ways, but old habits can be deleted from me and new habits created. These new habits will be of excitement, undertaking something different, meeting people and making new friends.

In my post ‘our travel adventure‘, I wrote the following –

So the house is on the market now for 2 weeks and we are in the process of searching for an RV and a new truck to take us across the United States. We are in planning mode and plotting our trip to take us to the end of the year. Where will our travels take us?

I conclude today’s post with the following –

I will leave the home comfort zone once the current home is sold. I will leave my set ways, my current habits and start anew. I will do this: but I will admit I have some uncertainty and some fear. But then again if I do not try, my life will not begin again. The time is ticking, am I ready? The current home is on the market and ready to be sold, am I ready? The decision has been made, am I ready?

Life begins out of my comfort zone, am I ready?

our travel adventure

Posted on April 29, 2016 by spearfruit

In my post ‘Why Move Now‘, I wrote the following –

Image Provided by: Life Is Precious on Pinterest

My husband and I are very ready to move on – we have been in a rut for some time now and this change is needed for both of us. There are a few decisions to be made concerning the next living situation, but the location is finalized and so our excitement grows every day as we get closer to the list date of our current home.

In our next location, we look forward to exploring more and to be excited about life once again. We are ready to leave this current chapter and start the new one. We would like to travel more, meet new friends, and become healthier and just live life again.

In my post ‘The Curveball‘, I wrote the following –

Here comes the curveball! Upon our trip to Vero Beach, Florida last week, Gary & I started thinking about ‘Plan B’. Oh, I never told you about ‘Plan B’, because I thought we were set on ‘Plan A’. ‘Plan A’, is moving to Vero Beach, Florida and we had decided to do that and that is the reason for our recent trip there.

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Now we are rethinking this and thinking about ‘Plan B’. The placing of the current home on the market in 2 weeks will take place and the selling within the next several months will take place, but the moving to Vero Beach, Florida may not take place: at least not now – maybe later – but not now.

In today’ post I write the following –

After some soul searching and research, we have decided what our next steps are. We decided ‘Plan B’; but I have not told you about ‘Plan B’. ‘Plan B’ is we are traveling the United States for a while before we settle down. Will that settling down be in Vero Beach? Maybe or maybe not. After visiting Vero Beach, the second time, we felt we may get back into that same rut. Buying another home and having the same responsibilities regarding it would mean we are not doing anything different and we would be doing the same thing, just somewhere else. And though we would be somewhere different and we would do some traveling; we still felt we would not be on a total adventure. This is where ‘Plan B’ comes in – our travel adventure – the traveling the United States and exploring and experiencing and meeting new friends and living life again.

Image Provided by: casitatraveltrailers.com

I will end this post with a sentence I wrote in my post ‘The Curveball‘ –

I am being thrown a curveball; therefore you also are being thrown a curveball.

More to come on your curveball – wait for it!

The Potato Eaters

Posted on April 28, 2016 by spearfruit

Image Provided by: commons.wikimedia.org

75 years before I was born – The Potato Eaters creation began and took almost a year to complete.

What does The Potato Eaters have to do with my blog? Well, some crazy dude decided poor ugly people are great subjects to paint. Lucky for him, his craziness made for a very creative mind. Yes, I am referring to Vincent van Gogh.

theguardian.com article ‘New study claims to find genetic link between creativity and mental illness’ includes the following –

The notion of the tortured artist is a stubborn meme. Creativity, it states, is fuelled by the demons that artists wrestle in their darkest hours. The idea is fanciful to many scientists. But a new study claims the link may be well-founded after all, and written into the twisted molecules of our DNA.

mnn.com article ‘Why genius and madness are connected’ includes the following –

Many of history’s most celebrated creative geniuses were mentally ill, from renowned artists Vincent van Gogh and Frida Kahlo to literary giants Virginia Woolf and Edgar Allan Poe. Today, the fabled connection between genius and madness is no longer merely anecdotal. Mounting research shows these two extremes of the human mind really are linked — and scientists are beginning to understand why.

I do not consider myself a very creative person, but yes I do consider myself sometimes to be mentally ill. The major depression as a young man has left and never to come back again. I do have my days that I feel ‘down’, but not depressed – though I may say I feel depressed. I do feel however; I continue to have a mental illness. I lose control of myself, I am a control freak, I am OCD, ADD, and I feel I have Borderline Personality Disorder. But am I creative? I believe that it is within me and I can be. I may never paint a The Potato Eaters and sculpt a David or compose a Second Symphony, but I have created some awesome Christmas displays consisting of over 26,000 lights synchronize to music. I have helped in creating some beautiful landscaping and my writing of my blog is decent.

It may be the bit of craziness in me has helped me to be creative.

vangoghgallery.com has the following –

In May of 1890, after a couple of years at the asylum, he seemed much better and went to live in Auvers-sur-Oise under the watchful eye of Dr. Gachet. Two months later, he died from what is believed to have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound “for the good of all.” During his brief career, he did not experience much success, he sold only one painting, lived in poverty, malnourished and overworked.

As a young man I made those attempts to end my life thinking it was “for the good of all”. I am still here on this earth with a little creativity and a little mental illness.

Will I be well known someday like Vincent van Gogh? No I do not think so: I have no The Potato Eaters to leave behind.

He makes me want to be the best I can be.

Posted on April 27, 2016 by spearfruit

He makes me want to be a better person. He makes me want to be the best I can be.

Image Provided by: spearfruit.com

Why is this?

There is an article on the thoughtcatalog.com website that lists signs your relationship is making you a better person and includes the following –

You find yourself making more and more tiny compromises—about which type of movie to watch, or what time to eat dinner—without feeling at all bitter.

Your main need might just be to meet their needs. And why not? You’ve spent enough years focused entirely on number one.

Overwhelmed by gratitude, you catch yourself saying “thank you” with more enthusiasm than necessary—to people who hold open doors, compliment you, or look friendly in general. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

You want to return the Universe’s favor, so you act kindly towards everyone, even not-so-nice strangers. It takes way more than an annoying street performer who gets in your face on the subway or a rude waiter to make you angry.

You’re drunk on Love Kool-Aid and you know it, but you’re not embarrassed. You’re desperate to share the joy running through your veins.

You’re more motivated than ever to exercise and eat healthy because you have more reason than ever to live longer.

Your general outlook is incredibly positive. Bad things definitely happen, but there’s so much good in the world, too. You know this because it led you to your lover.

Really? That was not quite what I had in mind when writing this post. For me my relationship is making me a better person because I want to be a better person for him. He deserves a better person to be in his life to be his partner in life and to be his spouse, his support and his love. This is why he makes me want to be the best I can be – to be a better person. I know relationships are about 2 people and yes, I am a control freak at times and make it all about me. I am working on this, because it is not always about me or should not always be about me. I am working on this, because I want to be a better person for him.

He makes me want to be the best I can be.

Why is this?

Could it be love, devotion, dedication or commitment? Well it may be a little of all – whatever the reason, it is good for me. It is good for me because I want to be good for him. I want to be the best for him, a better person; the best I can be.

Image Provided by: spearfruit.com

He makes me want to be the best I can be and I am a better person because of him.

Music & Words Award

Posted on April 26, 2016 by spearfruit

I am running behind on responding to my award nominations – my apologies. Awhile back I was nominated for another award. The award Music & Words was bestowed on me by Brooke over at theutopiauniverse. I encourage you to go over and visit Brooke’s magnificent blog.

Music & Words Award

The rules are:

Link back to the person who nominated you

Answer these questions with words and music

Pass the award to 5 bloggers who inspire you with posts about music & words.

Show the award on your blog

Quote these 5 rules and award icon in your post.

Questions:

What does music mean to you?

Music to me is memories. I do not listen to current music very often: I am stuck in the ‘70’s. I have a category on my blog titled ‘My 70’s Music Collection’ and several of my posts have a music video associated to them. I have many memories from the 1970s; good and bad and the music from that time brings these memories back to me. And from these memories I write the posts.

What is your first music related memory?

Honestly I do not know. I remember my mom and dad listening to Tom Jones & Engelbert Humperdinck and others of the day – this would be the late 1960s & early 1970s.

What’s the first album you purchased yourself?

I have no idea! I remember the most important CD I brought; The Hits – Chapter One. Do you remember why?

What’s the latest music you’ve purchased?

I have not purchased music in many years. Sorry call me cheap, but I feel no need to ‘buy’ music when I can listen to it free.

Your guilty pleasures?

I have no pleasures that I feel guilty about. Sorry, I live my life without regret and guilt. Some of you may remember why this is my most favorite song in the world!

Here are my nominees for this award –

Sarah over at TRAVELS WITH CHOPPY

Joyce over at Poppies and Popcorn

David over at Life and Random Thinking

Maniparna over at SCATTERED THOUGHTS

Bernadette over at HADDON MUSINGS

You do not have to accept this award, but it is an opportunity to learn about your musical side. Once again I would ask you go visit Brooke over at theutopiauniverse.

Thank you again Brooke, and I hope everyone enjoyed my music side.

It’s about you – not me

Posted on April 25, 2016 by spearfruit