Mid-Week Stop and the Author of this Blog

Hello everyone!  A very warm welcome to you all!
I thought I would take some time to share more about myself in this post.  Some of you who have been readers and followers of my blog for a while now may already know what I am about to share, but perhaps you do not, so thank you for listening and for taking the time to read.  :)

I am a minimalist.  I don't need or like to have a lot of "stuff" to make me happy.  In fact, I am happier with less than more, and as long as I have what I need, (and God has always provided), I am very grateful.

I have never smoked or done drugs in my life, and I don't drink alcohol as a rule.  I may have a small glass of wine once a year while sharing a Christmas dinner with friends who have invited me over.  And even then I don't always, so as you see it is very rare that I will drink alcohol.

I struggle with depression but do not "suffer from" it. By this I mean that yes, I do struggle with it occasionally, sometimes minor, sometimes severe, it doesn't control my life.  While it may control my thought patterns when it is at its worst, I try to remind myself that everything I think is not necessarily a fact.  Depression, and those of you who also struggle with it, will know what I mean when I say that it is a liar.  It will make you think things about people and life that are not true.  It will drag you down, but thankfully it is just temporary.  The depression itself is always there, but its effects are temporary...and this is a good thing!  The only thing for myself is that I am also a HSP (highly sensitive person), and when you couple depression with being highly sensitive the effects are deeper and more difficult.  Not every person who struggles with depression is a HSP, and not every HSP deals with depression, but when they are both present in a person it just magnifies everything.  For example, ever since I was a little girl I have been very sensitive to noise and loud sounds, bright lights, (including if the sun is very bright), people's sentiments and moods.  It is because of my dislike and lack of tolerance for loud noise that I avoid parades, concerts and bars and clubs.  And neon lights tend to give me a headache.  

I enjoy reading, (mostly non-fiction), and I love to do crossword puzzles.  I enjoy the mixed variety, such as cryptograms, syllacrostics, etc., and, of course, the regular ones.  I won a few spelling bees in elementary school and although I don't consider myself to be a good writer, I am definitely a good speller.  :)

Although I enjoy time spent with friends, I also enjoy my alone time, which is usually a couple of hours every evening.  I use this time to relax, pray, unwind and do my blog, watch television, enjoy time with my cat, Romeo, (3 year old black and white, green eyed cat), brushing him and just taking time to breathe...and be.  I find my blog to be therapeutic and enjoy sharing things I like with you all, and when I take the time to find the things that I share, it is calming time, well spent.  I don't have any artistic talent like many of you do, but I enjoy seeing the talents in others and letting them know I appreciate their talent(s).  

I love to organize and clean!  The only thing I do NOT enjoy is vacuuming, although I do it because it needs to be done.  I like to clean my kitchen, bathroom, do laundry, but even though I love doing laundry I do not like ironing.  I rarely iron anything, only doing so when I find it necessary.  

If I get a cold, I don't use any over the counter medications, preferring to use natural remedies such as ginger, honey, garlic, onions, plenty of rest, lots of water and tea.  I also use aromatherapy from time to time (such as the scent of lavender) for relaxation and to relieve stress.

Well, that is enough for this post, but I just wanted to share a little bit about myself.  If you would like to learn more and have the time to do so, if you use the search function on my blog at the very top (left hand corner) of my blog, you can type the word 'myself' there and you will find several of my previous posts where I have shared more about myself.  Thank you so much for taking the time to be here!

The videos I have selected for this post are:

Candid Camera Classic:  Kitchen Whiz  :)

QB Takes Friend with down Syndrome to Prom, Fulfilling Elementary School Promise

Squirrel Adopted by Cat Learns to Purr!

Horses at Sunset

For the following, I am providing the link sources beneath each photo.  You just need to click on the images to see a larger view.

Don't be afraid to step our, have dreams, have visions, have hopes and always, always believe in miracles. - Joyce Meyer

Inspired by Gratitude

Don't lose yourself in fear.

Healthy Place

Set your heart on doing good.  Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy. - Gautama Buddha

Compassion, Love and Respect

You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life? - Rumi

Sketches in Stillness

Sometimes things have to fall away...but only to make room for a new season.

Princess Sassy Pants & Co

If they don't know you personally, don't take it personally.

Sue Fitzmaurice, Author

Be thankful for today, because in one moment, your entire life could change.

Ups, Downs and Roundabouts

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France

The Catington Post

Let nature be your medicine.

Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen

Our planet doesn't need more "successful people." Our planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers and lovers of all kinds. - David W. Orr

Karen Salmansohn

I like kind people.

Karen Salmansohn

Make your emotional health a priority.

Karen Salmansohn

Close your eyes.  Listen to only the sound of your breath.  For a full 5 minutes, become nothing but breath.  Your soul will thank you.

Karen Salmansohn

Don't let someone's reckless behavior turn you into a recluse.  Vow to become a force to be reckoned with instead!

Karen Salmansohn

Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I always appreciate and enjoy reading your kind thoughts, which you are always welcome to share!