Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - November 28, 2023

 Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give. -Ben Carson

We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give. – Winston S. Churchill

You will not be great-full because everything is good, but you will be great-full if you see good in everything. – Keith Craft

As the month of thanksgiving is coming to a close, the author wanted to give an update on how she did for her “gratitude moments” challenge.  Well the author had a hard time.  The author is extremely blessed to live in the United States, have a job, a sister, friends and many other things.  However, she became frustrated during November as she felt taken advantage of and not valued in different areas.   Below are some of the greatest times she had in November that helped her find gratitude and remove the negativity.    

Last Friday will most likely be the craziest shopping day of the year.  As one that does not have a family to buy gifts for, the author adopted a family for Christmas.  When the author first started shopping, she searched for Toys “R” Us online.  Little did she know that the store no longer exists and the author had to find the next place to shop!  While shopping, the author went to different stores and had a wonderful time purchasing baby girl clothes and toddler toys for a little boy.  As the little boy loves spiderman, the author found the most adorable tennis shoes outfitted in spiderman that light up. 

Another opportunity the author embarked on was distributing food to military personnel at the local military base.  As the organizer of the event said, it was a hurry up and wait exercise.  Once the food distribution started, immense joy was felt by the author as she was helping others.

Through both of these experiences, the author saw how it is impossible to be grateful and negative at the same time.  For the author, she determined that 2024 has to have more volunteering and helping other people in her life so that she can take the focus off herself and put that energy toward showing love to others.

Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege. – John D. Rockefeller Jr.

ACTION: What ideas do you have to help others to have gratitude in your own life and overcome any negativity/sadness?   

Resources

•        https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - November 21, 2023

 Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow

Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead

Walk beside me… just be my friend - Albert Camus

 

There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature. - Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

 

There are big ships and small ships. But the best ship of all is friendship. - Unknown

What is a friend?  According to Cambridge dictionary, a friend is “a person who you know well and who you like a lot, but who is usually not a member of your family”.  For the author, friends and friendships are very important to her and she is greatly blessed and grateful to have her friends.  Some of the author’s friends are located in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas and some are located across the country. 

In the past year, the author has been blessed to visit California to visit a friend and received phone calls from friends unexpectedly just when the author needed a friend.  These friends are all great encouragers.  For the author, she has built these friendships by being an encourager to them, which included sending cards and text messages.

The author is extremely grateful for her “old” friends and her new ones. 

ACTION:  What ideas do you have to develop stronger friendships?  As has been said before, it does not take big gestures, but simply acts of kindness.  

Resources

•        https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - November 14, 2023

 Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw

Become a student of change. It is the only thing that will remain constant. - Anthony D’Angelo

Sunday is the two-year anniversary of the author flying back to Texas to return home. As another year has passed, the author took time to see what has changed in her life over the last year.

The most important update is that the author still has the most adorable 10lb dog that she inherited from her father and shares joint custody with her sister. Everyone loves him. Chevy took a couple trips to Railhead (the local barbeque joint) for ribs and for Halloween he dressed up as a sheriff and attended an event at the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.    

This last year included volunteering for the Fort Worth Livestock Show and Fort Worth A&M Club again. In mid-2023, the author asked a simply question of an acquaintance and the author found many new military volunteer opportunities.  With the author’s adventures spirit, she visited another fifty new places including many in Texas, which allowed her the opportunity to learn more about the great state she returned to. 

Over the summer, the author had brunch with a couple friends from DC that encouraged her to continue trying new things as it takes a couple years to get established and find new friends. As the author has started planning for 2024, she has already been asked to join and assist with new opportunities that will take her closer to her dreams.

As the author continues to get more involved, she is finding new opportunities and stepping outside her comfort zone to come into her own in Fort Worth, Texas. The author is doing what she is passionate about and how she wants to impact the world.

The things that make me different are the things that make me. - Winnie The Pooh

ACTION:  What changes do you need to incorporate to make progress on your goals and let you be you?

Resources

•        https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - November 7, 2023

 We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. -Cynthia Ozick

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. -Mark Twain

As we are creating “gratitude moments” in November, the author will be discussing various things that she is grateful for. 

The author’s grandmother instilled in her a passion for the United States military.  When the author sees a serviceman/servicewoman, she feels gratitude in her heart for the freedom’s she has.  In 2023, the author found five new opportunities to volunteer to help our military.  Not only is the author grateful, but she is also giving back to the men and women that she is grateful to.  When we serve another person, our gratitude outshines negative feelings as we are putting others above ourselves. 

On Saturday, we will honor the men and women that are still alive that have served our great country. 

ACTION:  How will you thank the military this Saturday for the amazing freedom and protection they have given you?

Resources

•        https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/