HELP!!!! Are any of you feeling overwhelmed with the silly season upon us?

I see so many people saying how awful the holiday season is because they feel they don't have the time or energy to accomplish what they want to.

As someone who suffers with chronic pain this is a real biggy..but for everyone I think the following will help.

Spontaneity is not something I can do anymore, everything has to be planned to the last degree. Although not everyone is like this it does help to break the holidays down into smaller portions.

1. Write a list of who you need presents for & if possible email them for ideas.
 If you have a large family a "secret Santa" is a great idea. This is where everyone's name is put in a hat and then everyone pulls one out & that is the person you buy for. Everyone gets a present and it doesn't break the bank. (if you pull out your own name, put it back and draw another). It is best to do this after you have given out the gifts for the year so you have a whole year to keep an eye out for something that might suit the person you are buying for.

2. Shop as much online as you can. You can still buy local and support your local shops, most of them have websites, so you can see if they have what you want and how much and a lot of them will even deliver. If they don't then use the phone and give them a call.
Don't forget gift vouchers are a great idea & don't need wrapping.
If you have a credit card that is part of a rewards program, check out what rewards are available to you, you may be able to get lots of your gifts this way.

3. Wrap one or two presents a day, then it's not a huge chore.

4. Putting up your decorations for Christmas, don't leave it till the 1st Dec and then try to put them all up. Start a week or two before and put up one or two decorations a day.

5. Work out where the celebrations are going to be held. If it's not at your house offer to bring something, make it something that is easy and stress free for you. If it's at your place then ask everyone to bring something so it's not all on you.

6. Try not to do too much on one day, if you have lots of friends and family to visit then make it over a couple of days, some on Christmas Day and some on Boxing Day or even have one side the family for Christmas a week earlier, a lot of people prefer this as they don't have to race from one place to the next all in one day & this is especially good if you have family that live a distance away, you can meet half way and have a celebration.

7. Don't make it complicated. If it is getting stressful and becoming too hard work out ways you can simplify it.

Remember the holidays are about spending time together, relaxing and having fun.

And I would encourage you all to remember the reason for the season.

http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com

I failed!!!

My goal for this month was to write a blog each day...I started off alright, but now I have missed two days:(

So how do we handle failure?

My first think was to avoid the problem....but here I am, so finally I worked out that burying your head doesn't accomplish anything. It is better just to say, ok, I didn't achieve it this time, re-evaluate and go on from there.

When we fail to achieve a goal it just means we got distracted or other things took piority, so learn from this so you do better next time, but watch your self talk and don't let it be bigger than it is.

So on that note....see you all tomorrow!

Smile

Sometimes life is so hard we find it hard to smile, but if you can you will find you feel better.

If you are doing okay, remember to give a smile to someone & if they don't smile back, remember, it may be because they don't have one to give.

Here's one from me to you....

Verbal abuse is still abuse!

I came across this image on G+ and traced it's origin back to an advertising campaign on child abuse. It carries a very powerful message!!
Created By:  Advertising Agency: EuroRSCG Chicago, USA
                    Art Director: Puja Shah
                    Copywriter: Eugene Fuller
                    Creative Director: Blake Ebel

Disability, Curse or Gift?

It was suggested to me to look at my disability as a gift given to have a chance doing what I am meant to.


This got me thinking, I usually look at all the things my disabilities have taken from me, such as an active social life, the ability to work and earn an income, the restrictions on my movement and consequently my lifestyle and so on.
But what if I was to do as this person suggested and turn it around and look at what the disability has given me. The opportunity to practice my photography, the time to get so much better at it, a mobile home to travel in (we only have this as it's to painful to sit in a car for long periods.) Freedom to travel as much as we want, when we want, to enjoy time with my husband, to understand others with chronic conditions and to be able to reach out and help them. A closer relationship with God as I have to rely on him 24/7 to get me through each day, real friends who have stood the test of time and an appreciation and gratefulness for the little things in life. 


So after doing this little exercise, it's up to me to decide if it's a blessing or a curse, it's all in the way we perceive it.

I am going to start focusing on the positives instead of the negatives and see if it helps my quality of life, will you join me??

Are you an angel who has lost his/her way

We are all devine beings walking this earth, but sometimes we forget where we came from or what our purpose is.

This is how I see myself sometimes, a devine being come to earth, cold in a snowstorm and yet there is a beautiful ray of light and love reaching down to me from above, letting me know I am never alone. 

Neither are you ever alone, if we will just stop for a moment and feel the love that is reaching down to us, we will be able to go on, knowing that somewhere, somehow there is a purpose and a reason for our being and it is our job to remember what that is.

May heavens light warm and guide you.

Where has Christmas gone

This came through my facebook page, so I felt I needed to share it.I don't know who wrote it, but it is very true


Twas the Month before Christmas 

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
and we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

If you agree please forward

Remembrance Day

I know I'm a few days late, but I couldn't face this post till now.
Remembrance Day is about remembering all those who have died serving their country. I appreciate what these people have given us so much and what their families gave was made so much more poignant by the passing of Ruby. Yes Ruby was just a tiny dog, but she was part of our family. It brought home to me how much grief and sorrow the families of our fallen soldiers must have to endure. A grief that never ends. A hole in their heart that can never be filled.
No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for another....this is what they have done for each and every one of us.

So to all our men and women in the armed forces, thankyou.

RIP Ruby

I am finding it hard to blog today, what do you say when your second dog in 6 mths has died.

Life seems so unfair.

6mths ago our little Amara got run over and then we got Ruby who was 7mths old to keep our other Pap, Louie, company.

He and Ruby had pups 7 weeks ago, they went to their new homes on Saturday and then she died yesterday.....why did it have to happen, why didn't it happen before the pups had gone, why do bad things happen to good people....all these things and more have been running through my head.

I know I can resist this lesson & it will be twice as hard or I can accept it even though I don't understand why. I am trying to accept, but it is overwhelming at times.

So RIP our beautiful Ruby

Ruby with one of her pups

Treated Badly

How do we handle it when people or organizations treat us badly?

I recently had a case where I had joined a greeting card company when they were just starting out. I supported them, I advertised for them, I introduced other artists to them and then when I was not putting up lots of new work as I was unwell they "deactivated" my shop and then informed me after the fact.

I was upset, more at the way they treated me. I know that when one door closes another opens & I have already been invited to start up a shop with another company and I now sell my cards through my local art gallery and make a lot more than I did through the previous company, but it would be nice to have been treated right.

I have sent them an email, explaining how I felt, but what else can we do in situations like this?

I find my internal talk is the answer. My first instinct was to feel rejected and undervalued, but then I stopped my thoughts and said, to myself, they have actually done me a favor I am now free to pursue other areas. I felt a misplaced loyalty to them & that has now been removed so I can move on.

Many people buy my cards and my art and just yesterday I had a stranger tell me how awesome my work was and how blessed they were at being able to own it. It is these comments I will now focus on and move forward with no regrets.

When one door closes another always opens.

So if you are looking for cards, please go to Greeting cards by Julia K Harwood for a selection of cards, but also any of my images are available as cards, just go to my redbublle gallery, click on the image and choose greeting cards:))

Handling Stress

How do you handle life when it seems to get out of control?

Today was a hectic day where I felt things were just beginning to overwhelm me, so I said to my hubby, "It's beach time"

For me heading to the beach and just enjoying the moment help to restore my equilibrium.

For those who can't get to the beach or anywhere else in nature I share this picture to allow yourself to take a moment....

Google+

What is Google+?

Do I need it if I have fb and twitter?

I will declare an interest upfront. I am on G+, but I am also on fb & twitter, so why G+?

I have found G+ to be a more interactive platform. You can still play games, but they don't clutter up the feeds, you have different circles for different interests and can post to all or limited, but the thing I like the best is Hangouts.

What is a hangout?

It's where you and a group of friends or colleagues can get together in one room via your video cam and talk to each other, you can plan events, you can hold teaching sessions or you can just share an interest. I have learnt so much and met some incredible people since joining G+

My advise would be to check it out and see which format you like best. My G+ profile is https://plus.google.com/105894760755439344491/ for all my posts, I also have a business page at https://plus.google.com/b/112360760974850124817/ Have a look and see what you think.

Would love to hear your feedback.

Fatigue

Have you ever felt so tired you can't keep your eyes open, so tired you feel sick in the stomach, so tired you can't get your words out properly. This can be part of chronic fatigue.

The distinguishing feature of ME/CFS is a type of exhaustion known as post-exertional malaise, ‘crash’ or ‘payback’.


Many people with fibromyalgia also suffer with chronic fatigue.

One of the main things you need to manage this is to listen to your body and keep activity within your limits to avoid relapse.

If you are unable to do this then allow for recovery time after activity.

Taking time out to spend in nature, just being still, breath in  the clear air and let your body rejuvenate will help.

If you can't get out in nature, immerse yourself in this image. Allow the bush to heal you, become part of you and renew you.

Do we need Support networks?

What do you think, do you thing support networks are important?

I know that for myself, having a disease that a lot of people don't understand, that support groups or networks really help. Even if someone is just saying I hear you I know how you feel.

I wonder sometimes if the path we have to travel is to help us develop empathy for others. I know of people who have had very little suffering in their lives and they are often very unemphatic and I find others who have suffered so much and yet still have empathy for others suffering.

I have found I use Facebook and more often now Google+ to link up with others with similar conditions. Living in the counry there are no support groups where I live but via the internet I can get support and help.

Where have you found support for your issues?

Don't judge a book by it's cover

This is an amazing video that I felt I had to share. It shows what someone when given a chance can do. It really is amazing, you have to watch it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150373441113934

Friends for a reason

I am sure most of you have probable read this saying at one time or another, but I would encourage you to read it again and really think about it.

People always come into your life for a reason,
a season, or a lifetime.

When you figure out which it is,
you know exactly what to do.
 
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
or to provide you with guidance and support...
to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrong doing on your part
or at an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.
 

Sometimes they die.
  
Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled; their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.

They may bring you an experience of peace
or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it!
It is real!

But, only for a SEASON.

And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,
the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons;
Those things you must build upon
in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person/people anyway,
and put what you have learned
to use in all other relationships
and areas of your life.

I find it very hard to let people, animals or even things go and when they do it can be easy to slip into depression, but by remembering these words I am able to peacefully let go knowing that it is for the best. Yes it still hurts sometimes, but it just means they meant a lot to us. We can still let them go and move on.



Thank you for being a part of my life...

Blog a day for a month

Today I accepted a challenge to blog every day for a month!

Yes a big one for me, but we'll give it a go.

Do you ever have days you wished you didn't have to get out of bed?

I do, somedays like yesterday, life is a huge struggle. I get up and put on my smiley mask and head out, but inside I am a crumbling mess. Everything people say or do either stops the crumbling a bit or exacerbates it enormously. I know in my head that I am being oversensitive, but it feels so real. I try to find things to do that I enjoy, but even that is hard sometimes. Yesterday I went for a swim, which helped, but then I felt miserable because I was swimming alone!!!

What do you do on days like this?


I have a list to remind me of what makes me feel better on days like this.

1. Put on some lively music
2. Go for a walk
3. Take some photos
4.Visit a freind
5. Play games on the computer or talk to someone on social media.
6. If all else fails, eat chocolate and then have a nap!!!


I hope this will help you on days when you feel down too.

A beautiful little blue wren who kept me company while I was taking photos