Let's Talk

 

Normally, I would put my thoughts into a coffee chat, but today I think this is more about a mind release single chat. Yes, I will probably have several subjects here, but today blog is about unloading this heavy weight of thoughts. 

I have to begin knowing how blessed I really am. I have the best family, that is healthy, a beautiful home, food to eat, some incredible friends, and live in a heavenly area that is blessed with more open land than people. I am beyond grateful that I was lead to this state 25 years ago.  More over, I am so happy, even though there has been some rough times, that I found my husband. Yes, there are still days when we bump heads, but I know if needed, he will be there for me without a doubt. We have 4 amazing kids, 2 biological, 2 not. All of them, make our family whole - even if unique. 

My husband and I have an interesting extended family, since both our parents are divorced and remarried. While this is not that uncommon anymore, it was years ago and makes life pretty interesting. I have learned a lot with all the parents/in-laws. I need to touch on the stuff learned from my in-laws, as that has really had an effect on my life the past 24 years. I married into a family of farmers/rural Americans. While this may not be significant to some, it was a direct opposite of how I grew up. My Dad has always planted a garden, but that was my only "connection" to farm life. I grew up with the conveniences of town close by. Shortly after getting married, I went to visit one of my husband's grandmothers. To say I was shocked at our conversation, would be an understatement! She told me, if I was going to be married to her grandson, I had better learn to take care of him and our family, the way their family had done. I truly loved this woman! So, I took her advice, and began learning what I didn't know. Over 20 years later and I'm still learning, and wish she was alive today - many times, to ask her opinions and advice! *Before all the feminist movement bullshit begins, it IS my job to take care of my family, husband included. It IS also my job to support him and his decisions. Just as it is his job with me.* The ONLY thing 50/50 is divorce!!! 

Let me explain some of what I have learned. That early conversation with Grandma J. included teaching me how to preserve and grow food, lessons on using a pressure canner, lessons on how to menu plan with very little money, how to stretch food and a recipe(that I wish I could find again) for my husband's favorite cookie. Grandma J. and I had so many long conversations that had sound advice, I miss them and her!! On the other side, were my husband's other grandparents. The ran a business for years, in smalltown USA. Truly a rural general store, from the stories I heard. I learned a lot from them too. His Grandpa and I had a lot of conversations through the years too. Everything from giving flack about being a "city girl" to taking care of his grandson, to listening to my own knowing on situations, to putting my family first, and even telling me when I was not using my "noggin'." Even my direct in-laws have been a saving grace, in their own ways. With 4 in-laws, I've heard plenty of out-law jokes...and we have hit heads but I value them and their opinions. I have a farmer and teacher, and a nurse and foundry tech within this group. Getting advice and guidance is never in short supply. I know I can depend on every one of these family members!! That is not something I say often. 

Depending on people is not something I do, or easily. I don't trust, and I don't make it a habit to depend on anyone. Typically, when you depend on someone else, you are let down or disappointed. My own expectations are usually tested. I think this is for most people. We depend on/trust people, with the expectations of what we would do/be, and we are let down and disappointed/hurt. I'm not going to dwell here, because I have had to move past this.

I have learned that finding outlets for anger, sadness, frustration, or whatever negative energy you may feel, is necessary. It's similar to young people that have attention issues; they need an outlet, structure, and discipline not medication! Whatever outlet that allows the energy to be positively dispersed, is constructive NOT destructive. Most of you, by now, know that gardening is a huge outlet for me. Through the years though, I have found peace in: wood working, photography, my chickens & ducks, landscaping(though I have to wait on financial resources for a lot of that), reading, writing, and music. However, I can tell when I don't get the opportunity to focus on one of those outlets, my own attention span tends to become chaos. I am there now! I can truly relate to many with ADD/ADHD at the moment! I have been stuck indoors for way too long, I have had too much on my plate for way too, I have struggled through several issues that knocked the wind out of my sails since July of last year. I am still struggling to get my feet firmly planted on the ground. Does this mean I will give up or quit? HELL NO!!!! It just makes me more determined to get where I know I can get...it's just taking a lot longer than anticipated. I got knocked down, wasn't prepared, and I landed hard....but that just means the come back will be greater. 

As I said in one of my coffee chats, I have a lot of writing plans for this year. I am planning to work on some projects(the cheap ones!) this year that help me. I've already started some garden seed indoors, which is now going to require me to get some sort of small greenhouse build because aside from my dining room table, I'm out of flat surfaces! I'm working on a photography project to make some calendars. I have a pallet sofa project for our deck that I have put off, and I plan to work on that this summer. I am also working towards pushing my family to slow down just a little to allow time for some enjoyment/swimming/bonfires. Our family has morning chores, works 9 hour days at jobs(me at the house), some have second jobs, then another hour or two on evening farm chores, we eat dinners late, then it's showers, a short span of relaxing and then bed...just to get up and do it all over again. Getting away from the farm, is nearly impossible, and honestly...we don't want to leave usually. This is our love. As I said earlier, we have more open land and animals, than people. 

I have undoubtedly struggled with several areas of my life, but I am a strong woman. Not necessarily physically - I do have my limits, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I have had enough changes in the past year to turn my structured life on its head. While a lot of it has pissed off, it's pushing me to be stronger yet. It's reminding me exactly who's child I am. God never gives us more than we can handle, even if he gives us more credit than we give ourselves. 

S.

Coffee Chat, farm chat, and always more

 

A coffee chat, farm chat and always more!!

I have done a little editing on this blog, something I rarely ever do, after a conversation with a dear friend today. As we were chatting and comparing stories, life styles, the off handed snarky remarks we receive, and the occasional overwhelm we experience; it dawned on me that we are not alone. We may have different lives than most, but she and I are just like many others in the world today who experience life at break neck speeds, over scheduling and being our own worst critics! So, I started this blog over to maybe help others that may be feeling overwhelmed too!

I am a lot more tame in my blogs, usually, than during our conversations. We both tend to get a bit worked up over stupidity. Anyway, life has a way of taking some major left turns, usually at break-neck speed. Issues sneak up on us, even those that are the most observant! We have this plan, or something of that sort, and God just laughs as he throws those speed bumps in. You see, we have become so busy being busy, that we forget to take time to appreciate God's gifts; whether that be our talents, nature, or whatever. We force ourselves out of bed every morning, we bust our asses at our jobs, then race home to fix meals, do school work, take care of the house/kids, then go to bed. Just to start all over the next day. We wish our lives away waiting on Friday's and long weekends, just so we can race around in different areas, and then complain because we blink and it's Monday again. It's truly a sad existence if you think about it. Why do we do this? Yes, the standard answer is because we have to work, we need the money, yada yada. I get it, it does take money to survive in this messed up world. The thing is, we are neglecting to take care of ourselves in this messed up schedule. About a decade ago, I met an incredible therapist through one of my natural health courses, and she made a comment that has stuck with me through the years, "you can't pour from an empty cup, at some point you need to refill it." I can't tell you how many people I have said this to since then! At the time, it made sense, but even I have neglected to follow that advice for a long time! I do so much trying to make life easier for those around me, that I neglect to take for myself to recharge and refuel. It's at that point, I become overwhelmed, out of sorts, and frankly quite obnoxious! I allow others to take me for granted while I go out of my way to make lives easier...more is just added to my plate. Then I get bogged down, upset, overwhelmed, and tend to flip my lid. The key here, is that I have allowed this, so it's up to me to fix it. 

As we went down the conversation super highway that typically happens with us, we talked about our farm lives. It's incredible how many people are ignorant to what goes into keeping up with a farm. It does not matter how big or small, farm are a lot of HARD work. Keeping up with small family farms gets really crazy. Especially when you are doing everything for yourself and not hiring someone to do it all. Most of us with small family farms can't afford financially or otherwise, to bring in someone anyway. People that are not invested in the profit/loss, not familiar with your livestock, don't know what to look for when checking on chickens/ducks/goats/sheep. Most don't bother to clean water tanks daily, as long as they have water...it's all good. They don't know that when a storm or front comes through the animal behaviors get squirrely, they don't know to check fences regularly to make sure deer haven't plowed through them. They don't know that when the temps drop, it requires adding more straw to dog houses, duck house, chicken nests and bedding for the goats and sheep. They don't know the personality of every critter on the farm. They don't know that one cow is like a giant dog, but a couple of the others would take you out in a heart beat. So many people have it in their heads that farming is a hobby, something you can pick up and drop just as quick. That is not the case. It's understanding everything above, doing everything above, it's following bloodlines and pedigrees for the best off spring, it's knowing heat cycles, feed cycles, feed rations, knowing what minerals are needed when egg shells are thin, it's knowing what nutrients are required to maximize the hay and pasture or gardens, it's learning to prepare for 6 months of winter type weather in the other 6 months of the year. It's learning to juggle finances when they dip and dive from job losses/job changes/feed increases/utility increases. It's knowing how many bales of hay are required to sustain your herds annually, and sometimes having to pull those bales out of thin air when supply runs low. It's learning to budget for a 5 grand a year feed bill...yet making sure there can be more added to it when inflation and prices decide to sky rocket. None of this even touches on raising or growing your own foods. That in and of itself is a whole other list!! That is learning to have a green thumb even when you don't! Knowing that it may not be cheaper than "just buying it at the store," but it's a hell of a lot healthier and tastes better! Learning how and when to harvest those fruits and vegetables, how to preserve them, how to manage an influx or shortage of your planned winter foods. It's learning how and when to prune those orchard trees to promote growth. It's learning when to add the insect repellent jugs to the trees, it's learning to add compost and nutrients to those trees and vines to promote fruit growth. It's learning to make recipes that will utilize those fruits/vegetables, it's budgeting for extra jars/lids to preserve them. It's expanding your mind to understand fully, you reap what you sow! 

As she and I were tackling the world problems, one area always seems to come up for both of us. That is the snarky and frankly rude comments we get. Neither of us are preppers or end times people, but with the world today...having a game plan in the event of necessity seems logical. However, there are so many that look at us with the stink eye. While I am normally pretty immune to this, I've gotten so often. Sometimes, it just gets under your skin. Those giving the stink eye and snide/snarky remarks are the ones that depend on their grocery stores. As we have all seen since 2020, those are unreliable. Even in my remote area, shelves are getting thin and we are seeing limits return to products. How does that work when you are feeding 6, 8, 10 or more people? The store limits of 2, are you supposed to tell everyone in your house they can only eat 2 green beans because Walmart/Aldi/whoever, says you can only have 2 cans? How's that working for ya?! I personally, will NEVER stand in a bread line. I know how to raise, grow, preserve and shoot my own food! However, my concern is for those can't or don't know how. Not because they can't or don't know how as much as those are the people that will find their way to houses like mine. They will either congregate here in hopes of not going hungry or some idiot will attempt to break in when times get real hard. Just a note here....my doors are locked for YOUR protection, NOT MINE!!! I guess I should ask here, why am I worried about others? In general, because I don't want others to suffer. We live in a world that has lost connection with each other in lieu of division by our government. We have lost the common decency of respecting others, helping others, and treating others as we want to be treated. It's sad and messed up. 

As this world seems to get nuttier by the hour, I ask continuously, where has the work force gone. I see signs and ads everywhere of businesses hiring. Where did everyone go? 2 years ago, everyone was forced into lockdown, for an illness, and now no one is working? Even those that have jobs are either not doing them or spend more time complaining than actually working. Yes, I know the supply chain is a mess. Yet, there are so so many that go to their job expecting a paycheck while disrespecting their employer, and the business. I wonder if education has been so watered down that employees have forgotten or not learned that if a business doesn't make money, neither do the employees. I get that there are businesses out there that treat employees poorly, and that is on the employees to either find a job that does respect the employee or deal with it. On the other hand, when you have a business that is making payroll, every single time, and is not cutting your hours or your wages through all this supply chain mess...you better appreciate and respect that business. Instead of demanding more money, demanding anything at all...you better buckle up, do your job to the best of your ability and respect that business owner! We have lost so many businesses, mostly small ones, in the past 2 years. There are jobs everywhere, you just have to work. Absolutely NOTHING is free, so you better learn some work ethic. Show up when you are supposed to, do your job to the best of your ability, and for the love of God, QUIT WHINING!!!! Most of the jobs today are starting so close to the wages of a skilled trade, it's quite pathetic! 

 

As I have spent a lot of time in research mode, I have learned how little I actually knew. "You don't know what you don't know." It's incredible to realize how much public opinion is swayed by television(noise box), and how little critical thinking is actually done. I've heard so much; I don't have time, I can't stomach that information, or a million other excuses. Let me tell you, it's tough! My research began when I heard about a conspiracy theory about child trafficking and the Epstein stuff. I wanted and did deny it for a long time. Then, I started researching. Boy, was I floored when I started digging. When theory became fact, then I dug even more. The further into the research I got, the worse it got and the more high profile names I came across. Enough information and videos to make me physically and emotionally sick. Those spider webs, turned into the biggest scandal and none of us had a clue. People that were held in such high regard; from presidents, to congress, to CEO's, to royals to churches. None have been left out of this. Folks, I am still digging, 2 1/2 years later!!! I am still learning new information every single day!!! However, the link to children, set my blood on fire! There is nothing more precious and valuable than our children. Learning what these freaks, pedophiles, and evil demented people were up to, pissed me off!!! Then I began learning about the rest. Sadly, there are still a lot of people that disregard or discredit so much of this information yet refuse to research for themselves. Why? Pretending it doesn't exist isn't going to make it go away. By choosing to stay ignorant to the facts, you are NOT helping to protect and save the beautiful children of this world. I've cried my way through videos, I've had to pause videos so I could go vomit. It's UGLY, but when the proof is out there....it's no longer a conspiracy theory! 

 

Our world is in a mess, and there are a lot of people that can't seem to see it. We spent 2 years mired down by an illness with, at minimum, a 96% recovery rate. Now, that seems to have been thrown by the wayside for a supposed war between Russia and a very compromised Ukraine/Biden. Does no one else question the conflict of interest in Ukraine between the Biden's, Pelosi, Romney, Kerry, and multiple other big names in DC? Just the names mentioned have children on energy boards in Ukraine, and Kerry's daughter is married to an Iranian politician's kid. Let's just touch on Iran while we're at it. Where and what was the $150 billion Obama sent, in cash, to Iran as he was leaving office? Or why hasn't the $3.5 trillion that came up missing under Rumsfeld the day before 9/11 not been accounted for? How in the hell do you "lose" that much money???  Why, when we are $30 trillion in debt, are we printing and sending money to ANY other country, other than our own? When is the Biden Admin going to fix everything he has screwed up right here in the states? Why did his admin/military industrial complex agree to leave millions of our tax payer funded equipment in Afghanistan? Why are bringing people into our country, when we can't even take care of the ones that are supposed to be here? You know, the AMERICANS? Why aren't our elected officials demanding we start up our own pipelines, instead of funding pipelines in other countries...then bitching about energy costs? Why does history have to repeat itself - inflation, war, industrialization, less freedom, more big government? Go look it up! A simple search of what happened with WWII, will give you a start. Why is every new station basically repeating, verbatim, each other? How many times in a news cast can you find contradictions? 

 

Now that have reached this point, I am going to call out the "alternative news sources" too! I can tell you, I bounce around. The thing that tips me over the edge, whether it be the constant commercials on regular tv, or the constant begging/promoting products on the alternative sources...enough is enough!! Americans are getting screwed at every corner. We are either paying for cable, or satalite...because the government took everything digital. Then they start throwing in paying for Disney+, Discovery+, or a million other +'s, then there is streaming sources - netflix/amazon/youtube. Now, we have the alternative news sources throwing their towels in the ring...it's only $3.99, or $5.99 a month for "special" content. Screw that!! Then you have all these people claiming to be truth tellers, touring the country while collecting more money from people that are craving truth. No, I will never attend anything like that. There are people out there that I respect, that have a ton more information than I have, but I refuse to PAY for anything else. You want the truth, I will gladly share what I have found, I share links(that still work), and all at no cost. I would rather get the truth out there than be lumped in with costing people anything more than they are already being pillaged!! I am nothing special, but I am learning how much of our history has been a lie, and I will not allow myself to to be treated like a mushroom anymore!(kept in the dark and fed full of shit!)  I am an American citizen, a free and sovereign being. I DO NOT consent to the crimes against humanity that have been allowed to go on for generations, I DO NOT consent to allow my birth certificate to be sold by the Federal Reserve nor do I consent to the fraudulent and illegal IRS. I DO NOT consent to allowing the government to rule my life. I DO NOT CONSENT!!!! These criminals at the highest levels do not represent Americans, there fore, we should have NO taxation without representation.  Whether you realize it or not, we are at war. It is not the kind of war that we have had in the past. This war is a biological and information war, and until more people realize this, we are going to continue to struggle. 

Friends, we need to come together. We need to stop allowing these freaks to bait us into division. This is not a civil war, this is a revolutionary war. It should be the citizens against the tyrants in government. Educate yourselves. Go out an find out who is running your local elections, and vet every single one of them. Hold them accountable for the financing, their records, and their promises. Everyone of them from school boards, clear up to federal. It's time for REAL truth!!! It's time for Americans to demand accountability from those elected to SERVE US!

Salli's Soap Box

 

Today, I'm going to jump into some areas that truly irk me to no end. While I have spent nearly 3 years now researching, and I listen to some "truthers" videos...I'm getting more and more irritated by the day. There is only ONE person that I listen to that isn't constantly asking for money. Sadly, she is the one person that deserves it! Everyone is being censored on youtube, fakebook, and about every other media source. Shit, I'm in fakebook jail so often...I'm beginning to believe that my account is just flagged in their system to automatically give 48 hours to 90 days in jail. There are a few that, while I only listen to stuff that makes sense to me or that I can find information to verify, I'm finding that among those claiming to be "truthers," there seems to be so much contempt. 

These people that I have found, and to some point can resonate with, are now too busy with tours, too busy to ask questions that matter to everyday people, or talk over anyone they wish to inject their own opinion. It's very frustrating to hear people interview others that claim to be telling the truth, all the while, we are being told to fact-check everything and not to trust people in power just because they say they are trustworthy. Does that make sense? Personally, I don't trust ANYONE until they prove they are trustworthy. If you demand trust, you can pound the pavement!The truth doesn't mind being questioned, but lies do!

As I said, I have spent 2 1/2 years plus, doing research on what the hell is happening to our country. I've since learned that the bullshit happening, is worldwide...so many citizens of every country of the world are dealing with the same corruption we are. I've learned to utilize online libraries and news sources overseas...as well as here in the states. Early on, I was able to dig for information on Google, until it began censoring. Since I've used Duck Duck Go, and even they are now starting to censor. I've found some incredible sources of information from well educated people, and I've learned to listen to my own intuition to discern information as fact or not. I've struggled through the topic that brought me into this research...child trafficking. That subject sucker punched me and opened my eyes to the level of evil that we are dealing with. That research lead to a spider web of corruption, demented and evil acts and people. The more I dug, the worse it got. Then I found a few areas that made sense; our political arena in the U.S. and how completely illegitimate it has been for more decades than I have been alive. The fact that ANYONE can truly say they believe in one party or another just shows me the ignorance that still exists. They are not 2 separate parties folks. They are just 2 wings of the same damn bird. 

I promise you I don't know a fraction of the crap that's out there...even with so much research. However, I am studying every single day to NOT be stupid! Before you all get your panties in a bunch, I'm not saying you're stupid if you aren't researching. Wait, YES I AM!!! We are coming up on Midterm elections this year. Are you going to vote party lines? If you are....you need to research more than ever!!! STOP!!! Do your own due diligence! Find out who is on your ballot, dig into who they are, what they stand for, where their financing has come from, and what their record is. Stop behaving like sheep. I don't care if it's Democrat or Republican, 90% of them are corrupt and do not deserve to be elected or re-elected!! Dig in and find their track record! Are they funded by George Soros...that should be an instant red flag and a no go! Have they used our tax dollars to pay for their indiscretions? (i.e. tickets, legal fees) What platform are they running on? Have they done ANYTHING that has actually helped the people they are supposed to represent? Have they talked to the very people they are supposed to represent or have they talked AT them, from a distance? We have that right here in Missouri. A candidate for Senate, raising money and rubbing shoulders with donors, yet I haven't seen him anywhere near where I am. I noticed this, as well, in 2020. Our Governor was running for election, but I never saw the man in any county close to me...let alone my county. You want my vote....YOU BETTER FREAKING EARN IT! Every elected official, especially within each state, needs to be on the ground in the areas they are intended to serve. To see what is happening in each county, to hear from the very constituents they are supposed to be representing! 

As I have studied, I have learned how corrupt the entire system has become. This is not new though, and that is the scary part. The largest part of everyone alive today, has lived under the false narrative of "freedom" because we have been losing our freedoms at a rapid pace. It's our war monguering politicians, and world leaders that have sent our brave men and women into every war. They have created our $30 Trillion debt and they keep adding to it by funding every other country, instead of focusing on American exceptionalism. There have 3 presidents that I have studied that have actually attempted to focus on just that, JFK - who we all know was assassinated because he was trying to do what was best for America, Reagan - who had 2 assassination attempts and then toed the line. The 3rd was Trump, who was hated for trying to focus on America first by media and corrupt politicians that were going to lose their easy ride on OUR tax dollars. Wasn't it Martha Stewart that was thrown in jail for insider trading? So, why is a large majority of those currently in Congress & Senate being charged too? Go look up their financial records, and yes they are public record! 

While we are looking at correcting the record... Let's talk about Nazi Germany, and WWII. We were all taught about the Nuremberg Trials. What we were not taught, was how few Nazi's were actually tried. You know who was tried to the fullest extent? The media, the journalist, the doctors, the nurses and the teachers. 95% of the Nazi's were high tailed out of Germany, through Operation Paperclip a lot came here to the states, some went to South America, and some to Europe. Those freaks, created with the help of our 3 letter agencies, Operation Mockingbird, MKUltra, Go look into the history of the Royal families, and where those bloodlines go. Just a heads up, the Windsor's are not English! 

Let's have a brief discussion about vassal states. There are 3. A vassal state is a piece of ground within a country that does not belong to that country even though it's within that country. The 3 states that fall into this category are: City of London, Vatican, and Washington D.C. These 3 places are sovereign of the countries in which they are located. These states do not have to follow the laws, or constitutions. These 3 pillars: City of London(Banking), Vatican(Religion), and Washington D.C.(Military); do not have to answer to the people of those countries. 

As we are currently seeing the threat of being thrown into another war. Why? Has everyone forgotten how to think critically? Think about all the crap we have been fed through the noise box. How quickly the narrative of the illness died when the resident decided that Russia's military operations in Ukraine were an aggression. Don't you think our own military would position itself if we had weapons pointing at us? Why wouldn't Russia do the same thing? Because an installed president, who was previously an actor with billions of dollars, says that they are being invaded? Why aren't we asking more questions? Why did it take this "invasion" for us to learn that our government, CIA and military had biolabs, conveniently located in the exact areas that are supposedly being bombed?! Why exactly are people calling to ban Russians from from everything? Should Americans be banned from everything because OUR government funded those biolabs? Start using your heads!! If you had done a small amount of research, you'd learn that America is NOT except from fault. IF you start digging into real historical facts, you would be terrified at what our politicians have done. 

We've been programmed to group think, and that is now showing up in full force. We have been taught that "one bad apple, upsets the whole cart." You know, like the gun control bullshit, because some idiot gets his hands on a gun, now all guns and gun owners are awful people. Think about it. Even a group(BLM), that began, allegedly, as a good thing, has been turned into a group of thugs. Doesn't that mean all black people are thugs. Just as not all white people are racists, or all Germans are Nazi's. Stop thinking that way. We are individuals!!! There is no one just like you, nor is there anyone just like me. We have to stop this. We are so much more powerful as a united front. Here in America, WE THE PEOPLE, are still the rightful bosses. NOT the government. 

For today, I'm going to publish this. There is so much I would love to say, but I need to get my thoughts in line first. Please, do some research, check into whoever is running on your midterm ballot before the midterms. Stop just voting by party. They are both corrupt! 

Coffee Chat

 

Coffee Chat

I have spent 2 weeks trying to find the umph to write. I have a lot to say, but finding it more and more difficult to do so without the generalizations of anonymity.  I keep my conversations general for a purpose, but it's difficult to explain situations without disclosing relationships, sources and so forth. So, I withdraw and don't say much. With the situations world wide, and a lot closer to home, as well, I could write several books! In the meantime, I will do my best to write today. 

My mind moves a million miles an hour, ALL THE TIME! Even when I'm attempting to rest, my brain is moving. I have found myself in a such a strange place. Working towards my goals is just part of who I am, but the position I find myself in now, is one of moving forward. Putting so many areas of issue and tension to rest, permanently.  I've found myself turning off emotions, and listening to facts. Turning off the pity or trying to understand issues and instead focusing on manifesting my life to be exactly what I want. I find myself in such a unique frame of mind that seems foreign. I have always thought deeply and felt deeply, about everything. While I don't ever see that going away, it has shifted. It has shifted to I do what I can, when I can; but I am not responsible for fixing everyone else's problems. I am not responsible for their poor choices, poor decisions, or any part of anyone else's life. I am naturally a fixer by nature, but I can't and won't drop my own barriers anymore. It's quite odd to feel so at ease with something that seems and feels so odd. Maybe it's yet another "unhealthy coping mechanism," but if it is...it makes me feel freer than I can ever remember feeling. I suppose it goes along with my constant use of the phrase lately, "not my circus, not my monkeys." 

I'm moving forward, and as much as I love to dance, hopefully...I won't have too many cha-cha's to deal with. Moving forward includes focusing more on where I want to go in life, what I want to accomplish, and how much I am willing to learn. I promise you, we are NOT trees, forced to stay in one location, with the "same ole, same ole," mindset. To achieve goals, you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone. It's terrifying, it's exhilarating, and it's necessary! It's really easy to get drug back into old habits and old ways, especially if you are trying to make strides to move forward. Our comfort zones, are just that, comfortable. We know what to expect, we know the limits, and who is going to be within those zones. Jumping outside that proverbial box, is a giant leap of faith! Ready or not, I'm taking a leap of faith. 

As many know, that have followed my blogs, I love to write. Writing is my release, it's my contribution to anything I think may be of value to someone else, and sometimes...it's nothing more than a public journal for the chaos that goes through my head. This year, I am taking my writing up a notch, I'm taking my photography up a notch, and I'm taking me up a notch. You may have noticed several different blog names over the past months. I've been playing with titles, and watching numbers. It seems more people are reading these all time. I will do individual blogs, but I'm taking on specified blogs as well. You all know my coffee chats, they are typically all over the place like regular conversations. Let's Talk blogs, are more topic centered, Coffee Breaks are shorter chats more geared toward a brief conversation. Salli's Soap Box is more political and worldwide conversations. I'm working towards my own state news, politics, business on a yet to be named blog. Farm Chat is all about small family farming, and homesteading. Veteran Chat is mostly for my local veteran communities, but will include information nationally, as I get it verified. I will also be starting a new blog, again yet unnamed, for my photography and special projects. I look forward to bringing you all along on my journey. It's about living your best life, every single day. 

As much as I am always trying to understand the motives of others, it can be totally overwhelming. The psychology that it takes to even grasp the behaviors of others, is draining. Can you imagine being around people that are constantly negative, constantly living in the past, constantly dwelling on sick/tired/broke, constantly spewing negative responses to every possible topic? It is emotionally draining, and in turn...it drains you physically as well. When you work with natural health/holistic health; you work with mind, body AND spirit. You can not heal yourself when one of those areas is out of balance. Life is neither good nor bad. Life is life....it is how you deal with or handle life, that is determining outcome. In turn, those you surround yourself with, will determine how you view life. Have you ever noticed those that are always happy, or "lucky" or seem to have everything together? They aren't the ones that dwell in the past, they aren't the ones that focus on the road bumps in life, they are the ones that focus on the negative. The acknowledge when things are difficult, but they don't take up residency there. They are just like, "yeah, that happened. So, I'll learn from it and go on." You won't hear them focus on other people, you won't hear them reliving the past, you don't hear them spreading rumors or having mindless conversations. Their focus:  WHAT CAN I DO, TO DO BETTER?! They focus on ideas, growth and improvement instead of pity, "whoa is me," and how bad life is. It's quite the stark difference. You have to learn to pay attention to your own energy/intuition. Those that bring down your energy levels, I call them energy vampires, are not the ones to spend your time with. You want to be around people that raise your vibrations, that resonate with where you want to go. You want people that are not "Debbie downers." It's one thing to acknowledge and recognize thoughts/feelings/emotions and even when you just feel like crap...it's a whole other area when you just camp out with all that and get bogged down in a quicksand of negativity. 

Having spent a lot of time studying psychology and natural health, I learned that we can be our own worst enemies. When we are constantly subjected to the crap on television and in movies, we surround ourselves with people that are less than high quality, when we focus on negativity or lack...we are manifesting, in our own lives, exactly that. It's incredible how much we have not been taught about our own bodies, mind and spirit. Our bodies, with the right nutrition are capable of healing. Our constant thoughts are able to manifest whatever we focus on, and we only use - at most - 10% of our mental capacities. It's really sad. Humans are such a remarkable species, and too many have been dumbed down to know or even realize. Sadly, this has been happening for generations, but you have to WANT to break cycles. Breaking cycles is a lot of work! It's recognizing that you don't want to stay in whatever negative energy you are in, and instead want to do and be better! It's a constant desire to learn, grow, better yourself, and progress! It's dumping those negative nellies, it's letting go of the classification of labels by everyone, it's retraining your mind to let go of everything that no longer serves to better you. No matter who or what that may be. It's saying, yes, I can be cordial but that is as far into my world as you are allowed. It's dumping bad habits that have held you hostage. It's not easy, I can promise you this from experience! Too many times you can get drug back into drama and negativity, but you have to learn to shut it down. Even if it means letting those calls go to voicemail, learning to say no, learning to say enough is enough - you are no longer allowed to be in my inner circle. Those that are achieving their goals, aren't doing so for attention or recognition. They are doing so for themselves! No one else! 

I have reached the stage of life, considered mid-life. I'm now closer to 50 than I am to 40. I have reached the stage of pre-menopause, the stage of my children being old enough to tend to themselves and not needed as much. That stage of "empty nest" without the empty nest. A time when I am having to rediscover myself, my wants/needs, my relationships and the path from here forward. You don't realize how all-involved raising children is, until now. Many relationships struggle and become nonexistent during times of raising children. It really doesn't matter which relationships; spouses, friends and even extended family. Life moves so fast that we don't slow down enough to enjoy the moment, we are constantly looking forward and not realizing life is passing us by. We focus on so many things, but we neglect to realize that one day; everything will change. We have been programed to look forward. Whether that be; waiting on Friday, a holiday, waiting until we have enough money, enough time, whatever....we neglect to enjoy the moment. We don't give ourselves time to just be, not overscheduling ourselves or our children. We wear the badge of being busy continuously, but never seem to accomplish what we want. We have gotten to a point of an upside down world.  We value things over people. We take for granted those we care about, and place emphasis on those that aren't that important. Yes, we have to have an income to live, but that job....they would replace you before your body was even in the ground. Those corporations that put income over their customers and employees are not the ones we should be utilizing. In all our busyness, what goals are we accomplishing? Are we truly better ourselves and our communities, or are we simply keeping up with the Jones's? 

Do you have goals or is it simply a wish list? A goal is written down with a projected time frame. A goal is worked towards, even if it's in baby steps. A goal is something that can better us, as people. Whether those goals are to get out of debt, to have a newer home, to learn a new skill/trade, to help your community, or any number of possibilities. Goals are for you. 

I can go on for hours about so many things. I like to talk about ideas, solutions, goals, and productivity. I have spent too much of my life being pulled into quick sand with negative remarks, mindsets and people. Spring 2022 is my time to re-evaluate, reset goals, rewrite my own story, manifest what I want from life, and release negativity. I've had a tough year and a half, and it's time. I have reached that very unique stage of just being done. No anger, no resentment, no sadness, no emotion....just done. I need to refocus, and realign my own balance moving forward. There is no more room in my life for anything that is pulling me into a cycle that goes against my higher self. 

Springing forward 2022. 

Salli