Simply Cinderella

 If you're an Eeyore like me, joy doesn't come so naturally to us.  Anyone who has a stronger melancholic personality knows that even a smile takes a bit of effort, let alone being joyful in all things.  See, we aren't naturally happy a lot of the time, and if we aren't happy, where's the joy in that? But without joy, life just seems to be a bit of a miserable existence, doesn't it? That's why it's so important to be joyful even without happiness. Joy isn't a feeling.  Happiness is an emotion, but joy is a choice,  and a virtue.  It's a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and therefore can be felt even in the darkness of life if you're in a state of grace. But joy isn't always the easiest to achieve when you're stuck in a rut.  Trust me, I've been there more times than 1, or 100.  So how do you overcome your melancholy when it seems to outweigh all the joy buried inside you? Try smiling. Smile at the person you walk by on the street.  Smile...

 When you were little, in times of trouble, there was always an incomparable comfort found in your mother.  If you fell and scraped your knee, saw something scary, or couldn't sleep... it was almost always an immediate response to run to mom.  Or if you were excited, brought home a picture from school, found a good friend, or saw a pretty butterfly, mom was usually the first to hear about it and help us enjoy the beautiful little celebrations in life.  Christ gave us our mothers as those who would comfort, nurture, and care for us, and one day we too may be mothers and care for our own children. But He also had a mother, one more perfect and loving than other women have been able to be, as she had the special privilege of being the Immaculate Conception.  So who better to turn to in times of trouble, or even joy, than the most Holy mother who is constantly loving us and looking out for us? "Trust in me, my daughter, that I am thy Mother." I just wanted to share ...

 For as long as I can remember I've had one instinct that has stood out more so than others. It wasn't to do right, it wasn't to do things my way, it wasn't even to be happy. All I wanted was to be liked. Not loved, just liked.  Approved of, one of the cool kids,  as they say.  If I stood out or felt too different from those around me I became incredibly insecure.  When skinny jeans became the "in" thing, you bet I wanted a pair.  If I didn't know the latest and greatest songs on the radio that my friends knew by heart, I felt left out.  For years I've struggled with this lack of confidence all stemming from the desire to be liked by others.  And it's brought me to a bit of a miserable state, to say the least.  It's too much of a burden, always caring what goes on in the heads of other people.  Especially when you know in your heart, this isn't who you want to be.  Deep down I longed to be able to desire only the approval of Our Lor...

Admit it, you sang along to the title of this post. But I'm talking about the zones in a different kind of sea.  You know the saying, " There's plenty of fish in the sea."  I'm talking about that  sea. Honestly, it's become increasingly difficult to understand the differences between the ever so delicate stages that lead to relationships.  Are we just friends?  Are we more than that?  Does he want more than that?  Am I raising false hopes?  The questions never end. So let's simplify it. You and your potentially prospective candidate for lifelong marriage could fit into one of three categories:  The Friendzone, Courtship, and Engagement. For today we'll focus on the first and foremost. The Friend Zone:  Ah yes, the dreaded space where one knows another individual but only to the point that doesn't pass beyond "just good friends".  Here you can enjoy the company of another, usually in groups, so as to keep things on the surface withou...

 It seems that every time I sit down to write this, something needs taking care of, whether it's dishes, baking, making dinner, tidying.. sounds a bit familiar. ;) And I used to get so annoyed that all these little tasks needed completing, especially when there was something I had in mind to get done that day, like an art project or reading a certain book. Of course, no one likes to do chores,  they're all very bothersome in their own way.  Even since we were young that word has had a negative connotation in our daily lives.  As kids all we wanted to do was play, and any kind of interruption, be it work or even lunch, would add to the resentment we felt for anything but the thing we wanted to be doing.  Now at our ages when responsibilities become ever more present it seems the only thing we want to do to be at peace is to escape them. But I've found that they're actually the key  to achieving peace. I know, I'm crazy.  And do I always practice what I ...