Carol,
I can hear more power in your voice. Be safe and know that you are cared for more than you know, not only by us, but by the One who formed you and whose Love embraces and supports you every second of every day. Rest in that Love and draw in His strength. That Love will guide you on.
Be gentle to yourself,
Peace,
Lucia

Thank you, Lucia, you are so kind. We had a talk and I told him I would no longer be bullied, that stops now! I will not have my character and personhood slandered by him whenever he is in a bad mood. So, I guess, time will tell. In the meantime, I have plenty of things to work on. My career, taking better care of myself..... and doing our dailies!

I am choosing peace, love and joy!

Blessings to you, my friend!

Carol

To Carol,

I am really proud of you. That took guts and courage and power and love to do that text and then face him with how you felt. I am in awe of your courage. I have been married and divorced three times and I'm not sure I was ever so courageous. You're not just doing this for yourself, you need to do this especially for your kids. They don't deserve to see you treated badly. That's how they learn to treat others - by example and they need you to set a good example of respecting yourself. Go Girl. God bless you and I hope things go well for all of you.

xxoo
Dolores

"I choose love, peace and joy in my life ... "

Carol: RAH! RAH! RAH! I'm so proud of you!

Dolores, thank you, dear lady! You are so right, I tell my daughters to never let anyone mistreat them in any way, and then they watch my husband bully me! From now on, I will make sure they get the lessons from me I really want them to have!

My cat peed on our sofa....I think he might have a medical problem. But my husband goes crazy, and tells me what a horrible person I am, that I like the smell, and don't care. I keep a nice house, but I feel that when you have kids and pets, sometimes you have kid and pet problems. Their worth it to me, but I guess not to him. It's just one more thing that makes me wonder if it's worth it, on top of the bullying, the questionable interactions with other women, and the fact that he is a total slob, trying to tell me how bad I am! I may join you in the thrice divorced club, my friend!

Dr. Matt helped me a lot though, with confronting my husband. If I am not real with myself, and him, then ultimately, I am not really giving him a chance to step up, either. I keep hoping he will surprise me. I am not in a huge hurry to do anything, as I sure won't be anxious to find a replacement! lol I will just keep working on myself and see where things go, as I become more and more outspoken about what I won't put up with!

Thank you again for your support, it means the world to me.

Blessings,

Carol

MJ, I love you!

Wow, what a mantra!!

"I choose love, peace and joy in my life." Worth repeating over and over.

Thanks,
Cindy

Hi Cindy!

Thanks! Sometimes it takes more effort to keep that thought in the forefront of my mind, when I am really frustrated with my husband! lol But I believe there are really only two choices in how we are in any given moment. Stressed, or not stressed. I am far to blessed to be stressed! Most of the situations and challenges in my life, I can handle. I just let my husband get to me, so I am sure there are many lessons and gifts for me there! lol Sometimes, just feels like the 'school of hard knocks'.

You ladies are all amazing! I gain so much confidence, strength, and peace in the process from y'all!

Choosing love, peace and joy,

Carol

Yea! I love Dr. Matt's challenge, giving from Grace! I have had a lot of fun giving in smaller ways whenever I can, and I can tell you, when you get in the habit, it will absolutely change your life! I do silly things, like pay for police officers orders when they happen to be behind me in line at a fast food place or restaurant, and just take off. My dad was a police officer for 36 years, so I have a special place in my heart for cops.

Yesterday at the park where we keep our horse, the lady in front of me at the gate, was trying to pay her $3 in the machine to get in, and she didn't notice when the machine spat back out a dollar. So I got out of my car, put in a good $ for her, and handed back her $ the machine didn't like. A small thing really, and a very small price to pay for how good I felt for helping.

I tip really good. (My son is a waiter, and I like to believe it comes back to him!) When we make an effort to be more giving, we are growing and reinforcing our own attitude of gratitude, and our own consciousness of abundance.

Some people are so afraid of being 'taken' that they really close up, and try overly hard to protect themselves. I am sure I have given to a few folks running scames a time or two in the past, (I just need a few bucks for gas...etc.) but the way I feel is, what if it is true, and my few bucks could really make a difference? And I also feel that, God knows my heart, and He knows theirs. What I do is on me and what they do is on them. Also, at some point, maybe some of the love and grace that has been shown to these people will sink in, and they may begin to realize that they have value, and all good things come from God.

So, I have been having fun with this for a while now, but it will be fun to seek out specific people or causes and give in someway, on purpose, rather than just waiting for the little opportunities to come along.

Ha, I got on a soapbox a bit, huh?

Y'all have fun with this one!

Choosing love, peace, joy, and GRATITUDE!

Carol

Carol -- I love this one too!! I agree with you that whether you're "giving" to someone running a scam is less important than that you have the heart to give -- God knows and sees all, and pays back to all accordingly.

I have a question about this challenge though -- right now I'm in the process of paring down my life (continuing process!) and currently have a dining room full of things (all from my kitchen) that I plan to give away -- dishes, cooking utensils, serving-ware, etc. I'm really looking for people or organizations that "need" them (rather than just taking them to Goodwill, which is the most convenient option) ... I don't really know anyone off the top of my head though.

so my questions (for Dr. A, I guess) are:

- Does this qualify as part of the challenge, since it is something that (indirectly, in terms of reducing clutter/unneeded items) also is for my own benefit?

- How is it possible to remain anonymous if I find someone directly who says "yes, I could use that?" (I'm not asking anyone directly at the moment, and would prefer not to)

- Does giving to organizations count as part of the challenge?

After spiritual meditation a poem .....

Magic Moments by Joan

Magic moments appear
Passion grew out of
a mules deaf ear

Lonesome moth flutters
without no light
and dies licking its
tears in flight

a message comes on the wings
of a Dream
your heart holds its breath
what does this mean?

Love crashed into a
wild Boar
Beloved blamed the
guy next door

my magic moments
again disappear

Oh what the hell
I'll sit by the curb
and Braid God's hair