I am still HUNGRY!!!!!

This made me laugh!! It is soo true!!

I have three sons, one adult and two teens and yes they can put away some food!!

I have no idea how they can eat so much in one sitting and 30 minutes later want to eat again. Do not even get me started on how much they can eat during a growth spurt!! Insane amounts of food.

Anyways, I was scrolling along and this popped up in my news feed. It made me think of my boys when they were younger and where they are now. Besides the fact that time flies by way too fast, a lot has changed since the day I brought them each home up to now.

We think the hardest part of raising kids is when they are babies and toddlers. We have the job of teaching them everything while keeping them safe at the same time. They are so curious about life and everything around them. Most days it is a joy to have them around. The times that I am like, "Not one more question please or I said so" are the times that I am forgetting that they are just being who they are.

Kids are a joy. They can be demanding of our time and energy. They will annoy us at times. They will also bring us a joy that is indescribable.

Then they become Teenagers.  Attitudes and I know everything becomes their motto. They no longer have simple questions about why the sky is blue and what are clouds made of. No. Now they want they car keys and why can't they go out until 1 am? Why can't I just let them be?

Heartaches, like no other, come from your child during their quest for adulthood. You will survive them. Although, I don't know how, but we do.

There is nothing that can explain the horrific thoughts that go through your mind when your child wants to learn how to drive. When they can do for themselves and no longer need your help as much in life. When you have to let go and you do.

Proud seems to small of a word when you see your child become an adult. When they are able to handle life on their own. When they come to you for advice. When you see that they did in fact listen all those times when you didn't think they were. When you see them being kind, loving, mature adults.

For all the heartaches I have endured, I have had my heart swell with pride and love that makes every heartache forgettable.

Enjoy them when you have them, even when your tired.

Feed them when they ask. 

Fill their minds as much as you would fill their bellies because even when you believe they do not hear you, they are in fact listening.

They do not want to admit that they still think you hung the moon in the sky, it's just not cool to admit that now. 

Regardless of what they tell you, when they are on their quest to adulthood, they still need you......


Until next time,
~It is what it is~


http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

The First To Throw A Stone.........

Lie-Noun-a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.

Fib-Noun-a small or trivial lie; minor falsehood.

Is it ever okay to tell a lie?

Does it sound better when we call a lie, a fib?

Withholding the truth will be considered a lie--it is debatable but a lie is lie.

Are there different degrees of lies? Minor lie? Major lie? Withholding information lie?

Can you believe someone once you caught them in a lie?

Is a person considered bad if they lie?

I think we all lie to some degree.

Come across someone you haven't seen in a long time and they ask you how you doin? What is your response?

I immediately say good, okay or whatever comes to mind. I am not about to go into the details of my life with someone who is not an immediate part of it. Does that mean I am not good or whatever? No but depending on the moment of my life, I could have a million other things going on. Telling the truth would mean I would have to say, "Overall good, but I got some stuff that I do not want to discuss with you. No offense."

What if you run into someone that you do not care for? They say Hi. How do you respond? Do you say, "Hey, how you doin?" Isn't that a lie if you no longer care about this person, do you really care how they are? Telling the truth would mean, "Hey, don't talk to me cause I could really care less about you. No offense."

You plan a surprise for someone.  You lie about your whereabouts so you do not have to tell this person what you are planning.

So what hurts more? The lie. Or The truth?

Is it really all black and white? Is there any grey?

Yes a lie, fib, or withholding information is considered a lie. That is what is black and white.

The reason behind the lie, well that is the grey.

Now I will ask you this, if there is a good reason for telling a fib or lie, does that lesson the credibility of the person?

Can a person with integrity withhold information without being considered a liar?

If you are willing to justify a lie, than what does that say about you?

Until next time,

~It is what it is~

http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview 

Hallelujah........

Rejection and a broken heart can lead us down a dark path of broken dreams and to the acceptance of a lesser love or none at all.

As children we have no say in the love we see. We are subject to the love that is around us. It does form us. For some, it can be a bittersweet moment and others a glorious look into what lies ahead for us.

Not everyone has the unconditional love from the ones that brought them into this world. Conditions placed by those that raise us, give us an unhealthy view of what love is.  Rejection from the one's that gave you birth can weigh heavily on the heart.  It forms you at a young age. Filling us with a desperate need that can never quite be filled. It leaves you doubting and unable to completely trust anyone. Numb would be a good description. We will willingly fill it with what makes us numb to the pain. As an adult, the rejection from those that raise you, leaves you in a confused state questioning everything and everyone around you.  It rocks you to your core when it happens. Your heart breaks into a million little pieces shattered and blown in the wind, lost. 

It does not have to happen all at once. Parents believe by staying together for the "kids" sake, is the way to go. What do the kids really see? Can one truly hide a heart that is filled with broken dreams?

Will the kids learn that there is no joy when it comes to love or see it as a sacrifice?

What about the kids that take care of their parents? Drug addiction, alcoholism, and depression affect many adults today. What are those children learning about love? That they need to be the hero? That love will handle it all?

Abuse. Verbal or physical abuse will give an unhealthy look at love. Being told you are not good enough, being second choice, compared to others, and never hearing the words I love you will teach a lesson in love that will stay with them for years. They will understand that love comes at a price. That price will cost dearly.

Adults unable to give their hearts so easily have been shown that theirs is not worth giving.

Love is obtainable. We just need to find the one that will show us that everything we ever learned about love, is nothing we ever thought it could possibly be.

"In the end, we just want someone that chooses us...over everyone else, under any and all circumstances."  

Until next time,
~It is what it is~

http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

Grasshopper to Jackie...Can you hear me????

This is a photo of my visitor during my lunch break today. The Grasshopper. Yesterday I was sitting in my van at the bus stop waiting for my daughter.  It was a nice day and I had my windows opened. All of a sudden there was this bird that flew into the side of my van and  it cause the bird to let go of the grasshopper it was holding. The grasshopper landed on my passengers seat for a moment and then it jumped out the window. It happened so fast I didn't get a pic.

So two days in a row, it had to mean something. I googled the meaning of the grasshopper:

"When the grasshopper appears to us we are being asked to take a leap of faith and jump forward into a specific area of life without fear. Usually that specific area is one that we have avoided and is often connected to change on a larger scale. This can represent a change in location, relationships, career or just in the way we perceive ourselves.

Grasshoppers can only jump forward....not backward, or sideways. So, when grasshopper shows up he could be reaffirming to you that you are taking the right steps to move forward in your current situation. Or it could be that he is telling you to go ahead and move forward, getting past what is hindering you. This is why grasshopper is the symbol of good luck all over the world. Grasshopper's ability to connect and understand sound vibrations is why he is also a symbol of your inner voice. he could be telling you to trust yours."

If you are a regular follower of my blog, you know that I believe there is a reason for everything. Now if you read my blog from 10/13--Right-side up or Upside down??, you will see that this is just another confirmation for me. The word Perspective came to me a week ago. Now I am seeing grasshoppers. I get it. Loud n Clear. Message received.

You may think it was just coincidence but nope. I have been struggling with something and couldn't figure it out. God, the universe, or whatever you choose to believe, has guided me to my answer.

Whether I choose to act on it, is up to me but I am not sure what else could be sent my way. I mean a word was sent. Then an insect. I dare not imagine what could be next......

I think that when we are in need and answer is given. It is given in a way that we will understand it. When we are in touch with our intuitive side, the answers are easily discovered. I didn't look for it. Actually, I just let the issue be and did nothing about it.

Gut instincts, just knowing, and however it is that you believe all come from somewhere.

Coincidences are little connections to you. There are reasons for everything.

Clear your mind and let go of all the unnecessary things that get you off track.

And who knows you just might get the answer you need.

Grasshopper Out!


Until next time,
~It is what it is~


http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

Fate is waiting..........

We tend to think that once we have learned our lessons from our past mistakes, we are over it. Seldom is that the case.  Most of the time it is good. It allows us to be wiser with our future choices.

What happens when we are so anxious about repeating the same mistake again? We become less trusting in ourselves and with others. Second guessing what is in front of us with doubt causes us to not see clearly the truth of what is right in front of us. Leading us to lose those around us and miss out on wonderful opportunities that would create the future we want, instead of the one we have.

Fate, connections and what lies ahead of us can only be obtained if we trust first in ourselves, in those around us and then the future that comes from it. So much easier said than done.

We may not realize that we are doing anything to block us from getting what we want in the first place. Here is an example:

Jill was in a bad relationship and her heart was broken and much more. When she finally wised up, she left him and she thought she buried the past. She wasn't able to trust anyone and that was fine with her. She met Bill and he was sincere. Bill tried so many times to get her to believe in him and she couldn't. Bill poured his heart out to her and she simply allowed him to walk away because every time she tried to tell him the words he wanted to hear, she couldn't form them. Her heart couldn't let go of the past pain it endured. She told her mind that this was the only way to protect her heart from ever enduring that kind of pain again. But it didn't stop with her personal relationships. Her career could of been so much more. A more that she wanted. When you do not look with a healed heart into your future, you lead your future with an eschewed view. How can she obtain the career she wants if there is pain in her heart?

You see our minds might be willing to let go but it is in our hearts that can we hold on to the pain of the memory.

Betrayal, heart breaks, and all the other pains that our hearts suffer through cannot be erased simply by our minds. True forgiveness can only happen if we are willing to heal our hearts from the pain that broke it.

Wisdom comes from a heart that has been healed completely. You will know this has happened when you are able to completely let the memory of the pain go and live with wisdom instead of an anxiousness that will stop you from living your future as it was meant to be lived.

Do not think this is possible? Then that will tell you that you are not ready to let go or want to be healed.

Love n success can and will happen to you.  Let go of your anxiousness that your feel. Trust in yourself. Bad things happen to all of us with no rhyme or reason. Allow that connection that you cannot let go of to lead you to your healing. You do know what you have to do, your just afraid.

Stop running away. Fate is waiting for you to heal yourself so that you can finally have the life you deserve.

Your future is waiting.....What are you going to do about it?





Until next time,
~It is what it is~


http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

!@#$ I am wicked mad!!!!!!! I mean hurt.......

Fact: an angry woman is a dangerous one. Chances are she is hurt. Feelings are a volatile thing, especially for women. I can't say that because I a man.

Fact: an angry man is a dangerous one. Chances are he is hurt. Feelings are a volatile thing, especially for men.  I can't say that because I am a woman.

So where does that leaves us? It leads to all of the miscommunication and arguments that occur between men and women. If the wrong thing is said, it will just hurt us and fuel the anger even more.

This has been a debate forever and no real solution is to be found. There is a good reason. Each woman and man, although basically the same, are different. What sets off one, will roll off another's back. One loves to talk and the other would rather not.
There is no gender specific roll for the following statements:

One might have many situations going on and your the unlucky one gets the wrath of it all.
One is so untrusting that they always expect the worst, so when it happens they say nothing.
One may be so stressed out that they lash out to everything.
One might love to talk and express their feelings about everything and do so freely.
One is a giver.
One is a taker.
One is in touch with their feelings.
One is not.
It hurt me when you did that.

I think it is based on personality rather than gender. Women have characteristics that men do not and visa versa. We all know strong women who can rock it better than some men. We all know strong men that can rock it better then some women.  The same can be said about sensitivity and many other traits.

Words and actions can and will hurt feelings. Our reactions should be based on personality rather than gender.

Regardless of your beliefs think about this for a moment:

Woman was formed from a rib that was man. We are one. It is up to us to find each other. We are meant to balance each other out. Created for one another.

Evolution formed man and woman. Formed them as a pair to be matched for each other.  We are meant to balance each other out. Created for one another.

So the next time you can't understand why your partner is pissed off, do not assume he is just being a guy and she is just being a girl.

Chances are their feelings are hurt and badly. Most of the time anger is a gut reaction because they do not know how to get past the anger or the anger has to play out.

We both can be idiots and not want to make the first move. Sometimes we need to swallow our pride and just do it. If the person has any value to you, it is worth the vulnerability.

Do not let someone walk away because you are too proud to admit it hurts you too.

Please do not EVER say, "Why can't you just communicate with me!" Unless of course you want them to shut up forever.

Please do not EVER say, "Why are you being so emotional about this?" Unless of course you want to start World War III. All I can say to you is, Good Luck and you will be missed!!

Recognize what is going on with your partner/person whom you are arguing with first. It is difficult to determine if a person is truly hurt or truly angry.  It will determine the outcome.




Until next time,
~It is what it is~


http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

Right-side up or Upside down??????????

I have been coming across this word A LOT lately. I gather it is something I am not seeing, that I need too. You guys know that I believe there are reasons for everything. Nothing just happens. Things keep popping up into life that we need to deal with.

Anyways, it got me thinking, a lot. I have these conversations with friends that are off the chain. They just happen. They are topics that range from A to Z and 1-100000000000. Everything under the sun and then some. I love each and everyone of them.

I love them because they each have a different perspective that they bring to me. I am able to see things from their perspective and get where they are coming from. Sometimes it makes me see things differently and sometimes it just confirms what I believe that much more. It truly is all good.

Except, this word keeps popping up in my life. Work situations, home situations, shopping, and seriously everywhere I go it seems. Then I see this word again, upside down and then it hits me.

My perspective of me is upside down. I am my own worse critic. I am judged by myself and very harshly I will add, especially when I judge no one. When it comes to me, I have a horrible perspective. I challenge myself to do more. Accept life's challenges as they are. Fight when I have to. Back down when I don't want to. Sometimes I think I could do more. Tried harder. 

The funny things is, if someone came to me asking my perspective on things they have done, that are exactly what I have been doing, I would be a lot more compassionate towards them. I would be their cheerleader and try my best to inspire them to be the best that they can be/or gave everything they could and they would believe it. 

I also realized that we all can be like this toward ourselves. We all want to be the best that we can be at whatever we do. Whoever we are with. We all have an image of our self. How we want to be. How good we are in all that we do. I think we strive for this in various degrees throughout our lives.

So what happens when we accomplish what we set out to do? Do we see that we are still pushing ourselves so hard to get where we are, we can't see we got there?  That we are holding on and killing it at the same time. That it is everything that we strived for and it is time to enjoy it a bit.

It is good to strive for something. Regardless if it is a personal or professional goal, we need to remember to have the perspective we use as wisdom for others, as wisdom for ourselves.

Keeping our perspective towards ourselves, right-side up, is the best perspective one can have.

Until next time,

~It is what it is~

http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview 

He still has my heart and soul.......

I was in love with this actor and show!! I was 8 when is started. Sadly it only lasted for 4 years. Colonel Steve Austin (Lee Majors) and The Six Million Dollar Man had my heart and soul for one hour every week!! I had the bionic center, action figure, board game and many other accessories. And yes, I just admitted that!!

I was flipping through the channels tonight and this was on!  As I watched this show, btw I still think Lee Majors is very handsome and oh so charming, I realized how corny this show is now.  We are talking back in 1974 when it first appeared. The bionic stunts, sounds and action scenes of the show cannot compare to anything that is on TV now. The acting is solid albeit some of the lines are definitely corny. The clothing, well Steve Austin can wear a suit and well, but it was the 70's.  The cars, definitely wicked!!

Okay, so I am getting caught up with my memories and excitement from my childhood. That is the point for this post. As a child, I thought this show was totally cool!! Steve Austin was cool, the story lines were action packed and he always caught the bad guys.  What more could a little girl want? We tend to set the bar high when we are little. We see things as being perfect in every way. We haven't even begun to understand life at such a young age. We tend to believe what we see. Even if it is make believe.  Then we grow up and become adults.

We realize that the shows we once loved were actually a bit corny and so was the era we lived in.  Things change, as they should, and we grow up. We lose that childlike admiration and gain the reality of adulthood.  We now know what fantasy is, good acting, good affects, and our tastes change.

Unfortunately, we lose that childlike vision and become harsh adults compared to our younger selves. We have responsibilities and people who depend on us. We tend to think that what we once imagined what our adult life would be like, was just foolish childlike thinking.

As adults we realize that we cannot be in love with a movie star. Sometimes the bad guys do win. The Innocence of childhood is in fact long gone. Actors are just actors and they are human like we are. I do know that even when the six million dollar man threw that football, no way should it of broken a rifle in half. I also do know that as an 8 year old girl, I did not appreciate the scene when Steve Austin was running away and the sprinkles came on and his shirt was torn and wet. Definitely a risqué move for the 70's.

I guess what I am trying to say is, life comes in moments. In these moments we have certain perspectives. Perspectives change as do life moments. Can we get back the same perspective once we lost it? My mind tells me no. My childhood memories tell me yes.

It all depends on what we are willing to see when we are looking at what this life's moment is bringing us.

Do we choose to see the good? Do we realize that we are in a moment with only one perspective? Have we allowed our perspective to change so much so that we cannot appreciate the moment we are in?

I think we need to keep some of that childhood perspective as we grow into adulthood. We need to keep things light sometimes. We need not to take ourselves so seriously. Learn to appreciate the moment we are in instead of rushing on to the next one.

Appreciate the perspective of the past in order to truly enjoy the present moment we are in.



Until next time,
~It is what it is~


http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

Room for one please.............

I'm traveling for work to help out at a new location. It is actually fun to do. New faces and it is just a change of pace. I had to drive through torrential rains, which made the trip longer. Plus the closed roads and my gsp going in and out due to lack of signal from the storm. I finally get to my hotel, soaked and tired, I just want to check in, change and chill a moment before I have to go to work.

Lucky me has to wait behind long line of a high school travel hockey team to check in first!!! Yes, that's my luck. It is all good. I like hockey and had some interesting chats about the game and the NHL. (Note to self: get up early for breakfast) No time to chill and off to work I go.

Work was crazy but fun. I get back to the hotel. As I unpack my stuff, I open the nightstand draw and find a bible. A Bible. It got me thinking. I believe God does exist. I have to wonder why the bible is in the room? Why does every Hotel and Motel put bibles in the rooms? What does it represent? What do hotel/motel owners know that we do not know?  Why did they think people would go there to pray? To catch up on their reading of the bible? Study some verses and catch up with God? Why hasn't anyone complained about this?

My biggest questions is, Why do we have bibles in hotel/motel rooms but society does not want us saying, "Merry Christmas" during the holiday season so not to offend someone's beliefs. Yah okay.

Society has an issue with the pledge of allegiance, what bathroom to use, how we greet someone during a very Christian based time of year, and the list goes on and on and on.....

Maybe I am overtired from the trip and long work day but I don't think anyone is reading the bible during their stay in these rooms. If you take the time to read the bible, you would know that it teaches kindness, compassion, acceptance, and so much more than how we are behaving in society today.

I am not saying that you need to read the bible and become a Christian. I am not pushing religion on you. I am not asking you to change what you believe in.

I am asking, why do you think a bible is in the hotel/motel room?

I think, we may find ourselves traveling along this wonderful world that we live in and we need to be reminded that there is a basic kindness in all of us that we need to be showing to others.

And, maybe, just maybe, that was the plan of all these hotel/motel owners........



Until next time,
~It is what it is~

http://facebook.com/Jackiesview

It's just one day.....

We all have these terrible, blah, leave me alone, blues kinda day.

Everyone has life to deal with. Loss of a loved one. A relationship ended. Missing someone. Loss of a job. Financial difficulties. And so on. Blah Blah

Life is hard. Suck it up buttercup. We get overwhelmed from bad choices, bad luck, or situations that are out of our control. Fate. Destiny. Meant to be. Whatever the reason, it doesn't make it go away or any better.

We have to deal with it. We have our personalities and that will allow us to deal with it as our instincts dictate. We will act like nothing is wrong and go about our day. We will need to vent/rant it out and move on from it. We will need to wallow in it all day long.  We will go on, regardless of how we deal with it.

Point is, there will always be a bad day here and there. We will survive them all.

We do the best we can with what we know.

Be that sounding board for someone in need. Let them rant/vent and help them move on. Make them laugh when they look like they are about to cave from their worries.

For the ones who hold in all the troubles that the world brings them, let them know you are there for them and do care. It could just be that they are holding it all in, to be there for you.

It is just a Bad Day, not a Bad Life.


Until next time,
~It is what it is~


http://facebook.com/Jackiesview

You write the ending of your fairytale.....

~Once Upon A Time~

There was little girl who believed she was unworthy of the world she lived in. Those around her never understood her. She never understood herself. She felt like a square peg in a world that was made for round objects. Understanding everyone and yet never being understood herself, made for a lonely existence.

Childhood was unbearable but she made do. As she grew into adulthood she buried her past deep with in.  She searched for love, believing that would settle her soul. Sadly, each time she found love, it was not meant to be. She had not yet settled her demons from the past. She didn't realize that by holding on to her demons, she was pushing away true happiness and love.

She fooled herself for a time. Believed that she could live a life like those living in this round world. She found things to comfort her soul for short periods of time. They kept her demons quiet for a time. Once they started to scream and grow restless again, she would simply cut ties and move on once again.

A soul in pain, will always be in pain until the owner lets go of the pain.  In this story, the girl needs to realize the ache deep inside her is not her demons but her soul crying out for help. You see whenever we come across someone who is a part of us or live a life that is not true to our soul, it touches our soul with a pain deep within us. If we are foolish with our life, a piece of our soul is ripped away. It is a real pain that leaves us in a constant state of suffering. We will do anything to numb that pain for we can never truly heal it by holding on to it.

As in all fairy tales, there has to be a happy ending, right? Nope, not always the case in real life. In real life the woman needs to learn that by holding on to all of the pain and demons, she is sealing her fate. A life of misery.

Once the pain has been made continuously numb, it is hard to let that comfort go. The mind has a way of convincing us that we are ok with the state we are in.

The only way she will find a happy ending is if she will be willing to let go of all the pain and demons that have provided her with a comfort of being that square piece in a round world.

Maybe one day she will realize that the world is in fact round. She is a square piece that does not need to fit in to belong and that is exactly what this world needs.

Until next time,

~It is what it is~

http://facebook.com/Jackiesview

It's a Soul Feel thing.....

"Everyone wants pleasure without pain.

Life doesn't work that way.

We live in a dualistic world."

Perfect times can be the worst times that we need. The perfect storm challenges, changes, and strengthens us. In perfect times we will learn the wisdom we need to bring out the peace within ourselves.

People are put in our paths to help us along this journey called life. Our Soul Family if you will.

Some connections cannot be easily explained away.

Have you been told about something by just about everyone who knows you but it doesn't make any sense to you? You can be in the middle of a chaotic storm and this one person says what everyone else has been telling you and it just clicks with you in that moment with that person. That is your Soul Family.

Have you ever just met someone and instantaneously had this unexplainable connection with? Your able to share everything with, dark secrets, imperfections, silliness, and all. That is your Soul Family.

Have you ever had a friend that was like a brother/sister more than an actual brother/sister that you already have? That is your Soul Family.

We can also give off an energy of need that will attract a helpful energy.  Have you ever met someone when you were in need? They just show up, help you and move on.  That is your Soul Family.

We all give off an energy that attracts like energies. We are all connected in some variation. We may meet people that stay with us for a short time or with us permanently.

People are drawn to us for absolutely no rational reasoning. We can learn more about ourselves if we accept these moments as they are. Allowing us to accept these moments can be scary.

Do not allow your fears to miss the opportunity for connecting with your Soul Family.

During our perfect storm and chaotic moments is when we do not necessarily ask for help. Do not allow your fears stop you from growing.

We all must endure moments of pain to be able to enjoy the pleasure of life.



Until next time,
~It is what it is~


http://facebook.com/Jackiesview

Stand Out......

Some days you just can't sit still!! That is a wonderful thing!!

We can get caught up in conforming to what's around us, that we forget who we really are. I'm reminding you to embrace you. If you have to conform yourself to fit in, than you do not belong there at all.

It is our uniqueness and originality that makes us who we are. We all do things in our own way.

If you have to do what everyone else is doing,  be sure you are doing it with your style. Your own way.

Go ahead and be you. There is only one version of you, don't be afraid to show it.

Until next time,
~It is what it is~