Hey, April.

Hellooo... Slacking on this side and I was a bit behind with my blogging. Where was I all those days? I had been working, recuperating, biking, trekking, gardening.

Anyway, here am I and this one's a starter this April- pics from anywhere I had been these past days.

I am ever grateful To The Lord who has given me strength and the opportunity to see the beauty of life.

In simplifying life, it is important to arrange priorities, deciding on what is essential, discovering what makes us feel better about ourselves and our life.

Here's to a great summertime, this side of the world. ~smile

Tara

You Are Under No One's Control

I'm sure not all people have dealt with individuals who like to bring a negative impact on one's life. Yet for those who are going through this reality, here's a good read on the behavior of toxic people & how to subvert their tactics --

How to Deal With Toxic People:

• Recognize that toxic people have issues within themselves, and their toxicity has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you. In life, everyone has to take personal responsibility for their own choices, attitudes, actions and behaviors. Toxic people do not do this. You become their personal target. They habitually turn things around and manipulate you to the point where you feel bad, you feel guilty, you feel like you are at fault, therefore responsible for their problems.

Take note:

• You may even begin to feel like you’re “going crazy” or “losing your mind”, wondering if you have become the victim of a psychopath desperately trying to manipulate and control you. Once you recognize the toxic behaviors that are engulfing your life and health, it allows you to take your power back.

What you can do--

• Keep emotionally toxic people from ruining your health and happiness by setting limits and personal boundaries, assertively speaking up for yourself, and standing your ground. Don’t make someone else’s problems your own, but physically and mentally distance yourself from the negative and toxic people in your life, which may or may not include cutting the person out of your life entirely.

Some more ideas on eliminating them!

• Knowing what it means to “let go” of negative people, along with their personal demons and issues, allows you the strength and determination needed to live your life without the constant barrage of criticism that can easily erode your own self-esteem, health and well-being.

It's not easy, though...

• Dealing with family members and in-laws can be especially difficult and stressful. If there are family members or in-laws that treat you like their personal doormat, criticizing and ridiculing you for everything and anything, you may have to consider putting a strict limit on how often you associate with them, if at all.

Hold on--

• Holidays and special occasions can quickly become a dread, where just the thought of being around toxic relatives or friends causes your blood pressure to rise to unhealthy levels. You have the right to decide who to associate with and who not to associate with, who is or isn’t invited or welcome to step foot into your home, including toxic family members.

Shy away, shy away, shy away...

• Toxic people need years of in-depth therapy, not you, such as you might find at bipolar treatment centers locally. You can’t change their attitudes or behaviors, but you can change yourself. You have to decide for yourself how much pushing around you will or will not accept. Allow yourself the personal right to disengage, disassociate, and detach.

Get wisdom, to help you in your decision making...

• Use your God-given backbone when dealing with toxic friends, co-workers, family members or in-laws etc, with the understanding that detachment is not a sign that you don’t care but that you are doing what is necessary to preserve your personal health and happiness.

Out with the Nega!

• Surround yourself with positive influences, people who genuinely care about you and are supportive of you. These loved ones are a great defense and support group against the negativity of all kinds of toxic relationships or toxic family members, allowing you to choose for yourself to no longer be a victim of their malicious and abusive behaviors

Source: http://www.tellinitlikeitis.net/2008/08/toxic-relationships-toxic-family-members.html

Here's to dealing with people who burst our bubble,

Here's to organizing our life,

A Thinking Person

A thinking person is guided by the facts,

no matter how unpalatable they may be.

One who is ruled by emotions often stumbles

before reaching the goal.

A thinking person realizes that the right way

and the expedient way are not always the same.

One who seeks short cuts does so at the expense of time,

trouble and conscience.

A thinking person learns from the mistakes of others,

without rejoicing in their failures.

One who finds fault but does not learn is likely

to repeat others' errors.

A thinking person considers the personalities

and feelings of others in searching for solutions.

One who is insensitive can be correct in theory

but inept in practice.

A thinking person knows when to speak

and when to keep silent;

when to act and when to wait.

One who is rash or impetuous plunges ahead

without any sense of timing.

A thinking person is humble enough

to acknowledge wisdom in others.

One who is merely clever feels he has nothing to learn

from others.

A thinking person is careful in the use of words.

One who is careless relies on slogans, labels

or half-formed opinions.

A thinking person admits that reality is greater

than the sum total of his own experiences.

The unthinking makes "self"

the measure of the universe.

~author unknown

Think.

Leadership Traits

Bearing

Confidence

Endurance

Tact

Initiative

Coolness

Candor

Sense of humor

Competence

Courage

Empathy

Compassion

Creativity

Integrity

Decisiveness

Justice

Commitment

Humility

Flexibility

Self-discipline

Maturity

Improvement

Will

Assertiveness

Leadership Principles By The US Army

• Be tactically and technically proficient
• Know yourself and seek self-improvement
• Know your people and look out for their welfare
• Keep your people informed
• Set the example
• Ensure the task is understood, supervised and accomplished
• Train your people as a team
• Make sound and timely decisions
• Develop a sense of responsibility in your subordinates
• Employ your unit in accordance with its capabilities
• Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions

Setting Personal Boundaries

Everyday we meet people who try to impose their will upon us, forcing us to function in the way they want.

You have the right to self-respect. You are not a pushover.

Draw the line.

Yes, draw the line when you want to be respected.

Draw the line when you know your own worth.

Draw the line when you want to have power.

Draw the line so that people do not take advantage of you.

Draw the line because you now have a clear idea of what to put up with. And what you won't allow to affect you.

Draw the line because someone will always try to use you unwisely.

Draw the line because you don't have to be scared of what people will do to you.

Draw the line and stand up for yourself because you are a mature person by now.

Draw the line and be ready to say: "No, I won't put up with this behavior."

Personal boundary setting helps us define our territory. Likewise, when we want to avoid building up resentment, we have to communicate in a direct manner on what is acceptable and not.

May you understand that it is your personal responsibility to choose how others will treat you.

Lounging On The Other Side

Now what might this be? This couch lies on the other side, the other secret corner where I was lounging when this blog was not yet in existence.

Here's a link to that special corner, The Ink Spiller's Cubbyhole. That was the season when I was busy spilling thoughts into marketing, online business and getting myself convinced that the Internet is now my workplace.

Pretty different, more of a business tool. Errr, now it's kinda evolved into an assortment since I was in transition lately, finding another way to segregate moods and types of writing. I guess my poems and other stuff are moving into a new location, I might have to create a poetry blog for that sole purpose. I think that's a great idea. I still would have to find time with my hectic schedule.

And this definitely would remind me of that other place now and then when I come to visit this blog.