Good for you! Get out there with your kids and enjoy life. Don't worry about what other people think. If they judge you because you don't have teeth then they are not worthy of your friendship if you ask me.

Hello everyone, I decieded to take this blog in a little different direction, I am gonna be a little more positive, but honest, I am having a better day, I am asscoiated with the Salvation Army program, i have an ICM manager. They help where they can, but as u can imagine their demands are high, and can only help so much. It is a good source for resourses, but sometimes I find it hard to be honest with them, cuz I am afraid they will take my kids. Today they sponsered a picnic for their clients and their families. I wasn't gonna go, cuz I cant eat nothing solid, but decieded to go so we could do more than mull around the house. I am glad I went, the kids had fun, and had some cheap prizes, and some clothing donations i got for me and the boys. Plus the kids ate good and for free. I swang hard on the swings and played with the children, we had alot of fun. I am glad I went. I decieded when I awoke this am, that I wanted to take this blog in a different direction. I know I will fight my way out of this little dingy apt. I KNOW I will do more than survive. I want to use this blog to mark my milestones, and perhaps encourage others in simalar situations. So what do I have to share today. I went to that picnic with my head held up, I laughed and played. I had fun. Prior to my dental work being done, I told my ICM worker I didn't want to participate in any activities, since I had no teeth. I would be to embarressed. But I decieded, it made no diffrence what ppl thought of my appearance, and if they judged me, i would only know what kind of ppl they truely are. I know y I have no teeth, and I am confident in my descion to have them removed. I would never be able to hold down a job with the issues I was having. I would be lucky to find a job, if an employer saw those teeth, it would indirectly say "I DON'T CARE ABOUT MYSELF". So the moral of my story is this, dont let things get in ur way, don't get discouraged so easily, If I did that today, I would have missed out on a wonderful oppurtuinity for fun, food and laughter. I definetly made the right choice. So on that note, I will let u all go. I hope that u return soon, to hear me, as I will hear u. Love, Francine and Boys

This morning, I shaved my armpits and my legs and I feel so good now.  :)  OK, you would be justified in thinking this is TMI, but I haven't shaved in weeks because I couldn't afford those fancy expensive razor cartridges that I've been using (triple blades) on the Mach 3 razor thing.  While cleaning around yesterday, I happily found a small bag of unused 'junk' extra things which included one of those disposable, plastic blue razors.  I can't tell you how eager I was to shower this morning and shave. 

 Meanwhile, the last few weeks, periodically I've gone out and worn sleeveless tops (still quite warm at times) and I've been so embarrassed when I realized that I have been unwittingly exposing my hairy underarms.  True, having hairy underarms might be a product of only some socioculture bias (thinking of stereotypical jokes about European women, etc.), but frankly simple logic does not help my fragile esteem at this point.  Tiny things like being smooth, non-hairy, can make this indebted, unemployed cog feel so good and I'm a lot more confident today.

I am soooo not an expert on Staying Positive, but I am really trying, so I thought I would share some of the little things I do, and some of things other people do to stay positive. I feel like I have to fight for the good everyday. My husband is my polar opposite, though I think he might be moving slightly closer to this side. Other people can bring you down very easily. Even if you are just talking to a friend about your problems. Sometimes I feel worse than I did before. Avoid talking to these friends so much when you are already down! I'm serious, talk to the other friend. My friends mean very well, or they wouldn't be my friends, but sometimes they really don't know what to say, I could be one of those friends and not even know it, so I am not coming down on them.

Another thing I have done , of course , you all know, stay next to God. Don't give up on him, he created you, he loves you, you could be going through your particular hardship for a reason, or not. It could be some evil thing has happened to you or a loved one, and it makes know sense. God gave us free will, including the bad people. They will do what they do. Just remember that, it's OK to be sad, it's OK to be down. Just don't stay there! It's a horrible dark place, that can take who you are completely over. Then it becomes what they call Mr.Depression, watch him, he'll creep in, and before you know it ten years have passed and you missed it all!

My computer Desktop. I think, other than praying, this is the best thing I have done so far. My Desktop is covered with little pics of my children laughing. And right in the middle, is a little inspirational quote! This is what it says

"I HAVE A CHOICE. I CAN SPEND THE DAY IN BED RECOUNTING THE DIFFICULTY I HAVE WITH THE PARTS OF MY BODY, & PARTS OF MY LIFE, THAT NO LONGER WORK, OR GET OUT OF BED AND BE THANKFUL FOR THE ONES THAT DO. EACH DAY IS A GIFT, AND AS LONG AS MY EYES OPEN, I'LL FOCUS ON THE NEW DAY AND ALL THE HAPPY MEMORIES I'VE STORED AWAY. ?AUTHOR UNKNOWN. "

Believe it or not, it has brought me back from the brink a time or two. The pics on your desktop can be anything that makes you happy, it's as good as a positive affirmation every was.

Now let's see what other people do to Stay Positive in their lives.

Here's an article I found online at www.life-with-confidence.com .

How to Stay Positive When It Feels Like Your Life is Falling Apart

by Catherine Pratt

I was recently asked the following question about how to stay positive in a rough situation and I thought I’d post the answer here as I’m sure there are others going through the exact same thing.

The question was,
"I am doing everything I can to remain positive but it seems like my personal life
is becoming harder and harder every day. I know it's important to focus on the positive and not the negative so what should I do to keep thinking positive thoughts?”

Here’s 7 actions you can take to stay positive when it feels like your life is falling apart:

1. Be Grateful

Even if it seems everything is going wrong, there are things that are going right. Every day, write down all the things you are grateful for having happened to you today. Be descriptive of each item. Feel the joy those things bring you. Even if it's something really small like your car started this morning. Be grateful for it. This will help you to stay focused on the positive.

2. Look for the Silver Linings

Sometimes events that initially look bad turn out to be really good things in the end. I can't remember the saying but it was something like every black cloud has a silver lining. Here's an example, maybe you need to look for a new job because your company is downsizing. If you look for the silver lining in that, you can see that it's making you leave a job you didn't like that much anyway. You can now find that job that you really want to do or pursue a lifelong dream or even just take some time off to enjoy life before going back to find another job. By looking for the silver lining then bad things can actually become really good things.

3. Often the Greatest Doubts Occur Just Before a Breakthrough

This is a quote by Lama Surya Das. If you can think of your difficulties as being necessary to make a breakthrough to the new life you want to lead, it will make it easier. You're breaking free of your old life on the way to your new, more exciting life.(this is my [laura]favorite from this article)

4. Look at the Big Picture and Focus

Decide on what direction you want your life to head. Think about what areas you want to explore, what experiences you want to feel, what do you want to accomplish in your life? What kind of person do you want to be? Then start taking steps towards those goals. Even if it’s just tiny steps every day, stay focused on where you want to go, and keep moving forwards. Then the little things you’re going through right now won’t matter as much because you have an exciting new direction to focus on instead.

5. Discouragement is Just a Trick

Here’s a quote I really like about not letting yourself get discouraged.

"Discouragement is a negative emotion with more than one trick up its dark sleeve. It tricks you into mentally or emotionally dwelling in the very place you want to leave. Drop all such sorrow permanently by daring to see through this deception of the unconscious mind. You have a destination far beyond where you find yourself standing today" - Guy Finley

Keep this in mind as you continue to take steps towards your goals. You do have a destination far beyond where you are today.

6. Keep Reading Inspirational Articles and Maybe Join a Forum

If you keep reading inspirational articles and books, it will motivate you to stay positive. You will see that everyone goes through rough patches but that they do make it through. It will be worth it in the end. Also, there are some good forums you can join where even just reading the other posts can motivate you to stay positive. Or, if you want to make a posting, you can gain support from others as well. Who knows, you may even be able to answer some one else’s post and help them out too.

7. Take a Break Sometimes

Forget about your problems and just go out and do something fun. Go to a movie, go out with some fun, positive thinking friends, go to a play, go for a bike ride, just do something. Get out and just enjoy yourself for a little bit. Sometimes, we just get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget to have fun. Taking a break will re-energize you and you may find that things aren't as bad as you thought.

So, there's at least 7 things you can do to help you remain in a positive frame of mind when your life seems to be falling apart. I hope it helps. I also want to say, good for you in recognizing the need to stay positive when it can be easier to just go with the negative flow. It shows you are on the right path and you will make it through your current situation with flying colours. Hang in there. This will pass and you will soon be experiencing your new, more positive life.

_____________________________

I Really liked this article and it just about says it all. Visit the site here http://www.life-with-confidence.com/how-to-stay-positive.html

I hope this helps someone! God Bless You All!

The greatest advice I was ever given regarding listening was the mirror technique.  A way to listen and reflect back to the person what you hear.  It is so important to just hear what people say and acknowledge that you hear them, without responding, or judging or filtering.  I wish this active listening was taught in schools, it would go so far to eliminate hurt and fighting and so many conflicts.

The technique says that if you are having a conversation that instead of immediately responding with your own thoughts, you should reply by re-stating what the other person has just told you.  For instance "okay, what I am hearing is that you are frustrated at me because you feel I do not do my share of the housework" or "I hear that you are frustrated in your job because you feel your instructions are vague and you are not given enough support from the rest of the staff".  Then after the reflective statement, you can go on to say how you feel.  

It is also important to use phrases like "i feel", "in my opinion', "from my perspective".  This eliminates accusatory or judgemental statements that have to be defended by the other person. 

The other best manners rule is just to treat people the way we would like to be treated.  It is simple, yet very overlooked.  Thanks for giving attention to an area that is very lacking in education today.  Good Luck

I am in the process of writing curriculm for children along with their parents regarding basic manners and common courtesy.  I am basing this teaching on respect which I believe is lacking in children and teens.  My goal is to teach self esteem and confidence by being able to express opinions without judgements and to listen to others with interest and respect. 

 I would appreciate input and opinions as I build my workshops.