Journey with Friends

Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends.  This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better.  Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.

Together we can do this!

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Hello my friends!!  How are you doing on this fine Monday?  Did you have a great Valentine’s Day?  Did you do great last week on your journey to better living?

Last week, I didn’t lose anything on the scale.  In fact, I gained three pounds! 😦  Last week was difficult at work – we had a death in our law enforcement community so I didn’t do so well eating on my journey.  Is stress a trigger for you?  It seems to be with me.  Between work and something that is happening personal this week (no details yet – I’ve made Houdini paw swear and Bacon hoof swear secrecy – LOL), I’ve been eating my way it seems through the days.  So no.  I didn’t make great choices.

But that brings me to something I want to share with you my friends. My “reinventing” myself.  Sometimes we take ourselves and put us in the back seat while we are taking care of our spouses, children, parents, in-laws and/or friends.  We come second and everything.  This needs to stop.  We need to be kind to ‘us’.

I’m sharing this picture for two reasons.

1 – I’m taking care of ME.  I’ve tossed the glasses to the side, cut and colored the hair and I’m going to take care of me for a change.  No that doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore everyone else. I’m not like that – I’m a giver.  But it does mean that I need to take care of “ME” in order to be there for others.  Do you fall into this group too?  Are you a giver that forgets yourself?  Let’s make a change.  At least once a week, do something totally for yourself.  Whether it’s a bubble bath for some alone time, take a picture by yourself, meditate, or go grab some lunch/dinner and pamper yourself.  What will you do for YOU this week?

2 – With this picture I want to document what I look like today in compared to what maybe 3 months from now?  Show a picture side by side to see if I can visually see the changes… perhaps in those double chins?  LOL 🙂  What do you think my friends?

How are YOU doing this week?

 

Anipal Appreciation Day

Welcome my friends to blogville’s first annual Anipal Appreciation Day.  Me and my Cousin Sammy have collaborated together to initiate this day every year on February 15th.  What better time to get together and share the love than the month of February.

Rules for Anipal Appreciation Day:

1. Post your Anipal Appreciation Day blog on FEBRUARY 15, 2016.
2. Title your blog Anipal Appreciation Day.
3. Put the badge below on your blog post for the day.
4. Give shout outs not only in the posting of your blog but throughout the day with the comments you may get.  There is no set number of shout out’s you are required to do – let your heart lead you.  We are *not* leaving anyone out.  If you don’t make the post on a blog, be sure to check messages and comments throughout the day that people and anipals might leave.
5. If you can, link back your shout outs in your blogs for them to find.
6. HAVE FUN!  This is the most important rule – have FUN and share the LOVE!

Cousin Sammy – I’ve known him for years now.  He is a great guy – a bestest friend and always willing to lend a helping paw.  He goes out of his way to make you feel loved and welcomed even though at times I know he doesn’t feel well.  And you know what?  He gets that from his humans.  And technically, he and I *may* be related somewhere down the road with his parents and my parents being second, third or fourth cousins or something.

Brother Easy – Dude!  He is funny, he is kind, he is a hoot and he has the hardest job keeping his staff in line with their own antics.  And you know what?  Any time you need something, he is always there for you with a helping paw.

Felix – Now we all know the regular guys from Fozzie’s world – Dinnermintz, Doc, Forrest, Marbles, Cleo, Jacque, Pickles and Oscar (Did I miss anyone?)  Do you know Felix?  I mean all of this clan hold a special place in our hearts here at the Hotel Thompson but Felix especially.  Why? Because Felix gave up some wool and Fozzie gave it to another person that is special in our hearts – Auntie Sharon.  Auntie Sharon then spun that beautiful wool and made Fozzie, herself and my mom a scarf to keep their necks warm in the cooler weather.  In fact, my mom calls her scarf Felix.  Cool huh?  You gotta love this bunch from down under ❤

Shoko and Kali – WOWZER!  These are the coolest cats I’ve met in Canada.  You know what is even more cool – if that’s possible?  My mom/dad have met their mom/dad in real life.  Yep nods head.  They have and they had a BLAST together. Talk about laughing until your tummy hurts.  They are all a cool bunch!

Reilly and Denny – They are an awesome duo that live in a wonderful place full of beaches, sand and the sun.  They are beyond creative in finding their adventures from trails, their backyard (minus the snakes please) to roaming the beaches looking for trinkets to keep.  I would love to hang out with these and have fun running and exploring.

Cupcake – I’ll let everyone in on a secret with something about Cupcake.  The little pooch here – Houdini – has a *thang* for Cupcake.  He loves her.  He pulls her blog up and watches her picture for hours dreaming about running, playing and watching the movie Lady and the Tramp together.  Shakes piggy head.  He has it bad.

Dante – You talk about big things coming in little sizes – this is that.  Dante is what maybe 6 pounds (kind of like Houdini) and has the biggest heart.  He is always inspiring us to be nicer – to do more – to smile and give love.  And in this day and time, we need all of the love we can share.  Right?

Little Binky – Smiling and shaking my head.  I love Little Binky and his granny.  I watch him in his backyard looking around and playing around his new house.

Sam – Did you know that Sam is part of a therapy team with his mom?  He brings smiles to patients in a hospital and hospice care.  I’m telling you my friends, Sam brings a smile to my face just reading his blog and his adventures.  He’s a friend that is always giving and giving.

Of course, the list can go on and on and on for days.  These are just ‘some’ of the people that have touched our lives here at the Hotel Thompson.  It is in no way – ALL.  In fact, throughout the day, I’m sure I will be adding more and more here and there and in the comments.  We love you ALL here in blogville.  And believe it or not, YOU have touched our lives here.  You bring smiles to our faces, you touch us when we are down, you make us laugh/snort.  We talk about you to our friends – which is hilarious to here.  Yes, YOU are a HUGE part of our lives.  Each and everyone – from being listed to those that maybe we don’t even talk to but every couple of days.  YOU inspire us.  YOU hold a special place in our heart.  We grieve with you.  We laugh with you.  We joke with you.  YOU ARE FAMILY MY FRIENDS.