Dream Tips

Thought I'd share two advices about dreams that people shared with me.

First.

If you are frustrated that you can't remember your dreams in the morning (like most of us), put a notepad near your bed with a pen/pencil.  When I was in 7th grade, our art teacher wanted us to do a painting about one of our dreams and he suggested this technique to remember them.  When you wake up in the middle of the night, quickly write down notes about the dream.  Then when you wake up in the morning (when you were suppose to, not in the middle of the night, lol), the notes will remind you of the dream!

Second.

I wake up A LOT to go pee in the middle of the night.  Once my brain starts to churn, I normally can't go back to sleep.  A co-worker suggested that if I keep in mind the dream I was having, lay back down still thinking of the dream.  That sometimes will help you fall back asleep.  (and whatever you do, never look at a clock!  That will just frustrate you to know what time it is).

Sweet Dreams!

Moving Poem - When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

If you've lost someone especially dear to you, you may not be able to not cry throughout these words.  However, you will gain comfort by the end of the poem; like I did.  It really helps me at times.

This poem is dedicated to my Mom, Toni Bailey.  I love and miss you with all my heart.

When tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
all filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today,

While thinking of the many things,

We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
and each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me,

Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name,

And took me by the hand,

and said my place was ready,

In heaven far above,

And that I'd have to leave behind

All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,

So much left yet to do,

It seemed almost impossible,

That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
and all the fun we had

If I could re-live yesterday

Just even for a while,

I'd say good-bye and kiss you

And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,

I might miss come tomorrow,

I thought of you, and when I did,

My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne.

He said, "This is eternity,

And all I've promised you."

Today your life on earth is past,

But here life starts anew

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day's the same way
There's no longing for the past.

You have been so faithful,

So trusting and so true.

Though there were times

You did some things

You knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don't think we're far apart,

For every time you think of me,

I'm right here, in your heart.

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

From this link:  http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3Ou46G/www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Here are my favorite top 13 (I need to personally remember) from the list of 30 that is stated in this great article:  30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself.

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.  Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth.  And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.  We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems.  That’s not how we’re made.  In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall.  Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time.  This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself.  Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  Yes, help others; but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
6. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive.  But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
7. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either.  You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
8. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.  Evaluate situations and take decisive action.  You cannot change what you refuse to confront.  Making progress involves risk.  Period!  You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
9. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.  Ask yourself this:  “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
10. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.  The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
11. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t take the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary.
12. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out.  But making one person smile CAN change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  So narrow your focus.
13. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy.  One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?”  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.

BTW, here are the other 17 Things You Need to Stop Doing to Yourself (I've snipped the details but you can check out the link for the fine print (and good advice)):

1. Stop trying to be someone you’re not.
   
2. Stop trying to hold onto the past.
3. Stop being scared to make a mistake.
4. Stop thinking you’re not ready.
5. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work.
6. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself.
7. Stop letting others bring you down to their level.
8. Stop trying to make things perfect.
9. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t.
10. Stop blaming others for your troubles.
11. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen.
12. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons.
13. Stop trying to compete against everyone else.
14. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others.
15. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break.
16. Stop holding grudges. 
17. Stop being ungrateful.