'Two steps forward.... ten steps back...'

Yes, I know that's not quite the original saying, but that's how it has felt to me lately. I move forward- I have my goals in site...... then bam, something gets in the way... a setback of sorts, be it physical or emotional.

Cicero (106 BC- 43 BC), "While there's life, there's hope."

I've got plenty of life... there are so many good things in my life... so much promise....

Perhaps its the yearning to reach the new plateau in my life that is wearing me down. Notice I don't refer to a summit.... I hope to not reach the summit in my life for a while yet.

"For myself I am an optimist- it does not seem to be much use to being anything else."
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965).

And this too shall pass.......

Since its a New Year and since I am a January baby I have been taking a bit of stock of my life... what things to change or improve... what is working... and the dreaded, what to get rid of.

A bit of spring cleaning for the soul, so to speak.

This poem came in an e-mail a while back, but I held onto it, because it symbolizes a lot of that "releasing" the negatives in yourself.

Personally, I think 2006 is going to be a wonderful year. Even with the unpredictable ups and downs in life, there's no reason it should be any less that great.

It is life after all.

"I Threw Out..."

Last week I threw out Worrying,
It was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me;
I couldn't do things my way.

I threw out those Inhibitions;
They were just crowding me out.
Made room for my New Growth,
Got rid of my old dreams and doubts.

I threw out a book on My Past
(didn't have time to read it anyway)
Replaced it with New Goals,
Started reading it today.

I threw out childhood toys
Remember how I treasured them so?
Got me a new Philosophy too,
Threw out the one from long ago

Brought in some new books too,
Called I Can, I Will, and I Must.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
Wow! You should've seen the dust.

I picked up this special thing
And placed it at the front door. I
Found It -- its called Peace
Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house looking nice.
Looks good around the place
For things like Worry and Trouble
There just isn't any place.

Its good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the old things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter
Thank you God for cleaning up my-self.

--Author Unknown