Safe

Our prompt today is to think about and write down when we feel SAFE. Where is your safe place? Is it in the assurance of God's word?, is it in the arms of someone you love?, Is it in the feeling of security?? and what gives you that feeling?

Short but deep topic today.

Have a blessed day.

Sending Love,
Susan

We have all experienced it..

Maybe it is our economic environment, or our over committed schedules. Maybe it's all the violence on television (and that's just the news)that we take in daily. Maybe it's the size 2 flawless (I promise that is an illusion)models that flash against the billboards, magazine covers and television screens. Maybe it's our weariness, fatigue and hopelessness at the end of the day. Maybe it is the feeling of powerlessness to change our circumstances.

Whatever it is has pushed you around and taken it's tole on you . It is time to push back.

You, my friend have no idea how precious you are. There is only ONE you and I promise you you were created for a purpose. The other good news is that no matter what your circumstances are right now they will change. You are not how much money you have, what you look like, how much you weigh, what your job or title is, who you know, who you are married to, where you live, or what car (if any) that you drive.


It has taken me almost 50 years to get here and I often need reminded.Over those years So today I am reminding you. You are such a valuable part of this blog, you are special and you are loved. More importantly than that you are precious to many (even if you do not see it).

Today your prompt is to write down exactly how you feel about yourself and your life right now. Write about how external things in your life are effecting you (stress, schedule, health, money problems if any)..then take time to write about who you are to those around you. Your children, significant other, parents....
Your are irreplaceable(even if you do not FEEL that way. Feelings are just that..feelings, they do not necessarily have any truth associated with them.There is never going to be another you. You have a purpose in this world . I promise!

Have a blessed day!

Sending Love,
Susan

And The Award Goes To...

Imagine that tonight there will be a ceremony and an awards dinner. You have won an award. What would that award be for?

EXAMPLE:
And the award goes to _Diane______ for being the most faithful friend. The award goes to __Lisa______ for her amazing artwork. The award goes to __Emily_______ for enduring great hardship and yet always thinking of others.

You get the point. It could be anything. Your prompt is to write down what the award is for and why.

Have a GREAT day.

Sending Love,
Susan

Art Prompt

Our Art Journal Prompt This Week is INSIDE OUT. I am looking forward to seeing your amazing work in the Flickr gallery.

Constant Companion

I came across this the other day and thought it would be a perfect catalyst to an inward look. So today your prompt is the writing below. Write how it applies to you. Write about how you felt after you read it. Allow your thought to flow on the paper. Do not censor yourself.

Food for Thought...
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.

Have a wonderful day!

Sending Love,
Susan

Picking Favorites

I promised today we would have a fun prompt. As those of you that have worked on the past two days prompts you deserve an easy day. Today our prompt is to journal our alltime favortie BOOK, MOVIE and SONG and write them down. Write down WHY they are your favorites as well.

Have a GREAT day. Tomorrow we will be back to (work) in our journal.


Sending Love,
Susan

OVERCOMING

Yesterday we identified three things(or more) that we struggle with. Today we will talk about some of the ways that you can start overcoming the struggles that rule you.

I will use myself as an example here. Yesterday I shared that three things (and believe me there are many more) that I struggle with are PROCRASTINATION, TIME MANAGEMENT and COMFORT(STRESS) EATING.

First you need to decide how serious you are about overcoming your challenge and make a commitment to yourself that you are going to work on this for YOU.

We will use the example of comfort(stress) eating (one of my struggles). Last year I DECIDED that enough was enough. I knew food would not make anything better and as a matter of fact it had made things worse. I had gained weight and felt bad about myself on top of the other reasons I found myself comfort(stress) eating.

So I made the decision I would stop this behavior and I have for the most part. I still find myself reaching for the ice cream or wanting a bowl of pasta when things are very stressful but now I am aware of every time this happens.

I started by writing down when I felt like eating and recorded what was going on until I started to see the pattern..that EVERY TIME I felt overwhelmed I wanted something to eat.

I had to replace this habit so for a while every time I felt that urge I would do something else instead. I would write about it. I would write about how hard it was and how I wanted to give up too. I also wrote about my victories. I found that at the end of last year I was very rarely stress eating (and when I did I was aware of what I was doing which made it even harder to do it) AND I had lost 40 pounds.

This year I am working on Time Management and Procrastination (both of which relate to each other in my life). The process will be the same. I will write down every time it happens, determine what is going on, record how I feel when I overcome (which has been different than eating) sometimes when I wrote about how I wasn't eating but wanted to I felt angry or somehow cheated out of my craving..but when I write about not caving into procrastionation I feel WONDERFUL!

SO...your prompt today is to write down what you will do this year to help you overcome something you are struggling with.

Wednesday we will have a FUN prompt. See you then.

Have a terrific day!

Sending Love,
Susan

We will start today with an art journal spotlight on this weeks prompt (VICTORY)
Thank you Sarah Elliott for sharing this on the Your Life Spelled Out Flick Group.

I struggle with...

Today our prompt is to write down at least three things that we struggle with. It is important to acknowledge these areas of our life and writing them down helps accomplish this.

Now write about how you feel about the areas you struggle with. Have you decided that that is just the way you are or do you want to change these areas?

On Tuesday we will write out a plan to start us on the journey of change if that is indeed our goal. YOU are the only one that can change these areas. YOU have to take full responsibility. Tough Stuff..I know.

Just so you know you are not alone in this , here are three areas I struggle with.

I struggle with procrastination.

I struggle with time management

I struggle with sometimes turning to food for comfort (talk about looking for comfort in all the wrong places).

Now it is your turn...What three (or more) areas do you struggle with?

Have a blessed day!

Sending Love,
Susan

“The best portions of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts, Of kindness and love.” —William Wordsworth

And Today As I Count My Blessings

I woke up today in an awful mood. I had plenty of reasons (in my head) to be in this frame of mind...but do I really want to be here? Do I really want to waste my entire day visiting resentment and self pity? NO..I have a wonderful day planned. We are going to church, I am spending time with my youngest daughter looking for a wedding dress and then we are having a family birthday party at our house where we will celebrate the birthdays of my youngest son and myself.

How to get out of this mood?? As you know each month we take one day and write down 10 blessings in our life..(the only rule is they can not be the same blessing you have written down before).. There is nothing like gratitude to get one out of oneself.

So that is our prompt today. This is our February blessing prompt.

Have a FANTASTIC day. If you are having a bad on..start over again. Remember, we can start our day over anytime we want.

Sending Love,
Susan

She's An Uptown Girl

I always loved Billy Joels rendition of Uptown Girl..I remember hearing it as a very young girl and thinking to myself.."what kind of girl am I"? The songs lyrics gives us a bit of a character sketch of this uptown girl.

For our prompt today we will write a entry that gives a bit of a character sketch about you.

What does that look like?

Here is a little example:

She loves theatre, musicals, watching basketball, being creative, sitting by the ocean,New York City,good food, good music, God, her husband and her family

She is put off by narcissism and mean spirited people.

She is now considered an uptown girl but lived most of her life as a downtown girl and has experienced life on both sides.

You obviously can get way more detailed and I did but that was just a few lines from my own journal.

I would LOVE to have you post and share anything you write on this subject. This is always one of my favorite prompts. It really makes you think about who you are.

Have a beautiful day!

Sending Love,
Susan

This weeks Art Journal Prompt

Our prompt this week is VICTORY!!!

Please join up on Flickr and see all of the art journal pages that our members have made.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1321885@N21/

Words

You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life. ~ Zig Ziglar


What a TRUE statement. This is your monthly Random Act of Kindness prompt. Today your prompt is to uplift, encourage and edify someone with a few sincere words. You have no idea of the impact this can have on their day. Words have the power . Use your wisely. Write in your journal about how this made you feel and how the other person responded.


For those of you that have shared with me that they do not like the random act of kindness prompts or the count your blessing prompt that we do one day of each month I suggest that you use those days to write whatever you wish in your journal. However, I must tell you that two of the surest ways to experience true happiness is to get out of yourself and do something for someone else and to recognize and focus on the blessings in your life. This is the reason I have incorporated these two prompts once a month.

Have an OUTSTANDING day!


Sending Love,
Susan

Let's Get Personal

As this is a prompt blog I rarely discuss what is going on in my life at the moment as I save that for facebook and my other blog. However, this needs to be shared. On Monday a dear friend found out that her 30 year old son had died of a heart attack.This soul wrenching news has come as a total shock to all of us that know and love her. He was only 30 and it was sudden and unexpected.

Who do we need to reconcile with, say I love you to, share how much you love them, forgive? Who are you taking for granted?

Make that list in your journal today and then start taking action. Take action daily, make this list monthly.

Life is precious, a gift and we never know when someone we love will pass. Further more our own mortality is as fleeting. Ask yourself what you would do or say to someone if you knew you would not have a chance to tomorrow. That can be the catalyst for your list.

Sending Love,
Susan

Susan

Check out our own Miss Donna

For all of my art journal/scrapbooking friends I have a treat for you. Check out the

Donna Salazar Products group page on Face Book.

Donna is also a member of Your Life Spelled Out Journal Group!

Eliminate The Negative

And so..the next line in the song we visited yesterday is ELIMINATE the NEGATIVE!! Hmmm easier said than done. Today we will work on eliminating negative WORDS that come out of our mouth. I challenge you to but a rubber band on your wrist (or a rubber bracelet like the Live Strong Yellow ones)and every time you catch yourself saying something negative or something negative ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE move the rubber band from one wrist to another. This will keep us aware of how many times in the day you do this. Do this for a day, a week or a month..you choose.

Write about how often you found yourself being negative. What you are most negative about. How you felt about this experiment. I think we will all find this a very eye opening prompt.

Have an OUTSTANDING day!

Sending Love,
Susan

AC CENT TCHU ATE the POSITIVE

I love the the song Accentuate the positive by Johnny Mercer. Today your prompt is to look for the minimum of ten positive things in your life right now and write them down. It is so easy to overlook the positive and concentrate on only the negative. In fact, it is human nature. We need to accentuate the positive on purpose.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z45EB4TiYz4


You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene

Have a fantastic day!

Sending Love,
Susan

The language of love!

Yesterday we talked about the five love languages. Dr. Gary Chapman has written a book that I highly recommend that will help you discover what your love language is and the love language of the people you love (spouse, child, co-worker, friend). We all have one. Some of us have more than one. The following list give a quick snapshot into each language. Your prompt today is to write the love languages into your journal and write about which one or ones you think might be your love language.

Words of Affirmation

Positive verbal reinforcement. If this is your love language, you feel wonderful when someone gives you a genuine compliment. You may feel insecure without encouragement or regular expressions of approval. You feel loved when your partner expresses appreciation for the small things you do.

Quality Time

Periods where you have complete attention. If quality time is your primary love language, you feel neglected without time spent specifically focused on each other, or doing something together that you love to do. You enjoy sharing things you love with others, and feel special when someone else includes you in something they are passionate about.

Receiving Gifts

Physical or visual symbols of affection. If receiving gifts makes you feel loved, that does not mean you are superficial. Some people simply respond to tangible illustrations of the love in a relationship. Different from being a "gold digger," someone who speaks this love language appreciates thoughtful, personal gifts, not necessarily dependent on price. A home-made card or tiny trinket can speak volumes, if well-chosen and suited to the recipient.

Acts of Service

Doing things for a loved one. If this is your dominant love language, you feel loved when someone goes out of their way to make things more pleasant or smooth for you. Examples include: doing chores, cooking dinner, taking care of something that would normally be your responsibility, chipping in without being asked. Most people can relate to this love language, though in very different ways, and it is extremely important to practice this love language out of genuine feeling, rather than duty, to avoid resentment.

Physical Touch

Bodily contact between people. Not restricted to sexual intercourse or intimacy, this love language encompasses all kinds of touch, from hugs to kisses to cuddling. Physical contact can be its own form of communication. If this is your love language, you need your partner to recognize what kinds of touch are pleasant and which are irritating, and focus on increasing the former and reducing the latter.

Love is

Today as many people celebrate Valentines Day with their significant other there are many people that find themselves alone. Valentines Day alone can be very painful. But is romantic love the only kind of love to celebrate? Today your prompt is to write about love in your life. The love of family, friends, children,a significant other. Write about what makes you feel loved and how you show love to others. This sounds life a simple exercise but I think you will find that it requires a great deal of thought.

There is a wonderful book called The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman that describes the five different love languages and how each of us feel loved by one or more of them and when you find how your significant other, child, or other loved one feels love and apply that to them..they feel abundantly loved at all times. We will talk about all five of them this week. I think you will find it a fascinating journey.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ! YOU ARE LOVED!

Sending Love,
Susan

Balance

Balance in life is often hard to obtain but must be sought after. Balance can
be the difference between manageable and unmanageable.

I have broken balance down into three main areas for myself. Each area can be broken down into several small ones . I ask myself how am I doing Physically, Mentally and Spiritually. All pieces fit together to form balance in my life. It doesn't matter if I am an overachiever in one area if the other areas are off.

Today your prompt is to write down the three areas in your journal and then write where you are today in those areas. I try to do this exercise several times a year or whenever I am feeling over stressed to help me see what areas are (off)!This is the first step to adjusting and ultimately to once again being in balance.

Have a wonderful Saturday.

Sending Love,
Susan

Childhood Favorite

Since we have been tackling a few emotionally difficult subjects this week we will have a much needed light hearted prompt today. Your prompt today is to write about your favorite toy (or toys) as a child and to record a special memory of the toy.

OUR ART JOURNAL PROMPT this week is THROUGH ROSE COLORED GLASSES

I can not wait to see your art journals.

A reminder to our newer followers, you can upload your art journals to our flickr account (the link is at the bottom right hand side of the page). You must be invited to join so if you wish to be a part of the flickr group just email me your email address to smsummerville@hotmail.com and I will send one out to you right away.

Have a fantastic Friday everyone.

Sending Love,
Susan

Drop The Rock

Imagine if you will that you have a backpack on you back filled with very heavy rocks that you CHOOSE to carry with you everywhere you go. Everyday when you get out of bed you strap it on your back and carry it with you everywhere you go all day long. By 10 a.m. you are already weary and hurting. By the time you are home you feel like you can't take it anymore. But you will not or feel that you can not drop the rocks that are inside of your bag. If you took even one of them out you would feel less pain...So the prompt today is to NAME YOUR ROCKS. We can not even begin to start the process of dropping the rocks with the goal of having an empty backpack until we admit that we are carrying them and identify what they are.

Here are some examples of some of the rock names I have been familiar with during my lifetime:

Anger
Resentment
Fear
Guilt
Low Self Esteem
Past Failure
Past Mistakes
Regret
Self Pity

Do any of these look familiar? The list could go on and on. Many of us have rocks that are uniquely ours.

Today make a list of the names of your rocks that weigh you down and together during our journaling throughout the year we will address them and courageously take them out of our backpack and throw them out with the goal of not picking them back up again!

Have a joy filled day!

Sending Love,
Susan

Determination

Life can be difficult. In order to reach our dreams and goals we must have determination. Be determined that you will not let people, negative thinking, weariness, stress, life circumstances or anything else stand between you and what you are determined to do or achieve. We must press on through the hard times, through the times we want to give up. Today write about a time that you have given up on a dream or a goal and what made you give up. Then write about a dream or goal that you have now and think of actions you can do when you feel like giving up that will keep you on course. Make sure you write them down as well. Share your dream or goal with someone and ask them to help you be accountable when your determination is waning. Write down the NAME of that person in your journal.

Have a joyful Wednesday.

Sending Love,
Susan

Journal Snapshot

Today we will stop and reflect on our life and will write out our observations in a Journal Snapshot. This is an excellent exercise to do at least twice a year. It grounds us and helps us refocus and realign ourselves to work on our goals.

Example of a Journal Snapshot:

Today is Tuesday, February 9th, 2010.

I have been home for three days from our whirlwind business trip to Asia. I am still jet lagging and I have not been sleeping through the night. I am finding it difficult to get back into my routine.Since I have returned my eating is off and I have not been working out in the morning. I need to change this immediately.

I turned 48 on the 6th. For the first time in my life I am starting to look in the mirror and really see signs of aging in and on every part of my body. I have also come to the realization that I am on the back half of my life. I am not sure how I feel about any of this as my thinking is still pretty convoluted due to lack of sleep and jet lag., I need to give myself time to adjust and then revisit this topic in writing to work through my feelings.

THE ABOVE POST IS HOW I STARTED MY JOURNAL SNAPSHOT..I have written more but I am sure this is enough to give you an example of what a journal snapshot is.

Have a super day everyone!

Sending Love,
Susan

Time to Deal

Your prompt today is DEALING! What do you need to DEAL with in your life right now that you have been avoiding? Do you have a habit you need to break?, Someone you need to confront?, bills that you have been avoiding?, someone you need to forgive? I know this is a tough prompt but I have faith that you can DEAL with it. You can you know? You can get through this and deal with it no matter what it is. Taking the first step is ALWAYS the hardest part of dealing. If you need to share with or just unload to someone that is neutral about what you are dealing with you can email me (smsummerville@hotmail.com)with out fear of judgment or fear of lose of confidentiality. We all need someone to talk to.

Oh and ..I promise you are going to feel better after you have taken the first step (even if it is just acknowledging you need to deal with something).

Have a terrific day and I promise that on Tuesday our prompt will be a fun one.

Sending Love,
Susan

Your People

I am home from Asia. Thank you to all of you that sent emails, facebook mail messages and blog postings with birthday wishes. It meant a great deal to me.

Today your prompt is MY PEOPLE. Who are YOUR people? The people you count on day to day for love and support? Is there someone that you know will ALWAYS be there for you? Do you have a special friend or family member that you can trust and confide in? Write about Your People and your relationship with them..if it is a friend maybe write about how you met and how your friendship has grown over the years.

I was reminded of who some on My People were when I became very ill on the plane on the first leg of our trip home (from Hong Kong to Tokyo). I spent most of that flight in the bathroom. Upon boarding the second plane from Tokyo to the US I started feeling remarkable better out of nowhere, then completely better. I found out when I returned home that my husband had text my mom in Tokyo and asked her to pray for me and she made a call to one of my best friend who in turn emailed a pray request out to a group of friends of ours. PRAISE GOD for friends that stand in the gap. Praise God for MY PEOPLE.

Who are Yours?

Have a wonderful Sunday and SUPERBOWL day!

Sending Love,
Susan

Happy Birthday to me

By the time you read this I will be on a plane on my way home from Asia.
I am looking forward to putting my feet on the ground at home.

Today is the birthday and I think being crunched up on an airplane for 18 hours is the worst way I have spent a birthday so instead of concentrating on that I decided to focus on remembering my fondest memory of a birthday past. I have two of them. I was surrounded by my children and family for both. I am fortunate to be sitting next to my husband who is not only my husband but also my best friend on the way home this year..I am not alone.

SO..what is your fondest birthday memory? Write a page about it. Why does it stand out?

By the way...EVERY Birthday is a celebration no matter where we find ourselves because it is indeed a celebration of another year of the gift of life. One way I celebrate my birthday is by giving my mother a small gift each year..for if not for her, I would not be alive.

To my daughter Sarah, I LOVED the art journal prompt as well as the journal prompt and will be working on your art journal prompt on Monday. Thank you for standing in.

Have a fantastic Saturday!

Sending Love,
Susan

Art journal prompt: I am NOT afraid!

Your art journal prompt today is: I am NOT afraid! Create a page about a fear you have conquered! (or at least have recognized and are trying to conquer)

Here is an example page for you. I know afraid of being "me" isnt something everyone can identify with, but for a long time I second guessed everything with the fear of what others would think of me. I found myself becoming less and less of who I was and more what others wanted me to be. Now I try to always be true to myself.

I will be updating with this weeks Art journal SPOTLIGHTS later this afternoon!! Check back!

holla!
Sarah

Written Journal Prompt: Even in Austrailia.....

Hey gang! Sarah here :) While Susan is flying home from Asia I will be your guest host.  Please forgive me for not being as eloquent as Miss Susan is. Im a sleep deprived new mom of an almost 4 month old girl and my brain isnt fully functioning at this point :)

Written Journal Prompt

"Ive had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day"
"My mom says some days are just like that.... even in Austrailia"

If you have never read the childrens book Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good very bad day its a must read!

We all have bad days. Lets face it some days just suck. Some days from the moment your toes hit the floor everything just seems to go wrong. Thursday was just one of those days for me.

Your prompt today is to write about what you do to try and cope with a bad day. Do you head to the mall to buy yourself something pretty? Retreat to your couch with old movies and a pint of ben & jerry's? Sleep it off?  Confide in a loved one? Try to look at the situation with humor? How do you cure your bad day?

Hoping today is a fabulous one!

Sarah

Nice and comfy

I am getting ready to get on a plane in Vietnam and fly back to Malaysia for another day of business. Thinking about everyone at home and looking forward to being back there soon.

Before I give you the prompt for Thursday I wanted to let you know that on Friday we will have a guest host. Sarah Rice (my daughter) will give us the written AND the art journal prompt. She has been taking care of you all week by copying and pasting everything I send to her. You are in for a treat. She is one of the most creative and artistic people I know. Sarah will also spotlight one of the flickr uploads. I am excited to see and to do her prompts. I found out this week that I will be back in Asia for a week to finish this project in March so Sarah will be a big part of what we are doing during that week as well.

Our prompt today is (When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? Why? Was it on purpose? Stepping out of our ZONE is perhaps one of the best catalyst to personal growth.

Have a wonderful Thursday.

Sending Love,
Susan

One moment please....

Hello from Malaysia. I just returned to the hotel from our second day of business here. We will fly to Vietnam in the morning for the next part of this business trip. I am very jetlagged but doing well in comparison to our previous trip to Asia.

Our prompt today is to describe a time in your life that this song title would describe (SOME PEOPLE WAIT A LIFETIME FOR A MOMENT LIKE THIS)!

Please share by posting if you wish. I love to log on and read what you all have to say especially while on the other side of the world. It helps me feel closer to home.

Take care and have a day filled with sunshine!

Sending Love,
Susan

Define yourself

Hello Everyone,

I am Jet lagging here in Malaysia and getting ready to go to work.

Here is our prompt for today. Define Yourself. Think of a word (or several words) that you feel dines your personality and then look up there actual meaning and write it down. Write down wHY this word (or words) define who you are.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Sending Love,
Susan

You know what really grinds my gears???

Hello Everyone,

I am in Hong Kong getting ready to leave for Malaysia. Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you.

Our prompt for today is What Gets On Your LAST Nerve/ or What Pushes Your Buttons?
We all have things that do. While traveling I always have the opportunity to be reminded of some of my biggest button pushers (smile).
Like rude people for example..

Have a terrific day.

Sending Love,
Susan