TGIF

The other day when Gpa, dad and I were driving to the Dbacks game, I happened to notice the First Solar building that has opening and closing shutters on the side of the building spelled out TGIF. I have been here a year and have literally never noticed it before and I drive by this building every day on my way home. Thinking it could have been a one time thing I made sure to check again on my way home today, and sure enough! TGIF! 

After some Google research, I discovered they have a history of writing things on their building. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for ya and share any new designs I see.

Happy Friday! 

Also a birthday shoutout to my favorite Great Uncle from Georgia, hope you had a great day! ;) 

I Read it Somewhere: 10 Truths We Forget Too Easily

I found this article in a suggested reading section of one of the employee group pages at work, thought it was worth a share....

It’s surprising how easy it is to lose sight of the important things in life. Busy schedules and weekly routines have a tendency to put the brain on autopilot.

Some of life’s essential truths need repeating. Keep this list handy and give it a read any time you need a boost.

1. BEING BUSY DOES NOT EQUAL BEING PRODUCTIVE

Look at everyone around you. They all seem so busy—running from meeting to meeting and firing off emails. Yet how many of them are really producing, really succeeding at a high level?

Success doesn’t come from movement and activity. It comes from focus—from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively.

You get the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. Use yours wisely. After all, you’re the product of your output, not your effort. Make certain your efforts are dedicated to tasks that get results.

2. GREAT SUCCESS IS OFTEN PRECEDED BY FAILURE

You will never experience true success until you learn to embrace failure. Your mistakes pave the way for you to succeed by revealing when you’re on the wrong path.

The biggest breakthroughs typically come when you’re feeling the most frustrated and the most stuck. It’s this frustration that forces you to think differently, to look outside the box and see the solution that you’ve been missing.

Success takes patience and the ability to maintain a good attitude even while suffering for what you believe in.

3. FEAR IS THE #1 SOURCE OF REGRET

When it’s all said and done, you will lament the chances you didn’t take far more than you will your failures. Don’t be afraid to take risks.

I often hear people say, “What’s the worst thing that can happen to you? Will it kill you?” Yet, death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you.

The worst thing that can happen to you is allowing yourself to die inside while you’re still alive.

4. YOUR SELF-WORTH MUST COME FROM WITHIN

When your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from comparing yourself to others, you are no longer the master of your own destiny. When you feel good about something that you’ve done, don’t allow anyone’s opinions or accomplishments to take that away from you.

While it’s impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you don’t have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take people’s opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within. Regardless of what people think of you at any particular moment, one thing is certain—you’re never as good or bad as they say you are.

5. YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THOSE YOU ASSOCIATE WITH

You should strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, people who make you want to be better. And you probably do. But what about the people who drag you down? Why do you allow them to be a part of your life?

Anyone who makes you feel worthless, anxious, or uninspired is wasting your time and, quite possibly, making you more like them. Life is too short to associate with people like this. Cut them loose.

6. LIFE IS SHORT

None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow. Yet, when someone dies unexpectedly it causes us to take stock of our own life: what’s really important, how we spend our time, and how we treat other people.

Loss is a raw, visceral reminder of the frailty of life. It shouldn’t be.

Remind yourself every morning when you wake up that each day is a gift and you’re bound to make the most of the blessing you’ve been given. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing is the moment it will start acting like one.

After all, a great day begins with a great mindset.

7. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APOLOGY TO FORGIVE

Life goes a lot smoother once you let go of grudges and forgive even those who never said they were sorry. Grudges let negative events from your past ruin today’s happiness. Hate and anger are emotional parasites that destroy your joy in life.

The negative emotions that come with holding on to a grudge create a stress response in your body, and holding on to stress can have devastating health consequences. Researchers at Emory University have shown that holding on to stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease.

When you forgive someone, it doesn’t condone their actions; it simply frees you from being their eternal victim.

8. YOU'RE LIVING THE LIFE YOU'VE CREATED

You are not a victim of circumstance. No one can force you to make decisions and take actions that run contrary to your values and aspirations.

The circumstances you’re living in today are your own—you created them. Likewise, your future is entirely up to you. If you’re feeling stuck, it’s probably because you’re afraid to take the risks necessary to achieve your goals and live your dreams.

When it’s time to take action, remember that it’s always better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of one you don’t.

9. LIVE IN THE MOMENT

You can’t reach your full potential until you learn to live your life in the present.

No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. It’s impossible to be happy if you’re constantly somewhere else, unable to fully embrace the reality (good or bad) of this very moment.

To help yourself live in the moment, you must do two things:

1) Accept your past. If you don’t make peace with your past, it will never leave you and, in doing so, it will create your future.

2) Accept the uncertainty of the future. Worry has no place in the here and now. As Mark Twain once said, “Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.”

10. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE - EMBRACE IT

Only when you embrace change can you find the good in it. You need to have an open mind and open arms if you’re going to recognize, and capitalize on, the opportunities that change creates.

You're bound to fail when you keep doing the same things you always have in the hope that ignoring change will make it go away.

After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Life doesn't stop for anyone. When things are going well, appreciate them and enjoy them, as they are bound to change. If you are always searching for something more, something better, that you think is going to make you happy, you'll never be present enough to enjoy the great moments before they're gone.

By Dr. Travis Bradberry {link}

What a Visit!

The family has returned home after their big AZ adventure and today sadly my vacation ended too, back to work for me. I dropped everyone off at the airport this morning, came home for a quick nap, and then off to work again! Everyone arrived safely back in Illinois to many a wagging tail, their fur-babies missed them all very much! 

Here's a few of the things we managed to squeeze in! 

We grilled...

We visited the Memorial Park downtown Phoenix in front of the Capital Building...

We saw one of the anchors and the signal mast from the USS Arizona...

We found the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine at Tortilla Flats...

We visited the Commemorative Air Force Museum...

We went to Organ Stop Pizza...

We visited with Oliver and Audrey...

 We swam...

We watched baseball...

Gpa and I got on the big screen... no big deal...

They cheered me at the Warrior Dash....

 We saw more WWII Planes...

B-24 (The only one still flying)

B-17

(sidenote: Dad and I have seen 3/8 remaining B-17s still flying)

P-51

I had so much fun with everyone visiting. I love that this was Gma and Gpa's first vacation since my mom was little! We got to see a lot in the time they were here but we have so much more to see when they come back! Hopefully my next big vacation will be to visit NiBo in Hawaii!

I even had the chance to read/finish a book while I was on vacation...

This was the first book I have checked out digitally from my Library. Very convenient to be able to download a book for free without having to leave the house. I actually first came across this book after I saw the video below on a photographer of abandoned places page that I follow on Facebook, and I had to read the book. The book is filled with real pictures the author has found and incorporates the stories of those photos into the book. I have just started reading the second book in the series, and just now discovered there is a third book due out in September. I read this book in two late nights, I couldn't put it down and it left off with a cliffhanger ending so I'm glad I was able to snatch up the second book (also a digital checkout on my Nook) and I just got notification today that Girl on the Train is in and ready for me to read (again, digital check out) Look at me being a reader and all.... well I'm off to finally sleep in my own bed again! (I was an awesome granddaughter and let Gma/Gpa have my bed)

Gma and Gpa have Arrived!

Some very special guests from Illinois arrived safe and sound yesterday! Gma and Gpa are visiting for a week (with mom and dad too) but Gma and Gpa have never flown before! This was their very first flight! 

They even earned a pair of wings for being first time fliers! Gma is already spoiling me and has made some very yummy french toast for us all for breakfast! My kitchen is getting lots of action! Stay tuned for their wild and crazy Arizona antics!