Sunday, February 1, 2009

Perspective . . . and stuff

Only 21 days into the new year and it's been quite a whirlwind for me so far.

First, I moved into a brand new apartment. It's so much smaller than my old home, which takes a bit of getting used to. It's funny how you don't really have a clue how much junk you've
collected over the years until you have to pack it into boxes. Downsizing my personal possessions was an awful, but necessary endeavor. It's the letting go part that stings the most, I think. Whether it was giving my belongings to charity, saying goodbye to the stray cats I befriended over the years, or closing the door of my old home behind me for the very last time . . . *sigh* . . . letting go is always difficult, isn't it?

As if that wasn't enough to deal with, wouldn't you know it? When I finally settled into my new place my computer began having horrible fits, which pretty much amounted to its final death throes. So even more letting go . . . this time to my trusty old Emachine. Goodbye Emachine! You served me well for being a midnight impulse purchase at my local Wal-Mart. I will look back fondly on all the times you crashed for no reason.


Finally, the icing on the cake that has been the introduction to my new year -- and I say that with venomous, dripping sarcasm -- is that I managed to get a strep throat infection.


For awhile I viewed these recent events with ill humor and I dreaded what the rest of 2009 had in store for me. However, after much useless cursing and shaking my fist to the heavens I had an epiphany!

I've come to realize that you can't control what fate has in store for you, but you certainly can control how you view such events. For instance, I can cry a river over the fact that I no longer reside in the wonderful, big house I lived in for 14 years . . . or I can look around my cute, little townhouse and revel in the fact that less room means less cleaning. :) Plus look at the pretty view that greets me every morning from my back lanai:



And it did suck to have my computer die out on me at the most inopportune time. Not to mention it cost me a pretty penny to replace it, but now I have a new Compaq that doesn't freeze up when I'm trying to blog about how it's been freezing up.

As for my strep throat -- yes, it's awful to be sick and in pain, but it also gives me the perfect excuse to rest up and eat all the ice cream my heart desires. :)

It's all about perspective, you see. Change your perspective -- the way you view your life -- and you'll find that things aren't always as bad as they seem. There really is a silver lining.

So 2009 . . . bring it on because I'm ready!

Well, thank you all for allowing me to wax philosophical for a moment, but now onto more cuter and craftier things.

The winner of the Happy Swirly Cupcake is . . .


I will be contacting you shortly Mushroom Meadows! :)

Also, I'm slowly but surely getting into my crafting zone again. I plan to list a new item in my shop every few days as I get it done so I might not blog about here, but please check my Etsy store often if you're interested. I have some Bashful Blooming Cacti and some Happy Swirly Cupcakes coming up. Here's a peek at one of them:


Oh, before I go I wanted to share a photo of dear Loovee taken on a field trip to Hawaii's premier shopping mall, Ala Moana Center. I loved the big-eyed lemurs and I thought big-eyed Loovee would fit in perfectly among them:


Well, I've been so very out of the loop lately so I'm off to check out what my blogging pals have been up to. Hopefully, you've all had a better start to the new year than I did. :)

17 comments:

Marce said...

Hi! I am happy for the perspective that you decided to take of your situation!
Your sight is beautiful and really I regret not having gained the cupcake!
Thank you for commenting always!
Bye!

6060 said...

Hi!!! I am sorry to hear all those events you have been trough. I am happy that all these events have passed and you are facing a brand new year with a brand new experience.
It's hard to let go your old stuff, your old house or even old clothing, however, life is all about experience new things too, so I wish you have a happy and fruitful 2009!!
No matter what we've been through, it's all an experience we have to treasure, that's how we learn, right? Good luck and God bless you! =)

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! I'm sorry your new year had a rough start, but it seems that you kept a good head about all the new challenges. Change is a hard thing to adjust to, but you seem to have a good hold on such a fearful situation. I'm sure 2009 will bring you a wealth of good experiences. It's good to have you back, and I'll definitely be peeking into your store from time to time.

Anonymous said...

Oh my! So many things happened all at once for you. You are so inspiring, though, in the way you handle such life events. I admire how positive you are all the time. With your wonderful perspective, I just know that the rest of 2009 will be great!

G3T Films said...

Oooops, I thought your cupcake was named willy-nilly waterlily... Hopefully you wont hold me to the marriage proposal *cheeky grin*

That is a awfully nice view you've got there, I certainly wouldn't be upset by that verdant outlook.

Milkberry said...

Hi Rima!! I missed you!! Happy New Year!! I hope you feel better. I was sick when the year started as well. And yeay for a new computer. Huggles~~

Cait said...

Aw Lily! I'm sorry there have been disappointing things lately but I think it's so wonderful that you can look at the beautiful side of them now! Learning to be joyful is so difficult but then affects everything.
The wee lemurs are cute! :)

love, cait

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your stokr of bad luck this new year- but you are so right when you said that you can change your fate around! I had a similar bad start and now things are better than I imagined! I hope you recover real soon! Ah, how I miss Ala Moana Centre!!

XOXSand

Carrie Me! said...

Welcome back! I love your positive attitude, I think I need an attitude adjustment myself! =) I love your Ala Moana photo, I miss shopping there so much, glad to see it's still going.

*emilie* said...

oooh i'm so sorry the year started crappy for you girl !

i'm sure you'll turn that townhouse into a cute little nest ! smaller IS cuter !

as for the throat, i hope you're feeling better now. i was wondering where you were !

glad you're back. just think of it that way: now you're done with the crappy 2009 stuff, get ready for the good part !

mushroommeadows said...

I love the view to your new place!! All that green would make me smile. :) You're definitely right about having a good perspective!

I hope you're feeling better!!! And thank you for the giveaway! ;)

Die Schaubude said...

Hello !
Yes I've made this bag by myself...many thanks..and many greetings
Tanja

Unknown said...

hi! i am so sorry your 2009 has started out bad! i hope that the rest will be wonderful! thank you for your sweet comments on my blog! yes i did finally get a blythe! and i love her! she is such fun to make things for!

love your cacti! i really have to get one sometime! and your blythe with the lemurs it so cute!

huggs! and better things to come! i hope!

Gina M Smith said...

Good grief- well, you've obviously gotten all the bad stuff out of the way for 2009, so on to the good!

Ally ☁ ☼ said...

WOW i loev your amiguris
They look so cute
You are so talented <3

Zari said...

Hello! Welcome back blogging! I’m so glad to know you are being optimistic about everything that has happened... Keep the positive thoughts flowing and everything is going to be fine!
hugs!

willynillywaterlily said...
This comment has been removed by the author.