World Down Syndrome Day... March 21, 2014

3-21

Every year as this date approaches, I reminisce over the years and think of all the things my little munchkin Abrielle has accomplished, not only in the past year, but in the years of her lifetime... despite the things that most people would consider obstacles. Although she is not yet jumping over sidewalk cracks, she sure CAN run fast; and has more carefree playing than many kids I witness. Although she is not talking as well as other 4 year old children do, she IS speaking purposeful words, and understands everything I ask of her; in her world at 4 years old, that is considered a small miracle. As I have watched her grow, I can tell you that the time she takes to learn and process things is minuscule compared to the hurdles she has jumped along the way and something deep down tells me that time she takes is what allows her to be so joyful all of the time; I have learned from her...

Smiles rarely leave her face and NOTHING is really a big deal. Her time is like "Jamaica time, mon" and who doesn't enjoy that concept? Many years ago I had urgency about everything I did; I think MANY of us do; it's the world we live in. A world of instant gratification, instant credit, guaranteed whatever's we want everything now. Society has no patience for the concept "your time will come" or "take time to grow" we run around in a hurry and miss out on the beauty of our journey; I have learned from her...

She loves without conditions, she hugs for no reason and truly cares when you are hurting. She is the first one to come running when her older brother is crying, even when it's a tantrum just to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She meets no strangers, as she offers love to everyone around her no matter the social class, color of skin or physical appearance; to her we are all the same; I have learned from her...

This little girl although the last of my four kids, came just in time, just when I needed smiles in my life, just when I needed a true direction and just when I needed to learn to appreciate the purposeful journey. I started my book when she was 9 months old and I know that if she had not arrived, I never would have taken the time to write it... I was too much in a hurry to be what I thought I was supposed to be; I had it all wrong; I learned from her...

                                        

We all need to slow down, we all need to take time to enjoy what surrounds us, we need to breathe in the journey and know that if we stop rushing everything and trying to have it OUR way.... GOD will show us HIS way. I promise that way is better, I am living proof; His gift of HER taught me that.

As I embark on the first leg of my speaking tour coming up in April , I wish I could bring her with me... for she has taught me so much and without her I am not sure I would be where I am right now. So today... on this 21st day of March... I celebrate the greatest gift in my life. Having three copies of chromosome #21 is what makes her so unique, and although she will not be able to wear the shirt I made her to school tomorrow because she is down for the count with pollen allergies, My baby girl WILL be celebrated just as all of these special human being should be each and every day. I encourage you to share this post and help me celebrate life.... in an extra chromosome kinda way!

                                              

xoxo

Shells

FEEL FREE TO:

SHARE THIS POST

Follow me on Facebook

www.facebook.com/ShelleyD.Giard

Follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/shelleygiard

To purchase my book click here:

https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62563-858-8

                                                        www.ineedthehappyending.com 

Rough Weeks, Hurt Feelings and Just Being You

There are times that life throws curve balls just to get your attention; to keep you on your toes, in check and in line. When things like this happen you simply have to run with it, and keep going. I was on vacation last week in Colorado visiting my daughter and it was great, I miss the snow already. Although there were some moments that ultimately led me to a crossroad, you gotta take the good with the bad and appreciate it all for what it brought to your life.

The week before I left for vacation, my feelings got hurt when I discovered that a job I would normally have been booked for was given to another makeup artist. I typically don't let things like this get under my skin because I am blessed with tons of work; but this particular company had been loyal to me for years and had become part of my family, so I took it a bit personal. When I heard this news, I had a feeling I knew the reason why and just yesterday that hunch became fact. A person who now has the authority to hire the freelance artists has an issue with me. We had a few sit downs last year to discuss things when I first felt friction and to my knowledge at that time, everything was put on the table, sorted and we came to understand each other as people and assumed it had been worked out. I reduced my rates to meet their budget based on the amount of work I was getting which was supposedly one of the problems, and I bent over backwards making myself available at the drop of a hat in order to maintain my relationship with the company. Despite the fact that this person was making it hard for me to be who I had always been when working with them, I did my best to keep communication open since I understand that authority changes can be uncomfortable. I was told  "just be a makeup artist/hairstylist, because that's what you are." I will never forget that day... those belittling words cut me deeply especially when I had always been appreciated by this company for my diversity and willingness to fill more than one slot when needed. I sucked it up and agreed and the next few jobs that is exactly what I did, so when this job was given to someone else I was floored.

There are people that no matter what you do or how hard you try... a reason will be found to discredit you. They will make things up to justify what they feel and lie if they have to just to get their way. No matter how hard I try, I will never understand the glory people get in this behavior. We all have flaws, nobody is perfect; however we all have traits and strengths to be celebrated. Lifting people up is way more credible than knocking them down. WE ALL have awesome inside of us and I feel sorry for those that gain enjoyment putting someone down for who they are, especially when it involves being someone who goes the extra mile; since when is that a bad thing?

If there is one thing I have learned, it is that every moment and every person that crosses your path has purpose no matter how short,  long or uncomfortable their visit may be. I came home from vacation with some tough decisions to make and am trying my best to sort through it all, which I must admit leaves me a little mentally drained tonight. However I figured pouring it all out in this online "diary" of sorts may help me clear my head for tomorrow and perhaps help one of you readers out there.

Be the person who motivates, inspires, lifts others up with sincerity. Be the one that may be considered weird for being different, the one that stands out so that YOU will be recognized and loved for who you are; never compromise who you are when it means being less than you are meant to be.

I have always had issues with certain types of relationships because of my passion, drive and ambitions to be the best at everything that I do... I have been misunderstood in the past but have learned to define myself with clarity. I will always bump into people who feel threatened by that, but  those who know me know how much more I enjoy celebrating others for what they achieve, and my sincerity can be felt not just implied.

If I find myself finding more problems with someone than reasons to celebrate them, I communicate how I am feeling in order to find a solution to that. I know my ailments... this need for perfection and frankly get on my own nerves at times; it's a twisted part of life for me... but it is who I am and there ARE people who love me for that quality.

We all experience rough weeks, hurt feelings and mixed emotions... however we all seek acceptance and appreciation for who we are. Walk beside those that give you the encouragement, and walk beyond those who do not appreciate you as a person. You only get in life what you put out, so never settle for less than you are worth. There are times when you just have to cut ties and appreciate the good a person brought to your life and realize that there are some who have never been appreciated...

Wishing you an amazing weekend... be real, be true and be YOU.

xoxo

Shells

FEEL FREE TO:

SHARE THIS POST

Follow me on Facebook

www.facebook.com/ShelleyD.Giard

Follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/shelleygiard

To purchase my book click here:

https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62563-858-8

                                                        www.ineedthehappyending.com 

Being your Own Best Friend

Earlier this week, as I occasionally do, I posted an experimental question on my Facebook page to see what I could stir up for an inspiring weekend blog post. This weeks question was "Who is your best friend?"  Several people chimed in naming their spouse or significant other, a few said God, Jesus, or the Universe and one person said they did not have one. So... I began to ponder... what IS a best friend to most people? How do you know when you have one, and what do you have to do to be considered one to someone else? Of course every person who would respond to these questions would have a different answer. I decided to share my answers to these questions because there are people who are not sure what it means to have a best friend and I thought defining that may be significant; I believe that every person needs one.

To me, a best friend is the first person you tell everything to... it is the person that you call, text or email the moment something bad, good or indifferent happens knowing that no matter what it is you are telling them that they will not share it without permission, judge you for the content and who will give you honest advice or input regardless if it's what you want to hear or not; it's honesty, forgiveness and heart. It's having a person you can always count on to be there in good and bad times and that person realizes that being there for the bad times is most important of the two. It's a person who would never do anything to  hurt you and who knows what would hurt. It's a person who has your back, cheers you on and celebrates you and your accomplishments through small gestures that make you feel special. It may not be someone you talk to everyday, it may not even be someone you talk to every month, but when you talk it's meaningful, real, special, emotional and raw. Becoming a best friend is being that same type of person in return. 

As I typed, I asked myself the question... and without hesitation I felt proud to say that my #1 best friend is God, my # 2 is myself, # 3 is my mom, and I have 3 girlfriends that I consider "besties".  In that quick moment I realized how truly blessed I was not having to think very long, nor dig very deep... these people were right on the top of my mind and it made me smile. Up to this point of life, I have never had a spouse that I could call a best friend, but perhaps one day I will;  I can only hope, for there is truly something to admire in people who have this connection. Until then, I will embrace the ones that I have and never let them go. I will continue to be the best friend to those who have given me this title. 

I hope that you have one, if you don't, I hope you find one. We all need that special someone who will never fail us or let us down. As you go into your weekend, consider your own answer to this question... if you are married, ask yourself if your spouse is your best friend... if not, perhaps that is something that you could work on creating. If you don't have a best friend, then maybe you need to work on being one to someone else first.. often that person is yourself.

For many years of my life, I found it hard to make friends... much less find one that I could call my BFF. Although my definition of a best friend was pretty clear at a very young age; I longed for someone that I could tell all of my secrets to without being judged or laughed at, but never found that person. So... for many years I became my own best friend; me and my diary... me and my journals. I poured out my secrets, my emotional roller coaster's, my pain, my anger, my fears. Through this, I learned to love myself, talk nice to myself, to encourage myself through my toughest times, and it became a necessary part of  life for many years. Becoming your own best friend may sound silly... but if you don't love yourself for who you are, what you stand for and what you hope to become, you will never be able to love someone else in this way. 

I encourage you to look in the mirror this weekend and ask yourself if you are your own best friend... do you love that person unconditionally? Does this person judge you? Does this person talk bad about you or do they fill you with hope and loving words? Gaze at that reflection and learn to love what you see... if you can't, then you have just reached that first step into gaining that best friend. LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF, you have been created to be amazing, but if you are letting yourself down then everyone around you will follow suit.

Wishing you an amazing weekend... be real, be true and become your own best friend.

xoxo

Shells

FEEL FREE TO:

SHARE THIS POST

Follow me on Facebook

www.facebook.com/ShelleyD.Giard

Follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/shelleygiard

To purchase my book click here:

https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62563-858-8

                                                        www.ineedthehappyending.com