If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me why I did something, good or bad, I would be a millionaire. Sometimes, it was a conscious, thought-out choice; other times, it's because I had a period of a type of mental paralyzation - caused by feeling overwhelmed. Though it has improved; it still happens, and it can take awhile for me to really catch ahold of it and name it. I looked back on my Advent Calendar, from this previous December. The last date I put an ornament up, was December 15. I realized a couple weeks, ago, that was the date I shut down - to get through the Holiday Season in retail. I knew I had been struggling, throughout the year; but when I noticed that calendar, it was like a flashing red light in my face!!! I have been trying to evaluate this last year, and my downward trend, for awhile. I was functional, went to work, etc; but all the parts of my engine were not engaging. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner - overwhelmed, it is!!! I noticed I had lost my coping for that Holiday Rush - but I thought it was because I had lost my "Holiday Momentum", the last few years, being out with my surgeries, etc. Whatever the reason - I have an official date of shutdown. Apparently, I just gave up the fight. I have been trying to talk it through, with both myself AND my Counselor - not to make excuses; but to get to the root of it. That, is still a work in progress...  Have you had this happen to you? Some people refer to it as "spiraling", etc. Gotta say, honestly, am NOT a fan - but, here we are... We would LOVE to hear any insight you might have. Please contact the ministry via this website; or email us at Ozer Ministries, Inc - ozerministries@att.net ; or my email - Connie J... - beamererin@yahoo.com . Have a good day, and be safe!!! #ENDtheSILENCEofVIOLENCE #isityou #domesticviolenceiseverywhere #youarenotalone #doyouknow

...the "art". Other times, it's more about the "pretty". Throughout my life, I have seen some beautiful artwork - even some famous art pieces. Though I appreciated what was in front of me, many of the less famous pieces touched my heart, more. This theory is applicable to life, also. Sometimes, you barely "make it through your day". Other days, are a joy, from start to finish. I believe it's what touches your heart, throughout the day, that makes ALL the difference. Sometimes, you must be your own "touchstone" to find your "pretty". Isn't about time you find; or even begin to make your own "pretty", in your life? Have you ever thought about it? Why waste any more of your precious time? YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!  We would LOVE to hear any insight you might have. Please contact the ministry via this website; or email us at Ozer Ministries, Inc - ozerministries@att.net ; or my email - Connie J... - beamererin@yahoo.com . Have a good day, and be safe!!! #ENDtheSILENCEofVIOLENCE #isityou #domesticviolenceiseverywhere #youarenotalone #doyouknow

...no longer want to be, is sometimes easier, than deciding who you WANT to be. I got this idea from a meme on Facebook, that said, "I have had MANY people in my life teach me who I do NOT want to be". As Mr Miyagi told Daniel in Karate Kid, during the bonsai lesson - "close eyes, picture what you want your tree to look like. Now open your eyes, and trim away all you don't want your tree to be". It's a starting point - usually, with a lot less "fuzzy stuff" - your own, or other people's expectations, etc. A different path for your future to take. Anticipation of something new and different. A motivational fear of the unknown; and it literally can be what you make it, by breaking old patterns. Have you ever thought about it? Is it time to start it??! Remember, doing it for yourself is a good thing. That's when change "sticks better". We would LOVE to hear any insight you might have. Please contact the ministry via this website; or email us at Ozer Ministries, Inc - ozerministries@att.net ; or my email - Connie J... - beamererin@yahoo.com . Have a good day, and be safe!!! #ENDtheSILENCEofVIOLENCE #isityou #domesticviolenceiseverywhere #youarenotalone #doyouknow

...it is redirection. I have been listening to inspirational videos on my lunch hour - this came up in one of them, and I found it interesting, and applicable, currently. Things come up, in life, that we REALLY want, sometimes, don't they. But, then we get what feels like a firm "NO!!!" Often, later, we see how that path could have gone really bad for us, and we're grateful for that "no". But, at the time, it's frustrating. How has this happened, and affected YOUR life? Ever thought about it; or are you still holding on to those negative feelings that arose from that perceived rejection? It took me a LOOOOOONG time to become aware of those kinds of feelings I was retaining; AND being held hostage by them.  Isn't it time to process those feelings, and move forward from them? The mind-opening freedom that comes, is amazing. It enables you to focus on your future; and move on from your past. We would LOVE to hear any insight you might have. Please contact the ministry via this website; or email us at Ozer Ministries, Inc - ozerministries@att.net ; or my email - Connie J... - beamererin@yahoo.com . Have a good day, and be safe!!! #ENDtheSILENCEofVIOLENCE #isityou #domesticviolenceiseverywhere #youarenotalone #doyouknow

Christmas - beginning with the Advent Season - celebrated via calendars and candles, was always a connection. Then on to Christmas Eve - with the candlelight service, that always ended with Silent Night. That trying to get to sleep, though - it came eventually, but usually way before I was ready. Most of my holidays, per se, always had some type of...friction.  Basically, if the focus wasn't on what my FATHER needed, at that moment; the stress-level automatically got raised for the entire household. Believe me, the good times were amazing; but as I got older, waiting for that "switch" to be flipped, became inevitable. That "switch" wears on you after awhile, doesn't it? #iykyk. Do you have happy childhood Holiday memories, or were yours tainted, somehow? We would LOVE to hear any insight you might have. Please contact the ministry via this website; or email us at Ozer Ministries, Inc - ozerministries@att.net ; or my email - Connie J... - beamererin@yahoo.com . Have a good day, and be safe!!! #ENDtheSILENCEofVIOLENCE #isityou #domesticviolenceiseverywhere #youarenotalone #doyouknow