Focus on the Positive...but Develop from the Negatives

Although common for me, I hadn't planned on writing any insightful notes of Thanksgivings this year; I truly intended to keep it simple — since I just have so much going on right now — but, perhaps, that is exactly why the writer in me took over, as when you are very busy, borderline overwhelmed, that is e xactly  when you need to write notes like this! So before we left for our turkey destination Thursday, I ended up jotting down some thoughts of thankfulness for 2022, which I added to and edited during rest periods over the next few days. It goes something like this... On this day of Thanksgiving, I am thankful to have family to spend the holidays with, thankful to my brother and sister-in-law for inviting us over for Thanksgiving dinner. I am thankful my immediate family was all together on Thanksgiving for the first time in years, along with some extended family, and although missed, I am thankful a usual relative not with us was writing his own tradition for the books. The who...

This post is about "Mystery at Mile Marker 45," the first episode in season 3 of Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries, which tells the story of Tiffany Valiante, a recent high school graduate with a promising future, who was suspiciously struck by a train after disappearing from outside her New Jersey home in July 2015. It is assumed one has already viewed the episode before reading my thoughts and opinions on this case. SPOILERS will be given!   Fact or Fiction?  I have seen several people discussing supposed facts that were left out of the episode, alleging Tiffany had stolen from her parent's bank account in the past, that CPS visited regarding abuse by her mother in the months prior to her death, and supposedly an axe recovered as evidence near the scene was lost by investigators before testing. Although I did find her autopsy report with the little bit of searching I did, I only saw this rumored information on gossip websites or other people talking on threads how they ...

  You Deserve More! Image originally posted on DarkroomBeforeDawn Instagram. Whether it's a romantic relationship, roommate, friendship, teammate, employer, or business partnership, you know how you want to be treated. You know how you've always been treated in similar relationships in the past and how you expect to be treated in such a relationship now. The red flag should be raised whenever you catch yourself all too frequently questioning, "Is what I am risking, losing, or having to compromise by being in this relationship/partnership really worth the good aspects it may also bring me?"  It's easy to justify one negative or unhealthy aspect of your relationship or position with a fun or convenient one.   For instance, your boyfriend often goes off on you for no reason, but he also buys you lavish gifts almost just as much. No boyfriend has ever done that for you before, so you tell yourself he isn't really emotionally abusing you since he gifts you — or ev...

Why Won't You Be Happy For me? I was in a really good mood one day last week after I came across a note from over 4 years ago that mentioned something I recently did, which I didn't even remember I wanted to do for so long! This led me to reflect on recent accomplishments and my increased happiness of late.  However, shortly after, I ran into someone who made a very nasty and inappropriate comment to me. It seems to be a trend with this contact, so I theorized that he did this because he could sense my great happiness, almost like this person does not want me to be happy.   Why do certain people act like this?  I think one reason lies with people who want to control others; they expect everyone to live their lives according to their personal rules. These people want you to be happy only in the way they believe that you should be happy. In my case, I think this person will never be happy for me when I am in good spirits because my happiness does not evolve out of things h...