I Am Alive

Today I am thankful for lazy Saturdays 🙂  I did absolutely nothing today except watch tv and lounge with my cats.  I managed to go to the grocery store this evening and make myself some dinner but that is about it.  I do not do this very often…I think the cool rainy  weather is partially to blame and I do not have a problem with that!  Clocks move back one hour tonight…one extra hour of sleep tonight to complete my “laziness”  woot woot 🙂

This month I am going to attempt to make an entry every day to express what I am thankful for…there are so many things I do not even know where to start!

I will be honest…have not had the best week.  I was not able to face something I thought I was ready to face and I let it get the best of me on Monday.  My spirit went downhill from there.  Time does heal all wounds though.  But sometimes you just cannot look back at all.  From here on out I am living with purpose and I will do my best to only look forward.

I say my week wasn’t the best only because I let my emotions control me.  I did accomplish a lot regardless…and I was able to have some fun.  I had dinner with my friend Shan on Monday…at an amazing little diner I will be frequenting a lot more often now!  I met with another friend Wednesday…a “little ray of sunshine” as I like to call her…and saw her new house and we had some sweet tea and shared some laughs.  Thursday I completed a travel article I have been working on and submitted my application for a writing contest.  I felt a great sense of accomplishment regardless if I get published or not.  And today I met Anna at the gym in the afternoon and I met Shan for a movie this evening.  I had a busy week and although I didn’t feel at my best on the inside…I pushed through.  I am doing.  I will be ok.  I am alive.

Tonight I received a sweet email from someone I miss a lot and am saddened that I won’t be part of her family anymore due to my marriage ending.  She reminded me that this is a month to give thanks and that is what has inspired me to write about what I am thankful for every day this month.  Today I am thankful for family.  Even those who I am not related to by blood or not even by marriage anymore.  The people who have stuck by me and have not chosen sides.  The people who love regardless of choices made by others by which they have no control over.  They haven’t abandoned.  They just love.  They are the sweetest people I have ever met and they know what love is and I am thankful to have been a part of their family for the last year and a half.  Even when things seem bad…there is always something good if you look hard enough.  Today I am thankful and honored to have been a part of their family if for only a short chapter in the book of my life.  They will always have a special place in my heart. (Love you MJ and K)

My name is Stacey Sloughfy.  I am 41 years young.  I enjoy nature, sunshine, travel, animals, music, writing, running, eating, concerts, the ocean and lots of other stuff 🙂  I was blessed to have been raised by 2 amazing parents who managed to stay married until my mom passed away in 2003.  She is still with me though.  I love my dad dearly. I hope to inspire others in a positive way.  I am alive and for that I am thankful. My blog is www.iamalive41.com or follow me on Twitter @iamalive41

Life is too short to wait has been the theme to my weekend.  Friday I met with a co-worker for lunch.  We are discussing the possibility of starting a business of our own.  We are capable women!  We are just in the talking stages and I have no idea if this is what I really want yet but it is definitely an option.  Why not?!

Saturday I attended the memorial service of a man who I grew up with on Downey Drive.  I lived next door to him and his parents for 30 years???  Although they had moved away years ago, there is still a feeling of “family” when I remember them.  I still communicate with his mother on Facebook (isn’t this crazy how we all communicate nowadays?) and I was looking forward to seeing her although I wish it had been under easier circumstances.  The service was beautiful.  It was more of a celebration of LIFE than of death and I think that is how we should remember those who have left us.  They are still with us in our memories.  Life is incredibly short!!!  I never realized this until my mom passed away in 2003.  It feels like the clock is ticking away and I have this over whelming feeling that I must grab every chance that comes along and live life to the fullest EVERY DAY.  The people we meet in our life are put there for a reason.  Don’t take them for granted and treasure every moment because we do not know when they might be taken away from us.  Tell those people you love them every chance you get.  Marty’s service was beautiful.  They played a video montage of old pictures of him with family and friends enjoying life.  The service ended with a song that Marty requested to be played at the very end and it was very fitting for the occasion.  I have never been to a funeral service and heard an Ozzy Osbourne song but it was PERFECT and it was what he wanted…”See you on the other side”, Marty 🙂

After the service I went to visit my dad at the nursing home for the rest of the afternoon and had dinner with him.  I normally go visit him on Sunday but I was already in Ky so I decided to go ahead and go.  Plus I knew he would be very happy to see me no matter what day of the week it is.  My dad is my inspiration.  He cannot walk anymore and he has been in the nursing home confined to a wheel chair for 5.5 years.  His struggle with his health began at least 5 years prior to that.  His health has gradually declined since he was diagnosed with NPH (in 2003?) but his spirit has not.  I visit him often because I know that time is precious and I need to enjoy every moment possible that I can with him.  He keeps his chin up and remains as positive as he can with his given situation.  It inspires me and it makes me thankful for my health and for being able to get up everyday and walk around and do whatever I want to do.

Next, I stopped by my friend Anna’s house.  We watched a movie called “Bridesmaids”  which is a quirky comedy and we both said it described our lives to this point as far as relationships with men, friends and family to a degree.  Failed jobs, failed relationships, fake relationships, jealousy among girl friends, empty bank account etc. etc. etc…..the list goes on and on.  But in the end the main character came out ahead and HAPPY.  And I think that is where I am headed.  You have to go through the struggle to win the reward.  It is crazy at times and it takes a lot of FAITH but in the end we do make it through.  I am getting there and I am enjoying the journey.

This morning I went to church.  I have been visiting this particular church for about 3 months now and it is one of the best things I have ever done.  I have never been one to go to church on a regular basis but I cannot wait to go every week to listen to Pastor Bret speak and listen to the uplifting music.  It starts my week off great and I am thankful a friend of mine recommended for me to check it out.  This church has recently been recognized as being the 6th fastest growing church in the U.S.  That is AMAZING.  To me it means something very special is happening there and I am glad to be a part of it.  There will soon be 3 locations and they are going to start having 3 services beginning next month to accommodate the growing congregation.  Today’s message goes along with my theme for the weekend…”Do not wait until you are told you are dying to start living.”  I am definitely going to take this advice 🙂  After church I went to the gym and ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill…came home and had good healthy lunch that I prepared for myself…and then took a long nap 🙂  I do believe in naps!  I am now getting ready to go meet a friend I haven’t seen for a VERY long time to catch a movie.

This is not a “very sad handwritten book” (Anna) 😉 …this is my life and it is a very blessed one.   If you are reading this I truly appreciate you taking the time…don’t wait…and have a great week! Life is short but life is good…

One of my dearest friends sent me this quote today:

“The sad truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need.  When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave.  The good news is, if you tough it out, you’ll eventually weed these people out of your life and be left with some great people who you can count on.  We rarely lose friends and lovers, we just gradually figure out who our real ones are.”

The older I become and the more experiences I go through in this life…the more apparent this has truly become to me. Not just with men in my life but also with friends. I have had some REALLY GOOD friends throughout my life.  But usually they come and go after a short time or “season.”  I believe we do meet everyone for a reason…to teach us some kind of lesson.  Or for us to possibly teach them something.  I have been lucky enough to have 3 amazing “best friends” throughout my life and I can proudly say they are still there for me today, as I am there for them.  One I have known since I was less than one year old.  The second I met in grade school years.  And the third I met in college.  I think God put each of them in my life at those particular stages for a reason and I honestly do not know what I would do without these women in my life today.  There have been periods of time I have gone without talking to each of them (sometimes years) but that doesn’t change ANYTHING.  We love each other and help each other and are just there no matter what…even if we do not always agree.

Another thing that I am realizing is that I do not necessarily need a man in my life to be happy.  I have been in 5 long term relationships in my adult life (2 of those marriages) and yet I am still single.  But I am happy with ME now.  And although I do hope to have a long lasting relationship someday…I am ok alone.  And I have grown and learned from each of my relationships…with men and with girlfriends. “Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.”  Life is a learning experience.  When I was 20 I thought I knew it all…wow was I wrong.  It has been an exciting journey for sure…good, bad, happy, sad…all moments that have shaped me into the woman I am today. And I appreciate everyone who has been along on this ride with me.  It truly is ok if someone leaves…it just helps us figure out who is real.

Today I am thankful for true relationships…and for those who have been on this ride with me enjoying the journey…