Gratitude

source

I chose to give you a few quotes on gratitude. I know I've talked about what I am grateful for before, so I figured I would share some quotes that I find comfort in.

source

source

This final quote is so very true. Without the struggles I have faced, I would not be the person I am today. Though sometimes my struggles pulled me so far down I thought I'd never rise up, my struggles have given me the strength to know that I can get through this.....one month, one week, one day, one hour, one breath at a time.

Don't forget to check out the other links!

The Digit-al Dozen Does Thankfulness: Family

Day three of The Digit-al Dozen Does Thankfulness and today I am thankful for my family. Don't know if you can tell that this is suppose to be a tree. This is my family tree. My family is a close family, we all get along and like to be around each other, weird right? Without my family I know I wouldn't be the person I am today. They have taught me about like and helped me to know right from wrong and have the morals that I have. They are my roots in life. I know that I can always count on my family no matter what. 

I have represented all of my family in the tree. The two hearts (yes, that is what they are suppose to be) are my mother and father. My mother passed away in 2006, I miss her dearly but I know she is in a better place and is no longer in pain.

My index finger upper branch is my brother (three years older than me), his wife and their three kids. See how each are represented by a leaf.

The lower branch on my index finger is my other brother (five years older) and his wife.

My middle finger is my sister (seven years older) and her husband and five kids.

And lastly on my pinkie or baby finger and I am the baby in the family is my leaf.

Though my family isn't broken, but we aren't perfect but we are good, still good.

I used OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls as the base. The tree is OPI It's All San Andreas's Fault with the leaves Color Club Tribe and True and A England Dragon. The hearts are BarryM Blood Orange.

Don't forget to check out the others and their thankful manis!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Thankfulness: Freedom

Day 2 and I am thankful for my freedom. It seems fitting to post about this on November 11, Veterans Day in the US (Remembrance Day in Canada and England and Armistice Day in France and New Zealand) (among other countries as well). It is a day we remember those who have fought for our freedom. It is also the day in which the"major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect" (source).

I am thankful for the freedoms I have; the freedom of religion, speech, agency and the power to choose. I am thankful for all the men and women who have fought to protect this freedom all over the world. I'm thankful for those who have given the greatest sacrifice for their country. It is by these noble men and women that we are free. 

I am thankful for the founding fathers of America and all that they stood for in order that we may have certain unalienable Rights.

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

---

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. (source).

 

I used Milani White on the Spot as my base. I stamped on my first two fingers using BarryM Blackberry and Winstonia W107. The quill and ink well (yes, that's what it is, it's not a boat!) is stamped using Konad Black and Vivid Lacquer VL018. I stamped using BarryM Blood Orange and Winstonia W107 for the other two nails. I used OPI My Pointe Exactly to age and and blur the images a bit. I then used Zoya Matte Velvet Top Coat to smooth it all out. It's not perfect, but either is our country. But I am glad and thankful to be a part of it.

 Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their day 2 manis!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Digit-al Dozen Does Thankfulness: My Health

It's another month and another Digit-al Dozen theme with this month about being thankful. This theme turned out to be tricky. Some things that you are thankful are hard to incorporate into nail art, so you try to be specific, but then it gets to be little things. Well this week I did some grand non-tangible things and a few fun things that I am thankful for.

Today though, I am thankful for my health. All of it. As much I suffer with depression and anxiety I am still thankful for it. Because without going through what I have gone through I wouldn't be the person I am today (and no, I'm not talking about the panic-ridden person in bed, though that too! Hahaha!). I know that my depression has made me an old soul. I've always been mature for my age but dealing with depression since junior high has caused me to grow up a bit faster in a way. Almost 20 years dealing with a disease that is now only really getting any time in the spotlight and being allowed to not carry so much stigma.

There will always be people who say: "you can change things if you wanted to" (really!? really?), "if you just went to church more and prayed more" (right, because this is a punishment?), and "snap out of it" (if only!). But I would honestly happily keep depression and anxiety over what some others have. We always think we have it the worst, but if everyone's problems where put in a pile and we got to see all of them, pretty sure we'd want our own back. It has made me who I am. I know myself more deeply than some others know their selves. Do I ever wish I didn't have it? Sure, but if this is my struggle, then I'm perfectly fine with it.

I have met (also read that as "met") some amazing people who share my plight. Some I can visit with daily in person, buoying one another up. Others through Facebook groups and blogs where we reach across continents and oceans and soothe each other by listening and understanding. 

So yes, I am thankful for my health because it has made me a stronger person. I've been so far down and have come back that I know things can only get better. I thankful also for those who have offered me their hand as I have walked through the darkness, offering aid and support. With you there by my side (both physically and through words) I would not be here today. Thank you.

To show my thankfulness I chose to do the awareness ribbon. I used Barielle Autumn in Seoul as my base. I stamped using A England Dragon (I slay my own personal dragons each day!) and Bundle Monster BM321. I added Essie Matte About You to get it that hazy look of the fog that we wander through daily.

Here it is before the matte top coat. So shinny and happy. Which, under that fog of depression and anxiety there is happiness, even if for a moment.

        

                                     source                                                                  source

 source

Don't forget to check out the other ladies and their thankful manis!

An InLinkz Link-up