I love Hobby Lobby. When in search of that one special thing just right for a staging job, I go to Hobby Lobby. When I need something to complete a crafting project, I go to Hobby Lobby. When I need a boost of creative energy, I go to Hobby Lobby. When I need inspiration, I go to Hobby Lobby. When I'm just feeling down, I go to Hobby Lobby. A trip to Hobby Lobby is good for just about anything that ails me. ![]() Let me begin by saying that this is not a promotion for Hobby Lobby. But if it turns out that way and one person is inspired to go to Hobby Lobby, then I'm all the better for it. It's a great place to be! Next to home and some pretty obvious places like churches and synagogues, and other places of spiritual significance, I do believe Hobby Lobby might be the closest thing to Heaven we will ever know on this earth! Just trying to keep it real. I must admit, I've been quite annoyed by all the wishes for a Happy New Year and New Year's resolutions that you see in abundance beginning January 1st. By mid-January it's begun to drop off a bit and I suppose that most folks have gotten on with their lives, letting their hopeful resolutions fall by the wayside, if they even made one. I, for one, haven't made any, other than to maybe work on making each day productive and, believe me, it's been a challenge! The beginning of this year for me has dragged along with a good dose of disappointment and a huge lack of creative juice. I have been challenged with everything from failed attempts at various endeavors to the winter blues -- mostly the winter blues. Things are dragging along at the job site, and it looks as if it'll be at least another month before I can get in there and do what I do. The temperature has hovered in the 20's and 30's for most of the Atlanta area for awhile now and I thought surely we would have a January Indian Summer like we've been known to have in the past, but no such thing. Well, at least hopefully all the mosquitoes have been killed off. There is a silver lining to every dark cloud, right? We all know Social Media can be deceiving because people tend to post when they're feeling pretty good about themselves or accepting new challenges they're excited about or they're traveling to some exotic place or something great is going on in their lives ...or they just want folks to think something great is going on in their lives. And even though I'm no advocate of posting doom and gloom, sometimes it helps to know you're not the only one struggling and a less-than-perfect post might be just what someone needs to hear. But if you'll check my Instagram feed and my Facebook page, you'll see that I've been virtually absent from participation the first couple of weeks of this, the new year. I've just kept my woes to myself and tried not to balk at those whose amazing starts to their year have truly irritated me at times (just sayin'). So as in the aforementioned opening verse, when I'm having a bad day, I just change from my worn-for-the-third-day p.j.'s into my clothes, jump into my little car, and I go to Hobby Lobby! I cannot tell you the times I've gone there and been inspired with the encouraging music and all the beautiful things lining literally every aisle in the store. You want a touch of spring even though it's 25 degrees outside? Go to the floral department. If you can't feel spring in the middle of a bounty of colorful flowers (even if they are silk), you might not have any hope. If you want to feel creative, take a trip down the crafting aisles, and be inspired to create something -- anything -- even if it's just paper Valentines. If you are really needing a wintertime boost, redecorate the entire house. You can do it at Hobby Lobby! There have been countless times I've walked through Hobby Lobby and decorated every room in my home -- well, in my head, but still... I am so grateful to have a place I can go that inspires my inner self to push towards something creative and worthy of pursuit. During these low-key days of winter (bah!) I hope that you will take care of yourself and do something that will bring you inner satisfaction. That is different for every person, but you know what inspires you and gives you that kick in the creative booty all the way into spring and beyond. Sometimes we as women (and men too) feel that self-care is nothing more than selfishness, but that cannot be further from the truth. Since I've struggled the first few weeks of this year, I would venture to believe that some of you have as well. So you know what I do when I am taking a long hard ride on the struggle bus? I take care of me! I go to my favorite places to feed myself, whether it's in a quiet spot to read and reflect, a long walk in the great outdoors (albeit with layers of clothing), a movie date with me and my M&M's & popcorn, a total binge party of one of my favorite shows on Hulu, or my favorite restaurant to literally feed myself! Hobby Lobby might not be your thing, but I know there's a place that fills your heart and mind with inspiration and only you know what that is. Oh, and babies. Babies can definitely cheer you up. I am so blessed to have my two youngest nearby and I see them at least two or three times a week to get my baby fix. I just sit there, watching and learning about baby growth, wondering what makes these little angels tick and then, when I least expect it, I am literally tackled with hugs and kisses and wallowing and it has a magical way of making everything just right. Better to wallow in babies than wallow in despair, right? If you don't have any little ones in your life right now, borrow one! I'm sure you know of a mom out there who is frazzled and would be glad to loan out her little one for awhile! And if you do enjoy pretty things, creative pursuits, crafting, or just dreaming of these things, visit your local Hobby Lobby today. It's a magical place.
A five-year-old tying her shoe can be a day-maker! Here's a couple of quotes that have really helped me in my season of struggle... "Every day of my life is valuable."
- author unknown "You can't take care of others if your own cup is empty." - author unknown
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