Congrats to DCCyril – Winner

DCCyril, also known as Diana from the Shea Bath Blog, won last week’s contest! Diana, email me with your address (info at brambleberry dot com) and I’ll get your box of soap, essential oils and soapmaking dvd out to you right away.

In case you didn’t read all of the comments on the Long Road to Self-Improvement post, I’ve copied my favorite below. It was from an anonymous commenter who deserves much credit for such a heart felt post. So, anonymous, whoever you are – thank you for the meaningful essay about 2008. Best of luck with your surgery.

I don’t set long-term goals, as LIFE has a way of changing an individual’s direction on a moments notice!

Instead, I choose to live every moment in the best way I can and with the best attitude I can.

Don’t decide tomorrow that you will begin doing this or that. Start TODAY, this very minute.

Tell the people that you love of their importance, NOW.

This past year saw me have 4 surgeries since July and being in a wheelchair for a couple of months, all the while caring for both my 87 year old stroke-survivor Mom, 80 year old father-in-law (both living locally) and my 87 year old Dad (living 80 miles away).

Any set goals set in January 2007, had I made them, would have flown out the door, with the above events and the surrounding circumstances!!

I am about to have more surgery within a couple of weeks and expect to be back in that wheelchair, again. So be it.

By always realizing that things DO change (and, seemingly, always without a flicker that it is coming), I know I can handle whatever happens.

I always say “I love you” to my husband when he leaves (whether to work each morning or to go skiing on a weekend). A drunk driver or a simple miscalculation can separate people forever. We can smile and know that, no matter what, we always say and show each other that love.

The same goes with our son and our parents. We tell our son how much he means to us. I thank neighbors for being wonderful (and, I tell them this when they haven’t done something special!).

Goals are something to strive for, an ending to a plan. But, they aren’t really the end! Opening another store, or reaching a desired weight or having a child mark the beginning of other stages in your life, not an end to the previous chapter.

Make plans for those desired stages and continue to adjust to the changes they bring. A curving river is more interesting than a straight canal!!

Happy 2008!