I was waiting for my son to finish school and I had an interesting conversation with someone whom I've never really met until today. His daughter passed away and he expressed his feelings of hope and of comfort. I admired him for his courage to speak openly about it, after all - it is when you can openly talk about your feelings that you know, you are reaching the light at the end of the tunnel. But what he said next shows the importance of having a belief, he said:

"Lucky, I went to church back then and believe in God" 

This is what enabled him to mourn but to accept his loss and to keep moving forward and start the healing process. Not moving forward to forget but embrace the life his daughter would've wanted him to live. Having something that gives him hope to believe in, made it much easier to grieve. Even though he may shed a tear, here and there, he was able to feel comforted by having a belief. He then said that he had to be strong for the ones who are living, his other children and family.

I've been around people who don't believe in anything and when disaster strikes, they take it the hardest. I've also been around those who believe in something and when trouble hits, they just dust it off their shoulders.

Not trying to convert anyone but when you are hopeful, you will always find yourself out of the darkness. When you believe in something strongly, you will find that 'that belief', is what will help you push through your trials. Just know that you are loved by someone of a higher power, it may look easy to blame God for everything bad that happens your way, that you forget all that has been given to you that you have been blessed with.

It isn't a bad thing to believe in something many may make fun of, it isn't a bad thing to be hopeful, it isn't a bad thing either to have "Faith". But what those things can do to help you, is to heal, no matter how deep the wound may be.

Love,

Corina Jane (CJM)

Eyeliner-less Still Fabulous.

Eye liner makes a huge difference (I'm pictured without it) This would be one of them days where I just skipped the whole routine and just walked out as is. Except for the brows. I had to do the brows though (the only make up I applied) But greetings!

Because I started off talking about EYELINER and how much it does make a difference to your eyes when it's applied, I'm going to base this post upon it. When eyeliner is applied to your eyes, it accentuates your eyes and defines them, just like your eye brows do for your face. Without it, you will look like plain Jane (no offence to anyone named Jane - don't worry my middle name is Jane) In other words, it'll make your eyes POP! Not literally pop out of your head or explode but it will make your eyes stand out more.

How does this make up product have anything to do with this post? Easy.  Be like an eye liner and stand out and define YOU. When you use this product, you carefully apply and though it may take time to get it even with the other eye, or even make many mistakes in the process of applying - in the end, with practice makes perfect. Just like ourselves.

We are a BLANK CANVAS. We shouldn't be afraid to do what it takes to make a mark in this life. We have to be BOLD. We will make mistakes but no one ever has gotten successful without failing no matter how long it took.

Like we use Eyeliner to make a mark and a statement with our eyes. Use your gifts, talents and personality to make a mark in your life and bless the lives of others.


Love,

Corina Jane (CJM)



Please note: In no way, shape or form, am I enforcing the use of make up to anyone who doesn't wish to wear it. That is up to you. Be confident in yourself, in whatever you choose to do. Please also note that this post is to encourage everyone to be bold while using the example of an eye liner. 

Breaking up with B.C

Yesterday evening, I went along with my husband to his Youth night because he's one of the leaders. It was GAMES NIGHT for his class. One of the games played was one called "HEARING THINGS".  How is this played? One player puts on the earphones which only plays distracting noises and cancels out any noise from the outside. The other player, has a deck of cards which he reads from. The player with the head phones has to guess what the other is saying while the distracting noise plays from the earphones. The one reading the card CANNOT use actions, so if you have a talent of 'lip reading' - THIS IS THE GAME FOR YOU. The team in play has until the timer on the earphone goes off to guess correctly as many cards as they can before they turn it over to the next team to have a turn.

As this game was being played, it reminded me of how "COMMUNICATION" plays a big part in our lives. If we can't communicate with each other, we can't progress individually, professionally or even as a race - the human race. If we are to put earphones on and try to guess what someone is saying over the distracting noises, chances are you are going to FAIL. But if we were to put the earphones down, we will be able to communicate well with the other person and will be able to understand them a bit better.

No one is a mind reader (I mean, unless you have telepathic skills) We sometimes tend to assume alot of what others may need or want without actually approaching them and verbally asking them. We also tend to hold a lot inside and somehow expect the other person to know how we are feeling. This is an example of not having a good communication line. You cannot know what someone else may want or need unless you communicate with them. Someone cannot know how you feel unless you communicate with them. It is what connects us and allows us to know in what ways we can help or what to do.

Make everything as clear as you can. If you don't like how you're being treated, speak up. If you're getting the hint that someone is interested in you but you aren't interested in him/her, tell them straight (not in a rude, offensive way though) If you would like help, let your guard down and ask someone. If your spouse is not satisfying you in the bedroom, let them know of what you enjoy or what could spice it up (don't hold back - they are meant to know - just be careful with what you say and don't be selfish, always return the favour) If there is something you want to say, say it.

We often lose our friendships, relationships, families and even ourselves when we don't communicate well with each other.

Don't assume. Make everything as clear as you can. Take the time to listen. Reach out when you need it. Speak up and choose your words wisely.


With love,

Corina Jane (CJM)


P.S "Breaking up with B.C" = Bad Communication

V-DAY LOVE

For Valentines Day this year, I spent the day hiking with my husband and made it to the top of the big gigantic rock which over looks everything. He took this shot of me but now that I look at it, it looks like I'm preparing for a dive, hence "Be prepared to catch yourself"

I felt inspired by this shot, only because it is a great reminder on how you have to remember to have yourself on 'check'. You have to be mentally, emotionally and physically ready and in the right state of mind to handle what life may throw at you.

You can do this by taking some time out for yourself. Reflecting on where you are in life and where you want to be and how you are going to get there. Look into things in your life you may want to consider. Be honest with yourself. B R E A T H E.

If you are in a relationship/marriage, it is understandable that you may rely on your significant other most of the time but also have a little time out for yourself to be self-reliant. It doesn't mean that you don't need the other person, it just shows that you also have that ability to be able to catch yourself too.

We can't control the challenges we may face individually but we can control how we react to it.

- Always be prepared to catch yourself.


Love,

Corina Jane (CJM)

YOUR WORDS ARE SHARPER THAN A KNIFE

"In my home, only loving words are spoken" - Corina Jane 


This would be the first time I have written something based on depression and where it can start from. I have lived with someone with depression and anxiety for a couple of years. Before they were professionally diagnosed, I had already told this person that they had a mental illness as the signs were visible and I was that concerned, that I encouraged them to seek profession help and what I had suspected, was confirmed.

As I lived with this person, I noticed that they were full of self doubt and no matter how happy they seem, it wouldn't be long until that happy feeling faded. I knew that this DIDN'T JUST happen and that for such a behaviour to progress to a habit, I knew there was some sort of trauma that led to this. There was NO LOVE. In this case, the most important love from a parent whom as a child you should've had, wasn't received. As much as I had seen this person try to reconnect with their parent, it never pulled through. With the feeling of neglect, it contributes as to why a person can spiral down and feel alone which leads to the feeling of 'unwanted' 'unworthy' 'disappointment' 'abandonment' and so on which leads to depression. I did try offer many words of comfort, praise, strength and such but for this person to go through this type of situation, for so long, the emotion this person was feeling could not be helped by anyone's words, all they know is how they feel because they've seen and heard it from the people that were supposed to love them. I am not going to say what this person's parent said but let's just say that it was enough to make someone take their own life which they've already attempted to do just before I walked into their life.

I confronted the parent for their negligence in the way they had left their child. I stood up for what I believed was right and that was for the parent TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

We as people have to be very careful with how we talk and treat each other. Depression doesn't just happen. If someone ONLY hears of their FAILURES and never hears any PRAISES from the people that are meant to LOVE THEM, it will lead them down this road. If someone focuses too much on what someone DIDN'T DO rather than think of the good they HAVE DONE, it will lead them down this path too. If someone doesn't FEEL LOVED enough, it can contribute to heading this way also.


Think before you speak. Your words are sharper than a knife.

- Corina Jane (CJM)

SAY MY NAME, SAY MY NAME

This would be the FIRST POST for 2019! So a big HELLO! From my home to yours. What a year 2018 has been. I accomplished 3 goals out of 4 that I have set last year. I am in the process of making changes this year and I'm getting my son ready for his first day of PRESCHOOL! So apologies if you have been keeping up with my posts and waited so long for the next. I've had to put certain things in my life in order before I could proceed.

I am however, deeply grateful to have seen the readers who have been clicking on my blog and have been reading my content. I am blessed to have seen where you all come from, from one part of the world to the other. There will be alot more content to come. Alot of inspirational stories, some tips, advice and other fun things we can talk about.

This new year, the NUMBER ONE RULE remains the same. Please refrain from writing anything negative anywhere on my blog as I do encourage positive living throughout all my Social Media. There is too much evil in this world, I'd like to focus on bringing more of the sunshine out and spread more love and positivity.

Until then, another THANK YOU for reading. Hence why I have written: "Traveling without moving" because my presence is with you through my words and posts no matter where in the world you may be.

Lots of love,


Corina Jane (CJM)

Staying Inspired.

I know it's been quite a while since the last post. Alot has actually happened and when life happens, well you've got to take a break from Social Media to handle what you got to handle you know?

So a recap,

I went overseas in October and returned to a Halloween Trunk or Treat which I had put together my first DIY project (Refer to recent post) And now I'm at the end of December. So what happened in between?

1. Everyone was still reacting to my wedding on a comment I left on a post.

https://www.facebook.com/iwakeupwithtoday/photos/a.156573174377356/1415391775162150/?type=3&theater

2. I reconnected with a good friend of mine, Rosa. We walk for 2 hours in the morning.

3. Took a Pineapple Selfie in a store. 

4. Went to take my niece on her FIRST temple trip (2nd from the left) 

5. Uplifted a lady, who bought me a cup of coffee as a gift of gratitude (I will elaborate more on this on a seperate post)  

6. Taught these beautiful children about why we have Scriptures. 

7. Spoke at a conference at such short notice. 

8. Board Meeting/Dinner Date

9. Visited the Elderly. Made 2 new friends. Betty and Elsie.

10. Stayed up late/early morning Christmas Eve to bake traditional cookies and Pineapple Custard Pie to deliver to 5 families this Christmas and cook for our annual family Christmas Eve Dinner.

11.  Take care of my husband, who's unwell. 

You're all caught up! There may have been more but I picked out the highlight of the 2 months.
This blog is called STAYING INSPIRED. Throughout the times I've been away from blogging, I actually stayed inspired. I documented it and will soon share those inspirations with you all shortly.
Until the next post, have a good end of year! I will check in, in the NEW YEAR! Thanks for reading.

Lots of love,

- Corina Jane (CJM)