Giving Up

Dear Littler B,


It is finally Friday here in a random February week in 2016.  My third cup of coffee is brewing and annoyingly on the tv "Oscar Mania" has taken over regularly scheduled programming. You are somewhere in 1989, I imagine in the band room reading your newest installment in the letters that have made it through the funnel of time and into your hands.

It struck me the other day that these letters would have been so much easier if you take notes along the road of you becoming me so that I know what fears, questions and memories would be the important things to tell you about.  At the time you are in though I know you won't realize the cyclical nature of time.


Your dreams are so big yet lack any definition. You want to do such big things and change the world but don't have any idea how you are going to do them.  This is going to frustrate you along the path you walk in the journey of leaving who you are behind and becoming me.




"I have not failed. I've just found 10000 ways that won't work." - Thomas A. Edison



I'm here to give you one big pointer today about that frustration. DON'T let it stop you from achieving the things you want to realize in your world. Some people along your way will believe in you. Some people will laugh. Some people will walk away.  Don't let outside noise distract you dear younger me, don't allow the doubt others have to cause doubt to come into your heart and mind.


If Mr. Edison had listened to the nay-sayers around him do you think we would be sitting in the light today?

As I sit here today I am trying to reach for a dream that I've carried with me long before I was you. Supporters have come into my life from areas I never expected.  If I never tried to actively go for my goal, I never would have realized how many people actually believed in me.  Until you try, you will never know how wonderful and surprising that feels. Doubters will come but it is easier to shake them off (as a pop artists popular right know is known to say) knowing you have those who will help hold you up when you need them until the time when you can hold yourself up.

Don't be afraid to try, don't be lazy and don't surround yourself with what-ifs.  It's you that has the dream so it is you that has to go out there and make it happen. Giving up is not an option.



Shoot for the moon baby girl, you just might land in the stars.

Sincerely hoping you never let them hold you down,

Soundtrack to my day

 
A Great Big World - Say Something
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
Wiz Khalifa / Charlie Puth - See You Again
Maroon 5 - Sugar
Passenger - Let Her Go
Imagine Dragons - Radioactive
Megan Trainor - All About That Base
Pink - Just Give Me A Reason
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Pitbull - Timber
Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop
John Legend - All Of Me
Imagine Dragons - Deamons
Rhianna - Stay
Mark Ronson / Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

Celebrate The Smalls

Dear Littler B,

First and foremost I need to apologize for yesterday's letter. Fear and panic ruled the day yesterday. I can tell you that even though you have "grown up" (notice that is in quotes), you have not necessarily shed all of your issues. Just traded one set of worries for another. That's part of life. If you didn't worry about something/someone it means you really don't care as much as you think.

You are human. You need to try to remember that. The beautiful perfect imperfection that is humanity. You are going to have days that you doubt, you are going to have (more than your share) of days that you panic, and you are going to have days where you just don't know what to do.

What you need to know is that you are going to have to keep on going and keep on trying.  Things always find a way of working out the way they are supposed to in the end. The results may not take on the shape of the win you expect, however they take on the shape of the win that is supposed to be.  Life is a great big balance. Everything finds a way to even out in the end.

Today, for example it's time to move forward. One of the things that ensures you don't stay stagnant in life is the fact that you adopt early on an attitude of measuring and pushing yourself. You set goals. I can not begin to tell you how well this will serve you over the course of my last 25 years.  Not just the big things like most people do, but the little things.



The most important aspect of these goals is that you let yourself celebrate achieving each one. I'm not saying go spend a lot of money and go crazy because you hit a daily quota but RECOGNIZE!  So many people don't know how important it is to your self-worth to allow yourself to do that simple yet important thing! No matter how small or how large, you set an achievement - give yourself a metaphorical pat on the back!

While these letters have been intended for you, I set myself a goal. I determined that if these letters had fallen into the hands of 2500 other people I would celebrate it by transferring these letters over to a dedicated web site instead of a generic website designed to house letters like this for many people. It is an exciting day for me. I am not quite sure what it is going to look like yet, how it is going to
operate or if it is a wise move but I can't wait to see where the next leg of this journey takes us.

How am I going to celebrate? I'm going to award myself with a few hours away from the computer to walk the trails at the V.A. and enjoy the non-digital sun, the non-mp3 sounds of the birds (don't worry you'll know what that is in a few years) and the non-photoshopped absolutely beautiful people of the town.  In essence, I'm giving myself a day off.

Celebrate, dear littler me. Celebrate the big achievements and the small. You will live a much happier life if you do.

Putting on my shoes and taking off,

Today's Celebration Music Provided By

Kool & The Gang - Celebrate
Toby Keith - Red Solo Cup
Smash Mouth - All Star
Bachman Turner Overdrive - Takin Care of Business
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
Katy Perry - Firework
Black Eyed Peas - I Got a Feeling
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Madonna - Holiday

Being Humble

Dear Littler B,

Today I am surrounded by a bit of a scenery change.  I am writing to you on (believe it or not) my phone while I sit in a career center in town preparing to attend an unemployment orientation.  This is one of the sad byproducts of the fall of the economy which you will experience starting around 2000 but won't rear it's ugly fang toothed face full force until 2008.

Unfortunately the job market will chew you up and spit you out a couple of times, but don't despair.  It will encourage you to go many places, meet many wonderful people and allow you to reinvent yourself several times over. This time it has been a little difficult as I really loved the job that I was in and they blind-sided me with "revenue no longer supports your position".

It just seems to be a no win sometimes climbing to get out of the struggle since a big incident happened a little over a year ago.  I will share that information with you only because maybe you might be able to emotionally prepare yourself and handle it a little bit better than I did. Obviously, the "help" didn't come in the way it was hoped as you know I am still sitting here typing from Nashville, but you are resilient and find a way to endure.


The Keyboard Commentarian: Words of the Day: UPDATE & HELP: Last summer, I introduced you to Anthony Howell, the son of a dear friend of mine, Bridget, who was stationed at the Army National Guard, 11...

I finally qualified for a small stipend from unemployment that got unexpectedly frozen until I completed today's orientation so needless to say you are going to go through a time of no power, no telephone and no food when you get to be me.  Don't panic, people are amazingly wonderful. Today for example after my orientation I was able to get a small box of food and bread at the soup kitchen from a bunch of the most kind people I know in town. While it is not a job, it does help to get by. Every little bit helps. (I know you'd rather have the job - don't be ungrateful you little shit)

No matter how bad situations get, you are a survivor. Don't ever give up. Be strong and persevere. Things always find a way to land on their feet. I can keep going knowing that you never quit.



Sincerely, Shaken but Never Broken,

Today the following joined me to keep my ears company

State of TN Career Center PA - Random Elevator Music
Imagine Dragons - On Top of the World
Vangelis - Chariots of Fire
U2 - Beautiful Day
BonJovi - It's My Life
Smash Mouth - All Star
Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now
Louie Armstrong - Beautiful World
David Bowie - Just for One Day
Joanna Pacitti - Watch Me Shine
Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

Whispers

Dear Littler B,

Though I don't have an actual letter prepared today as I have so very much to catch up on in the real world that I have been neglecting since our first letter. I was tagged on a photo today from one of my very best friends and it was too ironic not to send to you.  Listen to the whispers on the wind and I will do the same.

Here's whispering to you kid!

Bigger Little B

Thank you HH for the tag!

That Love Stuff

Dear Littler Me,

Good morning to you from the day of love 2016.  I sit here quietly in the wee hours of the morning on the bed next to our sleeping hubby trying to type quietly so as not to wake him. Today is Valentines day, a day to focus on love and all things mushy. Luckily for me we've been to penny tight to be able to take part in the commercialism of the day so it has for the most part remained about spending time with each other and the "feeling" crap, untainted by the need to ply each other with gifts to "prove" we love each other.

This may not sound like the ideal dream to a 16 or 17 year old (what ever age you are when this reaches you) but I promise you it is. I do know you a bit since I'm lucky enough to have the inside scoop so I know you are not the average teenager. Feelings are more important to you than things. I guess we just got lucky to be who we are.

Where you are in the 1988ish time frame you are no different than I am here. The things that make you happy is to know that someone thought of you and to know you are loved. That is one thing, dear littler me you will never have to worry about. You have been loved by many over the years. The best of them being an amazing father who will be bringing you and your sisters flowers as he does every year. (it will be hard to ever find a guy who measures up to the kind, gentle, giving man that is daddy)

If this letter reaches you during the right year, you will have carnations bought for you at school by a guy who doesn't even attend the same school. You will see him of and on, one of your first loves. Even until you become me you still have the notes from those flowers tucked into a photo album next to a picture of the two of you in Disney.

Your loves, though fiery and exciting and you will love every single one of them, will come and go in your life and will make you feel like you are not worthy of that lasting love like Mom & Dad have. To this day you think back fondly on all of them who have been in your life and thank them for the piece of their life that they gave to you. The one who traded up for your best friend, the one who
joined the Army, the one who joined the Air Force, the one who was in the band, the one who was a gardener, the one who loved his mother more in the end, the one who lit the sky on fire, the one who walked on the wild side.

After a long life of love, none have been better than the one waking beside me in the young hours of a Sunday morning here in 2016 in Nashville. I will not tell you too much about him because I don't want to spoil the meet up or space time continuum and all that happy scientific horse puckey. Let it be said though, you will know him the moment you see him fumbling with his keys after standing him up two times. He is still going to give you a chance and forever think it is you who gave him a chance.




We may not be able to get gifts for each other, but we have the day to give each other and that my dear little me is all you ever need.

Lovingly yours,

Bigger Little B

Today the following entertained my ears:

Liebster Award!

I was very surprised today when I got nominated for a Liebster Award by WomansPulse! This has been such an amazing journey in self-discovery writing my blog and connecting with other amazing writers in the blogging community.

The Liebster Award is given to new bloggers by other bloggers. It allows new blogs to be discovered and encourages support within the Blogging Community.

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you
2. Share the award on your blog
3. Answer the ten questions
4. Nominate ten new bloggers
5. Ask ten questions
6. Notify your nominees on Social Media

 Questions asked of me

1. Coffee or Tea?
   Without a doubt coffee all day long... IV if it was available. :-)
   
2. Where do you find your content ideas?
   My content ideas for the most part come from life experiences. I sit and play music mostly from the era I am addressing and it immediately puts my mind back into those moments. The fingers start working before the brain even has any idea what they are doing.
   
3. What is your favorite blogging tool?I currently use Blogger/Blogspot. I love the ability to see where in the world my audience is the most. Seeing that someone in a new country has seen my posts.
   
4. Where do you see your blog going?
   I would love to be able to reach and help people who may have gone through similar situations as I but don't know that they are not alone. I would love to encourage self-discovery and encourage people to get in touch with how wonderful they really are!
   
5. Who is your favorite writer?
   This one is such a loaded question. There are so many that I truly can't list a favorite. I love the works of Shakespeare, Bronte, Austen, Alcott, Anne Rice, JK Rowling and Stephen King, but never turn any writing away. My all time favorite story hands down is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
6. What is your best quality?
   This is another hard one for me. Self-praise is not something I do very well. According to my husband, the answer to this my kindness.
7. Facebook or Twitter?
   Yes please! I do use both however I am very new to Twitter and still learning how to use it effectively and not obnoxiously. I am sure anyone who follows me (shameless plug) at @BidyBidyBop will tell you I have a lot to learn.
   
8. Who motivates you? Why?
   Mostly the answer to this would fall to my husband. Upon coming home from work he will often ask me - did you write today? Did you get a new country? How many views did you get? etc. Not because he wants to push me to write but because he wants to encourage me to do something that makes me very happy. He has been such a support in my life no matter what I choose to do. 
   
9. How has blogging changed your life?
   The subject matter of my blog has actually changed my life quite a bit, even though it is in its toddler stage. It has been amazing to reminisce, but it has been even more so put me in touch with who I am today and to be ok with the woman I have become... for better and worse.
   
10. What is your top three blogs your reading?
    I start my day by checking The Keyboard Commentarian.
    Written by the man who introduced me to blogging. He even gave me the greatest gift someone could give by his blogging and helped to find my son during a very difficult time.
    
    I always check in with WomanPulse . I love reading her relationships posts as we have gone through a lot of similar situations in life and are around the same age. I can relate.
    
    I also often check Daily Musings. While sometimes the postings can be religious in nature, Traci always has motivational and inspirational posts. All around "feel-good" go to for me.
    

The following are my nominees - I visit them all regularly though some may not be as new as others. Check them out! 

Sum Of My Pieces  
Blogging to the Oldies
Analysis Worm
One Year of Letters
A Girl of Some Importance
Grace & Giggles
Diary of a New Mommy
Christian Touchet
The Keyboard Commentarian
ReViews by HMF
 



My 10 Questions for nominees:

1. What encouraged you to start your blog?
2. What niche/genre is your blog?
3. Do you post on a schedule or when the inspiration takes you?
4. What are some of your big milestones that you have celebrated for your blog?
5. Do you use social media to promote your blog? Links?
6. On average how long do you find you spend putting together a post?
7. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
8. What is the link to your favorite post on your blog and why?
9. What is your guilty pleasure in literature?
10. What is 1 piece of advice you have to give other new bloggers?

Thank you Heidi @ WomanPulse  again for the nomination! Happy Blogging everyone! 

 

 

Everything I Needed To Know

Dear Littler Me,

Good morning and all that warm fuzzy greeting stuff that you are supposed to say at the beginning of a letter.  Today I thought I would write to you about something that has been in the back of my head for a little while, hence the title of this letter, "Everything I needed to know I learned from Ellen DeGeneres"

This as always is just a few points of wisdom for you to live by. It's done me wonders.

Sincerely,

Bigger Little B.

Don't be afraid to be who you are.

 “Beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It's about knowing and accepting who you are.” Ellen DeGeneres

The universe is so much bigger than you or I (same thing in this case) imagine.

“The only thing that scares me more than space aliens is the idea that there aren't any space aliens. We can't be the best that creation has to offer. I pray we're not all there is. If so, we're in big trouble.” Ellen DeGeneres, Seriously I'm Kidding

Stand up for what you believe in.

 No matter what your cause or what it is you believe go at it with your whole heart and soul if it is important to you.

Nothing feels better than giving.

No matter what you have in life, trust me.... Someone else has less. Things are nice but the feeling of spreading love will last forever.

Except when it is a complete surprise. 

Exceed expectations every chance you can.

Never give up

Life is hard. The day to day living is hard enough without adding dreams into it. But just think of the dreams you will accomplish if you give up...

Always see the humor in life

“Laugh. Laugh as much as you can. Laugh until you cry. Cry until you laugh. Keep doing it even if people are passing you on the street saying, "I can't tell if that person is laughing or crying, but either way they seem crazy, let's walk faster." - Ellen DeGeneres, Seriously I'm Kidding

 

When all else fails.... Dance

Thank you GoodReads.com for helping me with some of the quotes above.


Today's background sound provided by biography.com & Youtube
http://www.biography.com/people/ellen-degeneres-9542420/videos/ellen-degeneres-full-episode-2244678863

 

Calling All Bloggers...

Dear Littler Me,

I hate to take away from my advice to you today however I need to take a moment to get a few questions answered. See, I am new to this and in order to learn one must ask questions. Just as I had questions when I was you, I have questions still now that I'm me. Today, I put them out to the other writers to try to get help in making your letters as productive as I can.  Call it a 2016 version of a slam book. I hope they leave me comments below. I hope they answer any questions they want/can. Wish me luck!

BLOGGERS

1. How long have you been blogging and what type of blog do you write?

2. Do you own your own domain and why?

3. What social media do you use and (give links!)?

4. What type of marketing of your blog do you find most successful?

5. Do you earn income on your blog?

6. How frequently do you post?

7. How do you find motivation day by day?

8. What was the most useful piece of advice someone gave you in the beginning?

9. What are your average views on any given day?

10. What is the link to your blog?





THANKS ALL!
Looking for courage to keep going and the wisdom of how to do so.

Sincerely,

Bigger Little B