Why people gotta hate?

Hello party peeps!! 

     I have been reading a friends blog and her Facebook posts and it seems there is a theme running through them lately.  I feel horrible for her.  Recently she has had some success in the Drag community by winning a pageant and being asked to represent the LGBT community at various events.  I was so proud to know her and have been a big support of hers for about a year now.  I honestly believed that the LGBT community would be a tight knit group because of the adversity they deal with just for being different but I was so wrong.  There are bad people in every community.  My friend has been badmouthed for her look, her opinions, and the way she represents her beliefs.  Its so sad because she is a beautiful person and has so much to share with the world.  I may be small town and a little sheltered but it bothers me a lot.
    
     It got me thinking of all the times that I was bullied for no reason other than my looks or because I was new and being shy.  People that judge in general are sad.  They either have be bullied, or grew up seeing others bully people that are different so they know no better.  I would love to kick this kind of thing to the curb but its so hard to change the world with words.  I thank God everyday for people like my friend because she is a strong person and I want to have that kind of strength as well.  She's helped me realize that haters are gonna hate because they are jealous or troubled themselves.  Instead of hating them she feels sorry for them and wants to change things.  She reaches out and tries to start a conversation with them to see why there is an issue.  If they continues to bad mouth her she lets them go out of her life.  That is a strength I wish I could have had a long time ago. 

     I want to make the world a safe place for all of us that are "different".  Those of us with artistic abilities, mental difficulties, physical difficulties, and those that embrace alternate lifestyles.  Its not a choice for us to be who we are.  God gave us a gift to make the world a more interesting place.  If we were all the same and "Perfect" life would be so boring.  Its not a competition to see who is better than the others, its LIFE.  Those of us that are "different" struggle to fit an impossible mold set before us by "normal".  Let us brighten up your lives with our special gifts and show us respect and we will show you respect. 

     I know we have not met, physically, Gina, but I love you and you are beautiful!!!!  You are strong and I love that about you.  You are inspiring me to stand up straighter and follow my heart.  I thank God for people like you in my life because its hard for me to be strong since I have a hard time dealing with my own differences.  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

     SHARE THE LOVE KIDS!!!!  Compliment a stranger today.  Maybe you will be the one that makes their day awesome.  You never know!!! 

LOVES AND KISSES TO YOU ALL!!!!

Jenn

FUN WITH CROCHET MEMES

I'm feeling incredibly lazy today.  LOL.  I live in NW Indiana and they keep threatening us with lots of snow and cold temperatures.  This girl does not like snow and cold.  I just want to bundle up and stay in bed for the rest of the winter.  Sooooo, I decided to share some of my favorite crochet memes instead of trying to come up with some deep thoughts.  Its another form of therapy for me.  Silly things people post about us crocheters just make me giggle.  ENJOY!!!

Ahhh I feel much better now.  Do you??  BTW I also Knit but I'm terrible at it LOL.  I keep trying but its really hard for me to keep track of the patterns.  ADD is evil when it comes to knitting.  Enjoy your day friends!!!  Start a random snowball fight.  Start a new hobby of collecting dust bunnies.  Do something completely out of character and have a good giggle over it. 

Follow me at: 

Twitter:  JennsCrochetADD

Facebook:  Jennifer McCollough (I'm the one that's obsessed with University Alabama)

Pintrest:  JennsCrochetADD

Lots of reflections on why I do the things I do

Crochet and Knitting helps fight Depression and Anxiety?

Something super small today.  Been watching the snow outside and reflecting on my year.  Snow really is pretty when it first starts to fall and covers all the trees in front of my house.  I really am not a fan of snow or cold weather but it does have its beautiful moments.  Sometimes I wish I lived somewhere like the NW Woods where there is nothing surrounding my home but nature.  Imaging the sound of the wind and the local critters just doing their everyday thing like there was no stress in the world.  So peaceful.  I like peace.  I will find it in my everyday life soon.  For once NW Indiana doesn't stink.  Thanks snow.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/on-the-inside-lgbtq-artists-prison_us_583de0f8e4b0c33c8e1280f2?section=us_arts&ir=Arts&

Article I found from a Twitter I follow.  Goes along with the video I added to my presentation about how prisoners are taking up crochet to help deal with prison life.  This young lady has taken up drawing and her work is gorgeous.  Enjoy!!!

Rough week and how I deal with it.

Hello Friends!!!

Been a rough week for me.  Thursday I got the bad news that I have developed Diabetes.  Its not super serious yet according to my doctor.  My A1C was 6.5.  But its bad enough that I have to now monitor my blood sugar everyday and work harder on my weight loss.  Doctor is hoping that if I loose more weight and work on cutting out my bad eating habits for good I may be able to reverse my diagnosis.  Kind of a semi truck to the face diagnosis (dramatic I know).  But you know what, I've managed to take it in stride.  I thought it through last night and decided that this isn't the thing to bring me down.  I took up my crochet and counted my little heart out until I worked through my shock.  In the past I would have had a complete melt down and would be useless for days on end.  I don't know if it is because I knew deep down what was happening to me, or if all my reading and sharing has begun to really work its magic. 

It was also brought to my attention that a good friend from College passed away Friday morning in her sleep.  She had always been a great inspiration for me because of her positive attitude despite adversity.  Trouble finding steady work, relationship issues, and things of that nature never set her back for long.  She always rebounded.  She found out she was pregnant and was super excited despite always saying she didn't want kids.  She went through all the "OMG what do I do," moments with grace and always had a great sense of humor about it.  I think she would have been a great mom.  She had a lot of love to give.  RIP Kim Konold.  Love you!!!

Going to keep this short today.  Have a few more things to sort out.  Emotions are a funny thing.  Outside I look calm but reflective, but inside my heart aches.  I'm strong and I will become stronger.  Good time for some meditation and being thankful for what I have.