Life happens, and life changes. Sometimes too quickly. Looking back I never thought I'd be in this place at this time with this life. But some things are good and some things are not so good, but everything is something to learn from. The way my life has changed in the past two years is enought to make anyone's head spin. The changes in the past two months has been crazy as well. Everyone has to deal with life, and the ups and downs. The secret is to concentrate on the ups and not so much on the downs, look for the positive things in life, and use your adversities to make you a better person. Don't become bitter because of how life is treating you, but chose to become better. If you're having a bad day, remember that better days are just ahead. I always felt I wasn't one for changes, but when I look at the last couple of years, I guess that isn't completely true, because changes is all I've had! Some I've made and some others have been made for me. But all in all, life isn't so bad. As Gary Allan says in his song, you can lean too hard on a prayer but I don't recommend it. Because if all our prayers are answered.....we may be sorry....and there's always that "thank God for unanswered prayers". I try to not question things and I try to look at everything with an open mind and an open heart because nobody can tell you a damned thing if you're not listening...so I've learned to listen with my mind, my heart and my body. When people hear my story, they think I've had a hard life. But what they don't know is that through that hard life, I've had so many blessings. The love of my children, the unconditional love of someone who just loves you for you, your soulmate, the finding out who your true friends really are and knowing they will sit up with you and hold your hand to get you through the night. One of my greatest gifts is being able to see the wonder of nature. Seeing a couple of dozen deer bedded down for the night. Looking up at the sky and seeing the millions of stars and the vastness of the universe. The brightness of a rainbow after a storm. The colors of the mountains in autum. Then there is the music I get to hear and can live through. I would think....how can this person take the words in my heart and put them in a song? The reason for that is....if you listen to your heart...we all hear the same songs. They may just be heard at different times in our life. Sleep is something that hasn't come easy to me. I've been walking 10 - 15 miles a day and staying active to try to exhaust myself to sleep. When I went from 4 hours a night to 2 hours a night, I couldn't understand why. Someone asked me...what are you running from? I didn't think I was running but then maybe I am. Maybe I'm running from thoughts, from pain, from memories. I don't know. I didn't think I was, but I'll have to take the time to examine my thoughts and see. I just thought it was that I couldn't shut off my mind when I'm trying to sleep and the thoughts just keep coming and won't stop. I also thought it was because I don't feel safe anymore. Having loving arms around you makes you feel safe. Losing those loving arms makes you scared...life happens....things happen..you never know. Make sure you always tell those you love that you love them. Try to live your life without regrets. If you have them, make it right. I try to not have any regrets in my life and I have since made peace with everyone in my life. It helps and you feel that love from others and it gets you through those tough times....yes, I've been blessed. We all are....we just have to take the time to hear the music and dance to its beat.