Becoming At Peace With ME

***WARNING~PICTURE HEAVY & PERSONAL~PLEASE NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS OR JUDGING~THIS WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO WRITE***

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Hello! I have to tell you, this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge is so awesome for me! :) The challenge is to create a one layer card that speaks peace to you.

So, a little story about WHY this is the perfect challenge for ME this week. I've been having a really rough couple of months...okay YEARS...with a person in my life. They drive me crazy, they make me want to scream, I have tried to work things out, and they STILL do not listen/get it. (Remember--this is all MY side of the story, so don't judge this person, judge ME).

So, instead of taking the higher road, I have gradually become less happy, less helpful, less kind when I have to be around this person. It didn't happen overnight. I just took baby steps of unhappiness--no longer sending cards to certain people because they associate with this person, no longer smiling while around them, using a curt tone of voice when speaking to others when I have to be around them, not going to church to avoid them... That is NOT me. I usually LOVE to help people. I want to lift people UP, not tear them down. I've had someone ask me why I've become hostile towards them--HOSTILE! That is DEFINITELY not me.

I realized this past Sunday that if I want to be the person I was a few years ago and if I want to be happy and helpful again, I CANNOT let this person bug me anymore. Now remember, this has been a process of many years. It's been slowly happening, and each time I've asked my husband if I was mean, he's told me no. Because I'm really NOT a mean person. And so this has KILLED me. I have never in my life hated going somewhere because of someone. I have never even THOUGHT about hating anyone or anything! So, I made the decision to NOT be that way anymore!

You want to know the results? Oh my word, I feel so light! I wrote a card to the person who asked why I've been so hostile towards her to let her know I am thinking of her--I cried as I addressed it because I felt so incredibly bad for they way I've been acting! I hope she can forgive me and be willing to let me help her again. I'll call her later this week to see if she got the card. I'll be sending out many, many cards for the next few weeks...

I am sooooo HAPPY!!! I cannot tell you how much better I feel knowing that I am no longer going let this person bother me. It was ALWAYS MY choice, but taking my life back after a slow down hill slope has seriously made me feel lighter!

Yeah, I know. I should've done this earlier. I don't know why I couldn't. Well, I do. I and others I love have been continually hurt and I'd tell you how & why, but I feel like rehashing all the bad things that have happen to me and others would totally be wrong because then I'm not really forgiving. AND, I don't even want to think or talk about them anymore. It's my life, and I'm taking it back!!! Anything else this person does is also forgiven. Because I CAN do that!

So, without further ado, I'd like to share the set of six cards I've made for this challenge--three are true one layer cards, but three others I added a punched out sentiment because I stamped it wonky. Yes, wonky is a word. No red squiggles! ;) The two layer cards are STILL CAS style, though. :)

These cards are simple--I'm trying to simplify my life. They don't have BLING--I'm trying to love myself for who I am, not what I wear or have. They are beautiful--just like me and ALL of God's children and creations. The sentiment is my favorite quote of all time--and stamping it over and over today has reinforced the choice I've made. I'm so glad that I was able to participate in the challenge! SO HAPPY! :)

Card 1 & Detail~

Card 2 & Detail~

Card 3 & Detail~

Card 4 (NOT one layer) & Detail~

Card 5 (NOT one layer) & Detail~

Card 6 (NOT one layer) & Detail~

What do you think? I really love them! I'm thinking that I will use them as a gift for someone! :) I hope you've been inspired to make peace with something in your life today! Be it a work situation, a not so perfectly clean house, an unkind word said, or just anything that has bugged you! I KNOW it will help you feel so much better! And while you're at it--won't you come and join us over at One Layer Wednesday? Peaceful stamping! :)