JOURNALING IS NOT JUST FOR PLANNING

 Journaling isn't just for kids or teenage girls.

It's for adults who need to get their thoughts out, who needs to vent and who needs motivation to keep going.

Journaling is the new form of therapy for some people. Journaling is the new form to help us keep our thoughts on track.

Using a calendar is a form of journaling. If we write on it every day, we can see what we need to accomplish. 

But how about using it at the END of the day.

Write on your calendar what you actually accomplished that day. 

Then at the end of the year, you can look back at all that you have done. You will feel much better than looking back at what you didn't do.

Try this and let me know how it works for you. 

IT'S NOT JUST A NEW YEAR; ITS A NEW BEGINNING

Every year we begin by saying: This year I am going to....

Instead of saying that, why not just new.

Every day is a day for something new. Every day we get 24 new hours to do something different. Every day we get a new beginning.

This year; instead of saying what you are going to do, just do it.

Don't set goals that you know you might not reach. Like, this year I am going to lose 40 lbs. Instead, say, this year I will eat a little more healthy.

Instead of saying, this year I plan on opening a business. Try saying, this year I am going to work on my goal of owning my own business.

Stop putting those obstacles in your way. 

So this year, it's a new beginning; what do you want to begin with?

DEPRESSION DOESN'T LOOK SAD

With the sudden death of Stephen Twitch Boss, people are searching for answers. 

Some are posting about what depression looks like. Some are posting that they are always there and if you need an ear; they are there.

Well, depression looks like you. It looks like me and it looks like your son, your daughters, your grandchildren and your co-workers.

When you ''sense'' that something is off with them, it is. 

When you ask them, are they ok and they say, "yeah, I'm just in a mood". that's depression. 

When you husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend asks you why you "look like that" , that's depression.

We cry when things seem to be going great. We cry when things are overwhelming us. We cry when we have no reason to cry. 

Depression hits at times that no one expects it. It happens at parties, at work, at birthday parties and when we are alone. It happens when we paste that smile on our face and "keep it moving" because there are lots to do and not enough time to do it in.

Depression doesn't have a face or a time to appear. It appears when we don't want it to.

Depression is something that can't be helped or gotten over. It is a chemical reaction in our brains that we fight with every day. 

Depression hurts our plans of going out. It makes us stay in the house, even when we want to go outside. It makes us sad even though we 'feel' happy. 

Depression is not something we can prevent but it is something you can help us with.

When we are quiet and say, "oh, I just need a minute" Sometimes that means, we just need a hug. Physical touch helps us when we are depressed. Stop giving us space, space is our enemy. 

Stop saying, "call me anytime" because when depression hits; we WILL NOT pick up the phone. Instead, CALL US .

Depression can't be cured but it can be managed. Medication helps our moods but sometimes we don't know that we need medication. If your doctor isn't listening to you, CHANGE doctors. You need someone that listens, not just writes (a Rx) . 

Depression is all around us, Depression looks like this:

WE ARE BACK!!!

 Welcome to the We B Swangin Show. We hope you enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 I can still say that, right?

I had the BEST Christmas ever!

I spent it in Georgia with my daughter and her three children and my son, from Las Vegas, was also there with his wife and children. Even the dogs wanted to be in the picture. Well, the little one; Nero; was over the entire thing but Harley was there for every single picture! 

I got to actually spend Christmas with five of my 11 grandchildren and couldn't imagine the joy of seeing their faces when they woke up on Christmas morning and saw all of the gifts under the tree. 

Yes, they still believe!

I hope you enjoyed your holiday as much as I enjoyed mine. Here is just a few of the photos that I took. 

Yes, I did enjoy and get some amazing cigars as gifts!

My children and my guy understood their assignment and I love them all so much.

I AM SO IN LOVE

 Do you remember when you felt those butterflies in the pit of your stomach when you first saw him/her?

Do you remember when you couldn't wait to be in his/her presence again?

Do you remember when you couldn't stop thinking about him/her?

I have the feeling now and I can't stop smiling about it.

He arrived on November 30th and has been in my life since then.

To soon for love, you say? No way. It was love at first sight. Hey if they can make an entire show about it, then I can find it too, right.

He came in and made himself at home and has never left. 

He makes me so comfortable and he actually allows me to rest. He comforts me when I need it most and for that I am the MOST grateful.

He lets me sit on him for hours, sometimes having to move a little to get more comfortable; but he never complains.

He can be a little hard to move but I manage to get him right where I need him.

I have bought new PJ's for him and spruced up my bedroom for him.

He is the BEST thing in my life right now; well right behind my kids, grandchildren, parents and cigars...but he is right up there.

I don't really like calling his name out because people look at me funny when I refer to him. 

Most time I just call him Cee but his real name is Sleep Number QC4

Wait...did you think I was talking or referring to something else. 

Since QC4 has come into my life, my insomnia has gotten slightly better. According to my sleep therapist, I have gotten more REST since having the bed. Not sleep but rest. There is a difference.

And for that I will be forever grateful to QC4. He has made my life better and now I must go back online to buy him some more sheets and PJ's. He appreciates that I make this effort to make him feel at home.

Is there something that you received for Christmas that has you instantly in love. Leave me a comment on FB or Instagram and let me know. Feel free to post a picture with it as well, because well, who doesn't like a good photo.

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

To get a good cigar! I just had an amazing cigar recently and the name...

Living The Dream by Drunk Chicken Cigar.

Drunk Chicken Cigar is owned by Desiree Sylver, PHD. It's a minority owned, woman owned, veteran owned, small business right here in DC.

The birth of Drunk Chicken Cigars started with friends and family hanging out in the family backyard; living the dream and sharing cigars. This backyard oasis includes over a dozen chickens, dogs and local wildlife. The "Drunk Chicken' name was established one evening as they were enjoying the typical Saturday night festivities and the chickens were "going home to roost" and seemed to stumble as if they were drunk. The Drunk Chicken events grew and became a regular, safe place to hang out. The "entry fee", if you want to call it that, was that you had to bring a cigar to smoke and one to share. That evolved into a quest of finding unique cigars that none of us had previously smoked.

After traveling to various cigar bars and shops and meeting many cigar aficionados including shop owners and cigar diplomats, Cuban hand rollers, cigar junkies and lovers like Desiree and her friends. They decided to impress their friends and have their favorite tobacco leaves blended and hand rolled to share at the "coop". The cigars were instant hits and Drunk Chicken Cigars was born...or hatched.

Ms. Sylver has a great team behind her and each of them has a roll in helping the company grown. Erick Story, Tanya Pritchett, Armando Gutturize and Cle Johnson. 

When asked who her biggest supporter, while trying to get started was; she responded, "Bobby, the owner of Aphelion in Gambrills, Md. and Don Weldon, the owner of Cigar Room in Madison, AL. They both loved the cigar but both said to change the band".

While the path is clear, the road has not been easy. There is a real learning curve coming from smoking cigars to actually selling/manufacturing your own brand. Learning all of the state laws, distribution and ensuring the cigars are of good quality and consistent, is some of the ways the Ms. Sylver handles the business. 

Interviewing Ms. Sylver was a great pleasure of mine and I also had the Living the Dream cigar. I can't wait to try them all.

Make sure you follow Drunk Chicken Cigars on FB and Instagram.

If you want more information on this local cigar, check out her website at Drunk Chicken Cigars