How do we learn to trust again?

Now there's a loaded question we've all asked ourselves. I figure that after a long relationship ends with a 25 year old chick involved - what more will life throw my way? She's almost half my age for crying out loud, what could she possibly offer him? Never mind, don't want to know. Or what about the time I lost friends over a divorce - what kind of friend is that anyway?

Regardless of anyone's situation, we all have them - insecurities... you know, "who's going to step on me today?" How do you get past hurt feelings, bad memories and mean thoughts? So again I ask you... how do we learn to trust again?

I'm trying to figure this one out, I'm open to any suggestions. I'm not really your gal who will tell you to "hope and pray for the best" - I'm the type of person who needs to see results... being an analytical and creative person - both right and left sides of my brain fight for attention! So therefore, I WANT to believe in people but I need to see results that people are trustworthy... Are you with me?

Any of my friends and family know that I cant stand the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason" - if I hear that one more time in my lifetime I will jump off a cliff. So, I heard about a book on the radio that is about the power of coincidences. I read it during the holidays. It is called "The God Winks" - and no it's not necessarily a religious book (that's not for me) but, it is about how different happenings or circumstances in your life lead you down a path you really weren't looking for. A laid out plan if you will... God's plan.? When you start to see this pattern then you realize, hey, maybe this is in a plan and that, well dare I even say the words but "maybe everything really does happen for a reason." I struggle with it, but I am at least more open to it. This happens in situations with my job, my friends, a relationship...whatever it is going on in my life that sort of changes my life's path.

Wow, deep huh? Yeah, that's what's inside my head. So with all of that being said I go back to my original question, "How do we learn to trust again?" For me, I'm looking for coincidences, I'm trying not to wonder anymore about what someone is or isn't doing. I'm looking for confirmation in return. I am learning to trust again and I'm open to letting people back into my life. I am letting my guard down. What about you?

Who's laughing now!

Amazing how the time has flown by since my last blog back in January! Everyone's time is so limited these days between investing in their family, investing in relationships, investing in their job, investing in the economy... wait... that's a bad idea! So many of my close friend's jobs are at stake these days, including my own. So, how do we overcome that? When you know the answer let me know. That's major stuff that's in everyone's head these days... and not just my own.

So, here we are, another day in which I find myself at least trying to enjoy the small stuff. Every day I ask my children "What happened today that made you laugh?" Wow, I get some pretty random answers to that one: answers range from "nothing at all" (which I have those days as well!) to the one I got yesterday. It was from my daughter (who happens to be turning 7 today) whose answer was this: "Keifer spelled his name with macaroni and cheese at lunchtime!" She was rolling at this. Why can't adult life be so simple?

So, my point is to challenge yourself to ask the same question - let's see what your answers might be. Enlighten us all. If you can't think of anything at all, perhaps we should all take a step backwards and do a checklist of "what IS making me happy these days?" Then if you still can't think of anything then just go to lunch and spell your name with a heaping helping of macaroni and cheese! Might just work.