Just this once?

When you do something nice for someone, do you do so conditionally? "Just this once" or "until I get tired of you"? What is your motive? What is your required gain?
What if you aren't going to get anything return, even a thank you? Is "thank you" even enough for you?
Do you think you won't have to do it again? Is it a one time thing that should never be expected again? Or should you be open to the fact that that person you just did something nice for might expect/need/ask for something nice again?
Is that mundane task that someone keeps asking you to do going to wear on you, or bring you joy?

What about when people do something nice for you? What do you do?

Metamorpho-stop.

An individual's capacity to change and grow is not directly based on anyone else. However, I believe that the encouragement, or lack thereof, from people important to you can immeasurably help or unfathomably hinder your growth.
What is a person supposed to do if the people they are around consistently bring them down? Stop hanging around them? Well, what if those are people you are "stuck" with?
How do you continue to grow and change and take joy in your growth when no one seems to be in your corner?
How do you act in your joy when it seems like you are being forced back to the place you came from?

Do you step back into the corner and keep to yourself? Do you try to overcome the obstacles and possibly spur others on to change in the process? Do you wallow in self pity and allow the new growth to wither and die?

What do you do?

Everyone has nay-sayers and negative people in their lives. Everyone feels discouraged sometimes by the behavior of others. But what will you do to continue growing in your life? What will you do to preserve the "mountain top"? What will you do to THRIVE?

Homemade Chinese food = WIN!

YUM! Too bad my camera makes it look anemic. Hmmm... Maybe I'll steal Jordan's fantastic picture of the same meal from when she made it? hehe! Nah, I'll just link to it.

And here's the fabulous egg drop soup. SO yummy!! :)

Here are the recipes and while you're there, join my recipe group!

So that's what I have to say today. :)