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Southern Plate

Recipes to feed your body and warm your heart.

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Have you ever woke up with a sense of dread?

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Have you ever woke up with a sense of dread?

I used to do that pretty much every day. It was self inflicted, really, a habit I formed over time due to my own thoughts and actions.

No one was to blame. My life wasn’t horrible. I wasn’t going through any particular agony of note. In fact, if I were to have stood back and objectivally looked at my life I would have had to admit that a good majority of my dreams had already come true and I really had it pretty darn good, especially compared to the majority of the world. A roof over my head, a good husband, and two healthy children. What more could I ask for?

So what was wrong? My attitude.

I got in a habit, which is easy to do, of looking for the negative. Often in today’s society, it is actually the “in” thing to do with pop culture encouraging us to be snarky, sarcastic, and complain about things – to raise ourselves up by feeling superior (which is why I have ditched pop culture but that is a story for another day).

So what did I do? First of all, I admitted that I was the problem. I’ve found that folks who aren’t willing to do that spend lifetimes digging deeper and deeper holes as they slowly bury themselves and blame the world for it.

Then, I went back to my roots, followed the example of my ancestors that the Lord set before me, got over myself, and changed my thinking. It was a process, but it began with only one step and when I dedicated myself to repeating that one step it eventually picked up speed and snowballed.

What was the step? I decided to look for things to be grateful for.

Cultivating a grateful heart has improved every single aspect of my life far more than I could have ever imagined.

But it started with me realizing that I couldn’t change the world…

but I could change me.

So I did.

I still have pain but that’s just pain. I’m used to it so I don’t really think about it anymore. It’s just become part of my life and like anything in your life, You’ve gotta weigh the cons against the pros and give the pros extra credence.
It’s all in your focus.


What you focus on tells a lot about who you’ve decided to be.


And we all decide who we are going to be.


Whether we are going to be an encourager or a discourager, a grateful person or a complaining person. Whether we are going to use our life victoriously or sit back and whine about not ever having been given the ideal circumstance or opportunity for us to shine.


You can shine with broke legs, or no legs, or perfectly working legs. You can shine when you’re unemployed, or overworked, eating filet mignon, or living on ramen noodles.



 You can shine when the odds are stacked against you – and it will actually be a brighter gleam because of it.


The thing is, if you’re going to shine, you’ve got to shine right now. If you are making excuses not to shine, right now, where you are, then you’re just making excuses not to shine.


And if you can’t shine in a dark spot, if you only want to shine when it’s midday and sunny and the winds are perfectly aligned for you like they are in your dreams – then you don’t want to shine.


And that’s a shame


Because you have a spark within you that could really make a difference in this world.


But the biggest fire that spark could light…the biggest change it can make…is in your own life.


So today, I’m doing great. I have some pain, some issues, but they just remind me that it’s time to crank up the wattage.


Do yourself a favor today. Dust off the sparkle.


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  4. Malinda says

    Wow! What an awesome message! Thank you! I really needed to hear that today! There’s no telling how many people will benefit from reading this and not just the readers but folks who encounter the readers!
    Thanks again!

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  5. Mizmart says

    I recall back in the day going through a tough marriage and having a difficult time shining. Best thing for me was great friends that encouraged me to look for the positives and that I was creating some of the problems with my attitude. Now, pretty much every day is a great day,

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  8. Cheryl says

    Hey Christie,
    Do you have hidden microphones in my house?
    I needed this reminder today. The last few days I have been REALLY down and then there is Christie to the rescue (cue superhero music). Thanks!
    Oh, thanks for the recipes too!

    reply to this comment >

  9. Celeste says

    Christy, thank you for this message. It is a timely one with Thanksgiving being upon us so soon, but anytime too as that is when we can be grateful for all we have been given. Keep up the great work you’re doing and sharing uplifting messages such as the one you’ve shared.

    reply to this comment >

  10. Jill says

    Christy~ Thank You for sharing your heart. Came at a PERFECT time. The holidays bring up so many mixed emotions. Spending time with some members of the family is challenging. You have given me a reminder that I need go with a different attitude.

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  11. Cheryl E. says

    Beautifully spoken words to all your readers. Totally different topic, but what kind of pressure canner do you use? Actually, part of the “blessing others” to can my specialty soups to have on hand. Thanks!

    reply to this comment >

  12. Mackenzie says

    Hi Christy, this is my first time commenting, but I love your blog. Thank you for this special post today- it really resonated with me and made me grateful for someone else being able to eloquently put into words what I feel often. I am thankful for you and your writing as you always put a smile on my face and help me to focus on the many positives in life.

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