What Would You Like to See Here?

Now that cancer treatment is not really a daily issue for me anymore and I’m pretty much on cruise control with maintenance, I’m working on ideas for this blog.

I’ve really enjoyed writing in this space and am incredibly grateful to all of you who continue to come back regularly to read my silly little ramblings.  However, your time is valuable and I want to make sure I’m giving you something that you find worthwhile and valuable.

So.  I need your help in determining what type of content you want to see.  Yes, this will require some type of interaction from you, but I promise to make it as easy for you as possible because I know a lot of you like to remain all quiet in the background.  :)

Is there a certain type of content you would be most interested in reading regularly?

• Faith-based or devotional?
• Motivational/Inspirational?
• Recipes?
• Healthy Recipes? (And know that they will never be original recipes because that is just not my style.  I am a scared cook who can’t make anything without written instructions.)
• Information about Cancer Prevention/Treatment/Coping?
• Healthy Living?
• Exercise/Fitness?
• All of the above?
• None of the above??
• No preference whatsoever?

Because I want to make this as easy on you as possible (and because I’m really hoping you guys will give me some feedback!), there are several ways you can let me know your preferences.  Take your pick:

1. Leave a comment on this post.  You can comment anonymously, if you like, or you can make up some name instead of your own if you don’t want the world to know how fabulous your ideas are.  Just type your comment, below, where it says Leave a Reply.

2. Leave a comment on Facebook.

3. Send me a Tweet.

4. Send me an email at rachturnerblog@gmail.com.

5. Take this short anonymous survey.  You can select more than one item from the list and, if you like, you can write in another type of content if you think I’ve missed something.

Writing this blog has been so therapeutic for me.  The best part is receiving emails and notes telling me how much a post impacted you.  I received a comment this week that left me in tears, but they were happy tears!  I never imagined it would have this affect on people, but I am so glad that it does.  I just want to make sure I continue to give you something that is worth your time because you, and your time, are precious to me.

Speak!  I want to hear your thoughts.  :)
♥ Rachel

Valentine’s Day – Yay or Nay?

Are you in the I LOVE Valentine’s Day camp or the I REALLY Can’t Stand Valentine’s Day camp?

I’m somewhere in between.  I don’t hate the holiday, but it’s not a big deal to me, either.  If I get a card or a gift, nice.  If I don’t, no biggie, either.

This is such a reversal of attitude from my pre-marriage days.

Those years when I was single and not dating someone, Valentine’s Day just plain stunk.  If you are single and reading this, you know what I’m talking about.  Oh, how I wanted the flowers and the dinner and the gifts.  It seemed like – literally – every other living, breathing person in the world was excited about the holiday except for me.  It also seemed like every person I worked with was receiving flowers or balloons (even the men!), even though the reality of that is completely untrue.  Funny how the mind exaggerates things when we are feeling sorry for ourselves!

Anyway, fast forward to 2003.  My first Valentine’s Day as a married woman.  Suddenly, Valentine’s Day is not that big of a deal to me.  Why?  Because I no longer felt left out.  I had someone at home who loved me every day of the year, not just on Valentine’s Day.  My perspective changed.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I love me some Hallmark cards.  :)  The Hallmark Store and I have a close, personal relationship that goes way back and I have a worn out Hallmark Gold Crowne card to prove it!  ha ha!  But I like giving the cards more than getting them.  But I don’t want Barry to feel obligated to buy me a gift because he thinks he has to.  I don’t feel any more or less loved by my husband if he does or does give me something, do something, or take me somewhere for Valentine’s Day.  I feel loved every day by this wonderful man.

Source: Pinterest

[Is this vintage valentine adorable or what??]

However, having said all of this, I do think any holiday that causes us to stop for even a second to tell someone we love them – whether it be a spouse, child, parent, sibling or friend, is a good day.  So let me say this – I love you all.  Those of you I know and even those of you I don’t know or am just getting to know.  I love you for taking time out of your day to come read what I have to say.  I hope that every now and then you might get a tiny bit of encouragement out of it.  Or laughter.  Or both.  Encouragement AND laughter would be good  :)

Happy Heart Day!
♥ Rachel