These are actually trees from my house... pre-hacking, of course.

My house’s landscape is a thing of wonder.  The front yard looks rustic meanwhile the backyard looks like the set of Lost. Pine trees in the front, palm trees in the back.  I guess whoever built this house was more about variety than consistency.

Even though there are approximately 75 plus trees on the property (yeah, I counted), I actually like being surrounded by the crazy foliage.  Not only do the trees almost hide the fact that the house is situated on a busy street, I enjoy the sound of wind blowing through the palms and watching Paco and Penny (a.k.a. the squirrels) scurry around the front yard.

This little arbor getaway of mine was quite enjoyable up until this summer.  A landscaping crew was sent in to trim the trees – and rather than trim, they hacked.  Basically, the property looked like it got a bad haircut.

The shade was gone, Paco and Penny had to find refuge elsewhere, and it felt as though my house was now exposed to the world.  It was devastating at best. (Sorry, I get a little dramatic sometimes. At least I can admit I have a problem.)

Much like the times when I’ve had a bad haircut, I reminded myself that it’d grow back.  But I was reminded of my pain every time I saw the bare trees or felt the sun stinging me through the windows.  It was not an easy summer.

Although my mom wasn’t nearly quite as devastated by the “trimming” as I was, she reminded me that it needed to get done to reduce fire hazard.  Fine.  But tell that to Paco and Penny who just lost a good home.

Pruning is not usually a fun process but I’ve found that it’s a necessary one.  Just like trees, we all go through seasons where we need a trim here or there – and sometimes the trimming turns into hacking.  There are seasons where we just need a good attitude adjustment and other times when it’s necessary to be cut off from things or relationships that are harming us.  After all, when a tree is pruned it’s the dead limbs that are cut off, not the healthy ones.

Pruning can be uncomfortable and at times painful; but the point of it is to bring growth into our lives.  The good news is that when we are willing to be shaped and pruned, we will always come out stronger and healthier.  Holding on to the negative in your life will only spread disease rather than promote growth.  I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be filled with beauty than stuffed with ugliness.

Although the trees have yet to return to their fullness, I can appreciate the fact that the hacking… I mean, pruning, will only make them more beautiful than before.  As for Paco and Penny, I wish them well and look forward to their return.  Their company, as well as their shady bungalow, is sorely missed.

Unless you’ve completely cut yourself off from the media (I know you haven’t because you’re reading this), you know that vampires are dwelling at the top of the trendy heap.  Movies, television, music, candy, books, and clothing – the vamps have completely taken over it all.  Even while writing this I’m listening to the soundtrack from the Twilight Saga. Don’t judge – the soundtracks, unlike most of the acting in the movies, are amazing.

Anyway, back to the vamps.  When I was working online this morning, I came across a picture of seductive lips with fangs that had blood dripping off of them.  I rolled my eyes when I saw it because I’m tired of companies using vampires as the crux of their marketing campaigns.  Unless you’re offering me the chance to enter a sweepstakes to go on a date with Robert Pattinson, your vampire marketing trickery will not work on me (Sorry, Jacob fans. I’m all about Team Edward with his awesome hair and lifeless yet sparkly complexion).

As my day went on, I kept thinking back to that picture.  For whatever reason, the phrase “sucking the life out of me” kept rolling around in my head every time I thought about the fangs.  It’s probably because that’s how I feel right now; the life is just sucked right out of me.

But my personal vampire isn’t some good-looking, Abercrombie model with a keen sense of fashion.  My vampire, though invisible, is ugly and his name is discouragement.  It doesn’t take much for him to sneak up behind me and suck out any sense of hope or contentment I have running through my veins.  In fact, anytime he can smell even a hint of inner peace he comes charging towards me fangs first.  Unfortunately, It’s not until I’m feeling completely empty and discouraged that I’ve even realized I’ve been attacked.

The thing about vampires is that they come in many forms – and I’m not talking about the Count Choculas or Edward Cullens (I’d take either one of those any day).  Personal vampires come in the form of fear, stress, self-loathing, people who say or do awful things (whether they mean to or not), and in many other ways that are just too long to list.

These things, if given the power, can suck the life right out of you.  If you succumb to them, they can leave you feeling dry and lifeless.  Worse yet, you could turn into some kind of monster and do the same to others.  Whatever the case may be either option is not a good option.

However, any good connoisseur of fangy folklore knows it takes sunshine to keep the vampires at bay.  Even if the vamp is of the sparkly hottie variety, a healthy dose of light will keep them from getting near you… unless you willingly enter a meadow and go looking for them in which case they are more likely to eat you than kiss you and then you just brought all that trouble on yourself and no one has the sympathy or the will to keep you alive.  Just saying.

But things work the same way with your personal vampires.  When the dark starts moving in, you fight it by shining light on the situation.  Pray, seek good counsel, and don’t allow yourself or others to drain the life out of you.  Surround yourself with people and things that will speak positively into your life and who will cheer you on when you’re ready to give up.  Sometimes even the slightest encouragement can be like shining a floodlight in a dark cave.

Do your best to keep in mind that light always overcomes the darkness.  You can defeat any vampire with hope, confidence, peace, and the sheer determination to de-fang the bloodsuckers in your life.  When you feel the darkness closing in, start running towards the sun.

Then again, if your vampire happens to be or look like Edward Cullen I wouldn’t blame you for trying a different tactic.  We could all use a little sparkle in our lives now and then =).