Most of us do the same things day in and day out, with a routine that becomes tedious, to say the least. One of the most mind-numbing things I can think of is to sit at a traffic light for 2 minutes. It is 2 minutes of hit-my-head-against-the-dash kind of boring! And this morning was particularly bad. I decided to take the "short-cut" to work. Of course, how often does that work out for you, taking a different route from the proven, albeit boring, navigational path? What it got me was catching not only a light triggered by a pedestrian, but as soon my light turned green, the light rail came through, with its own set of sensors, lowered bars, and flashing lights. By the time all that nonsense was done, it had been almost 5 minutes. Gah!!!! But seriously, I just had to laugh. What are the odds? And what are the patience gods trying to teach me today? When it comes to times like these, there are a couple of things I can recognize and put to work for me to make life more remarkable than I ever thought! Capture the wonder. First of all, I can take myself back to when I was a child, when everything was so exciting and fresh! If you can't go back that far, think of the cutest child you know and about how they look at everything in life! Re-capture that sense of wonder for yourself! On the route that you take each day, look at the things around you and notice the beauty. What time of day is it? Can you see the sun, or are there clouds?
Image - Derek Sturman
Notice the details around you. While I was waiting for the light to change, I started breaking everything down into small details, and imagined what might be happening in that small space. I saw the silhouette of a man on the train. I imagined where he was going and what his family was like, before he sped out of sight. I looked at the car in front of me and also wondered where they were heading to. I listened to the words of the song on the radio, I took a concentrated gulp of my lemon water, thinking how good it was for me, as it made its way down my throat, esophagus, and into my belly.
Envision and Dream. Finally, while I am busy appreciating the here and now, it's still OK to picture the future. I can make plans for my tomorrow, my week and month. It gets me more motivated to enjoy today and make the most of it so I can have a better tomorrow! It will make things like that trip to the grocery store or that load of laundry so much more pleasant if I know that just around the corner is something amazing!
Today is "My Post Monday!" It's all about original content from bloggers who care
to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to
Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain! I, for one,
love to
explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips,
pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the
information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write
them myself! But this linky is for non-sponsored
posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and
knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the
blogger to promote! If
I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up
and share
it with you
here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag! It's like
being featured! I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!
So, in addition,
if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too! I'll visit your
site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts
helps your blog numbers
increase! (Affiliate links OK)
When I think back to my childhood, I can't say that it was fraught with hardships. It wasn't....not really. My mom wasn't well, though. She had a childhood disease that left her unable to handle any kind of stress without totally losing it, starting with tremors. Combine that with her OCD-like perfectionism and the fact that I was the eldest child, the most precocious of the lot of 4, and let's just say she won and I lost. Many times. My dad was gone most of the time. We lived with my grandmother and sometimes I could rely on her to deflect my mom when she went off the reservation. Those times were really traumatic for me because she was mean to me, as she stated in later years. I was left confused, sad, and felt like I was a terrible child for making my mom get so upset that she would completely lose it. After the episodes, she would inevitably come and apologize and I would collapse, sobbing, as she hugged me. I just wanted her to love me. Other than that, I remember some really great times. Especially when my dad was involved. Summers on my cousins' ranch in Montana, trips to buffet restaurants, riding bikes to the local swimming pool, playing on my girls softball team, playing in piano recitals, violin recitals, and doing dance recitals. But I just couldn't handle my junior high years. I would ditch school like my life depended on it. I flunked out of at least 1 full year of Jr. High, starting in the middle of 7th grade and continuing into my 8th grade year. Finally my mom sent me to Lodi Academy, a private school, where I developed my love of music. I couldn't very well ditch school because Lodi was not the town where I lived. I couldn't just leave campus and go hide out at the local library, or go to my piano teacher's house and ask her to let me hang out there, or sneak into my bedroom and hide under my bed while my mom was home in another area of the house. It was there that I learned that I could function at school, learn new things, and that I was an awesome person. It was there that I learned to sing in a choir. We actually did a full performance of the 'Messiah', which I love to this day. So, in the end, it was my mom who saved me by sending me to this wonderful private school, run by Seventh-Day Adventists. She sacrificed money that should have been spent on my other siblings, who didn't go to private school.She felt partially to blame for my insecurities, I suppose. Finally, after two years, I decided on my own that I was ready to go to a public high school and said my good-byes to Lodi. My mom and I became very close over the years. She's gone now, her heart was damaged from that early illness, and she left us too soon. I remember all the good she did and her determination to see her children do well and be good people. I think she succeeded in that goal. I learned a lot from those days. I learned that people aren't perfect but it doesn't mean you can't forgive them and love them anyway. I learned that sometimes we need a chance to heal and it can mean doing hard things that we don't necessarily want to do. I hope that you can look at your yesterdays and learn something from them too!
Image - Robert Vosper
Today is "My Post Monday!"It's
all about original content from bloggers who care
to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to
Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain! I
open up with a post of my own and then follow it up with a linky of the
week's top original blog posts! It's all about what the writer thinks,
believes, and
knows--in other words, they are active, writing blogs. If
I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up
and share
it with you
here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag! I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!
So, in addition,
if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too! I'll visit your
site, comment, promote and publicize! (Affiliate links welcome!)
I don't have even 15 minutes to get this post, My Post, out this evening. But even in this short amount of time, I am seeing that there are so many ways to make obstacles become stepping stones, problems become possibilities, and turn adversity into advantage. Just because I don't understand everything there is to understand about something, doesn't mean that I need to give up. It doesn't mean that just because I missed the Grammy's tonight, I can't find out what happened. I heard that neither Carrie Underwood nor Adele were quite on their A games. That's OK, I love both those ladies and I'm sure that we'll all forgive them for not having a stellar night. Apparently even Taylor Swift came up on the losing end of the fashion police vote. She got a worst dressed award, yet made history for best Album of the Year! Yikes! If they can do it, I certainly as heck can do it too. And I don't need to feel like I have anything to be ashamed of, either. Just buck up, be myself, make some mistakes, and move on! Turn that into fodder for the history books! At least it won't be boring!
Today is "My Post Monday!" It's all about original content from bloggers who care
to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to
Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain! I, for one,
love to
explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips,
pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the
information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write them myself!But this linky is for non-sponsored
posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the blogger to promote! If
I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share
it with you
here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag! It's like
being featured! I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!
So, in addition,
if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too! I'll visit your
site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts
helps your blog numbers
increase! (Affiliate links OK)
I love a good movie. I love an inspiring movie. What makes a movie good? I think that for most people, there needs to be a main character that has an element of courage in the face of danger or hard times. It is the possession of a certain rare quality that most of us don't have--courage, that makes a character in a movie worth watching. I've realized that I am a history buff and a reality show fan. I don't have the time to watch many shows at any given time, so I do try to choose things that are more worthwhile, or really funny!
The most recent historical docudrama I watched was 'Joan Of Arc'. I wanted to watch the beautifully done show because I had heard the main points about her--that she was a young French woman who led an army in defense of her country, but was later killed. I really didn't know much more. After watching the docudrama, I am in awe of her. She most certainly saved the country of France! Without her, we wouldn't have France as we know it. We'd have another British country. Joan had to single-handedly convince the reluctant heir to the throne to make a very hard march through British invaded territory to Reims for his coronation. She inspired the soldiers to be better soldiers and men. They won battles that weren't theirs to win. Alas, when she had accomplished her mission she was handed over to a pro-British Bishop who succeeded in burning her at the stake at only 19 years of age. As she burned, she was heard to cry out to Jesus to save her. She was dignified until the end. I can't even imagine doing anything like that. I think of her when I get into a very hot shower and am shocked by the hot water pouring over me. I have the luxury of turning down the heat. She didn't. You can see the full story here.
Joan of Arc teaches me that one of the elements needed to live a truly great life is courage, something I'm still working on and I'll wager many of us are!
Image by Jolie Gordon
Today is "My Post Monday!" It's all about original content from bloggers who care
to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to
Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain! I, for one,
love to
explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips,
pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the
information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write them myself!But this linky is for non-sponsored
posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the blogger to promote! If
I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share
it with you
here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag! It's like
being featured! I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!
So, in addition,
if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too! I'll visit your
site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts
helps your blog numbers
increase! (Affiliate links OK)
If there were more people who held to the standards and values that Martin Luther King, Jr. did, we would be a better nation and world! It amazes me how many truly great people, who buck the trends of society by showing others a better way, have paid for it with their lives. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted change and he led a force of people who also wanted change. But he was the calming influence in a maelstrom of violent resistance on both sides of the aisle. It was a coward full of hatred who pulled the trigger on April 4, 1968. Knowing that he was hated, he could have given up and joined the rest of the haters, reciprocating with similar gestures. But, as he simply yet eloquently said, "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." That is why he has been eulogized and epitomized to this day and beyond. We have a lot to learn from the life of this great Christian man. I love so many of his sayings, but if I had to choose a favorite it would be, "Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase." It shows me that he did, in fact, have a great understanding of faith. To me, faith isn't a noun. It is a verb, an act, a state of moving forward even though you can't necessarily see anything ahead of you, other than the first step and then the next step. It's a good thing to have faith in something or someone that will, in the end, produce good results. Martin Luther King had faith in the Bible. He was a student of the Bible and he believed the teachings of Jesus Christ, for instance, when He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." I believe he used the Bible as his blueprint for causing change. And then he acted out of faith through his whole crusade. He is a great example to me and today I stop for a moment to remember him and pay my respect.
Image - Cole Gleave
Today is "My Post Monday!" It's all about original content from bloggers who care
to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to
Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain! I, for one,
love to
explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips,
pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the
information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write them myself!But this linky is for non-sponsored
posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the blogger to promote! If
I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share
it with you
here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag! It's like
being featured! I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!
So, in addition,
if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too! I'll visit your
site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts
helps your blog numbers
increase! (Affiliate links OK)
My grandmother was a self-ascribed worrier. When situations arose, it was she who was always fretting in the background about the possible negative outcomes that would arise. It was as if that was her contribution to the problem, devoting huge amounts of energy to worry. Love her heart, I know she felt helpless and she just couldn't let herself enjoy other things, because she was too worried. Apparently she wasn't aware of the positive thinking studies that exploded onto the scene in the early 2000's, especially with the book, The Secret. According to the book, If I am, apparently, to enjoy life at its fullest, I am not to let my setbacks turn into worries and constantly think about them. Instead I am to spend time visualizing the most wildly positive outcome I can imagine and then the universe will materialize it for me, from the power of my conscious thought. I do like that idea! In addition, I say, just do the best you can each day, make the things you do align with your value system as much as possible, but then let it go. Thinking about it that way is actually very freeing. No, I may not finish the job I wanted to do, on point and on time, but I know that I'm doing the best I can. If I'm secure in that knowledge, it's time to let it go and leave it until I can work on it some more or I decide that it is all I can do. Allowing situations to overwhelm us can turn pressing situations into problems. Why? Because now we are letting that situation to take over a larger percentage of our life than it should. "The problem is not the problem; the problem is thinking you have a problem and allowing it to overwhelm you and spur you into overthinking." --Lolly Daskal Some may consider this type of approach as being "apathetic", but I believe it's a way of protecting your mental and even physical health, so you have the ability to give all you have to the ever-arising pressing situation. Don't worry, there are always plenty of situations to deal with in the moment that need all your energy. Don't waste it by worrying about things you can do nothing about!
Image by Krieg Rasmussen
Now, on the other hand, you do need balance. I know someone who wouldn't worry if he was going to lose his clothing, home, family, and everything else tomorrow. It's all c'est la vie, baby! And he doesn't do much to avoid the consequences. Funny thing, however, he has always made it through and the one thing about him...he enjoys his leisure moments. He has chosen to make worry a very low priority in his life, no matter how little he accomplishes. I personally prefer the philosophy of working hard, doing the best you can and then letting it go! If you take the "hard work--no worry" approach, you can accomplish a lot, cut down on stress and have energy to devote to the unforeseen "situations" in life!
Today is "My Post Monday!" It's all about original content from bloggers who care
to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to
Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain! I, for one,
love to
explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips,
pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the
information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write them myself!But this linky is for non-sponsored
posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the blogger to promote! If
I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share
it with you
here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag! It's like
being featured! I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!
So, in addition,
if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too! I'll visit your
site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts
helps your blog numbers
increase! (Affiliate links OK)
I'll 'fess up. I feel jealousy and envy. Who hasn't? Even the people who supposedly "have it all" are just as prone to jealousy and envy as anyone else. What could I possibly feel envy about? Envy is about wanting something that someone else has. I could maybe (hypothetically) feel envy about bloggers who are more successful than me, women who are younger than me, women who have more children than me, people who have no children at all and have all kinds of leisure time, people who seem to have it together--more so than me, women who are in better shape than me, people who have nicer things than me, etc. etc. etc. Since jealousy is a bit different than envy, what might I feel jealousy about? Jealousy is more of an insecurity about losing something or someone. I could maybe feel (again, hypothetical) jealous of the girl that my husband seems to think is so very funny and entertaining at a social event, jealous of those who might be invited to an event that I'm not included in, the new person that just got hired and has struck up a friendship with one of my best work friends but not so much with me, my dog who seems to love my husband more than me, my boys b/c they love each other more than they seem to love me, etc. You look at these things and think, wow, how time-consuming! What is the problem with having these kinds of thoughts and emotions? It's just that these things crowd out any kind of gratitude for what one does have. Any feeling of satisfaction in your life circumstances is negated. These are negative feelings and they can actually become obsessions. They are energy sappers and goal minimizers. Yes, envy and jealousy can definitely spur one on to obtain objects and possessions. But to what end? If you can't conquer the tendency to be jealous or envious, do you suppose that obtaining the thing you were envious about will be the end of the road? Probably not! It will be on to the next conquest that you are now jealously obsessing about.
Having recognized this awhile ago, I've learned to do some damage control whenever I realize that these tendencies are popping up into my subconscious.
4 Ways to Deal With Conquering Jealousy And Envy: 1) Have a gratitude book. Make a specific journal or art book that only talks about things that you have in your life, which you are grateful for!
2) Don't obsess about it. Admit that you are feeling envy or jealousy and move on, and don't judge yourself for it. 3)Prayer. Make it a point to pray about things you are having trouble with, and ask God for help to overcome the negative emotions. Don't stop until you can feel the feeling dissipate. I believe in the power of prayer and the only time I have seen prayer not work is when I haven't spent time praying! 4) Make the decision to not act on your feelings. Be the better person and let it roll off your back, like that wonderful analogy, "water off a duck's back." Everyone feels negative feelings. It's what we do with them that counts! Let's take a new look at that mallard duck!
What are some other examples of envy and jealousy that you come across? What are some solutions you might have to overcome it?
Image - Karl Hiller
Today is My Post Monday! It's all about original content from bloggers who care
to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to
Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain! I, for one,
love to
explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips,
pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the
information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write them myself!But this linky is for non-sponsored
posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the blogger to promote! If
I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share
it with you
here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag! It's like
being featured! I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!
So, in addition,
if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too! I'll visit your
site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts
helps your blog numbers
increase! (Affiliate links OK)
Posts
