I'm always glad for a new year and a new chance to start fresh. There is really not a big difference between Dec 31 and Jan 1 yet it feels HUGE! Like when you are kids and playing a game and then someone messes up and yells, "Do-over!" A chance to start everything anew.
I've had this list in my desk for awhile to share with you all. I think this is a good time.
I picked up a magazine Inspiration: Hawaii's Wellness Journal when I was visiting my sister last summer. One article in particular from the July/Aug 2009 issue jumped out at me.
It is called Stress to Success- in Just 31 days and is written by Dr. John F. Demartini. I don't know that much about him or his website but I DO know about lists. I love lists. I love crossing things off lists. It makes me feel so productive. Sometimes I make lists and include things I've already done just so I can cross them off.
Stress-to-Success Secrets
On a daily basis:
1. write and read your goals
2. Clear away your goals obstacles
3. Prioritize your activities
4. Act on top priorities
5. Visualize your success
6. Write and read your affirmations
7. Practice deep breathing and stretching
8. Do selective and collective reading
9. Groom for success
10. Dress for success
11. Love what you do and do what you love
12. Surround yourself with 'succeeders'
13. Drink lots of water
14. Eat light, moderate meals
15. Reduce the 4 'addictors' (I don't know what these are and he doesn't elaborate in the list. I'm going to consider it any addictors. Like diet coke, ha.)
16. Contract and then relax all muscles
17. Help others fulfill their goals
18. Save 5-10 percent of your earnings
19. Write 3 thank you letters
20. Reward yourself for your accomplisments
21. Express feelings of love
22. Hug someone special
23. Clean and organize your environment
24. Eliminate low priority 'unnecessities'
25. Study the subject you'd love to master
26. Spend time in total meditative silence
27. Massage your body or scalp
28. Take a hot bath before retiring
29. Count your blessings with gratitude
30. Get a good night's rest
31. Follow a stress-to-success checklist
I'm going to add one (ok, two) which are pray and read scriptures.
Better go get out of my pjs if I'll be 'dressing for success' today. It is nearly noon.
peace-
emily
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Send a Card, Send a Smile
I'm warning you this might sound like an infomercial. Sorry about that. I really have had an amazing weekend and would like to tell you all about it. So bear with me.
I had told you last week I signed up for SendOutCards, which is a service that lets you use your computers to send cards to people in their mailbox. It is cheaper, easier and faster than getting a card at the store, going to the postoffice to get stamps and then I usually forget to mail it in time to get it where it needs to go. So, I knew this card thing could be really good for me.
So I've been playing around this weekend sending cards to a bunch of people. And you know what? It is pretty fun to send cards. Such a simple thing. I like to think about how they will feel to get something in their mailbox that isn't a bill. I like browsing all the beautiful, funny cards. I like thinking about something that isn't about ME and instead try to do something for someone else.
I sent about 25 cards this weekend. And I have noticed I am happier. Is that a direct relation? I don't know. I think so.
I do think that if you send positive energy out into the world, positive energy comes back to you.
If you want to give it a try, click here. Just send a few free cards. No strings- seriously. I just want you to feel this little happy buzz I've got going.
Also, the more I learn about this company the more I like it. It was started by a guy who had ignored a prompting to go over and give his brother a hug. Later his brother died in an accident. It is all about allowing people to easily act on their promptings.
I have tried to do this over the weekend. If someone pops into my head I think that is a message to me to send them a card with a few words to let them know I'm thinking about them. To let them know they matter to me.
Reach out to someone today- tell them you love them, tell them they are important.
And if you'd like to get a card, email me your snail mail address at nickwilberg @ hotmail. I'd love to send you one. You guys are important to me too. I hope today is gentle for you.
peace-
emily
I had told you last week I signed up for SendOutCards, which is a service that lets you use your computers to send cards to people in their mailbox. It is cheaper, easier and faster than getting a card at the store, going to the postoffice to get stamps and then I usually forget to mail it in time to get it where it needs to go. So, I knew this card thing could be really good for me.
So I've been playing around this weekend sending cards to a bunch of people. And you know what? It is pretty fun to send cards. Such a simple thing. I like to think about how they will feel to get something in their mailbox that isn't a bill. I like browsing all the beautiful, funny cards. I like thinking about something that isn't about ME and instead try to do something for someone else.
I sent about 25 cards this weekend. And I have noticed I am happier. Is that a direct relation? I don't know. I think so.
I do think that if you send positive energy out into the world, positive energy comes back to you.
If you want to give it a try, click here. Just send a few free cards. No strings- seriously. I just want you to feel this little happy buzz I've got going.
Also, the more I learn about this company the more I like it. It was started by a guy who had ignored a prompting to go over and give his brother a hug. Later his brother died in an accident. It is all about allowing people to easily act on their promptings.
I have tried to do this over the weekend. If someone pops into my head I think that is a message to me to send them a card with a few words to let them know I'm thinking about them. To let them know they matter to me.
Reach out to someone today- tell them you love them, tell them they are important.
And if you'd like to get a card, email me your snail mail address at nickwilberg @ hotmail. I'd love to send you one. You guys are important to me too. I hope today is gentle for you.
peace-
emily
Sunday, May 24, 2009
You Will Smile Again
Pain- has an Element of Blank-
It cannot recollect
When it began- or if there were
A time when it was not-
-Emily Dickinson
I know I found this true for me. I was grieving so hard and in so much pain that it was hard to remember that there was ever a time when I had been happy. Or to ever imagine that there might be a time when I might possibly be happy again.
And that makes it even more obnoxious and offensive when people around you go back to everyday things. Or worse, trivial, trite things.
I often read a message board on a site that is for scrapbooking, but they talk about all kind of things. And I remember there was a post "What color are your toenails painted". With like 6 pages of replies. Really? There exists a world out there where people talk about this stupid kind of thing?
And another post where the woman was upset- FURIOUS really, because her inlaws had said that for this year instead of Christmas gifts they were going to take everyone on a cruise. I remember this post was early in the year- April, May, something like that. And she was already working herself up for a family fight because instead of Christmas gifts she was going to get a free cruise. Because "she was going to be pregnant by then and wouldn't be able to drink or look cute in her bathing suit".
It took every bit of my control to not smack this lady in the head. I know so many women who wish and pray and suffer through all sorts of medical prods, pokes, pinches and examinations in the hope they will be pregnant. It isn't the kind of thing you can really SCHEDULE. And really? To get upset because you are being given a free cruise? This lady needs a dose of reality. Of perspective.
Perspective is one gift Gabriel gave to me, I think. I use to get so upset and frustrated by small stuff. And now, when I can, I really try to take a step back and think "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today it is really a pretty good day" I'm not always successful with this, but I really try.
I'm so sorry that some of us here are still in the place where it is impossible to think things will ever be 'good' again. They will. You will smile again. It definitely takes time. Hang in there.
((hugs))
peace-
emily
It cannot recollect
When it began- or if there were
A time when it was not-
-Emily Dickinson
I know I found this true for me. I was grieving so hard and in so much pain that it was hard to remember that there was ever a time when I had been happy. Or to ever imagine that there might be a time when I might possibly be happy again.
And that makes it even more obnoxious and offensive when people around you go back to everyday things. Or worse, trivial, trite things.
I often read a message board on a site that is for scrapbooking, but they talk about all kind of things. And I remember there was a post "What color are your toenails painted". With like 6 pages of replies. Really? There exists a world out there where people talk about this stupid kind of thing?
And another post where the woman was upset- FURIOUS really, because her inlaws had said that for this year instead of Christmas gifts they were going to take everyone on a cruise. I remember this post was early in the year- April, May, something like that. And she was already working herself up for a family fight because instead of Christmas gifts she was going to get a free cruise. Because "she was going to be pregnant by then and wouldn't be able to drink or look cute in her bathing suit".
It took every bit of my control to not smack this lady in the head. I know so many women who wish and pray and suffer through all sorts of medical prods, pokes, pinches and examinations in the hope they will be pregnant. It isn't the kind of thing you can really SCHEDULE. And really? To get upset because you are being given a free cruise? This lady needs a dose of reality. Of perspective.
Perspective is one gift Gabriel gave to me, I think. I use to get so upset and frustrated by small stuff. And now, when I can, I really try to take a step back and think "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today it is really a pretty good day" I'm not always successful with this, but I really try.
I'm so sorry that some of us here are still in the place where it is impossible to think things will ever be 'good' again. They will. You will smile again. It definitely takes time. Hang in there.
((hugs))
peace-
emily
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Beautiful Blossoms
As I was driving out and around this morning I was struck again by the beauty of these gorgeous trees in bloom. At the fact that these blossoms are here for such a short time, and then gone. So fragile and perfect.
I made an conscious effort to stop and really look at them. Appreciate them. To not take them for granted, because one good rain or wind and they will be gone. And as the petals slowly fall to the ground it looks as if they are weeping. Symbolic for how I usually feel this time of year. 3 weeks until Gabriel's Day.
When I got home I grabbed my camera and walked down to the end of the cul-de-sac. To these gorgeous trees with the brillian blue sky in the background. I took several photos. And just stood there for a moment trying to appreciate that life is, for this minute, special and beautiful.
And then I became aware that I was standing in a pile of fresh dog do.
How's that grab you for irony?
Saturday, April 4, 2009
This Club We Never Wanted To Join
When it seems that our sorrow is too great to be borne, let us think of the great family of the heavy-hearted into which our grief has given us entrance, and inevitably, we will feel about us their arms, their sympathy, their understanding.
- Helen Keller
Thank you so much for sharing your stumbling blocks with me. It helps so much to know I'm not alone in these things. That I'm not crazy. Or if I am, we all are.
We now belong to a club none of us wanted to join. But I do feel comforted to know that there are people out there who understand. Who share my sorrow, who understand. It makes all the difference in the world.
Thank you.
peace-
emily
- Helen Keller
Thank you so much for sharing your stumbling blocks with me. It helps so much to know I'm not alone in these things. That I'm not crazy. Or if I am, we all are.
We now belong to a club none of us wanted to join. But I do feel comforted to know that there are people out there who understand. Who share my sorrow, who understand. It makes all the difference in the world.
Thank you.
peace-
emily
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Cracked Pot
I heard this story today and wanted to share it with you.
A water bearer in India had two large pots,
one hung on each end of a pole which he carried
across his neck. One of the pots had a crack
in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water at the end
of the long walk from the stream to the
master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it
spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
Why?" asked the bearer.
"What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers
to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
It is funny. I didn't see that ending coming. I was relating to the water carrier- toiling along day after day and only getting half of what he should.
But we are the pot- imperfect, cracked, leaky. We try our best but end with less than we think we should have.
Look around. You may be influencing those around you in spite of your defect. Or quite possibly because of it.
None of us quite know the impact we have on the world.
peace-
emily
A water bearer in India had two large pots,
one hung on each end of a pole which he carried
across his neck. One of the pots had a crack
in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water at the end
of the long walk from the stream to the
master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it
spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
Why?" asked the bearer.
"What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers
to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
It is funny. I didn't see that ending coming. I was relating to the water carrier- toiling along day after day and only getting half of what he should.
But we are the pot- imperfect, cracked, leaky. We try our best but end with less than we think we should have.
Look around. You may be influencing those around you in spite of your defect. Or quite possibly because of it.
None of us quite know the impact we have on the world.
peace-
emily
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Love the One You're With
If you’re down and confused, and you don’t
remember who you’re talkin’ to. Concentration slip
away, ‘cause your baby is so far away.
Well there’s a rose in the fisted glove and the eagle
flies with the dove, and if you can’t be with the one you love,
honey, love the one you’re with.
~Stephen Stills, Love the One You’re With~
When I popped over to Zil's blog and saw this quote at the top I knew it was time. This song has been in my head for about two weeks. I've talked about it to several friends, and my husband. I've been thinking I should post about it. So here it is.
If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with.
Not recommended marriage advice, I don't think. That's not what this is about.
Except maybe it is good advice for me, for my life right now.
I look around and am dissatisfied with my life. My house is a constant mess. I'm unhappy with how it is decorated. I'm embarrassed to have people over. I am unhappy with my weight. With my sloppy clothes. With the amount of yelling I do at my kids (too much) and the amount of time I spend doing things my toddler would love (too little)
So I sit and think about how much it stinks. I am pretty much in a constant state of either sadness or anger.
And I remember I had once heard this advice. If you are not ok, fake it. Fake it and pretty soon you will be ok.
Not quite sure how that works. Has anyone had that work for them? I'd be interested to hear.
Instead, this line keeps going through my head. Only I'm changing one word when I sing it to myself
If you can't be with the LIFE you love, honey, love the LIFE you're with.
Instead of wishing my life was different I need to learn to love the life I have. I love the kids I have, the husband I have. I love that I have a house. I love a lot about it.
And I think I need to start doing it better. If I am unhappy with it, I need to do it better. Do my job better. My job of being Emily.
Some of you may or may not know I have my daycare license. Only, previously I have only done care for before and after school kids. Ages 5+. That is the best of both worlds. Not a ton of money, but I get my days free. Only, I don't have anyone enrolled right now. With this economy people are not paying for daycare for kids that are old enough to stay home by themselves.
And I had a call this week to watch 2 kids- a 2 year old and a 6 week old. Uh oh.
See my last post about holding other people's babies
And the thought comes to my head.
If you can't be with the life you love, honey, love the life you're with.
I have been thinking in this state of economy I need to have much more of a bank account buffer than I currently have. My emergency account right now is just about enough to take us all out for one chocolate overload trip to Dairy Queen.
And I am gearing up. I need to do my life better. I give myself a mental smack in the head and tell myself to get going.
If I'm going to do daycare, let's do it. And do it well.
I'll let you know how it goes.
remember who you’re talkin’ to. Concentration slip
away, ‘cause your baby is so far away.
Well there’s a rose in the fisted glove and the eagle
flies with the dove, and if you can’t be with the one you love,
honey, love the one you’re with.
~Stephen Stills, Love the One You’re With~
When I popped over to Zil's blog and saw this quote at the top I knew it was time. This song has been in my head for about two weeks. I've talked about it to several friends, and my husband. I've been thinking I should post about it. So here it is.
If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with.
Not recommended marriage advice, I don't think. That's not what this is about.
Except maybe it is good advice for me, for my life right now.
I look around and am dissatisfied with my life. My house is a constant mess. I'm unhappy with how it is decorated. I'm embarrassed to have people over. I am unhappy with my weight. With my sloppy clothes. With the amount of yelling I do at my kids (too much) and the amount of time I spend doing things my toddler would love (too little)
So I sit and think about how much it stinks. I am pretty much in a constant state of either sadness or anger.
And I remember I had once heard this advice. If you are not ok, fake it. Fake it and pretty soon you will be ok.
Not quite sure how that works. Has anyone had that work for them? I'd be interested to hear.
Instead, this line keeps going through my head. Only I'm changing one word when I sing it to myself
If you can't be with the LIFE you love, honey, love the LIFE you're with.
Instead of wishing my life was different I need to learn to love the life I have. I love the kids I have, the husband I have. I love that I have a house. I love a lot about it.
And I think I need to start doing it better. If I am unhappy with it, I need to do it better. Do my job better. My job of being Emily.
Some of you may or may not know I have my daycare license. Only, previously I have only done care for before and after school kids. Ages 5+. That is the best of both worlds. Not a ton of money, but I get my days free. Only, I don't have anyone enrolled right now. With this economy people are not paying for daycare for kids that are old enough to stay home by themselves.
And I had a call this week to watch 2 kids- a 2 year old and a 6 week old. Uh oh.
See my last post about holding other people's babies
And the thought comes to my head.
If you can't be with the life you love, honey, love the life you're with.
I have been thinking in this state of economy I need to have much more of a bank account buffer than I currently have. My emergency account right now is just about enough to take us all out for one chocolate overload trip to Dairy Queen.
And I am gearing up. I need to do my life better. I give myself a mental smack in the head and tell myself to get going.
If I'm going to do daycare, let's do it. And do it well.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Remembering the Love
Oh you got to you got to remember the love,
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love, spread love
Measure, measure your life in love.
~Rent, Seasons of Love~
I had read this post by Zil on her blog The Three Little Birds some time ago and I keep coming back to it.
I love this idea- to measure a life in love.
If I look back to when Gabriel died, I can see so much love expressed to me and my family. The nurses at the hospital who compassionately stayed with us (or stayed away) depending on what we needed. The memory box given to me from an unknown mom who had also lost her baby. Women from church who stopped by with meals. The coworkers at my husband's work who covered for him as he was out for a week.
But this is measuring my life by the love.
What if I measure Gabriel's life by the love?
In his so short life he was only loved- by his mom and dad, his grandma, his siblings.
So I'm trying to do this- remember the love. Instead of focusing on the pain I felt, the fear, the sadness, the hurt and confusion, I am going to try to remember the love.
I hope today is gentle for you.
Peace-
Emily
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love, spread love
Measure, measure your life in love.
~Rent, Seasons of Love~
I had read this post by Zil on her blog The Three Little Birds some time ago and I keep coming back to it.
I love this idea- to measure a life in love.
If I look back to when Gabriel died, I can see so much love expressed to me and my family. The nurses at the hospital who compassionately stayed with us (or stayed away) depending on what we needed. The memory box given to me from an unknown mom who had also lost her baby. Women from church who stopped by with meals. The coworkers at my husband's work who covered for him as he was out for a week.
But this is measuring my life by the love.
What if I measure Gabriel's life by the love?
In his so short life he was only loved- by his mom and dad, his grandma, his siblings.
So I'm trying to do this- remember the love. Instead of focusing on the pain I felt, the fear, the sadness, the hurt and confusion, I am going to try to remember the love.
I hope today is gentle for you.
Peace-
Emily
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
I've Got a Pretty Good Attitude!
I was talking yesterday to a good friend of mine, Lisa. She has been a big support for me, even though she herself has a lot of challenges with her life and kid's health. She is the one who I had originally had the being good to yourself discussion and we were kind of having a follow up conversation about that.
I was telling her about the
'I Get To.. idea and how that was such a lightbulb moment for me.
She then said something that struck me as funny and I started laughing.
She said "I've usually got a pretty good attitude.. except when I'm depressed".
Isn't that the truth? That is totally true for me, too!
I've usually got a pretty good attitude, except when I am depressed!
peace-
emily
I was telling her about the
'I Get To.. idea and how that was such a lightbulb moment for me.
She then said something that struck me as funny and I started laughing.
She said "I've usually got a pretty good attitude.. except when I'm depressed".
Isn't that the truth? That is totally true for me, too!
I've usually got a pretty good attitude, except when I am depressed!
peace-
emily
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
