Affirmations

Life is “a lot” sometimes, isn’t it?  Once in a while, it’s difficult to embrace all that is happening.  Occasionally we don’t want to embrace it, either, although ignoring the big stuff doesn’t help at all.  When those overwhelming days come, I say “Focus on the small things.”   The small things will be different for each of us.  Today, one of the small things that I enjoyed was the two minutes that the cat deigned to sit on my lap and allow me to pet him.  Another was watching Ice Age  and giggling at the characters’ antics with my grandson.  He kept me in stitches as he imitated their silliness.  These tiny, easy-to-overlook moments are actually moments of true joy among the “too much” that life can send our way.  Today, I challenge you to pay close attention to your day.  Look for all of the small things that make you smile, even those that seem totally irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.  You’ll be surprised by how m...

Good afternoon!  Today is a beautiful spring day (at least in Central CA).  I love days like this because I love being outside and what better weather to enjoy than a spring day with plenty of sunshine and just a tiny breeze? The Japanese have long embraced the concept of shinrin-yoku, commonly known as forest bathing.  The basic philosophy is that time spent in nature is therapeutic and helps to rejuvenate both a tired body and soul.  Science has proven this theory:  We know that exposure to sunlight provides us with Vitamin D which is important for our skin and a variety of physiological processes.  We also know that fresh, natural air is healthier than recycled air thrust through ventilation shafts, although many would like to argue that their air conditioning “saves them,” the reality is that we need to be outdoors sometimes.  We need fresh air and sunlight for our overall health. So today, find time to pursue your own version of  shinrin-yoku...

Do you ever balk at the idea that you can’t accomplish everything?  I know that I tend to become very frustrated when I am unable to do something.  Perhaps its something that requires more muscle than I have, like moving a large beam or block in the yard.  Other times its my inability to solve a problem.  It’s bad enough when its my own problem, but when others are relying on me and I’m unable to solve it, its almost impossible to accept.  Except that there’s always a point at which we must accept our limitations, isn’t there?  We will never be able to do everything.  It isn’t realistic. We all have limitations. What do you do to help you accept your limitations?  I don’t have an answer because I’m still bad at it, even with half a century of practice.  I remain unhappy about not being able to solve my problems, the problems that plague my kids, and even those of the world.  I acknowledge that this is unrealistic, but I wish it was other...

Today is one of those days where my self-imposed to do list may not get finished before day’s end.  You may have days like this as well.  On these days I have to remind myself that even completing some of my list is better than completing none.  It isn’t a simple process, training oneself to let go of the ingrained belief that a day isn’t productive unless absolutely every task is done before one lays their head down to sleep.  at least, it wasn’t for me.  It has taken great effort on my part, in addition to the prompting and support of others, to reach this point.  The point where I can tell myself that “It’s enough,” even when everything isn’t done.  I hope you can all get there much sooner than did I. So, if you find yourself low on energy but high on “must do’s,” just remember:  Do what you can, even if you don’t do it all.  It’s enough.