Tag: personal experience

Look Into The Mirror

We are all mirrors for each of us to learn something about ourselves. One tool that helped me on my journey was the book “The Seven Habits of a Highly Effective Person” by Stephen Covey. In his book, he walks you through a funeral for yourself. The most profound question that moved me was, “What would you want people to most remember you for?”

Some of the qualities I want to be remembered for is being a generous, kind and caring person. The next question was, “What do I have to do today to achieve that?” The thing we all can do is determine those things we have the ability to change, or else we can work on our response to those things we can’t.

The last step is deciding to put into the actions that which will cultivate the qualities we desire to harness. If you want to receive more love, be loving. The more you are, the more you we attract. Life will start to reflect back to you on your progress. Don’t be afraid to look.

November 19, 2018
The Transformation

Anything worth value will take time and effort to cultivate. Like writing this blog post. I started writing several years ago. Writing has never been something I saw myself doing. I struggle on many occasions to come up with topic to discuss because like so many of us, I don’t think I am “smart” enough. The experts were once amateurs. It comes down to realizing that with practice, any of us can develop our skills in any area that we choose.

A friend of mine always says “the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts”. If we hold onto “wormy” thoughts, such as I am not good enough, we will never transform into the beautiful butterfly that is within us. As with anything, pay attention to those thoughts. Awareness is the first step in self-creation. The second step is working to changing them.

The process may sound easy but the concept is not and I understand that. Best believe that changing your thoughts, will definitely change your life. And you are worth it.

November 12, 2018
Live for Today

By the time this posts, I will have been to Missouri and back. My family and I are heading to Ft Leonard Wood to see my son graduate from basic training. I have been able to follow his training along through Facebook posts that the company has shared. The closer we get to graduation, the more excited I am getting. I haven’t seen my son in over two months, so even if it’s just for two days, the seven hour drive is worth it.

Last night, just before I went to bed, thinking about seeing my son had me thinking about those who have lost loved ones. I lost my mother over fourteen years ago. I miss her but I am not “lost” without her. We had a wonderful relationship and I told her everything. I was able to talk with her the day before she died, and after all of the years that have passed, I still remember my last words to her, “Mom, get some rest. I love you.”

That memory reminds me that I must never take anything or anyone for granted. It’s not about how long we live but how we live that matters. Let those who are close to you know that they matter and how much you love them. No one is promised tomorrow so learn to live today!

November 5, 2018
Apple Juice

I love watching my granddaughter grow up because as she is learning, I’m still learning through her. The latest lesson came from watching her transition from the bottle to the sippy cup. We have been trying to introduce juices to her through the sippy cup instead of just giving in and giving her the bottle when she asks for it.

I would put the apple juice in a small cup and offer it to her after she finished eating her breakfast. She would push the cup away or throw it while still asking for her bottle. I couldn’t even get her to take a sip. I slowly began to realize we were tackling two different issues; new cup and new juice. We would have to change our strategy. Slowly we would offer water in the sippy cup and she would drink it. Once she became more comfortable with the sippy cup we would offer apple juice in the cup. Once she started taking the apple juice we offered milk in the sippy cup as well.

It wasn’t until we noticed that everything can’t be offered at once. It takes “baby steps” in order to change. This practice is one I always have to remind myself as I try and implement new habits. As my granddaughter reminded me, do not give me “change” all at once, offer me a “little change” at a time.

October 29, 2018
Not Today!

My favorite quote is “how you do anything is how you do everything.” Its in those moments when I feel like giving up or simply thinking that no one will know the difference that this thought always comes to mind.

It is not true that no one will know the difference, YOU will! And that is the most important person it should mean the most to. Only you know the thoughts that are floating around in your head. The negative ones are the ones that keep you from living the kind of life you want to live. Its the thoughts that we feed on that create the reality of our lives.

Once I learned that little tidbit of information, I started to pay closer attention to the thoughts I had once let roam freely in my mind. I stand guard each day to the quality of thoughts that I will allow to enter my mind or even attempt to tiptoe in. I must admit that once I decided to take care of my mind like I take care of my body, life got a whole lot more generous!

October 22, 2018
My Way Mentality

When my children were younger, I took on many of the tasks of child rearing not considering what effect it had on my husband. There are many joys and frustrations that come with raising children. Many arguments usually started at times when I was tired and just didn’t know how to ask for help. I took too much on and wasn’t willing to share the load with my partner because I though it had to be done MY way. When people offer to help, let them. We get so caught of in the belief that if something is not done in a particular way, that it is wrong.

Of course at the time I didn’t know this. It is now, as a grandparent, that I realized that some of the frustration was self-induced. My husband loves taking care of our granddaughter. I can see how it has changed him and I know she absolutely loves to spend time with him.

Many people just want to know that they matter. By opening yourself up to receive help from others, you are allowing them to experience purpose and meaning in their life.

October 15, 2018
Plant Yourself a Garden

What is it about reading that I love? I was not always a reader. I picked up the habit of reading more once I turned off the television. I love to read nonfiction books. The self-help to the neuroscience. Not everything I read do I understand at first, but the more I read, the more I learn and start to understand. Slowly the information sinks in to my brain.

It has happened over many years that some of the information that I’ve read started to make sense years after I’ve read it. It’s like planting a garden. The harvest will not bloom immediately, but eventually the seeds start to sprout. I start to understand. Another way to look at it is in the effects of compound interest. We build a foundation and everything after the foundation is built upon the information that we learned previously. Each layer is helping you raise up to the next level. Each new book plants a new fruit, flower or tree.

I would also like to share that the more I read, the more my world expands. You do not have to put into action everything that you read nor do you necessary have to agree with the author’s opinion. Learn to process what works for you and let go of the stuff that doesn’t. In the end, you have a much broader harvest to pick from.

October 8, 2018
It’s Time to Donate

For many years I had adopted the habit of clearing out my closet in order to make room for the winter clothes by putting the summer clothes in storage bins and pulling out the the old winter clothes. I know this is a common practice for many of us. I would go out and buy extra hangers and hold onto clothes that no longer fit me, not to mention were out-dated. It was a habit I picked up watching my mother do for years.

It wasn’t until I realized that this practice was an old unconscionable belief that perpetuated from a scarcity mindset. I would justify holding on to things with the “just in case” mentality. I stated in “Seasons of Change“, we have to clear out some of our old thoughts and ideas in order to prepare for the new season. I still believe it’s true but what I would like to add is pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and actions. Awareness is the key. And if you ever find yourself thinking “I need to buy more hangers”, it just might mean it’s time to donate.

September 24, 2018
Hit The Light Switch

I have to say the most profound changes in my life happened when I decided to take my life off autopilot. I began to question some of the beliefs that I had held on to for years. In the beginning it was the small things that I began to ponder like why do I drink coffee with my breakfast, to eventually leading to my bigger questions, like how do I really feel about marriage. Some of the answers I received in return shocked me.

Awareness is the definitely key to change. Effective and long lasting change has to come from something deeper then just wanting it. Taking time out to understand the driving force, the “why” behind the change is what makes it really take hold. To me, awareness was like switching on a light switch and looking for the cobwebs within the room. What I found were old beliefs and outdated actions that no longer served their purpose. Imagine what you will find when you begin to look inside yourself. The answers just might surprise you.

September 10, 2018
Playing Catch

Today is the day I walk with a walking club. I don’t compete but I do use other walkers as incentive to push myself. In most cases, you look for a walker who is ahead of you and you make them your focal point. Once I can find a target walker, I put my head down and focus on my walking technique and breathing. With such focus, you can usually “walk them down” in other words, you can catch them. I’ve been catch and I have caught others.

I did not try and walk anyone down today. I started late so I just focused on my walking stride and breath. I did start to pass people. After the walk was over, a gentleman can over and told me he looks for me on the trail. I’ve seen this man on several occasions but we’ve never spoken to each other before. He told me he had to let me know, he looks to try and stay ahead a head of me but he knows that I will pass him eventually.

What I’ve found most beneficial is to not worry about who is behind you. Stay focused on whose ahead. Its not about getting catch, its about making them reach.

August 27, 2018