January 2022

Show up for YOU!

Wally

After coming inside from snowmageddon this morning, I changed my routine.  The 3 of us were outside for about an hour ; 1/3rd  of “us” was my 4 legged shadow.  I would shovel, then play fetch with him, snow blow, then walk in the snow with him.  Needless to say, when we came in the house he was covered with snow and had snow chunks between his toes. 

Generally, when we enter the house on a snowy or rainy day, I dry him off first before I take care of myself. 

This morning was different.  I took off my mittens, coat, coveralls, and snow-covered boots.  I admit, I felt guilty.  Amazingly, and out of character,  he stood by quietly on his towel waiting for me to wipe him down.  

As I knelt down to remove the snow chunks from his paws, I recalled of one of the safety procedures on a plane.  You know the one where the flight attendant instructs passengers of the procedures if there is a drop in cabin pressure.  If you are traveling with a minor or someone that requires assistance and the oxygen masks drop, you are to take care of yourself first then assist the other person. 

So often we are busy taking care of those around us, we neglect ourselves.  Over the past 15 months I have diligently been allowing myself at least 30 minutes a day to show up for myself.  Whether is it praying, reading, meditating, practicing yoga, studying, or taking time to learn,  I find it important to take that time for myself.  It helps me to stay balanced so I can show up for others.

Don’t be afraid to take a little time everyday and show up for YOU!

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. — Maya Angelou 

January 30, 2022 by Positive Quotes

The Rainbow -June 18, 2015

Happy Pre-Friday!

What a a great day! The sun is out and shining and the puddles are slowly diminishing.

I wanted to share with you a moment I had last night.

I was on my way home from one of the few things that brings me out of my house and off my property (I am very close to becoming a hermit) and spied the right arc of a rainbow. I haven’t seen one in a while. I pulled off to the side of the road, rolled down my window, threw my arm out and pointed at the sight in hopes that a friend who was driving behind me would be able to enjoy it too. She stopped in the middle of the road so if anyone came along, they were going to have to look at it.

When we first stopped, I scanned the sky to see if the other half was visible, but it was not. There were too many clouds. But in an instant, God didn’t disappoint and revealed the left arc!

My heart was lightened by the beauty and I started home. As if the moment was not enough, a song started on the radio – one to remind me to savor every moment. I cranked it up, rolled down the windows, and sang my heart out…..

Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying Lyrics
Artist: Tim McGraw
Album: Live Like You Were Dying
Genre: Country

He said, "I was in my early forties with a lot of life before me
When a moment came that stopped me on a dime
I spent most of the next days, looking at the x-rays
Talking 'bout the options and talking 'bout sweet times"

I asked him when it sank in
That this might really be the real end
"How's it hit 'cha when you get that kind of news?
Man, what'd ya do?" He said

"I went skydiving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'"

And he said, "Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dyin'"

He said, "I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn't
And I became a friend, a friend would like to have"
And all of a sudden goin' fishin' wasn't such an imposition
And I went three times that year I lost my dad"

"Well I, I finally read the good book
And I took a good, long hard look
At what I'd do if I could do it all again
And then"

"I went skydiving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denyin'"

And he said, "Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dyin'"

"Skydiving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin'"

And he said, "Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dyin'"
To live like you were dyin'
To live like you were dyin'
To live like you were dyin'
To live like you were dyin'

Enjoy every moment!

January 27, 2022 by Positive Throw Back Thursday

Smudges

I used to wonder how my father could see through his glasses.  Often times they were spotty and cloudy with smudges.  When I noticed them looking that way, I would offer to clean them for him.  He said he didn’t notice anything different, until he put the freshly cleaned ones back on.  “Much better honey.  Thank you” he would say.

I am now wearing glasses and have realized the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  I sometimes don’t notice the smudges until they get really bad.

This memory got me thinking.  How often do we walk through our days letting others cloud our vision, judgement or attitude?  How often do we view ourselves through self-imposed cloudy lenses (insecurities, ego, past failures)?  

Live in the Positive

Check your lenses often and clean them as necessary.  The clarity of life is great without smudges.  

With Love, Blessings and Peace

January 25, 2022 by Positive

Whatever Task you Undertake…

Whatever task you undertake, do it with all your heart and soul. Always be courteous, never be discouraged. Beware of him who promises something for nothing. Do not blame anybody for your mistakes and failures. Do not look for approval except the consciousness of doing your best.

~Bernard M. Baruch

January 23, 2022 by Positive Quotes

Powerful Prayer

As I recognize I have crested the halfway mark in life, there are so many questions I keep asking myself (not that this is an uncommon thing – If you know me, I ask a ton of questions).  The big one is – Who am I and who do I want to be when I grow up (my translation – what positive impact can I make in this life)? 

Last year my night time monkey mind (insomnia) was getting worse and it was suggested that I try using an app on my phone called Insight Timer.  It helped me immensely.  After finding success with the night time meditations I started exploring more of the app.  One meditation led to a prayer which led to another which led to the reintroduction of the prayer below. 

I hope you enjoy this prayer as much as I do.

With Love, Peace, and Blessings, 

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

January 18, 2022 by Prayers

Happy 2022

As we enter 2022, a lot of us put pressure on ourselves to start resolutions (promises).  No more sweets, get back into the gym, get more organized, blah, blah, blah.  

On our last yoga practice of the year, our Yogi spoke to all of us, but it really hit home.

“I was thinking about this whole thought of New Year’s Resolutions.  You all know that that is not one of my favorite things because I feel like that is too much pressure. I like to invite and intention for the year, word of the year.” 

“Why do we think, we, as collective humans, that we need to fix ourselves; that we aren’t complete the way we are?  And, I want to really remind you on this last Thursday of the year, this last practice together of the year, that you are whole.  You are completely perfect just the way you are.  OK?  I don’t care if you can hold a balance pose for 5 minutes, if you can stand on your head, you are completely perfect the way you are.”  

“I think it is time for all of us to let go of that pressure of wanting to just be all for everyone, because we can’t. What we can do, is we can hold space for ourselves and the rest will kind of fall into place.”

~Stacey Morin, Yogi, Powerful YOU Yoga

Wishing you all a positive, healthy, happy, joyful, blessed, abundant and prosperous 2022!

Definition of New Year’s resolution

: a promise to do something differently in the new year

Her New Year’s resolution is to exercise regularly.1

Essential Meaning of intention

: the thing that you plan to do or achieve : an aim or purpose2

  • Merriam-Webster
  • Merriam-Webster

January 18, 2022 by Positive