Motivational Monday – Joy

 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18

Each year I decide on a word of the year as a mindset for guiding my daily walk. My word for this year is joy. I was deciding between a couple of words, then a colleague gave a coffee mug for Christmas, with one single word on it – Joy. Aaah, joy would be my word.

One sunshiny but cold winter day, I sat at one of my favorite writing spots working on a few projects. Sipping Hazelnut coffee and eating chicken with wild rice soup, along with a Fugi Apple salad, I was feeling energized. I outlined my blog post about finding joy even while going through frustrating situations.

The outline included tips on ways to experience joy. A few hours later, satisfied with what I’d accomplished during my writing session, I bundled up and headed home. I turned on the  car radio; I know a radio may sound antiquated to some people, but I still use mine in this age of XM radio.

YouTube Video Credit: Commodores - Brick House Audio

I don't own the rights to this song.

The DJ was playing a throwback from the 1970’s – Brick House by the Commodores. I blasted the volume and had my own car concert going. I was moving my shoulders and bouncing my head to the beat of the music. My energy remained high…until I attempted to pull into my driveway.

The snow removal folks (whomever they were) had cleaned my street and pushed all the snow in front of my driveway. I thought I could drive over it. My tires began spinning, I put the car in reverse, got a little traction, drove forward again, the car moved a little further into the driveway, then stopped. The tires were spinning again with no forward movement. My joy was fading fast.

I got out of the car, grabbed a shovel from the garage, and began chopping at the snow around my tires. I bent my legs like one does when completing a squat as part of an exercise routine. Scooping chunks of snow, the size of small boulders, I tossed them to the other side of the driveway. Finally, I was ready to get behind the wheel of the car again.

Once behind the wheel of the car, I shifted into reverse and the car began to move over a stretch of solid packed snow. Then I heard a loud ripping sound and stopped immediately. I got out of the car and saw that my front bumper was ripped out of place and my car sat halfway in the street.

A neighbor drove slowly past then backed up and asked if I needed help. Looking dejected, I said, “No, I just messed up my car. I’ll call my son.” To say my spirit was deflated is an understatement. I went into the house, flopped down into an armchair near my front window and hoped no one would hit my car. And if they did, oh well, there was nothing else I could do at that moment.

Joy –  was evasive at that moment. Hours earlier I was bubbly and upbeat, writing about how to have joy. Now thrown into a situation where I needed to follow my own advice. It was not easy. My best advice at that moment was to first breathe and be still. I had to remind myself not to sweat the things I can’t control. Still not easy.

As I sat and waited for my son, I pulled out the notes I had planned for this blog post. Here are five ways to find joy amid difficulties:

1.      Notice one thing that didn’t go wrong today.

2.      Choose joy even though everything isn’t figured out.

3.      Text someone for no other reason than to say, “thinking of you.”

4.      Take a walk and wave at random people like you know them.

5.      Rest without earning it – no need to justify why you want to rest, just do it.

What do you do to find joy when it tries to evade you?

 

 

 

Motivational Monday – Humor and the Holidays: A 3-step approach to happiness during the holidays

I am…

I can…

I will…

I am happy.

I can do whatever I set my mind to do.

I will, relax, rejuvenate, and rejoice.

What are your plans for the upcoming Holiday season? Will you spend Thanksgiving with family, friends, or feasting on a smaller level? Before you bake that first pie, or baste your turkey, take a moment to think about what this season means to you.

If it’s happiness you’re seeking, begin with gratitude, sprinkle with humor, and drizzle with fun. I’ve often heard happiness described as a state of mind. If this statement is true, start by conditioning your mind to believe that you ARE happy. Go through your day as though you already have what you are seeking.

Below are three steps to help you find happiness during the holidays.

Step 1  Practice mindfulness – focus on being in the moment without worrying about all the tasks that need to be done during the holiday. Being in the moment means enjoying the process rather than rushing to get to the end result.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming holiday, find a way to add lightheartedness to whatever you do. I did this very thing the other day. I was in the Holiday spirit, creating my gift giving list when a thought hit me – did I pay my auto loan this month? I had not.

I quickly called the finance company to make a payment over the phone. The customer service person was friendly, he asked how my day was going. It could have been part of his training, to put the customer at ease about the chunk of money they’re about to give up. He was pleasant so I accepted his comments.

After making the payment, the representative said, “I will email your receipt.”

He recited my email address. When he saw it contained the word writer, our conversation took a different direction. “Oh, you’re a writer. Do you write fiction, non-fiction?”

“I write children’s books, essays, and comedy.”

“Oh, you do stand up? Can you give me one line.”

I paused as a chuckle rose from my belly. My quiet thoughts said, ok, just go with this.

“I’ll tell you one of my opening lines… I used to be a brick house, now I’m just happy with a CLEAN house.”

I was rewarded with a hearty laugh from the friendly customer service guy. So, I asked, “Now, do I get a discount for telling you a joke?” He laughed louder.

I did not receive a discount, but Mr. Friendly said I made his day. I had fun at that moment even though I had to pay that bill before I could do some fun shopping.

 

Step 2  Create a mantra – come up with a positive phrase that you repeat daily (in the morning and again before you go to bed). This could be as simple as coming up with I am statements such as the one I used at the beginning of this post.

 

Step 3  Have Fun – Allow yourself to relax, breathe and have fun. Change your perspective on tasks that you do during the Holiday. Instead of saying I have to go shopping for my five nieces and nephews. Say I get to go shopping for my nieces and nephews.

While you’re shopping take the time to enjoy the twinkling lights in the stores, and the songs blaring through the speakers. Dance in the aisle if you want.

Happiness is a state of mind. We have to train our minds for the joy we want to feel.

I am…I can…I will. How will you complete these statement?

I am Hott Flash, your Humor Doctor, and I am prescribing laughter for your Holiday season; one dose at a time.

Find something to laugh about during your day. Leave something funny in the comments.

Motivational Monday – National Brain Health Month

 

Are you keeping your brain healthy? The month of June is recognized as National Brain Month. Focus on things that bring awareness to your self-care and wellness. A few ways to accomplish this include – exercise, socialization, and being mentally active.

One method I use for mental health is to practice yoga and meditation. I am not at the top of the class when it comes to meditation, my mind won’t cooperate. The soft voice guiding the meditation says, “relax your mind.”

My mind immediately snaps back at the calm voice – I need to make a grocery list, put a load of clothes in the wash…what time does the bank close today?

The voice continues, softly rolling instructions from her tongue like a ball of yarn unraveling. My legs are crossed, my back is straight, and my eyes are closed. My mind…still not relaxed.

The friendly voice says, “inhale.” What I hear is in hell. My mind lashes out at the voice, who’s in hell. I’m not going to hell. I’m trying to live right, get my body right. I don’t want to be in hell.

After a couple more deep breaths, I refocused. I realized I’d had a flash back to my childhood days where we studied words that sound alike but have different meanings. I believe those are called homophones.

The same as we practiced our lessons in childhood, there are still things we can learn as aging adults. Perhaps there is an activity you have considered trying but kept putting it off. Challenge yourself to try something new this month.

Invest in yourself this month, exercise, eat healthy, socialize, and focus on your mental health. You deserve it.

Motivational Monday - Memorial Day Inspiration

 

YouTube Video Credit: True Wordings

Motivational Monday – National Entrepreneur’s Day

My son's Luxury Car Rental business

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Michael Jordan is known for saying this quote. For Michael Jordan, this quote related to his determination in the area of basketball. Apply this quote to an area in your life.

Have you ever thought about being an entrepreneur? National Entrepreneur’s Day is recognized on November 15. If your passion is to start a business of your own, but you’ve pushed the thought aside, now is a good time to refocus. What is your why? Why do you want to go into business. Your why needs to be strong in order to drive your determination.

If you have no desire to be an entrepreneur, don’t stop reading yet. You can participate in National Entrepreneur’s Day by supporting an entrepreneur. Perhaps you know a friend, or a friend of a friend who has started a business. Help them get the word out about their product. Mention them on social media or connect them with someone who may benefit from their product.

Commercial break over, back to your passion.

My sons both decided they wanted to own their own businesses. They have been working almost a year to lay their foundation, establish connections etc. I asked one son what made him want to start his own business.

“I always wanted to be a CEO. I learned in college about what it means to be an entrepreneur.”

I also asked my son what advice he would give someone interested in becoming an entrepreneur.

“Know what you’re good at and what you’re willing to do; dedicate your energy to that.”

I asked my other son what the driving force behind his decision was to start his own business. He said, “I like the freedom that comes with it, being on your own schedule and time frame.”

The next question I asked my son was, “How did you figure out what you wanted to do?”

“I asked questions about everyday life, figured out what I was good at then worked to master my skills.”

My sons are still working to achieve their goals, they know it will take time and dedication. They have a strong why…I think it’s to get out of Mama’s space.

My takeaway from the conversation with my sons is that you can do whatever you set your to do. Create a plan and work your plan.

My son's Logistics Business

I’ve posted a picture/flyer about each sons’ business. Support an entrepreneur today or get started on your business if that is your dream. Reach for the stars. Take a shot, and keep taking them…Michael Jordan did.

 

Motivational Monday – Connection Lost – Keeping the faith through a storm

 

My computer screen was filled with a gazillion emails from my inbox. I set aside time and began to tackle some of them when an error message popped up that said, connection lost. There wasn’t a total black out, but I was stalled in reading my emails or doing anything else on my computer.

My temporary moment of inconvenience gave me time to redirect my tasks. I pulled a devotional from my bookshelf and began to re-read a few pages that were folded down. A quote at the bottom of the page read, “Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need.” -Mother Teresa

What do we do when the storms of life are raging? A first reaction may be to panic, worry, or feel overwhelmed. This is the time to put your hope in the Lord, no matter what your circumstances. Don’t lose your connection. Remain anchored in your faith. There are battles that we fight for our kids, our health, our finances, but we push through. That’s faith.

There’s a gospel song I’m reminded of with the following lyrics: There’s a storm out over the ocean and it’s moving this way. If your souls not anchored in Jesus, you will surely drift away. Keep the connection of your faith. It may not seem like it when you’re going through a challenge, but storms do pass. Your faith will help you push through it.

You may be familiar with the acronym P.U.S.H., - Pray Until Something Happens, it’s one to keep in the forefront of your mind. Prayer is one tool to keep in your toolbox of faith. No need to navigate the sea of troubles alone. Keep in mind that prayer does not only have to be used in times of struggle. You can send out prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude for the things you have.

If you feel like you’re alone and your connection to your faith has been lost, reconnect. All is not lost, renew your faith today.

Motivational Monday – Do Not Give Up – 3 Scriptures to Encourage Your Success

 

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,

When funds are low and debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don’t quit.

Author Unknown

 

Circumstances in life can make it easy for us to become discouraged. It’s easy to give up, but it takes courage and determination to stick with something when you feel challenged. Above is one stanza from the popular poem Don’t Quit. I like the line that says, “rest if you must, but don’t quit.”

 

When you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain tired…pause…rest, and find something that encourages you. It can be difficult to focus on success with work, school, or anything else, when situations are less than ideal. Below are three scriptures that encourage success.

 

·         “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3 ESV

·         “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 ESV

·         “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 ESV

Each day build time into your schedule to pause, rest, meditate. Think about the direction you want your life to take, pray about it. Believe it and you will achieve it.

Do not give up. Don’t Quit

 

Motivational Monday – The Weight Loss Journey – 3 Ideas for Surviving a Challenge

 

I’m working once again to lose my post-pregnancy weight…it’s been 25 years...since the baby. There have been peaks and valleys, fitness regimens and meal plans; Just when I thought I had things under control, menopause slapped me in the face. I hit a plate, a brick wall, a stand-off.

In school we learned the theory of man against man, man against nature and man against himself. We can now include woman against her waistline. There are many days that I wish my superpower was appetite control, but since it isn’t, I go with Plan B – live joyously anyway.

I’m not going down without a good fight, and if you’re facing a challenge, you don’t have to either. How do you encourage yourself through a challenge?

Here are 3 fun ideas for surviving a challenge:

1.      Play the song I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor – sing along with the song (really loudly), say the words like you believe them.

YouTube Video: I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

2.      Play the Rocky theme song – do this one at home. Put on a pair a loose-fitting jogging outfit, leggings, or anything comfortable. Bounce around your room like you’re preparing for a boxing match. Let the song lead you. Here are some of the lyrics to put you in the moment – Trying hard now. It’s so hard now. Getting strong now.

YouTube Video: Rocky theme song - Gonna Gly Now

You can count this as part of your fitness for the day.

3.      Do something fun – go easy on yourself. Allow yourself to relax, do something fun, the regroup later to refocus on your situation.

You can apply these ideas to a weight loss journey or a different difficult situation you’re facing. I’ve found that it helps to sprinkle any situation with humor.

My sons are encouraging when I complain about my weight struggles. They say things like, “Ma, you look fine, you’re probably gaining muscle.”

I started to buy into his theory. An invisible thought bubble formed above my head, and my eyes shifted upward – maybe I am gaining muscle. I looked at my right arm, then my left, and lifted each one into a bicep curl.

“I see your muscles Ma,” my son gave my arm a firm squeeze.”

A toothy grin erupted on my face, it was a proud moment for my arms, but then…

I looked down at my stomach, it looked back at me as if to say, I’m not with them, don’t set your expectations high.

And that my friend, is how I use humor to make it through.

If you’re on a weight loss journey or another challenge, silence your inner critic and keep pushing forward. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight, consistency pays off.

Go through your day with laughter as your sidekick.

Motivational Monday – Energy follows Focus

 

What is your focus?

A thought for the day – Energy follows focus. I saw this statement while reading a blog post (The Morning Nudge).The essence of that statement is that you should focus on the positive things in life rather than the negative.

We all have days where things don’t go as planned, or we’re feeling drained. Flop down in a comfy spot on your couch, or a favorite chair, and soak in the peacefulness of your environment. If you’re not in a quiet spot, find one.

Make time to invite positive energy into each day. If you haven’t already done so, start a gratitude journal. At the end of each day answer these questions:

1.      What made me happy?

2.      What brought me a sense of peace and comfort today?

3.      What can I celebrate that I did right?

These questions were taken from The Morning Nudge (7-1-22) by Suzanne Lieurance, Writing Coach. Follow her blog for more motivation.

What is it that needs your focus...fitness goals, financial goals, health and wellness?

Allow yourself to enjoy life. Set yourself up to experience positive energy. You’re worth it.

Motivation Monday - Memorial Day – 3 Interesting Facts

Photo Credit:memorialdayforyou.epizy.com

Memorial Day is a time to honor military personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Observed on the last Monday in May, this Holiday has many interesting facts associated with it.

Below are 3 Facts associated with Memorial Day.

1.      Waterloo observed the first Memorial Day on May 5, 1866. The celebration consisted of a community-wide event in which residents decorated the graves of soldiers and local businesses closed down for the festivities.

2.      In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.

3.      By 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act went into effect, and Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday that would occur on the last Monday in May.

These facts were taken from the article – Memorial Day Facts 2022, 15 Things to Know AboutHistory, Origin of Holiday.

To all veteran’s, thank you for your service. To families of fallen soldiers, blessings to you.

Check out words of hope by poet Amanda Gorman. 

YouTube Video Credit: CBS Morning ANews April 17, 2020

Motivational Monday – 7 Ways to Celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day

 

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” John F. Kennedy

 

National Senior Health and Fitness Day was established to focus on the betterment of the health of Seniors. The goal is to help Seniors “stay fit and healthy.” (Nationalday.com)This national day was established by the Mature Market Resource Center, and is celebrated on the last Wednesday in May, which this year is May 25^th.

Did you know that over 1,200 locations celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day? I didn’t know either until I stumbled upon an article. If this isn’t reason enough to get you moving toward health and fitness, below are 7 easy ways to get you started.

1.      Take a nature walk

2.      Drop-in on a fitness class

3.      Join a wellness challenge – if you don’t know of a challenge happening in your area, grab a few friends and create your own challenge. Use National Fitness Day  as a kickoff day for a longer challenge. You could make your challenge a 5-week event with rewards for goals you accomplish.

4.      Schedule a doctor’s visit – if you haven’t had a check-up in a while schedule an appointment, don’t put it off. You may have heard the saying, health is wealth. Invest in yourself.

5.      Dance – dance in your kitchen, swirl into the living room, moon walk to your bedroom. No matter the style of dance you choose, use dance as a fun way to move your body.

6.      Work in a garden – this can have a double benefit, exercise and relaxing at the same time. There’s a peaceful feeling to working in a garden. Eventually you

can use the fruits of your labor to prepare a healthy meal.

7.      Play a game that stimulates brain health – there are plenty of apps around that you can download to your phone. One of my favorites are the word searches. These are quick and fun to do while standing in line at the grocery store, waiting at a doctor’s appointment or some other appointment.

What would you add to the list of ways to celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day?

“Action is the foundational key to all successes.” – Pablo Picasso

Motivational Monday – Feed Your Body & Your Soul

 

What do you do when You’re feeling hungry? You seek food. At a woman’s health event that I attended; the theme was Feed Your Body & Your Soul. As believers in Christ, the message was that you feed your soul though the Fruit of the Spirit.

May is Women’s Health Care Month. As you feed nutrients to your body, don’t let your soul starve. Feast on the Fruit of the Spirit which are – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Let’s focus on one fruit today – Joy. According to Rose Publishing, joy is more than happiness. “It is not based on financial success, good health, or popularity. By believing in God obeying his will, receiving his forgiveness, participating in fellowship with other believers, ministering to others, and sharing the Gospel, believers experience joy.”

There was joy in the room as I sat and listened to a speaker feed us nutritional facts for our bodies. She shared things we can do to have increased energy and improve our sleep. One of the things that stood out for me was that we need to “feed your gut fiber. Fiber comes from plants.”

We are encouraged to eat a variety of foods that provide fiber, not simply the same foods over and over. Beans are high in fiber, as well as other proteins. Whole grains also made the list of things to include in our diet. Always on the list for feeding our bodies is to drink plenty of water.

Your body is now on its way to being well fed; time to feed your soul. You can do this through prayer, Bible Study, attending a retreat, or attending a church service. Perhaps listening to gospel music energizes you or soothes your soul. Find a positive connection that strengthens your faith and adds to your feeling of joy.

One other thing the event speaker encouraged was to, “invite social connectedness as part of your healthy lifestyle.”

Chew on this – when you feed your body and soul the proper nutrients, you can increase your well-being. What will you feed your body and soul?

Motivational Monday – Women’s Health Care Month – 3 Ways to celebrate

 

It’s time to make your health a priority. Does that statement sound like a cliché? Yes it is, but it’s a cliché worth repeating, over and over, until it sticks with us. The month of May is celebrated as Women’s Health Care Month. If you are already laser-focused on your health, encourage a friend, or loved one to do the same.

Here are 3 ways to celebrate Women’s Health Month.

1.      Focus on doing one thing to improve your health. Doing that one thing consistently, over time can make a big difference. If you already have a routine, add a new or different component.

2.      Schedule quiet time everyday. Even if you only have 5-10 minutes to spare, tune everything out and sit quietly (or listen to birds singing, watch a sun set, hum a song). If it’s the middle of the day and you need a break at lunch time…take it. A few minutes away can help you to feel rejuvenated. I’m speaking from experience.

Don’t tell anyone, but one sunny day during lunch, I sat in my car with the seat reclined,  my feet out the window, and reading a book. It was ultimate relaxation.

3.      Journal. Don’t discount the benefits of journaling. You’ve probably heard it said a thousand times that , “journaling is therapeutic.” Well, try it and see.

No matter how you choose to observe Women’s Health Care Month, the most important thing is to show yourself love and self-acceptance. Make one change today towards improving your health.

 

Motivational Monday – Order My Steps

 

Sometimes my thoughts race around in the manner of the picture book, If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. I’ll start doing something and it makes me think of something else, which leads me in yet another direction. It happened this way…

I starred at all the shoes scattered near my front door. What a mess. I blew a breath of frustrated air from my mouth and got silly with the shoes. An invisible thought bubble popped above my head. I was reminded of the gospel song, Order My Steps, which reminded me that I’d written a previous blog post titled Order My Steps. So here we are…

A past blog post worth sharing again.

 

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23

How do you walk through your day? A long day at work can leave one feeling drained, worn out, and sapped of energy. Judging by the trail of shoes near my front door, that’s exactly what happened.

As I kicked off my shoes at the end of the day, I plopped onto the couch to unwind. In a brief moment of relaxation, I glanced at the shoes, and reflected on my day. The position of the shoes remined me of the gospel song, Order My Steps. The lyrics to the song say, “Order my steps in your word dear Lord. Lead me, guide me every day.”

Beginning the day with prayer is one way to prepare yourself for the day ahead. You fuel your body with food and your car with gas, it’s important to fuel your mind as well. Read a devotional, meditate, engage in something peaceful at the start of your day. You’ll find that you get more milage to get through your day.

If you ask God to order your steps, be ready to move your feet. If you say, Lord help me to get along with Karen today, she aggravates me; be ready for how he answers. When Karen comes up to you with a negative attitude, murmuring and complaining, resist the urge to cuss her out in your head (or out loud). Your steps are being ordered. How will you handle the situation?

If you need a reminder to calm yourself, get one of those W.W.J.D. bracelets and slide it on your wrist. You may remember them from the 1990’s, the thin wristband held acronym W.W.J.D. which stood for What Would Jesus Do. The significance of the bracelet was to remind the wearer to “act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through their actions.”

You don’t have to run this race called life, alone. Let your steps be ordered by the Lord. Begin each day in a quiet place, do something that provides you with peace or inspiration. Fill your spiritual with something positive. Before you respond to a situation think about the W.W.J.D. bracelet. What would Jesus do?

 

Motivational Monday - World Poetry Day - 3 Ways to observe

Words are sweet music to the soul. World Poetry Day is the perfect opportunity to blend words and sounds to create a poem that dances from your lips into the atmosphere. This national holiday is celebrated on March 21^st.

If someone asked you to share one poem that motivates you, what would you share? It would be hard for me to choose just one poem. Two of my favorites are Don’t Quit, and Footsteps in the Sand. Since I’ve shared those recently, I’ll share a different source of motivation today, The Serenity Prayer.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the SENERITY to accept the things I cannot change, The COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference.

 

Below are two poems recited through video, that can serve as inspiration.

If - by Rudyard Kipling - Read by Miciael Caine

YouTube Video Credit: Upgrade Your Mindset

Invictus by William Henley - Read by Morgan Freeman

YouTube Credit:  Upgrade Your Mindset

Here are 3 ways you can observe World Poetry Day:

1.      Write a poem

2.      Host a poetry slam – gather a few friends, identify a theme, and read your original poems or something by your favorite poet. Set the atmosphere at home by diming the lights in a room of your home, serve light snacks and beverages of your choice, and start the show by snapping your fingers.

3.      Give a book of poetry t someone as a gift

Ideas one and two were adapted from Nationaltoday.com.

Leave a comment about how you will observe World Poetry Day.

  

Motivational Monday – Where do you find courage?

 

Do you have the courage to succeed? Sure you do. Where do you find your courage? Merriam Webster defines courage as, “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.”

Perhaps your courage comes in the form of faith, family, or friends. Kind words and gestures can inspire courage as well as things we read and stories we hear.

A friend gave me a decorative tin box that fits in the palm of my hand. On the lid of the tin are the words,  Give it to God. The inside of the box holds the words Prayer Box. Included also is a three-inch pencil and a miniature pad of paper to write prayers or challenges you want to give to God.

The little tin box is a reminder for me to have the courage let go of things that cause worry or stress. There’s no magic to this process, but it does require faith, positive thoughts, and more faith. One of my favorite poems is Don’t Quit, here is it below.

Don't Quit
by Edgar A. Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit -
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he
Might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems
To a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up when he
Might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And when you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst,
You must not quit.

 

Where do you find courage?

Motivational Monday – Laughter Wellness

 

Photo Credit: westmont.org

“Laughter can improve your mood.” I’ve seen this statement many times and I believe it. I came across an article recently that talked about Laughter Wellness. An invisible thought bubble popped above my head that said, “now that’s something I’d like to hear more about.”

The concept of Laughter Wellness is to spark laughter and positive energies while improving peoples’ health and quality of life. If you want to learn more about this, check out the article, A New Vision of Wellness. In the meantime, practice using your smile muscles.

We can surely find a reason to smile every day. If nothing jumps out at you that causes you to smile, create an opportunity. Here’s a story for you…

My son washed his clothes the other day, which is not a new concept for him. Afterall, he is a responsible young adult. However, when I opened the door to our compact laundry room, it looked like the aftermath of fireworks display or a kaleidoscope that popped open. I said, “buddy, did you pull your clothes from the dryer and toss them in the air?”

This laundry episode reminded me of a picture book titled, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. My spoof of this title would be, Don’t Let Your Son Do the Laundry. Better yet it could be a spin-off of the picture book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. You may be familiar with this book. The mouse was given a cookie, then he wanted milk to go with it. When he received the milk, he wanted something else.

In my story the main character would be a lion named Larry and the book would be titled – If you give Larry Laundry. Larry is a lion who roars about everything. He roars about cleaning his room, her roars about making his bed, but most of all he roars about doing laundry. What happens if you give Larry laundry to wash?

If you give Larry laundry to wash…he’ll want to use all of the laundry detergent.

Once he uses all of the laundry detergent…the washing machine will overflow, and he’ll need to use all of the clean towels to soak up the water and suds.

Guess what? I just made up this scenario as I’m typing this blog post. It is not well thought out, but it brought a smile to  my face, and could turn into a fun story for a child.

What does all this have to do with laughter wellness? It’s about finding something that makes you smile and lightens your mood.

How will you use laughter today to lighten your mood, and set off positive energies?

Motivational Monday – Embrace each chapter of your life

 

Embrace aging

I can name 56 flaws as I embrace Chapter 56 of my life. Instead, I choose to focus on chapter 56 with faith, fun, and feeling fabulous. What chapter are you on in your book of life?

When your birthday rolls around do you run and bury your head in the sand or hide  underneath your bed covers and refuse to surface? Don’t do it.

The countdown has begun for my 56^th birthday. Yes, I know the saying, a woman isn’t supposed to tell her age. Well, I just did, and I wasn’t struck down. Embrace your age.

As I encourage myself, I encourage you to embrace who you are, where you are. Our word this week is embrace. Here is a reminder of the definition of embrace:

“The act of accepting something willingly or enthusiastically.”

Now for your challenge…

Take your age or half your age and create a list of positive words or phrases about yourself. Make up words if you want, as long as you have fun in the process. Don’t think too hard about it, set a timer, and go. You don’t have to show your list to anyone, so brag on yourself. Here is a list to jump-start your thinking:

Start with and I AM statement.

I AM…

Beautiful     Caring     Fun     Good Friend     Prospering    

Fantabulous     Intelligent     Giving     Dependable     Kind

Honest     Smart     Unique

Consider this exercise as part of your path on the road to wellness and increased self-care. What route will you take? This week I’m taking Route 56. The road will be paved with 56 kind words, quotes, phrases or whatever I come up with.

Every day for the next week, remember our key word, embrace. If challenges come your way, embrace them too. Stop and ask yourself, what can I learn from this situation?

One way I embrace my uniqueness is to take my flaws and turn them into funnies (funny stories). For instance, there was a time I was starting a new nutrition program (for the millionth time). The plan included a day of cleansing.

Just to be clear, the reference wasn’t to cleanse as in washing your body with soap and water. It meant not eating. I was discussing the program with my son, I told him, “I can’t wait to go to bed, and wake up tomorrow to NOT eat all day.”

There you have it. I embraced my weight challenges and efforts with humor (sprinkled with sarcasm).

If you’re celebrating a birthday this week, this month, or in a coming month…Happy Birthday.

Keep pushing forward.

Have fun.

Embrace you!

Motivational Monday – Valentine’s Day Self-love – 4 Ideas for Celebrating You

 

The Hallmark Channel is showing RomCom's all day. Is it okay to call work and say you need the day off? Asking for a friend.

February is Loveuary…according to the Hallmark Channel. Their tag line is “love happens all month long.” Let’s take that tag line a step further and include self-love all month long. Make this an opportunity to bask in all things relaxing. Start with Valentine’s Day which is also a day for love.

Just in case you’re looking for non-traditional things to do for Valentine’s Day here’s a list of 4 ideas.

1.      Watch Rom Com’s (Romantic Comedies) – the Hallmark Channel plans to show romantic movies all day for Valentine’s Day. I don’t receive any compensation for mentioning this, I’m simply a fan of mushy movies, and mysteries.

2.      Watch a comedy show that has Valentine’s Day as the theme or has Valentine’s Day in their jokes. I came across a collection of Dry Bar Comedy clips where the comedians referred to Valentine’s Day.

YouTube Video Credit: Dry Bar Comedy

3.       Try a new recipe – Valentine related.

4.      Listen to soothing music  - it can be music with the word valentine in it, or love. It doesn’t matter the style or genre of music as long as it’s soothing to you. Check out Charlie Wilson's Forever Valentine.

Remember…February is Loveuary. Give yourself permission to love on yourself a little more.

Motivational Monday – A Day of Remembrance – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

Phtoto Credit: sentinel-echo.com

Today is a day of remembrance. This is the day set aside to honor civil rights activist Martin Luther King jr. His birthday became a national holiday in 1986. Dr. King believed in community service, empowerment, and non-violence. Today, many honor Dr. King’s life and his accomplishments as an influential leader.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speech was I Have a Dream. What is your dream? Is your dream on hold? Make today a day that you reflect and remember that dream you may have tucked away. Believe that you can make it happen.

“There is something to say about believing in your dreams. And having the support and courage to go after them. You can do anything you put your mind to.”  - Serena Williams

As you reflect on your dreams and the accomplishments of Dr. King, here are 3 ways you can observe this national holiday.

1.      Participate in a service event in your community – check local churches, your library, and your parks & recreation department for event.

2.      Visit a museum to explore the work of civil rights leaders.

3.      Remember Dr. King’s message of kindness and respect for others.

(above three points adapted from everydaypower.com)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr had a dream, Serena Williams had a dream, and you have a dream. Reflect. Remember, and go after your dream.