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Posts tagged ‘Health’

Jun 18

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Today

“The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain common work as it comes certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

When we realize that happiness quietly resides in each moment, each day, our reality shifts. Regardless of the burdens that we all carry, we can walk lightly on a new path. What will you make of today? That’s all you have to answer for. Pretty simple.

Jun 15

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Stand Out

“No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.” – George Washington Carver

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

Do not merely blend in, go along to get along, fit into the pack. Conformity dulls and mutes beautiful color. Define yourself and live it without hesitation, leaving more behind because you passed by. We are here to be salt and light, to stand out. Be bold and transform yourself and in turn the world.

Jun 3

This Day

“This day will not come again.” – Thomas Merton

Give to it and receive from it.

May 20

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Lean Back

“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.” – Eleonora Duse

“The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris

“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris

The view changes when we take time to lean back and see the horizon before us and beyond us. We often lean in too hard and fast, getting lost in over-committing, multitasking, competing, comparing, complaining. Lean back and go bigger than making a living and start making a life. Lean in to the moment fully – work, play, family, friends, faith – with attention and delight, not weight and burden. Enjoy each and move on to the next, coming back when it’s time. A rhythm of leaning in and leaning back. Time won’t wait for you to enjoy your life, neither should you.

May 14

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Agreement

“Happiness, contentment, the health and growth of the soul, depend, as men have proved over and over again, upon some simple issue, some single turning of the soul.” – George A. Smith

When we quiet the noise, we realize that much of our conflict is created by us – thoughts, assumptions, gossip, keeping score, coasting. Driven by us then conveniently projected on others. Our pursuit of getting others in agreement with us is futile. The starting and ending point is getting in agreement with ourselves. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz beautifully summarizes key agreements for us to own. Pretty simple and profound. We can get in agreement and it really is our choice.

“Be Impeccable with Your Word
Speak with integrity.  Say only what you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.  With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.  Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.”

May 5

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Dare

A few months ago, I watched a TED video featuring Brene Brown (http://www.brenebrown.com/) speaking on her years of research on vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame. I am now reading her book “Daring Greatly”. She starts the book with the following quote from Theodore Roosevelt that is my daily reminder to dare greatly in all that I do – work, play, relationships.

The Man in the Arena, Theodore Roosevelt

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic  delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910

On Saturday, I ran the “Run & Dye” 5k to support a friend who was running her first 5k – daring something new and different. 8000 people gathering to throw powdered dye at each other – crazy, fun and memorable. What an honor to be invited to be a part of someone’s first event, to share the victory, to be in the arena – dye and all.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” – Maya Angelou

Today, I ran a half marathon with my “Sole Sisters” Jeanne and Linda – a beautiful morning, celebrating the joy of movement, distance and good friends cheering each other to the finish line and to share more time in the “arena”.

As I get older, I choose to surround myself with people who dare me, feed my spirit and who want to be in the arena with me to enjoy life, to try harder despite the odds and to never, never, never give up.

Thanks Suz, Jeanne and Linda for being with me in the arena this weekend daring greatly, enjoying each moment.

Apr 24

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Seek Joy

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

“After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” - William R. Alger

“After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.” – William R. Alger

What you look for you will find. So if you’re looking for something to complain about or someone to talk about, there will be plenty to find. Cynicism, complaint and negativity are easy and decrease our capacity to see beauty and blessings. Adventure into joy every day. First step – SMILE. My “life coaches” Lily and Molly teach me this each and every day. Seek and find joy and good in all. Cheers!

Apr 21

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Deep Gratitude

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie

Each and every day, pause the shallow chaos of busy and go deeper to gratitude. In simple moments with family, friends or by yourself, appreciate the goodness in your life, the gifts of people and place. In quiet awe and reverence, let joy permeate your being. Life is an ocean, deep and beautiful. Dive in.

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

Apr 12

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A Few Degrees

“Small change, small wonders – these are the currency of my endurance and ultimately of my life.” – Barbara Kingsolver

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.” – Helen Keller

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.” – Helen Keller

This year, our April showers became four-eight inches of snow with a shift in a few degrees. On the surface, it’s wearing. As winter lingers, anticipation of spring grows strong accompanied with impatience. Beneath the surface, we are reminded that change and transformation happens in just a few degrees.

Apr 9

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Bright light

“The Great Creator lives within each of us. All of us contain a divine, expressive spark, a creative candle intended to light our path and that of our fellows. We are shiny, not tarnished; large, not small; beautiful, not damaged – although we may be ignorant of our grace, power, and dignity. – Julia Cameron, Walking in this World

We have the tendency to count the wrong things – shortcomings, faults, what we don’t have. Be and look for light and your world becomes brighter, shadows overcome. Actively encourage others to share their light in accord. We all rise when each of us is lifted, allowed to be brighter. Release and illuminate your grace, power, and dignity. Celebrate with deep gratitude all that is right now and what can be magnified with, through and by your light at full strength. Put your sunglasses on, bright lights ahead.

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