Take Good Care Of Yourself

I am a big believer in working out a few days a week and trying to eat sensibly. I try to go to the doctors once a year. I wasnt always this way I must admit. Thankfully our health insurance made it mandatory last year for everyone to go for a physical or the deductibles were going up. My husband said he paid way too much already and was not paying another dime because I was to fearful to go for a physical. Fearful I most definately was. But I faced the fear and went and all was well. That gave me the confidence to go again this year. Of course I panicked when I had my mamogram and my doctor recomended a sonogram also be done for fear of what they would find but went and all was fine. We cannot let the fear stop us from taking care of ourselves. We cannot let the stresses of life and all the demands on us stop us from taking time for us. We must stay healthy in order to be good to anyone else. That is physical health as well as mental and emotional health. We must find time to ourselves in this crazy world we are living in. It isnt easy but I refuse to get sick and neglect myself while taking care of everyone else. I am as important as everyone I am doing things for. Rejoice good health. We put so much effort into fixing the broken things when we do get sick....lets use all that emphasis and keep things healthy and happy so they dont break in the first place.

Respecting Each Others Privacy

I sometimes think we forget that everyone needs a little alone time. Of course we have to meet the demands of our daily responsibilities as well as family obligations but from time to time we need to shut a door and just have time alone. I sometimes think we feel guilty if we leave our aging parents home or get a baby sitter for our children and go out for a lunch or movie separately from them. It is very important however that we respect ourselves enough to do it. I think that the people we are leaving may just be happy to have their private time also. We feel we all have to be together all of the time but I think everyone of us tires and needs that few hours with nobody around. Lets try to respect our childrens privacy as well. Of course we have to ask questions and know where they are when they are young but if they want to be alone in their rooms for a while that is fine. They too tire and need space. Lets all respect that in each other. A little time apart can freshen everyone.

I LOVE books

Books, books, books and more books...I absolutely LOVE books...My happiest moment is first thing in the morning, nobody is up yet but me, my huge mug of coffee and my shittzu beside me and my book. HEAVEN!!!! I love inspiraiton...it gets me going to start my day positively. I have quite a collection...they mean as much to me as my journals and my photo albums. I am learning to go to the library for novels and books of that nature. There is only so much storage place for my books and those can always be taken out again if I really enjoyed the read. I also have a love for cookbooks and I am slowly trying to give some of them away as Im finding some of the recipes I can obtain on line and again storage does become an issue. I do however have my favorites of those as well...the ones with the stains are my keepsakes to one day pass on.. I hope to leave behind the memories of good meals and fun times together. Grab a good book whenever you get the chance. We should never stop learning and there is so much joy a book can bring. You dont have to spend a lot of money with the hobby of books. You can borrow them. You can share yours with others. I LOVE books!!!!!

A Few Of My Favorite Things Bread Pasta and Pizza

I live in Queens New York. I dont know if anyone realizes it but as far as Im concerned we have the BEST pizza in the world. Dont give me any of the fast food pizza....We also in New York City have the best bread in the world. It must have something to do with our water because even my family in Long Island beg us to bring city bread every time we visit. I however was diagnosed with very high cholesterol.....so my favorite thing..pizza with all the cheese has to be a treat and I can eat the bread but its no fun without butter.....What fun is pasta without the melted cheese too!!!....Whatever will I do? Well I suppose I will be grateful it is not a more serious illness to start with. I suppose I will be grateful that I can eat fresh fruits, vegetgables and that I live in a place that I can get them in abundance versus others who would love to have what I take for granted. When we put things into perspective and step away from the emotion we realize this really is not that big a deal. My real favorite thing is wanting to live a long and healthy life. I can still occasionally stop in my bakery and the pizza store next to it and have a fun day. From time to time I can even buy a delicious Italian pastry....we have such abundance here in New York City. It is all about control and discipline and knowing treats are something we have to look forward to.

Words Can Hurt As Well As Heal

Whoever came up with the line sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me was wrong. I think it is great to think this way.I wish we all could shrug off people that may say something mean or hurtful. It is not easy to do. I believe words can most definately heal us as well as hurt us. There are power in words. Let us all try to select our words carefully. A compliment can go a long way in helping someone. Lets start today to user nicer words when speaking to each other.

Chew Your Food 10 Times Before Swallowing

I was eating dinner the other night and Mom said to me, my goodness Donna, you sure do eat too fast. Your going to have problems with your stomach one day. After she brought this to my attention I realized I do eat fast. I dont know why I eat fast. Maybe its because I just want to get the kitchen cleaned up and finally rest as dinner is the end of the day. Since she mentioned it I do try to be more aware and chew longer and slower before swallowing but I must admit I really do forget. Old habits are hard to break I suppose. I always joke and say I eat to survive. Im not one of these people that necessarily find enjoyment in eating. Mom is correct though. It really is very bad for digestion when we swallow larger pieces of food. How does one stop this? I guess I will just have to eat more soups and things that dont require chewing. My point in the blog, it is crazy what people notice. I am 50 years old and this is the first time in my life I was told I eat too fast.Ive been told I talk loud and too much a million times but eating fast was never mentioned. See, you learn something new every day. I guess Im in a hurry to eat so I can talk more lol..

Appreciate Quality

It is so easy to compain when service is bad or the check out lines are long and moving slowly but for some reason we have a problem appreciating when things are going rght. We have every right to comment if we purchase something and did not get the quality we paid for. Companies would not know how to improve if we never made them aware. Money is tight and we should get the quality we deserve. There however are so many people and services that provide quality treatment. Lets try to remember the teachers, the nurses, the mail carriers, the garbage collectors, the receptionists in offices, the waiters/waitresses, the gas station attendant. My list could go on and on and on. When someone smiles and does their job well compliment them. Many of the people serving us dont make a whole lot of money. We would have a major problem if we never received mail, or if our garbage never was picked up. Lets thank these people and be grateful they chose the jobs they did to serve us. Try to keep your eyes open and look for all the quality service you are receiving today. Good help is hard to find....when you do care for and appreciate it!!

We All Have Gifts/We All Have Talents

Isnt it great that we are not all alike. Isnt is great that each and every one of us has a gift or a talent that we can share with others and ask for help with the things we cannot do ourselves. Life would be so incredibly boring if we were all exactly alike. This gives us the opportunity to need each other. It is fine to try new things and to admire and duplicate styles or a talent of another. It in my opinion is not good to be jealous of anothers gifts. We all have choices in our lives. The whole world is out there with so many opportunities for any of us to attempt anything we would like to. I recently tried yoga and found some of the exercizes relaxing when Im stressed or trying to sleep but ultimately I prefer kickbox aerobics for my work out plan. I absolutely love to cook but will run to the bakery for a cake because I dont enjoy baking. We all compliment each other in this life. We are not supposed to know how to do everything in this lifetime. If your interested in something go for it. Read up and give it a shot. If you find you cannot master it no problem. You tried!!. Always share your talents as well. We are made the way we are supposed to be. Embrace and be proud of your gifts and share them!!

Put On A Happy Face

There is an old saying, when mama aint happy, no one in the house is happy. That is very true. I know I influence the mood of the entire household. I try very hard to keep things upbeat and happy around here the best I can. It isnt always easy to do. I try to sing or hum or workout or just lay down if I need to. Songs like Make Someone Happy, Make Just One Someone Happy, and you will be Happy Too is one of my favorites. I found keeping my sense of humor even when things are stressful can be a huge help. We all have things we have to do from day to day. There is no job that is not important. We can choose to smile and do them happy or complain and do them in anger. I find humming and singing while washing the floor is a lot more fun than sighing and complaining and the job sure gets done a lot faster. Remember, when your smiling, when your smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Being happy really is contagious. Give it a try and put on your happy face!!....

What Does Everyone Want

I am learning more and more as I get older that life is a compromise. When we learn to listen to each other it makes for a much happier life. I am learning that everything in life is not about only what I want or need. I was the one for many years that paid the bills, planned the meals, etc. One day my husband decided he would do the bills and at first I panicked and said NO!!..I had to be the one in control of everything!!. I finally did give them to him to do and it took a while to get used to but all of a sudden it was like WOW!! One less job for me...He wanted to do it...good for him!!. I want everyone to come home to a happy home. I want to know their opinions on dinner ideas. Im learning to ask what do you feel like watching tonight, or what do you feel like doing this weekend? I will admit, sometimes Im not thrilled with the answers but you give in. Every now and then when you hear someone else's opinion it can open the door to bright and new ideas that can really be a lot of fun. Im finding now that Im a little less "bossy" and care more for what everyone wants they actually come home and compliment my work much more. If anyone wants to cook dinner or do a load of laundry, go for it!!..I dont have to be in control of every thing that goes on anymore. This week I encourage you to do something a friend wants to do even if your not thrilled about it. It will be a gift to them and believe me you will get so much back in your life when you do what someone else wants once in a while.

Less Is Better

I sit here wondering why we feel we have to own so much stuff. My closets and drawers are jammed with things I hardly use but have to keep just in case. I overwhelm myself sometimes trying to pick out an outfit to wear as there is just so much to choose from. I overspend at the grocery store every week and many times wind up throwing spoiled things away. We buy the new gadget to replace the perfectly good one that we had because we just must keep up with the times. We have basements and attics stuffed with things we know we arent ever going to use. We eat things we are really not hungry for and realize arent good for us because we feel like it. I am making a vow to try so hard to not let my emotions control me. We must separate our wants from our needs and really appeciate and use the things we already have. We have to stop being so wasteful. There will always be a new version of everything!! When the old one breaks go for it. But lets all try to make a vow to use what we have and buy less. Ready, set, go....get into those closets. Im sure they are jammed with interesting things. Take them out and use them and if you really feel you never will either give it to someone who might like it or just put it at the curb on trash day. Someone will pick it up!!.. Just dont make room in order to shop again...thats cheating!!!! I believe in my heart that less ultimately will give us so much more.

Get Out And Do Something Fun - Make Memories

Life is stressful all week long. We all have responsibilites that we have to take care of. The weekend finally comes along. As often as possible we really have to try to get away from all the responsibilities and escape for a while. We must try and do fun and memorable things together as often as we can. Lets stop heading to the mall and spending money on things we dont really need. Many times we are just just going in order to get us out of the house. Lets take walks in the park, get an icecream cone with someone special, go to a movie. Think of a baseball game or a concert and how everyone is excited about the same performer or team. Everyone is rooting for the same goal. Spend time with people that understand you and will help you achieve whatever goal you are trying to meet. We all must take some time to unwind but lets make memories not build more clutter and stuff in our lives. Look back at some of your old photographs. Look at all the memories in front of you. Dont let making those memories stop. Keep enjoying the baseball games, the walks. Visit a museum or an outdoor market. Get away from the job once in a while. It will really help you perform better when you do and when the stresses of the week pop their heads in front of us we can think of the great plans we are having in just a few days. Having something to look forward to really is good medicine for everyone. Once our jobs are done we still will have to maintain healthy relationships and lives. We cannot take care of those relationships by constantly being stressed and working. Get those cameras out and get to the game and not only cheer for the team but for yourselves!!...Make a vow...even if its a cup of coffee for an hour go!!...

Managing Emotions

We definately are on emotional roller coasters from day to day. To add to this I am 50 and am also experiencing the changes that often come with those of us this age. It is easy to handle things in stride when feeling well but a bit more difficult when we are not feeling like ourselves. I am working so hard on managing my emotions. I work out, eat well, drink water, get enough rest, walk away from conversations or situations that are going to increase my irritable state. Of course like everyone else this doesnt always work and there are slip ups. When this happens, if I hurt someone with something I said or have done I immediately apologize. I dont condone not taking responsibility for bad actions. I however refuse to feel guilty. I look in the mirror and see the good person that I know I am. We are all human and will feel emotional from time to time. I have learned however that time spent is lost forever. We cannot get it back. I refuse to waste time on being bitter and emotional and guilty. Ride the wave of the emotions the best you can but somewhere try to find the joy because our lives will continue once this duty is done. I dont want to look back with resentment...so get that water bottle, those sneakers on and say to yourself it could always be worse...Here is to an emotional free day.....

Early To Bed, Early To Rise

Early to bed, early to rise

Regardless of our roles in life I believe going to bed at a decent and early hour is so important. It allows you rest and the ability to wake earlier in the morning. When you are able to be up hours early you dont feel as rushed, you can enjoy some quiet time alone, and the early morning truly is a very peaceful time. We cannot continue to run our bodies all day long and not get enough rest. It is like a car constantly being driven without stopping, it will run out of gas and overheat. We must be sure while we are speeding down the road of our lives we nourish ourselves as well as stop and get some good rest. Our bodies can only take and do so much. Listen to it..Rest it. Try to slow down just a little bit. All you are working to do would be a shame if you ran yourself down and were too sick to enjoy the final outcome. You definately cannot take care of anyone else if you dont take care of yourself...so get that rest...start today....

Throw Away All Bad Memories

It would be incredibly difficult to take care of my loved one if I did not throw away all the bad memories. Having the bad memories with me will only cause me to be hurt and angry and as I wrote in an earlier post you cannot feel these emotions and happiness at the same time. I truly believe all parents do the best they can with what they know. Some just know more than others, or followed what their own parents did to them. There has to be a time where we stop being victims of childhood. We must try to take responsibility to move on from the past and make our lives joyful. It was a different time and way of life back then. Embrace the present. Their is a reason they call it that....it is a gift. We have the ability to make the painful moments of the past disappear if we really want to. Lets make a vow today that whatever pain from our pasts we are keeping with us we are no longer going to be victims. We have all made mistakes or been hurt or done silly things...Give yourself a gift to forgive the past and embrace the present. It will really improve your ability to do the job you are faced with now.

Equanimity

I was reading something the other day and came upon the word equanimity. I had no idea what it meant so I looked it up.I found the definition to be a peace of mind and abiding calmness that cannot be shaken by circumstance. I loved it!! It became my favorite word. I try to say this to myself all day long....especially when things dont seem to be going my way.
I had my yearly physical Monday and of course get white coat anxiety as soon as the blood pressure cup comes near my arm. I went cold turkey twice, but the third time I closed my eyes and mediated on that wonderful word..equanimity...calm and peace despite circumstance and my pressure went down to a normal number. It works!!. No sense stressing. I now wait for the blood results. In my old days I would be pacing wating for the telephone to ring but instead am just repeating my favorite word equanimity. Peace and calmness despite circumstance. It just sounds beautiful to me. I must work on using this line every single day.....

We dont have to forgive if we dont judge in the first place

We dont have to forgive if we dont judge in the first place.....

I love that line. Not everyone is going to like what we do or the decisions we are making from day to day. We are not going to agree with others opinions. I am trying hard to stay away from conversations that steal my joy. I cannot be both happy and angry at the same time. I am learning to accept my circumstance and handle it day by day. I am learning not to be upset with others who are not dealing with this as I am. Everyone has their problem, everyone has their life to live. Everyone has to run their own race. While my race has temporarily been detoured I must keep my eye on the goal...for now I am doing the right thing. If we all just learn to agree and accept differences without judgement their will be no reason to feel hurt to begin with. Any arguments we have from day to day is usually due to differences in opinions...or our judgement of someone else....
lets stop being judgemental.....lets live in peace so their will be no hurt or reasons for forgiveness.