I Don't Know What to Say

How many times this week have you stopped talking long enough to listen? Most of the time we are drowning in a sea of sounds, tugging at our ears at every chance of silence. All of us have had days where we just didn't feel like talking, or had no idea what to say. This is part of being human, but more times than not we replace our own voices with yet another sound.
Knowing what to say is not nearly as important as knowing when not to say anything at all. Having a personal relationship with silence is not easy, and can sometimes be awkward. Practice removing all sounds that you have added, the tv, the radio, your own voice. Step into the middle of the room, or in your backyard and just listen and breathe. Your surroundings will do all of the talking for you.

Forgetting to Remember

There are a lot of times in our lives when we can find ourselves around others who have lost sight of what is important. More times than not this happens in places where having focus is what's most important. Being around friends, family, or co-workers that will not do what they are supposed to can be frustrating, even infuriating at times and the end result is a burnt-out you.
It is easy to get wrapped up in negativity and "forget to remember" why we have chosen to make a difference in the first place. Constantly worrying what the other person is doing (or not doing) can inadvertently turn us into the very people we are upset with. Step back, take a deep breath, and let yourself be ok with the fact that not everyone will care as much as you do. Releasing others from our own expectations can be one of the most cleansing things you will ever do.

Remember, if you are the only one in the room that has acted with integrity, you are also the only one that can smile without being nervous. Enjoy the feeling.

Soups and Stews

When the light of the day gets less and less, we tend to hibernate and retreat to a cozy blanket and a plate of cookies. For a lot of us, the approaching holidays mark a time to remember what we had, and miss it even more. Some of us may have lost a loved one, some of us may have recently lost a home. Whatever it is, plenty of time is spent reminiscing about times past.
I like to think of times like these as soups and stews, the broth alone is not very filling but the addition of other ingredients make a hearty meal that fills us up. Life can be a boring broth when you only pay attention to what you had, but adding ingredients like family, friends, or new hobbies, can make a bowl of happiness that warms our soul. Take some time today to think about the things that you still have, and ways that you can turn your broth into a hearty stew.

A Day of Forgiveness

Each day we go through life often holding ourselves to an extremely high standard. We follow our own rules, the rules that others have set for us, and if that weren't enough, we set rules for others along the way. More often than not, we try to cram our entire beings into a routine or schedule. With a world that is so full of "should do" or "shouldn't do" regulations, it is more important than ever to take time for a day of total forgiveness.
     So eat the things that are off limits, have a nap when there is too much to do, or take a day trip to a town where nobody knows you so that you can make up your own rules for the day.  Learning to forgive one day here and there reminds us that we are human, and need to experience life as it was meant to be..........unscheduled.

What Are You Waiting For?

Sometimes when things change, we are quick to assume things have gone wrong. How many times in your life have you stopped and asked yourself,"what if things have suddenly gone right?" More than likely we just spend most of the time wishing for things to be different.
     Some years ago when I came back from California, I was convinced that it was the right decision. When things started to go in another direction, I found myself longing for the golden state all over again, so much so that I missed out on a lot of what was going on around me. I wasted so much time wishing for what was, that I failed to realize that this new chapter had so much more to offer.
     The secret to true appreciation comes with allowing what has been wrong, to lead to what will be right. Just because you lay out a plan, doesn't mean it's the right one. Make some time to take stock of what you already have. Chances are that you will notice things you hadn't before.

Packing for a Trip

Very few of us go through the day without some sort of stress or emotion that ends up staying with us. Someone cuts us off, the lady behind us at the grocery store isn't very nice. These things happen all of the time, and if we do not learn how to let these things go, we never truly enjoy the moments that count.
     Think of your day as a trip, and you start each trip out with an empty suitcase. As the day goes on, you collect things to fill that suitcase, and lug it around with you all day. Happy things don't weigh that much at all, while negative experiences weigh down the suitcase considerably.
     By the time we get home at night and prepare for the next day, it is up to us what we unpack. If negativity is left in the suitcase overnight, then the next trip starts out heavy and drags down the day. Only when we empty our suitcases of negativity, and fill them with happy experiences, can we stop dragging around so much baggage for each trip.

The Cleansing Autumn Air

Now that the leaves have started to change, there is a certain change in the air that seems to fill your lungs in a different way. The crispness can be almost soul cleansing with a walk through the vibrant leaves. The constant crunching and swishing of the ground is a welcome sign of the approaching season. Many people have taken these walks, and few have neglected to be amazed at the beauty that only the Fall can provide.

     Even though the days are getting shorter, and time spent inside is getting longer, there is no reason that life has to get any less exciting. Cooking takes on a more warming quality, and candles can now be a great source of early evening light. As we move into the holidays, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the seemingly back-to-back series of events, don't forget to take a few moments to step outside and breathe in the end of the season air.