Christmas is six weeks away and the stress is starting to set in and while this is one of my favorite holidays, I love the reason for the season, the decorations, the songs, the attitudes and giving spirit everyone has during this time of year the thought of staying in budget and getting the perfect gifts actually puts a cloud over the holiday for me.
This year I am declaring a commercial free Christmas. I will be doing all I can to enjoy the spirit and not get caught up in the shopping frenzy. I will think of creative gift giving that will come from the heart and not just a gift because its Christmas. My hope is that by taking this approach I will enjoy the season and be delightful throughout it as being delightful is one of my life goals.
I will bake, sew, (could be scary), write, and whatever else I can think of, doing all I can to spend as little as possible and focusing on the reason for the season. My fear and hope is that my family and friends will get it and embrace the concept.
My world is filled with too many choices, too much stimuli, too much multi-tasking. (Cell phones,TV,ipods,Internet,blogging,face book,web meetings,schedules filled from the time I get up until the time I go to bed just to name a few. Right now I am watching Heroes and on the Internet. I'm at the point where I get antsy if I have any down time as it is so foreign to me. To quiet my mind and just be seems like a luxury to me and not one I am comfortable with.
What can I give up to slow my life, the idea of most modern things sounds great in theory. I shall mull this over thinking that maybe I can start slow, one thing at a time and see how it goes. My Commercial free Christmas will be my start.......I'll let you know how it goes.
If any of you have suggestions for me I welcome them!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
How different would our world be if
If we were loving and kind in our families, if we spoke to each other in a loving tone, if we showed that we wanted only the best for each family member, if we gave each other more smiles,if we gave each other more hugs, if we understood that everything starts within the family.
This is where we learn to view our world, where our frame of reference comes from. This is where we learn love, hate, pain, joy, happiness, fear, judgement, self worth, kindness, serving, hope, and many many additional things that then we take out into the world with us each and everyday.
Each of us passes forward where we are in our hearts. We smile or frown at others, we make eye contact or turn away, we reach out or push away, and we affect everyone.
Just think what our world would be like if we could step outside ourselves and not be reactive to everything going on around us. If we could speak with kindness in our voices, if we would give benefit of the doubt, if we would just smile more often to all who we come in contact with. If we would but remember the Golden Rule and take it one step further. (Do unto others as they would have us do unto them), I know it sounds strange but think about it for a minute.
We are all our own unique selves with our own personalities, likes, dislikes, backgrounds, frame of references, etc. What that says to me is that if I, (Do unto others as I would have them do unto me), I might just be missing the boat.
For example, I am a morning person and can be up and ready to go in an instant while others like to slowly start their day. This can cause a problem when there are numerous family members/friends spending time together. Just because I want to be up early and going pronto, its not fair for me to expect that of others.
Just think how different our world would be if we demonstrated what we learned as children in our homes.
Be kind to each other, help one another, smile, say please and thank you, speak to each other with a nice tone, share in each other's joy and pain and to always remember our world is what we make of it and that we leave a bit of ourselves with each person we come in contact with........leave the good part and think how different our world would be.
Looking forward to your smile next time we meet.
This is where we learn to view our world, where our frame of reference comes from. This is where we learn love, hate, pain, joy, happiness, fear, judgement, self worth, kindness, serving, hope, and many many additional things that then we take out into the world with us each and everyday.
Each of us passes forward where we are in our hearts. We smile or frown at others, we make eye contact or turn away, we reach out or push away, and we affect everyone.
Just think what our world would be like if we could step outside ourselves and not be reactive to everything going on around us. If we could speak with kindness in our voices, if we would give benefit of the doubt, if we would just smile more often to all who we come in contact with. If we would but remember the Golden Rule and take it one step further. (Do unto others as they would have us do unto them), I know it sounds strange but think about it for a minute.
We are all our own unique selves with our own personalities, likes, dislikes, backgrounds, frame of references, etc. What that says to me is that if I, (Do unto others as I would have them do unto me), I might just be missing the boat.
For example, I am a morning person and can be up and ready to go in an instant while others like to slowly start their day. This can cause a problem when there are numerous family members/friends spending time together. Just because I want to be up early and going pronto, its not fair for me to expect that of others.
Just think how different our world would be if we demonstrated what we learned as children in our homes.
Be kind to each other, help one another, smile, say please and thank you, speak to each other with a nice tone, share in each other's joy and pain and to always remember our world is what we make of it and that we leave a bit of ourselves with each person we come in contact with........leave the good part and think how different our world would be.
Looking forward to your smile next time we meet.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
My Imperfections
So its been a couple of weeks since I've blogged as I spent last week in San Diego with my hubby, brother Brian and his love Tina.This week I'm adjusting back to my everyday life.
I have been thinking these past two weeks that as hard as I try each day I fall short of perfection. This blog started out as my journey to lose weight and that isn't happening. Each day I am determined to be a better person then the day before, to be frugel, to eat better, to think before I react, to not judge others, to not live in fear, to be kind, to not gossip, to be a light in other's lives, to get enough sleep, to exercise, to study, to read my scriptures, to pray, to be in this world, yet not of this world.
The thing is I get caught up in the day to day everyday. Oh sure there are days I do better then others, yet I find myself coming up short more times then not. I find myself on the treadmill of day to day doings running as fast as I can and worry that I am missing the important things.
Am I too busy to smile at a stranger, my husband, my family, my friends, am I too busy to let someone cut in front of me while driving, do I give up the premium parking spot for a stranger who got there the same time, am I too busy to lend an ear to a friend, an elderly person, a child, a neighbor?
Am I always kind even when I am in a hurry, tired, stressed? Do I gossip in the guise of helping, to make myself feel better, to show I am in the know?
Am I helping myself lose weight and get healthy by taking the necessary step or am I looking for the quick fix? Am I frugel in my day to day living as I make decisions on my needs verses my wants? Do I think before reacting especially when I am taken off gaurd? Do I hinder myself because of fear, fear of failure, fear of being exposed, fear of the unknown?
Am I a light in other's lives or am I the cause of their stress? Am I kind to myself by getting enough sleep so that I can run and not be weary? Do I read my scriptures daily and pray daily to center myself and hear my Father in Heaven, to remember who I am, from where I came, why I am here, and where I want to go?
Can I endure to the end..........will I hear "Job well done"
Some days I think yes and most days I think no. Thank goodness for tomorrow's for repentence, for new starts, for knowing that my Savior lives, loves me, and died for my sins.
I have been thinking these past two weeks that as hard as I try each day I fall short of perfection. This blog started out as my journey to lose weight and that isn't happening. Each day I am determined to be a better person then the day before, to be frugel, to eat better, to think before I react, to not judge others, to not live in fear, to be kind, to not gossip, to be a light in other's lives, to get enough sleep, to exercise, to study, to read my scriptures, to pray, to be in this world, yet not of this world.
The thing is I get caught up in the day to day everyday. Oh sure there are days I do better then others, yet I find myself coming up short more times then not. I find myself on the treadmill of day to day doings running as fast as I can and worry that I am missing the important things.
Am I too busy to smile at a stranger, my husband, my family, my friends, am I too busy to let someone cut in front of me while driving, do I give up the premium parking spot for a stranger who got there the same time, am I too busy to lend an ear to a friend, an elderly person, a child, a neighbor?
Am I always kind even when I am in a hurry, tired, stressed? Do I gossip in the guise of helping, to make myself feel better, to show I am in the know?
Am I helping myself lose weight and get healthy by taking the necessary step or am I looking for the quick fix? Am I frugel in my day to day living as I make decisions on my needs verses my wants? Do I think before reacting especially when I am taken off gaurd? Do I hinder myself because of fear, fear of failure, fear of being exposed, fear of the unknown?
Am I a light in other's lives or am I the cause of their stress? Am I kind to myself by getting enough sleep so that I can run and not be weary? Do I read my scriptures daily and pray daily to center myself and hear my Father in Heaven, to remember who I am, from where I came, why I am here, and where I want to go?
Can I endure to the end..........will I hear "Job well done"
Some days I think yes and most days I think no. Thank goodness for tomorrow's for repentence, for new starts, for knowing that my Savior lives, loves me, and died for my sins.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Can I do the little things?
Let me start off by saying my weight loss is coming along slow and steady. As that was what this blog was started for I thought I would add an update on that subject every now and then. I read that just losing 10% of your weight has extreme health benefits to one's health and that is the direction I am going. I will take little steady steps, enjoy the small successes and by doing so will experience the goal I am looking for.
In saying the above it brings me to my title, (Can I do the small things)? Looking for the grandious things in life I believe is the nature of humans. We are always looking for the complicated approaches, nothing can be simple and work.
One of the first things that comes to mind is when the children of Israel were in the desert and serpents were sent to bite them and those bitten died. Moses was told to set a serpent on a pole and all who looked upon it would live. There were those who had faith and looked and others who said, that cannot cure us, it's too simple so they turned away and died.
Or how about when we are asked to love our neighbors, live the golden rule, follow the Ten Commandments:
Thou shalt have no other gods before me, (money, clothes, vehicles, bigger house)
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (can use the above worshiping
things rather then God)
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them (I will pay the credit
card when it comes in and this is such a good deal)
Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord thy God in vain (GD this and GD that,
enough said)
Remember thy sabbath day and keep it Holy (A day of rest and to do good for
others,we have six days to do what we want)
Honor thy father and thy mother (This one is becoming less and less practiced
as we blame all of our ills on them, what they did or did not do for us)
Thou shalt not kill (This is pretty clear, yet what about killing the smile,
hopes,and confidence of others to build ourselves up)
Thou shalt not commit adultery (enough said)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor (I think of gossip here)
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, wife nor his manservent, nor his ox,
nor his donkey nor anything else that is thy neighbors.(Jealousy is an ugly
thing)
Do I return kind words when sharpe words are spoken to me?
Do I work on bettering myself or look at other's faults to feel better about myself?
Do I whine over my lot in life or do I rejoice that I have life?
Do I place myself above others or treat all fairly?
Do I follow the Golden Rule?
Do I bring joy to others or gloom?
Do I do the little things each and everyday that will ready me for the bigger things or do I think I am deserving of more, bigger, better because of who I am?
I seem to dwell on the bigger things, those things that make the biggest impact and while those things can have there place we know it is the little things day in and day out that can make or break all relationships...marriage, friendship, families, businesses, neighborhoods, cities, states, our country and ultimately our salvation.
So again I ask, (Can I do the little things), day in and day out, I can honestly say I fall short each day and that each day I try again.
Go out and do the little things....it will make your world a better place for all especially for you.
In saying the above it brings me to my title, (Can I do the small things)? Looking for the grandious things in life I believe is the nature of humans. We are always looking for the complicated approaches, nothing can be simple and work.
One of the first things that comes to mind is when the children of Israel were in the desert and serpents were sent to bite them and those bitten died. Moses was told to set a serpent on a pole and all who looked upon it would live. There were those who had faith and looked and others who said, that cannot cure us, it's too simple so they turned away and died.
Or how about when we are asked to love our neighbors, live the golden rule, follow the Ten Commandments:
Thou shalt have no other gods before me, (money, clothes, vehicles, bigger house)
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (can use the above worshiping
things rather then God)
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them (I will pay the credit
card when it comes in and this is such a good deal)
Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord thy God in vain (GD this and GD that,
enough said)
Remember thy sabbath day and keep it Holy (A day of rest and to do good for
others,we have six days to do what we want)
Honor thy father and thy mother (This one is becoming less and less practiced
as we blame all of our ills on them, what they did or did not do for us)
Thou shalt not kill (This is pretty clear, yet what about killing the smile,
hopes,and confidence of others to build ourselves up)
Thou shalt not commit adultery (enough said)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor (I think of gossip here)
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, wife nor his manservent, nor his ox,
nor his donkey nor anything else that is thy neighbors.(Jealousy is an ugly
thing)
Do I return kind words when sharpe words are spoken to me?
Do I work on bettering myself or look at other's faults to feel better about myself?
Do I whine over my lot in life or do I rejoice that I have life?
Do I place myself above others or treat all fairly?
Do I follow the Golden Rule?
Do I bring joy to others or gloom?
Do I do the little things each and everyday that will ready me for the bigger things or do I think I am deserving of more, bigger, better because of who I am?
I seem to dwell on the bigger things, those things that make the biggest impact and while those things can have there place we know it is the little things day in and day out that can make or break all relationships...marriage, friendship, families, businesses, neighborhoods, cities, states, our country and ultimately our salvation.
So again I ask, (Can I do the little things), day in and day out, I can honestly say I fall short each day and that each day I try again.
Go out and do the little things....it will make your world a better place for all especially for you.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
What manner of Woman am I
There are so many additional questions and answers to the above question.
What manner of wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, employee, neighbor, citizen, follower and example of the above am I.
Am I good wife, do I cherish my husband and our eternal marriage daily or only when things are as I want them to be, when all is going right?
Am I a mother only to Michael, Nikki, Kirsti, Rich and Tim or to all of the children I am in contact with and do I mother with love unconditionally, do I follow the spirit and my heart?
Am I a granmother only to Landon, Annika, Mikey, Brody, Kloe, Dega and the newest grandbaby who will be here in August or to all of the little one I come in contact with and am I a good example to them?
Am I a good daughter,loving and honoring my parents?
Am I a good sister there to help my siblings, love them, encourage them, a sister they know they can count on?
Am I a good friend ,do my friends ever question that?
Am I a good employee, giving 100% each and everyday I work?
Am I a good neighbor to all, do I know my neighbors, do they know me?
Am I a good citizen, taking an interest in what is going on in my city, state, country?
Am I a good follower of my Savior's example and in,(Do onto other's as you would have them do onto you), do I live that way, does it show?
As I think of these questions I am at first grief stricken in realizing that in many areas I fall short. I want to be, I try to be though put all together it seems an overwhelming task. There are many areas I excel in and many areas I struggle in though I think this is the human condition.
I am realzing that if in any of these areas I am filled with charity, selflessness and desire to do good I am able to accomplish good. That if I take each area as it comes with love in my heart I can be, (The Manner of Woman), I hope to be.
The more I realize that if I but make a small difference for good in any of the above areas the task is not daunting and my heart swells with joy. To know the Spirit is always there to help me if I will listen makes fullfilling all of who I am and want to be possible. To know that its the little things that matter most not the one time grand things it all seem that much more possible.
To smile, to listen, to be kind, to be present, not too busy, cry with, laugh with, hug, reach out and many, many more small things, doable things.
These are the things I strive for on a daily basis with prayer and the Spirit that help me to be, (The Manner of Woman), I hope and pray to be.
What Manner of Woman or Man are you?
What manner of wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, employee, neighbor, citizen, follower and example of the above am I.
Am I good wife, do I cherish my husband and our eternal marriage daily or only when things are as I want them to be, when all is going right?
Am I a mother only to Michael, Nikki, Kirsti, Rich and Tim or to all of the children I am in contact with and do I mother with love unconditionally, do I follow the spirit and my heart?
Am I a granmother only to Landon, Annika, Mikey, Brody, Kloe, Dega and the newest grandbaby who will be here in August or to all of the little one I come in contact with and am I a good example to them?
Am I a good daughter,loving and honoring my parents?
Am I a good sister there to help my siblings, love them, encourage them, a sister they know they can count on?
Am I a good friend ,do my friends ever question that?
Am I a good employee, giving 100% each and everyday I work?
Am I a good neighbor to all, do I know my neighbors, do they know me?
Am I a good citizen, taking an interest in what is going on in my city, state, country?
Am I a good follower of my Savior's example and in,(Do onto other's as you would have them do onto you), do I live that way, does it show?
As I think of these questions I am at first grief stricken in realizing that in many areas I fall short. I want to be, I try to be though put all together it seems an overwhelming task. There are many areas I excel in and many areas I struggle in though I think this is the human condition.
I am realzing that if in any of these areas I am filled with charity, selflessness and desire to do good I am able to accomplish good. That if I take each area as it comes with love in my heart I can be, (The Manner of Woman), I hope to be.
The more I realize that if I but make a small difference for good in any of the above areas the task is not daunting and my heart swells with joy. To know the Spirit is always there to help me if I will listen makes fullfilling all of who I am and want to be possible. To know that its the little things that matter most not the one time grand things it all seem that much more possible.
To smile, to listen, to be kind, to be present, not too busy, cry with, laugh with, hug, reach out and many, many more small things, doable things.
These are the things I strive for on a daily basis with prayer and the Spirit that help me to be, (The Manner of Woman), I hope and pray to be.
What Manner of Woman or Man are you?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Another wonderful week with pounds lost and lessons learned.
The pounds are coming off slowly which I keep hearing is the way they are suppose to come off so okay I will relax and let it happen. Down 6 pounds which is so much better then being up 6 pounds or not losing any at all. I'm making better eating choices and exercising each day in some fashion and that is working for me slowly, yet working all the same.
A great lesson I learned this last week deals with not letting others steal my joy, dampen my dreams or affect my attitude. How many times do we as a people let this happen? Someone cuts us off on our way to work and we get all mad letting it set the tone of our whole day. How many times do we let someone else's rudeness cause us to be rude in return? How many times do we let anything negative pull us in that direction?
As I pondered these thoughts it occurred to me that I can be a change agent. I can smile and make eye contact, I can let the car in, I can offer a sincere "have a good day" to the person who is rude, I can take a moment or a minute to bring joy to someone else's life. I can go about doing good and who knows it might actually help change the joy factor in someone else's life.
The best part of all is that I am the one who will be blessed as I have no doubt that by doing little acts of kindness I am the one who will be filled with joy!
So what do you say, lets all be the change agent, lets make our little part of the planet a better place filled with smiles and joy.
The pounds are coming off slowly which I keep hearing is the way they are suppose to come off so okay I will relax and let it happen. Down 6 pounds which is so much better then being up 6 pounds or not losing any at all. I'm making better eating choices and exercising each day in some fashion and that is working for me slowly, yet working all the same.
A great lesson I learned this last week deals with not letting others steal my joy, dampen my dreams or affect my attitude. How many times do we as a people let this happen? Someone cuts us off on our way to work and we get all mad letting it set the tone of our whole day. How many times do we let someone else's rudeness cause us to be rude in return? How many times do we let anything negative pull us in that direction?
As I pondered these thoughts it occurred to me that I can be a change agent. I can smile and make eye contact, I can let the car in, I can offer a sincere "have a good day" to the person who is rude, I can take a moment or a minute to bring joy to someone else's life. I can go about doing good and who knows it might actually help change the joy factor in someone else's life.
The best part of all is that I am the one who will be blessed as I have no doubt that by doing little acts of kindness I am the one who will be filled with joy!
So what do you say, lets all be the change agent, lets make our little part of the planet a better place filled with smiles and joy.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
So good to feel good
The last day of June and apparently not too soon with how rough this month has been for so many folks around the country, world and right here at home. My struggles/desire to lose weight is such a small struggle compared to what we are facing as a people in this day and time in history. Though I'm still working on it :0
This past week I was sick enough to end up in the hospital and was complaining the whole time about having to use my work personal time on being sick. Complaining about how this was such a waste of my valuable time, that I couldn't get anything constructive done....whine, whine, whine.
The lessons came fast, strong and sweet. Being sick showed me the compassion of others, (you know who you are and I love all of you for your kindness). Being sick showed me again what a wonderful man I am married to as I am not a great patient, (I know, hard to believe). Being sick showed me once again that I am not in control, when my body is at it's breaking point it shuts down no matter how hard I push.
Being sick taught me once again to be grateful for my health, for this wonderful body that God created and that I need to take better care of it.
With the heartache, stress, pain, confusion, loss and helplessness that so many have experienced these past couple of years, months, weeks,and days it's no wonder that for so many the light is dim, hope seems far away and the thought of helping others has given away to helping one's self. After all, if we don't take care of ourselves who will, times are tuff we don't have the time, money, energy, etc. to give a hand up, go out of our way to lessen another's burden, its hard enough taking care of ourselves. We are running as fast as we can after all........
Here is a lesson I have learned from others and have experienced for myself first hand. When I am feeling most down, most hopeless, most selfish, that life is unfair, I work hard, am a good person, it's just not fair.
I have a simple cure....
Reaching out to lessen another's burden. The best part is it doesn't have to be big, (a smile for the clerk behind the cash register, eye contact, letting a car cut in front of you, giving up the close parking space, holding the door for someone else, giving the benefit of the doubt rather then judging. Treating all that you come in contact with as a child of God and therefore having a divine birthright as that is who they are whether they remember it or not). Of course there are countless other things that amazingly lift my spirits and increase my smiles when I take the focus off of me.
Now I am not a great example of the above, remember I am still learning the lessons, yet I can tell you without a doubt that each time I remember and act upon this simple cure I am the one who benefits.
So lets reach out and lift each other, (it's like water, our burdens are lighter when we buoy each other up).
This past week I was sick enough to end up in the hospital and was complaining the whole time about having to use my work personal time on being sick. Complaining about how this was such a waste of my valuable time, that I couldn't get anything constructive done....whine, whine, whine.
The lessons came fast, strong and sweet. Being sick showed me the compassion of others, (you know who you are and I love all of you for your kindness). Being sick showed me again what a wonderful man I am married to as I am not a great patient, (I know, hard to believe). Being sick showed me once again that I am not in control, when my body is at it's breaking point it shuts down no matter how hard I push.
Being sick taught me once again to be grateful for my health, for this wonderful body that God created and that I need to take better care of it.
With the heartache, stress, pain, confusion, loss and helplessness that so many have experienced these past couple of years, months, weeks,and days it's no wonder that for so many the light is dim, hope seems far away and the thought of helping others has given away to helping one's self. After all, if we don't take care of ourselves who will, times are tuff we don't have the time, money, energy, etc. to give a hand up, go out of our way to lessen another's burden, its hard enough taking care of ourselves. We are running as fast as we can after all........
Here is a lesson I have learned from others and have experienced for myself first hand. When I am feeling most down, most hopeless, most selfish, that life is unfair, I work hard, am a good person, it's just not fair.
I have a simple cure....
Reaching out to lessen another's burden. The best part is it doesn't have to be big, (a smile for the clerk behind the cash register, eye contact, letting a car cut in front of you, giving up the close parking space, holding the door for someone else, giving the benefit of the doubt rather then judging. Treating all that you come in contact with as a child of God and therefore having a divine birthright as that is who they are whether they remember it or not). Of course there are countless other things that amazingly lift my spirits and increase my smiles when I take the focus off of me.
Now I am not a great example of the above, remember I am still learning the lessons, yet I can tell you without a doubt that each time I remember and act upon this simple cure I am the one who benefits.
So lets reach out and lift each other, (it's like water, our burdens are lighter when we buoy each other up).
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