This is a hard one. These days I don’t work because I have chosen to step back from the chaos that reigned supreme in my life to a much quieter one where I can concentrate on writing. I am currently working on two books and I take my time doing that.
However, if I had to choose, I would say working in the White House. This would have been a dream job. I think it would be exciting, adrenaline pumping and I would be right there where it all happens. The hub so to speak. Nothing would beat that but I think it would be very exhausting not to mention the stress factor which would probably be through the roof!
In my next lifetime I would like to do that! For now, I am happy where I’m at.
Anxiety is defined as, “a natural response to pressure, feeling afraid or threatened, which can show up in how we feel physically, mentally, and in how we behave. It’s common to describe anxiety as a feeling of dread, fear or unease, which can range from mild to severe.”
It can also be a normal reaction to stress and it walks in and stays for awhile sometimes making your daily existence a living hell. It can overwhelm at times but the mild variety doesn’t stay for too long. Occasional anxiety is normal and it dissolves when whatever got you “hyped up” dissipates.
“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” Khalil Gibran
Sound familiar? Something is not working right and there we go. Sweating, breathing hard and to make matters worse, we stay fixated on the problem wanting to control the outcome. I’ve been having such episodes lately. I love fixing things and sometimes even before they happen! When it doesn’t go as planned, my thoughts get erratic, I experience restlessness, and irritability. I’ve been looking at ways to not let “anxiety” get the better of me. One method is to focus your thoughts on things that bring “good vibes” into your being. The other is to exercise for all you’re worth or to just get out in nature, breathe and let go. If that doesn’t work, here’s something that might just do the trick.
Mantra for anxiety:
“Anxiety isn’t you. It’s something moving through you. It can leave out of the same door it came in.” James Clear
AND
“Trust yourself. You’ve survived a lot, and you’ll survive whatever is coming.” Robert Tew
I like what Dr. Lucy Russell has to say about this topic.
“We have anxious thoughts because the brain is trying to keep us alive. To the brain, survival is much more important than happiness. So, the brain often conjures up worst case scenarios and “what ifs”, so that we can prepare for disaster. The trouble is, the brain regularly gets it wrong.”
All that preparation for nothing? Well, sometimes it is and at other times, it is needed to wade through the murky waters of anxiety.
How do you lessen anxiety naturally?
You can practice mindfulness, try different breathing techniques to calm the nervous system, practice daily meditation and use guided imagery to lessen the stress and to get clarity on the problem at hand.
If that fails, try the following.
“Breathe. You’re going to be okay. You’ve gotten through so many things in your life. YOU’VE GOT THIS.” Karen Salmansohn
I wrote this before the current president took office and it still stands true today. He is showing us everyday what a good leader should not do. Does he care? Not one iota!
This question couldn’t have come at a better time. The 47th president is in the wings ready to take the helms of the highest office in the land as many of us grit our teeth and wait with bated breath to see the unfolding of what he has in store for America and the rest of the world.
The man is bold when it comes to certain issues BUT he is also impulsive, undisciplined, tradition-defying and doesn’t speak the truth. Shading the facts is his expertise and blowing hot air from both sides of his you know what is another area where he is well-versed in. Put this together and you’ve got what a good leader is NOT about!
That said, a good leader is a person who has integrity, courage, one who commands respect, who is able to communicate effectively and a leader who puts the will of the people front and center and the “me” concept somewhere in never never land!
“The hardest part of leadership isn’t making decisions – it’s making them with integrity.” Unknown
The king wanted to go fishing, and he asked the royal weather forecaster the forecast for the next few hours. The palace meteorologist assured him that there was no chance of rain.
So the king and the queen went fishing. On the way he met a man with a fishing pole riding on a donkey, and he asked the man if the fish were biting.
The fisherman said, “Your Majesty, you should return to the palace! In just a short time I expect a huge rainstorm.”
The king replied: “I hold the palace meteorologist in high regard. He is an educated and experienced professional. Besides, I pay him very high wages. He gave me a very different forecast. I trust him.”
So the king continued on his way. However, in a short time a torrential rain fell from the sky The King and Queen were totally soaked.
Furious, the king returned to the palace and gave the order to fire the meteorologist. Then he summoned the fisherman and offered him the prestigious position of royal forecaster.
The fisherman said, “Your Majesty, I do not know anything about forecasting. I obtain my information from my donkey. If I see my donkey’s ears drooping, it means with certainty that it will rain.”
So the king hired the donkey.
And thus began the practice of hiring dumb asses to work in influential positions of government.
I would un-invent emojis. It was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita to facilitate electronic communication but it has taken the world by storm and now there is one for any emotion you can think of sans the emotion of course. In a world where everything is digitalized and emotions are taking a backseat, this is the last thing we need.
Reaching out and showing any kind of compassion or emotion is done by sending emojis. Sad? Here’s a sad face emoji or a tear-drop one. Happy? Here’s a smiley face. In love? Here’s a heart emoji or kisses. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned hugs, the compassionate voice on the telephone or even the human touch?
In my opinion, we are becoming too digitalized and hence I would un-invent emojis if I could. Cute but some things need or deserve the human touch.
Daily writing prompt
If you could un-invent something, what would it be?
“No matter how many detours we take or delays we encounter, we will always be led back to where we’re meant to be.” Nicole Spindler
Beautifully said but trusting the journey you’re on is hard and accepting that everything will turn out for the best is harder still. Humans want control of the situation or at least I do. I don’t like the idea of some unseen force manipulating the outcome and that is a frightening concept for me. However, if truth be told, perhaps there is no other way. You’ve heard the saying, if it is meant to be, it will be and what if we just let go and let it unfold as it was meant to be. A doable thing? Speaking from my standpoint, that is next to impossible for me.
“Don’t let what happens or what doesn’t happen bother you. Life has a way of rearranging perfectly so that what you truly need can come together.” Unknown
If I step aside that is. My problem is that I want to know what is coming up or what life has in store for me before it comes up. I spend a lot of time overthinking the negatives even before it has happened but that is human nature I suppose. Much of my time is wasted on projections that never take place and if and when it happens I am fully capable of handling the outcome.
Trusting the journey I am on demands that I accept what comes my way. “Be quiet” whispers the all-knowing power of the unknown, the universe or God in his wisdom or whatever you believe in. It says, “Let me work this out for you, I’ve got this and you need to trust in the journey. You’ll be fine.” The untrusting part within screams, “I’m afraid! What if I fail or I fall flat on my face or there is no getting up from this?” That too is human nature.
“Sometimes the strength within you is not a big fiery flame for all to see, it is just a tiny spark that whispers softly, “You got this, keep going.” Unknown
Perhaps, trusting the journey is not about rushing, not pushing and shoving and not about stomping your feet and demanding but that it is more about accepting that everything is being worked out behind the scenes and you just need to sit back and accept and know that the outcome will be exactly as it was meant to be. It doesn’t mean you have to stop working on yourself, putting effort out on what needs to be done and making your way through life, it means knowing that there is a higher force who is on your side. Not so simple? I know, it isn’t for me either. What if there is a higher power working on your behalf and it has got your back? Wonderful don’t you think? Now, I just need to trust in that concept. Good luck you say? I know but it’s worth a try.
“Trust the process, trust your journey. You are going TO BE OKAY.” Unknown
I’ve felt loved and feel love in Chachi’s presence. I feel love oozing out of his pores when he looks at me. There is this certain look he has when his gaze turns on me. It is soft, it is loving and there is no doubt in my mind that I am loved.
The little guy in the fur coat watches me like a hawk. He follows me around and if he finds something else to amuse himself for a few minutes, he always comes back to me. When he does, he lets it be known that he missed me, often with light purrs or a rambunctious MEOW! There is no mistaking the fact that his world revolves around me and it is the same for me.
Love is unconditional where he is concerned. Some may say that’s because he has no one else and is dependent on me. However, I tend to disagree. Yes, he is dependent on me but he has learned to show love in small ways. A slight rub against my leg when I least expect it, a kiss on my cheek when he thinks I’m sleeping or the way he rubs his face on mine all adds to “feelings of love” shown in unexpected ways. The one I really like is when he rushes into the room and joins in when I am working out. He doesn’t care what I’m doing, be it yoga, aerobics, weight-training or whatever, the Little Macho is front and center! Yes, it is a hindrance but I LOVE it!
I feel love in his presence and I feel like I’m loved. The little macho has me wrapped around his paws, all four of them! I love cuddling with the little guy and I love spending time with him. Yes, the guy who walks into my life has big shoes to fill! He has to gain Chachi’s approval and he has to put up with our LOVE FEST!
Daily writing prompt
Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?
I can reduce clutter in many ways. Clutter seems to be a way of life for some people and sometimes “clutter” gives you a sense of comfort, if that makes sense.
My office space is cluttered. I have books, papers, files, things that don’t belong in the office area and other stuff that takes clutter to higher level! However, there is comfort in the clutter. I don’t like it organized because it points to my mind which is quite often “cluttered” as well! So, they work hand in hand. I try to keep a semblance of order but that is about as far as it gets!
I think I can reduce clutter when it comes to my personal space. My wardrobes are still full of clothes and I just keep some stuff because I had spent too much on the item and parting with one or the other brings anxiety. I did get rid of a lot of things that I no longer wear but bringing it down to clutter-free level is another thing altogether!
Reducing the clutter in my mind is very hard to do. It seems like I have compartments where I store things, things that no longer matter, things that caused heartache, things that caused pain, and so on. I think most of us do. I would like to reduce the emotional clutter that I carry around as well. I want to free up some space for the good things and to say goodbye to things that are better left alone.
Still working on it. It is a long and slow process but I’m hoping that in time, I will get there. Fingers crossed! Add my toes to that as well for good measure.
“That’s a gesture of endearment in some cultures. Some hug, some kiss, some set each other on fire in small patches of woodland.” Jonathan Stroud
I guess that last part comes in when the relationship goes down south! Closer to home and of the less insane variety, we dish them out like there’s no tomorrow when it comes to endearing terms. It’s meant to show the newly significant other that they are dear to us and laying it on thick and heavy with such words is the way to go about doing it. Be it “Angel” “Sweetheart” “Babe” “Lovebug” “Sweetie Pie” “Cupcake” “Sweetie” or as Daenerys (Khaleesi) referred to her husband, Khal Drogo, as “my sun and stars” and he referred to her as, “moon of my life.” Swoonworthy right? However, Daenerys smothers him with a pillow to save him from misery in the end. It was love but celestial bodies do take a dive now and then.
“Because I’ve got a lot more terms of endearment to use. Honeypie. Sugarplum. Bread pudding. “Why are they all high-calorie foods?” Richelle Mead
That’s what I would like to know but you forgot cheesecake! Some of them border on the ridiculous and yet it is part and parcel of the dating world and into the relationship existence. My friend, the one who passed away, used to call me “Lovely,” and at times “Babe.” It was an automatic response and I don’t think he gave it much thought.
Terms of endearment is defined as, “a word or phrase used to address or describe a person, animal or inanimate object which the speaker feels love or affection for.” Another explanation is that it is used “to put people at ease and is a form of approval, empathy, and to show interest.” All fine and good but what happens when the relationship goes south? You guessed it. There are terms for that too but needless to say I’m not going to get into them. Let’s just say that they are not of the nice variety and oftentimes it negates all the “sweet” stuff that we pour on in a fast and furious manner as in the beginning of the relationship. Ones that take you to places you don’t want to go.
Here’s a tip:
“Cheesecake” is my favorite so if you want to get anywhere with me and see my eyes light up, you know what to say!
Update: I’m on Day 4 of no cheesecake and I’m doing okay so far. I still hear it calling but nope, it’s a done deal! Read my article, “The Cheesecake Dilemma” to know what I’m talking about.
Finally, terms of endearment are flitting at best. Permanency doesn’t define its lifespan but spur of the moment does. With that in mind, I’m signing off to go see what “Buttercup,” is doing. That’s my TOE for my cat, Chachi. I’ve got a ton of other names for him and the repertoire is growing everyday! Good that the love shine hasn’t worn off yet.
I have a love affair with cats. Not all of them but the ones I have had and the one I have right one. I have learned and am learning that there is more to them than meets the eye. They are not dumb for one thing and their love is unconditional. Once you gain their trust, they are there for you fur coat and all!
Chachi, the cat, is an indoor cat and he is low-maintenance. Once he has his food and fresh water, he finds things to keep himself occupied. Keeping himself clean is of the highest priority and observing like a hawk is his other specialty. Hence his fascination with opening cupboards and doors! That aside, he is a confidante of sorts and just a hug and a kiss from my little buddy is enough to bring the sunshine back and for my heart to sing with joy.
Site Title 