Becoming Your Best Self

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I don’t think I am obsessed with becoming my best self but I would like to get halfway there at least. Learning to achieve that goal is not easy because it takes practice and a driven mindset to get there. I am still learning and keeping at it and who knows one day I might say, I did it!

Becoming your best self is not an overnight process and neither does it happen by pressing a button. It doesn’t happen accidentally, it doesn’t happen by chance and it doesn’t happen by waving a magic wand either. It takes action on your part and a commitment to self-discovery and self-development.

“To be your best self you’ll need to first discover who you really are, then maximize your strengths and improve on your weaknesses. You need to completely shift your mindset and take control of your life. When you do, you’ll discover a whole new you.” http://www.tonyrobbins.com

This journey is a hard one. You’ll encounter the good and bad moments, some will be messy and progress will be slow but if you persist and set goals you can achieve anything. Becoming your best self means opening yourself up to challenges, accepting the setbacks and living life to the fullest.

“Prioritize who you are, who you want to be, and don’t spend time with anything that antagonizes your character.” Matthew McConaughey

According to notesbythalia.com, you need to practice wellness daily because it goes hand-in-hand with working towards your best self.

Get at least 7 hours of sleep daily. Move your body as much as you can. Eat well. Build healthy habits. Dedicate time to self-care.

You can’t lay in bed and manifest your dreams. It takes action to succeed. Ask yourself, what is success to you? Set value-driven goals and become “razor-clear on what your future vision looks like.” Align your daily habits with who you want to be and the life you want to live. “Boost your overall health, well-being and productivity,” meaning even your smallest daily actions will determine your future self.

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Paulo Coelho

In a nutshell, becoming your best self requires going within to discover the greatness there. It requires strength to bring it to the fore AND it requires courage and hard work to make it shine.

“You are what you believe yourself to be.” Paulo Coelho

Change that mindset from one of negativity to positivity and watch your life take off!

But before you do that:

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, INCLUDING YOU.” Anne Lamont

Then go out and:

BE YOUR VERY BEST SELF!

Have an amazing day.

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A Lesson Learned

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It was a nice walk as usual but only this time, I was bundled up against the bitter cold in a thick jacket complete with fur-lined boots on my feet. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my gloves in my rush to get out the door this morning. It was a big mistake because it was icy cold and my hands needed warmth fast! I shoved them into my jacket to keep them warm and continued on walking.

Winter was here even though it was still fall according to the weather forecast. Looking at the trees, I noticed that they had lost their golden glow. Some branches were bare to the bone and others still had a few leaves hanging on them for dear life. They were fighting a losing battle against the cold wind which was unrelenting and with every sweep, it sent the remaining leaves gliding softly to the ground. It was just a matter of time before the trees would stand unclothed and wait for Mother Nature to clothe them again. It will happen like clockwork and they knew they had nothing to worry about. All in good time.

Looking out into the distance all was quiet. It was grey and foggy and nothing seemed to be moving except for the crows gathering in the fields like they were meeting for a convention of some kind. God only knows what they were going on about but that raucous crowing was unsettling to say the least. Just then, I noticed movement past them and saw something unfamiliar. They were standing still like statues, their long beaks pointed to nothing in particular and the crows didn’t seem to bother them. I was fascinated and kept my eyes focused on them. They were migratory birds of some kind but not something I am familiar with. Movement did not seem to be their forte and silence and stillness seemed to be.

I kept on walking on the path I was on with my eyes trained on those strange birds. Suddenly, I felt a deep searing pain shoot up my right ankle and it stopped me in my tracks. I had stepped on a large rock and twisted my ankle! Fearing the worst, I moved my ankle gingerly and it seemed to be alright. I didn’t want to walk home limping all the way and neither did I want to wait for help to come get me! Luckily for me, everything seemed to be fine as I took a few steps to test my foot and moved on with no problems.

The path I was on was strewn with big and small rocks. Some places were still holding mud and others dry and some a straight shot with nothing to worry about if you looked carefully before taking your next step. You’ve heard the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat?” Well, it didn’t kill me today but my pre-occupation with something in the distance had almost caused a foot injury and it could have been a serious one.

We do that a lot don’t we? Instead of keeping our eyes focused on the here and now or in front of us, we veer off when something catches our attention and we lose sight of where we should be going. It might take a few seconds or a few minutes but that is all it takes sometimes to make one false move and to land on our backs or in this case with a sprained ankle. Luckily that didn’t happen this time. A lesson learned and one that will teach me to keep my focus in front of me and to not get distracted every time something catches my attention.

Walking back deep in thought, I was thankful that I was able to with no pain. Pulling my jacket closer around me as the wind kissed my almost frozen nose, I made it home in one piece and ready for a well-deserved cup of hot coffee. The birds are still on my mind but that is for another day.

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY.

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Let Go Gracefully

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Just like that….it is over. The feelings and emotions crowding your mind and raging through your body are almost too much to bear. Disbelief, anger, sadness, numbness, confusion and rage could be some of the emotions taking hold and letting go gracefully is the last thing on your mind.

It is a normal reaction. Give it time to settle down even if it feels like it never will right now. It is done for, so let it go gracefully.

“The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let the dead things go.” Unknown

It is not easy to let go and it is downright scary. Suddenly it becomes real and very uncomfortable. Most of us look at it as a relationship ending and there is a mad scramble within to want to save what can’t be saved. What went wrong is the first question that comes to mind. The more pertinent question is, does it even matter? Crying over split milk is a lost cause and venting over lost time and energy even more so. Consider it a sunk cost and take steps to move on.

Did I neglect his needs, wants and feelings?

Did he neglect mine?

What led to the breakup?

Did he fall into me or was I the one doing the chasing running circles around him?

Did he hurt me intentionally? There is a difference between hurting someone and hurting someone intentionally. The latter is done with total disrespect knowing full well that the action taken will have repercussions and not of the nice kind.

More importantly, how much of what I didn’t want, did I tolerate?

The answers coming back could be eye-openers because, as women, we tend to have blinders on when it comes to love and relationships. What we wouldn’t tolerate normally are the very things we are quick to disregard when it comes to that special person in our life.

“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.” Unknown

Letting go is a grieving process. You’ll have to go through the grieving to get to the other side. There are five steps to the process. They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. There is a quote that goes like this:

“The buffalo is the only animal that runs into a storm rather than away from it.”

Why? It’s because, “they instinctively know that walking into a storm will get them out of the weather quicker, despite knowing they’ll suffer more up front.” Face your problems head-on with courage and determination and by spending time there instead of ignoring them you will be able to move past them more quickly and effectively.

However, if you don’t want to do all five of the grieving techniques, accept what has happened, don’t ponder too much on why it happened but know that sometimes:

“Not all storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clear your path.” Unknown

AND

“Some things break your heart but fix your vision.” Unknown

Let go gracefully and walk away with your dignity intact. Smile even if it hurts and turn the switch off. It is done for now and you’ll be fine.

Have an amazing day.

Self-Talk

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It matters how you talk to yourself. The more negatives you can come up with, the deeper down the rabbit hole you go. Positive self-talk is a must if you want a better mindset according to the experts and they do know what they’re talking about. How you see yourself and how you talk to yourself reflects the way you perceive the world around you.

I woke up this morning and immediately started berating myself for all the things I could have done better yesterday. I told myself I could have handled the situation better but didn’t so it was time to beat myself down. Talking down to yourself is a norm for most people and it only helps to create more negativity as it reflects back on who you are not. Let’s change that mindset. Here are some quotes to help you get there.

“Watch what you tell yourself, you’re likely to believe it.” Russ Kyle

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” Brene Brown

“The way you choose to think and speak about yourself (to yourself and others),

IS A CHOICE!

You may have spent your whole life talking about yourself in a negative way, but that doesn’t mean you have to continue that path.” Miya Yamanouchi

“Self-talk is the most powerful form of communication because it either empowers you or it defeats you.” Unknown

“Everything you tell yourself matters. It will either lift you up or tear you down. It’s your voice and your choice.” Unknown

“When it’s hardest, remind yourself of these things: I am okay, even if it hurts so bad. I am strong, even if I don’t feel like it. I am doing my best, and that is more than enough.” Nicole Marie B

“Turn off any self-talk that tells you that you are destined to live a small life. YOU’RE NOT.”

In order to get to positive self-talk, there are a few things you need to give up. Stop the negative self-talk in your head. Stop doubting yourself because you are fully capable of achieving whatever you want to. Get rid of the fear of failure and if you fail so what, get up and do it again until you succeed. Lastly, but perhaps just as important, stop people pleasing. You don’t have to kowtow to anyone. Be your own person and that is enough. What they think of you is none of your business.

“It’s not what we say out loud that really determines our lives. It’s what we whisper to ourselves that has the most power.”

If all else fails, do this instead:

“Tell the negative committee that meets inside your head to sit down and SHUT UP!” Ann Bradford

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY.

Irresponsible Behavior

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According to the Collins Dictionary, it is defined as “not showing or done with due care for the consequences of one’s actions or attitudes.”

Basically it points to reckless behavior with no thought for the well-being of someone else and not thinking or worrying about the possible results of said actions. It often stems from a lack of self-discipline amongst other things.

“An irresponsible person has no consideration for others.” Unknown

I have put up with irresponsible behavior for most of my life. I think many of us do. We are known as enablers. We do not hold people accountable for their actions but instead make excuses for them so that they can continue on their merry way wrecking havoc as they go along their path of no consequences and move on with no accountability. One can say, the path to hell is often littered with irresponsible behavior.

“Enabling is a significant part of a codependent relationship. It involves supporting the unhealthy behaviors of someone through action or inaction.” Nedra Glover Tawab

It is a sort of give and take so to speak but only in this case you wind up giving more than you’ll ever receive.

Case in Point:

I have a so-called friend who takes irresponsible behavior to a new high. Let’s just say she walks to her own drumbeat one of no consequences AND recklessness should have been her middle name. Anyway, I’ve enabled some of that behavior by putting up with her actions. It has been mostly showing up late for appointments. In the beginning, it was five or ten minutes late. No big deal right? Now, it has escalated to 30 minutes with a stop to do some shopping in between before she arrives with a smile on her face and no apology whatsoever. Still I let it go. Yes, “enabler” should have been my middle name!

However, what she pulled this past week has brought me to a screeching halt and it is time to step back and re-evaluate the situation.

I was invited to her place for coffee and breakfast. I told her I would bring the bread rolls and she said, “Looking forward to it.” I was looking forward to some girl talk and a nice breakfast in a quiet atmosphere and I got both but with an unexpected guest! I showed up at the stipulated time bread rolls in hand. By the way, you can add, “Ms. Punctuality” to my last name! Anyway, she walks to the gate, we exchange pleasantries and walk to the front door. Still nothing was said. She opens the door, I step inside and she turns around and says, “I’ve been sick, very sick.” I stop in my tracks all alarm bells going off. I ask, “What with?”

She says, “Everything!”

Me: “What do you mean everything?”

She answers, “COVID!”

Me, croaking, “When did it start?”

She says nonchalantly, “It started last Thursday.”

Now, I am not good at Math but even I could figure out that it was less than a week ago! I was in the house with all windows and doors closed. Not only was there no means of escape but the bacteria or rather the virus was getting ready to pounce on me!

I could see that the table was set for breakfast. What should I do? Should I flee? Should I tell her that this is irresponsible behavior of the highest form? She says, “Let’s make some eggs.”

I mumbled, “No, I don’t want eggs thanks,” feeling like the sheep being led to the slaughter. Then she says, “I did the test this morning, it showed one stroke which means I am ok.” I wanted to scream, “I don’t bloody well care!” Did I tell you I am a hypochondriac as well?

It went downhill from there. I had a cup of coffee probably tinged with bacteria. I refused the ham and cheese and had 1/2 a break roll with some butter and marmalade all the time thinking, “It doesn’t matter, I’m going to die anyway!!” I stayed for an hour, yes an hour because of the “enabler” issue and also because leaving any sooner would have been rude on my part. The conversation was stunted to say the least and I tolerated the coughing which was part and parcel of this breakfast date. When I finally got out into the fresh air, I took big gulps as if that was going to stop the virus that was making headway into my system shouting gleefully, “Another one bites the dust!”

It has been four days since and I’ve been downing tea laced with Moringa and spiked with lemon and doing an extra dose of meditation everyday. So far, so good. I googled the incubation period and it says 2-14 days after exposure to the virus! Lord, have mercy!

“Two things I can’t stand – Irresponsible behavior and Disloyalty.” Unknown

Emotionally irresponsible behavior is another form of irresponsible behavior. This one points to an “individual who lacks empathy for a loved one, and one who is frequently insensitive to those whom he or she is closest to.”

I’ve enabled such behavior not once, not twice but more times than I can count on my fingers. To make a long story short, such partners lack the ability to accept responsibility, they lack empathy, they have a fear of commitment, everything is about them, conversations are usually one-sided, they avoid relationship discussions and last but not least, YOU feel alone in the relationship. One such example is a narcissist. A narcissist is an emotionally immature person who often displays all of the symptoms of emotionally irresponsible behavior. They are self-preoccupied and they are “perfect” in their own eyes.

How do you deal with such people. Dr. Henry Cloud has some suggestions as far as “Name Your Boundaries” and standing by them.

I will not allow myself to be constantly criticized or infected with toxic emotional treatment that damages me. If the situation cannot be resolved, I will not expose myself to it.

I will not allow myself to be yelled at or be verbally abused. If that happens, I will distance myself from the relationship until it stops.

I will not allow myself to trust a liar or a cheat. The lying must stop before I trust the person again.

I will not take responsibility for the irresponsible behavior of others.

I will not tolerate any abuse of any kind.

AND MY OWN:

I will not let anyone treat me as if I don’t matter!

I feel a cough and a headache coming on. Time to Google again!

Have a great Sunday and an amazing day.

Chapters (Archives)

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“Life is like a book. Some chapters are sad, some are happy and some are exciting, but if you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter has in store for you.” Unknown

However, turning that page and moving on to the next chapter is the hard part. Sometimes we want to stay where we are because the unknown is the unknown. We don’t know what is waiting there and that is the scary part and the known where we are right now even though painful, sad, or is just downright unbearable is better than where we are headed or so we think.

“A chapter in someone’s life or in history is a period of time during which a major event or series of related events takes place.” http://www.collinsdictionary.com

Our lives are made up of many chapters, some good, some bad, some happy, some sad and some you may just want to BURN because you never want to revisit or reread that chapter ever again but whatever the case maybe it is all part and parcel of your life story. Learn from it and move on.

Think of life as a book and you have a story to tell. Sometimes you write the narrative but at other times it is written for you. It could be a moment in time when life comes to a screeching halt because of some unforeseen circumstance or it could be the most beautiful moment in your life that makes you want to float on air, dance and shout to the heavens at just how happy you are. They are moments and events in your life and it doesn’t matter what they are, those chapters makeup your life story, good or bad. Embrace them for what they are as lessons that needed to be learned and lived through.

Life can be difficult and there is no doubt about that. Nothing ever stands still for long. Changes come and go and just when you think you have a hold on life, it changes the playbook and turns your world as you know it upside down. The truth is, life is there to teach us lessons whether we want to learn or not. It is not like school where we show up and when we shut the book, it is over. In the school of life, you can’t just shut the book and walk away. It would be easier if we could but no chance there. It wants to TEACH and you better pay ATTENTION is the message. The truth of the matter is, you can start anew or you are given a chance to do so and that too is the idiosyncrasy of life. No matter where you are and even if you feel like it’s the end and YOU can’t write another chapter, it shows you otherwise. Whether you come out with the best grades is all up to you and in the school of life, strength matters and the courage to keep going is what is needed to move forward. It’s not going to be easy and it is going to require superhuman strength but if you keep chipping away at that rock or mountain standing in your way, you will make it to the other side at some point in time.

Wipe those tears aways, brush your hair, get dressed and stand back up. Your story is not over. You need to get to the other side of this whatever ‘this’ is for you. It could be a painful breakup, it could be the loss of a loved one or it could be that you just can’t seem to get a handle on life and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get it going. Guess what? You can and you will. It takes guts, it takes courage and the will to do so.

“Don’t give up because of one bad chapter in your life. Keep going. Your story doesn’t end here.”

That’s absolutely right. You have a story to tell so get out there, put your best intentions forward and make it a bestseller. Make it the best one yet! Turn that page, who knows the ‘best’ maybe just around the corner.

“Today I close the door to the past, open the door to the future, take a deep breath, step on through and start a new chapter in my life.”

Don’t forget to smile while you’re doing it!

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY.

What Ifs

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The dictionary defines a WHAT-IF as a “question that asks someone to imagine what might happen or what might have happened.” Life is full of what-ifs and some of us live our lives carrying that load around knowing full well that it will never become a reality.

We carry the “what ifs” of the past, present and the future that makes life a caricature of what it should be. We whip out the “what ifs” of yesterday to justify where we are today and they affect your present and future like a ripple effect.

We ask:

What if we had stayed together? Life would be so much better today wouldn’t it? Well would it?

What if he/she hadn’t died on me? We would have a wonderful life today. Is that guaranteed or just make-believe?

What if I hadn’t done X, Y, or Z, I would have a completely different life now. Really?

What ifs are suppositions that tend to paint our world in make-believe colors, whatever they may be. The fact is ‘what ifs’ can’t change what has happened and there are no guarantees that if they hadn’t happened, we would be in a different place today. Whatever happened, it happened and for whatever the reason. It was bad but there is no going back. It is a part of the past, accept it and move on.

“That’s the thing about ‘what ifs’; they don’t matter. They don’t change anything. All they do is make it unable for you to heal.” Lindy Zart

So you loved someone with all your heart and that person left you, it happened and they live on in memories nothing more. Accept it and move on. YOU have a life to live.

Someone hurt you in the past. They knew what they were doing but you don’t have to keep paying a price for their meanness. They will reap what they sowed at some point in time. Remember what goes around comes around. Yours is not to ask when or how. All in good time. Let it go and heal.

Life happened and threw you a curveball and you are still asking what if? It doesn’t matter but what matters is that you are in the here and now and those ‘what ifs’ don’t matter anymore only if you let them.

“What” and “if” are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life.”

What if? What if? What if?

Let’s change it to “Why not.”

Why not have a great life? You deserve it don’t you.

Why not leave the past behind you where it belongs? The dead do the haunting not the living. Let it be.

Why not laugh, smile, jump for joy, live and move on? It is your right to do so, isn’t it?

Leave the ‘what ifs’ where they belong. Not in the past, not in the present and not in the future. However, if it keeps bugging you, ask “now what?” Stay in the present and look towards the future and you’ll be just fine. Let’s give the pesky ‘what ifs’ a heave ho and right out the door!

Have an amazing day.

Walking Away

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“Maturity is learning to walk away from people and situations that threaten your peace of mind, self-respect, values, morals and self-worth.” Unknown

Maturity is one thing but no matter how young, old or mature you get, walking away is a gut-wrenching experience. It is also one of the hardest things to do.

The truth of the matter is that “there is no relationship in which people have the right to violate your boundaries or treat you with disrespect. And if others can’t respect your boundaries, then quietly and calmly walk away. According to Meerabelledey.com, “Bad situations are just that. Bad. Realize that you have the power to walk away from destructive relationships.”

Easier said than done right? Exactly. When I first learned that my ex was cheating on me, I decided to confront him. It was a bad mistake on my part and I had no dignity to speak off at that point in time. All I saw was my 17 year marriage disintegrating like confetti before my very eyes but it wasn’t celebrating anything in particular but signifying the destruction of a sacred trust. My only thought at that moment was, I had to save it.

I approached them and we exchanged words. The woman took off in one direction and my ex took off after her. It was at that very moment that I realized there was no saving what could not or didn’t want to be saved. I was his past and ‘she’ was his new beginning.

“The hardest part about walking away from someone is when you realize that no matter how slow you go, that someone will never run after you.” Unknown

Since then, I’ve made the mistake of staying in relationships for way too long. Walking away was my last resort and trying to work a no win situation was my top priority until I learned that giving up and walking away did not mean I was weak but the contrary. It takes strength and courage to say, enough is enough and to leave with your dignity intact.

“Knowing when to walk away is WISDOM.

Being able to is COURAGE.

Walking away with your head held high is DIGNITY.”

According to experts learning to walk away can be learned and it gets easier as you go through the motions over and over again. I guess it is the same way with everything else in life. Repetition does make things easier I suppose but who wants to do a repeat performance of the bad kind like in Groundhog’s Day or as in a recurring nightmare? When has walking away from someone ever been easy? It has always been a gut-wrenching, gasping for air and almost like you’re drowning experience for me.

Life is complicated enough as it is and hitching our wagon to the wrong person makes it harder still. It’s a surefire way to face destruction of a different kind that of emotional distress, mental health problems, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Finally, it will drain your energy.

“We don’t walk away to teach people a lesson. We walk away because we finally learned ours.” Unknown

Make the hard decision but the right one.

Walk away from people who don’t care about you or your well-being. You deserve better.

Walk away from people who use and abuse you. You are worth more than that.

Walk away from people who cheat, lie and disrespect you. They are never going to make you happy.

Walk away from people who are just treading water, they will go under sooner or later and pull you down with them.

Walk towards people who care, respect, love and are KIND to you. They will take care of your heart.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Unknown

Have an amazing day.

A Gorgeous Day

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“A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset.” Unknown

That’s the truth, however, I had a bad night so I wasn’t expecting anything better. I wrote about my ‘cheesecake fetish’ yesterday and after polishing off half the cake, I spent most of the night puking my guts out! There’s a lesson to be learned in the mere art of puking. Overindulgence is never a good thing.

I woke up this morning looking a little green around the gills and had decided to spend the day in bed drinking lots of water to flush out my system and eating soup to give my stomach a break. Absolutely NO cheesecake today!

Looking outside I noticed that the sun was making a showing after disappearing for a few days so I decided to do my walk in the fields. It definitely will cheer me up so off I went, a plum in one hand as a reminder to stay away from all that is not good for me. I was off to a good start.

The fields greeted me with open arms ablaze in beautiful sunshine. Immediately, a smile crossed my face and I veered off on the path to the apple trees. It was muddy in some places but I made my way gingerly hopping over stones as I glanced towards the apple trees awash in a golden light. Approaching a small forest to my left, it looked dark and dreary closed in by trees. Some branches had escaped their tight confines and were now forming a shady canopy over the pathway making it almost impassable because the ground was drenched in thick gooey mud. I navigated my way through trying not to get my boots dirty which was an impossible task but as I emerged out into the open, the blazing sun almost blinded me and I was back on firm footing again. In the distance, the mountains had emerged from their purple shroud of fog and were now covered in green and gold. The apple trees looked bare but for a few globes of yellow and red still hanging on for dear life. They too will fall to the ground pretty soon or some person will pluck them as a tasty snack. Winter is definitely approaching.

Once again, I was the only one out there. I had paradise to myself and as I took in a big breath of fresh air filled with all things nice I made my way back deep in thought. I realized that life is very much like the mud-covered pathways. You do have to navigate them, sometimes they are rocky, sometimes barely visible coated with mud BUT if you keep on going, sunshine greets you on the other side. Darkness never lasts for very long, it is always followed by light but only if you keep moving. Trusting that concept is the problem but today I have a gorgeous day ahead of me and a feeling that anything is possible if you have the right mindset and the will to keep going.

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY

Pay Attention

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Life often speaks in whispers at the beginning, it stomps its feet if you don’t listen and it screams to get your attention when you’re heading towards a head-on collision. Through it all, it has your back and is on your side if only you are willing to pay attention to what it has to say. And that is the hard part.

“Consider for a moment what you pay attention to all day long. What seems important to you, what do you take for granted and hardly attend to at all? Write it down. Do not judge your answers. Be honest and simple. As you keep track all week long, you’ll be amazed at what claims your attention what you give your precious life force to.” Brenda Shoshanna

The truth is as “humans” we march to our own drumbeat. We see what is not good for us, we know it spells trouble and we know if we keep going down that path, it will take us to exactly where we don’t want to go BUT we are hell-bent on doing it anyway. Are we wired for destruction, is that what we seek? At times, it seems that way but luckily for us, life comes in and shows us the way out but only if we pay attention.

“Pay attention to the signs. Stop making excuses for people. Stop defending their inconsiderate ways. Start taking care of you and your own needs.” Unknown

I do that all the time. Make excuses for inconsiderate people that is BUT there comes a point in time when I say enough is enough and then I shut the door behind me but unfortunately, it is always a day late and a dollar short. I’ve learned my lessons the hard way but most of us do. Don’t ask me why but we just do. Do we get a thrill out of pain? I don’t know but not paying attention when life is screaming seems to be the problem.

When we don’t pay attention to love, it has a tendency to bring us down to our knees and then we ask what happened? We know exactly why. The answers have been staring us in the face even before the collision happened.

Pay Attention To Her:

When a woman is “tripping” she cares, when a woman is “mad” she believed in you and you let her down, when she is “asking questions” she is trying to gain clarity, when she is “quiet” and letting things slide she is giving up….And when she is not doing all of the above…just know you have lost a good woman.” Unknown

AND

“Sometimes you have to put aside what you feel for them, and PAY ATTENTION to what their actions are saying they feel for you.”

Finally, paying attention seems to be the key to a better life, better relationships and a better way through the intricate maze we call life. Pay attention to the signs before it is too late. Not easy to do as always but there is no other way it seems.

Listen to the wind, it talks.

Listen to the silence, it speaks.

Listen to your heart, it knows. Native American Proverb

Have An Amazing Day