When Silence Speaks (Archives)

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Sometimes we think that silence is just that, a certain quietness where nothing happens. It is a void that is soothing but nothing much comes out of it. I beg to differ. I have found that if you listen carefully, “silence” has much to say.

“It’s been said that actions speak louder than words, sometimes, it’s what you don’t say or do, that sends the loudest message.” Carlos Wallace

Quite often when something doesn’t go our way and we are hurt by another’s words or actions, the first reaction is to let it rip. Let it all out and show them how you feel and during those moments, words are aplenty and so are emotions. However, when all is said and done and you are wrung dry, more often than not you realize that you didn’t achieve anything through those outbursts of the unsavory kind.

“Once you’ve matured, you realize silence is more powerful than proving a point.” Unknown

Maturity doesn’t show up wearing bells and it does not say, “Here I am, take me and use me.” It shows up when you least expect it and when you’ve gone though the growing up process. The one that takes you on the ups and downs, the one where you find yourself down on your knees and the one that shows you there is a better way of doing things without going ballistic. It is the quiet gentle knowledge of knowing that you deserve better and you will move on with grace. No shouting or being loud needed.

“And suddenly I stopped explaining, stopped fixing, and just moved on. I learned that silence speaks louder than words. No response is a response. Now, I don’t chase. I don’t care and I let people feel the weight of their own choices.” Unknown

Easier said than done? I know because I’ve been there. Things are hard and life is harder still but learning to navigate choppy waters is a must if you want life to let up on you. If something doesn’t go your way, take it in stride. If someone doesn’t choose you, let him or her go. If life isn’t going like it’s supposed to, stop, take note, and then move on knowing that whatever it is that life throws your way, you are fully capable of handling it. Let silence be your guide and your best friend. There is much to be learned during your bout with silence if you’ll only listen.

“Silence is not empty, it is the loudest answer.” Unknown

Not only that, it gives you the ability to get your message across WITHOUT SAYING A WORD!

Try it the next time you want to let someone have what is coming to them or you are chomping at the bit to say your piece. Stop and move in silence.

Have an amazing day.

The Cheesecake Standoff!

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I have a cheesecake fetish, plain and simple. Battling this addiction has been a big problem. I call it an addiction because if I go by the bakery where they sell this scrumptious piece of nothingness, I CAN’T SAY NO!

It is nothing fancy, just the plain variety with no embellishments. No cream, no fruits, no nothing, but it is the plain kind that I love. Just one bite and I feel the heavens opening up! I call it my one sin. Pastries are out, cookies are out, chocolates are out, and other kinds of cakes are out. I don’t crave them like I do cheesecake. Add a cup of coffee to it and my eyes light up like a Christmas tree!

Well, a month ago I summoned my willpower in and we had a heart to heart. My willpower worn. Cheesecakes were out the door as well. I turn a blind eye whenever I walk past that bakery and sometimes the women who work there call out saying they have fresh cheesecake! That’s how well-known I am.

Anyway, I haven’t had cheesecake for over a month. I needed to get ready for my medical procedure and that required a strict diet. One of my own making. I decided I was throwing everything out that would jeopardize my health just to help the doctors along. I was fit as a fiddle when I went in and breezed out of there looking like a thousand bucks! Why not a million? Well, that would be stretching it. Anyway, I am recovering well. However, the second procedure is about three weeks away and I need to stick to my diet, more than the first time because I’m not allowed to do any workouts. Bah Humbug! Yes, that’s my favorite word of the moment and since I don’t cuss I’ll stick to Bah Humbug. I think it has a nice ring to it.

Coming back to the cheesecake, I drove the car today. If I feel any pain then STOP was what the doctors told me. I drove it last week but just around the village and I did fine, but didn’t have the guts to go any further. Today, I got tired of moping around the house. I got in and started the car. It came to life and was ready to go. We drove to the next village where my favorite cafe is and right across it is the bakery. The cafe was closed for some reason but the bakery, well, it was ready for me. There in the window staring back at me were two slices of cheesecake! They seemed to be taunting me.

Should I?

What’s the excuse? The weather is nice, the sun is shining, and a slice would go perfectly with a cup of coffee.

I walked in and the women smiled.

“Long time no see.”

Hmm….

“Cheesecake? We have more in the refrigerator.”

The other people waiting in line eyed me.

“Just those two pieces please.”

“Sure? We can get you more.”

God, I wanted the whole cheesecake! Meekly, I mumbled, “Just two slices please.”

They smiled again knowing full well that the gates of hell was slowly but surely opening! Just kidding.

I walked out with the cheesecake dreaming of a fantastic afternoon.

Here we are, it is around 2 in the afternoon and I haven’t touched them. They are sitting in the fridge and every time I open the door, they GRIN! I just did my 7 minute walk in the garden thinking that will help but it is not working. I want to throw caution to the wind and just dive in.

My willpower is whispering or rather roaring in my ear saying, “You’ve been so good, why throw it all away!”

Will it win? What do you think?

The sage continues……

Have an amazing day.

LOL!

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This one is hilarious.

Three drunk men entered a taxi. The taxi driver knew that they were drunk so he started the engine & turned it off again. Then he said, “We have reached your destination”. The 1st man gave him money & the 2nd man said “Thank you”. The 3rd man slapped the driver. The driver was shocked thinking the 3rd drunk knew what he did. But then he asked “What was that for?”. The 3rd man replied “Control your speed next time, you nearly killed us!”

🤣🤣🤣

Wisdom

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It is defined as, “the ability to use your knowledge, experience, and deep understanding to make sensible judgments and good decisions.” How many of us do that well? I’ll stand up and say that applying “wisdom” to events and or situations is not that easy especially when emotions are involved.

Here are some quotes to help you on the way.

“Experience visits every life, but wisdom belongs to those who pause to understand it.” Don Davern

“Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time.” Unknown

This is a hard one for me as “impatience” is my middle name!

“Wisdom is trusting the timing of the universe.” Unknown

Yeah, but it sure is taking its time!

“Peace is accepting today, releasing yesterday, and giving up the need to control tomorrow.” Unknown

Right now, this is what I am grappling with. The need to let go of control. I guess we all do.

“Being defeated is often a temporary condition….giving up is what makes it permanent.” Unknown

Absolutely true!

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” George Addair

Now I understand why I don’t get everything I want since fear has been my constant companion. Can I change that? I don’t know but I’m trying.

“The mind invents revenge. Wisdom improves it. And time perfects it by turning it into indifference.” Unknown

This is where I’m at. The “indifference” part gives me peace but every now and then the “mind” steps in!

Have an amazing day.

Stop Shrinking! (Archives)

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Did someone say something that rubbed you the wrong way? Did it make you feel less than you are? Did a bad relationship make you feel unworthy and not enough? Did it help to shrink you even further? Does the environment you live in make you feel that you don’t belong? A job where you don’t fit in? Cruel remarks that make you feel smaller than you are?

“Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.” Rumi

However, it happens in this day-to-day existence of ours. It has been said that it’s a cruel world out there and more often than not, it is. It doesn’t always build you up, it doesn’t make you feel worthy and “lacking” is the word that comes to mind. How do you walk tall in a world that doesn’t always care about your feelings, your mental health and more importantly the “YOU” as a person? The answer lies within. If you’re looking for validation from the outside world, you’re looking in the wrong place.

“Learn to love YOURSELF -first- instead of loving the idea OF OTHER PEOPLE loving you.” Unknown

If you only feel worthy when someone gives you a compliment, you are going about it the wrong way. If you are waiting for that special someone to validate love for you, it’s time to take a good hard look at your perception of love and what it means. If a two-timing no good individual can pull the rug from under your feet and leave you feeling like you don’t matter, it’s time to find that strength within, and to LOVE YOURSELF FIRST AND BETTER! Once you do, none of the above will matter. You become stronger, you learn what is important to you and you build yourself up from the inside out which is important. It is your source of comfort and strength but more than that, you won’t be looking for validation from the outside world. It is an inside job and you will start attracting the right kind of people as well.

“You are not enough!” “You are lacking!” “You can’t measure up to what life is asking of you because you don’t have it in you!” Is that your inner critic talking or rather berating you? Yes, it can be loud and it can be destructive if you let it take over. Each time you hear that negative voice within you getting loud, listen but don’t take it to heart and if it gets too destructive, send it packing! Here’s the truth. YOU ARE ENOUGH AS YOU ARE and YOU ARE FULLY CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO.

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” Lucille Ball

When was the last time you paid attention to the person you carry around with you? I know I lost track of that person when the two cats moved in and my world was turned upside down. Paying attention to the person who mattered took a back seat and the inner critic had full run so much so that I became smaller than I am and doubts started creeping in. I’m not enough was the message, loud and clear. I listened and ran with it.

“Love yourself first, because that’s who you’ll be spending the rest of your life with.” Unknown

Be kind to yourself, speak to yourself like you would to someone you love, show yourself some self-care, take time out for yourself, pamper yourself, and stop to smell the roses. Once you do that, you will find that the people who bring you down, the ones who’ve hurt you, and the ones who take you for granted will disappear because others will come in to take their place. You attract what you reflect and better will walk in and want to stay. Your new reality will take some getting used to and letting go of those that no longer matter will sometimes be hard. However, one thing’s for sure, “shrinking” will become a thing of the past. It all starts with loving yourself first.

Until then,

“Love yourself so much that when someone treats you wrong, you recognize it.” Rena Rose

AND do something about it!

Have an amazing day.

The Big Thaw!

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It happened! Chachi, the cat, decided that it was time to “thaw” and get things moving in the right direction. He has spent the last two weeks going back and forth between normalcy and FROST!

The ice was so thick that I could feel the blast of cold air in the other room! He was upset that I had left him with a cat sitter for four days while I was in the hospital and that to this spoiled brat was a no go. Mommy was his and how dare she leave him all alone with a stranger!

Anyway, around two in the afternoon he walked in with a curious look on his face. I ignored him. He moved closer and brushed up against my legs. Still, I made no move, just sat silently and watched him. He went back and forth a few times and then a loud MEOW followed.

“What do you want? No, I can’t pick you up. I’m sorry.”

“PICK ME UP!”

I know he has been craving to be picked up and held close, a sign that all is well in his world. Unfortunately, it is against doctor’s orders. No bending and no lifting heavy objects. The little snort is heavy enough and believe me, I WANTED TO!

Then he jumped on the bed and the lovefest took off! Lots of kisses followed, purrs, and staying close to mommy was the name of the game. Then he jumped off, ran downstairs and a few minutes later walked back in with a stuffed mouse in his mouth. Dumped it at my feet and looked at me. He wanted to play like we used to. This was a NO GO as well. How do you explain that to a cat?

The poor mouse had lost all its innards and just the shell remained. Did he care? I suppose this is what bullies do. Pick the one that shows least resistance! Anyway, I kicked the mouse with my foot and he went after it. After a few rounds, the ICE was completely thawed by now. He was all lovey dovey again and it has stayed that way.

Evening saw the old Chachi emerge. He was in his element. Sleep was forgotten and he was running riot around the room. By morning, the curtains were skewed, the office door had been opened, the little box next to his toilet was on its head and then he decided it was time to dash across the bed!

This morning, he stood watching me knowing full well he was in trouble. His legs were crossed in front and his green eyes were suspicious.

“I see you had a fun time last night?”

He stood silently eyeing me.

“C’mon let’s go downstairs.”

Was that a sigh of relief? It could have been but he dashed downstairs and took his spot by the window.

We are back to being best buddies and ALL is well in his world.

Have an amazing day.

I Miss the Fields!

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If you’ve been reading my posts, you will know that one of my favorite things to do is to go for a walk in what I call the fields. It is a stone’s throw away from where I live and my spirit flies when I am there.

It has open spaces for as far as you can see with the mountains on one side and the forest on the other. Most days I am alone there and I love walking my usual route all the way up to the apple trees and back. Often I see deer, rabbits, and herons when the season is right.

I know there is work going on there now and preparations are being made to meet the next season rolling in. Yes, the farmers do part of the job but nature does the rest. It is like clockwork and before you know it, the harvesting has been done and the fields prepared for what is to come next. Soon the trees will lose their summer foliage not before they wear their brilliant colors of fall. The apples would have been harvested and the trees will be bare again bracing for the cooler temperatures to step in and stay for a month or two before the cold sets in. The rabbits will find their hiding places below ground as they prepare for mother nature to do her thing.

It has been exactly two weeks since my operation and my orders are to rest, do small walks of about 7 minutes each time and the rest of the time to put my feet up and to relax. My heart, however, wants something different. I want to be out there walking until I am tired and to take in all that nature has to offer.

“Not possible,” says the doctor. I want to buck those orders but I know what will happen if I do. Sitting here in the office and looking out the window, I can see the fields in the distance. It looks beautiful and I can hear it calling. Yes, we know each other well. I am a constant visitor and I revel in its glory and my soul finds respite when I am in its presence. I can’t say the same for being cooped up in the house!

Four weeks seems like a lifetime away and perhaps a week or two afterwards for the wound to heal before I get an okay to pick up my regular routine. I HOPE! Until then, I will have to bide my time, look longingly out the window, and perhaps dream of walking out there again.

What will it look like the next time around? Perhaps it will be well into fall and maybe, fingers crossed, I will get to see the beautiful colors and experience the beautiful music that the trees make when the wind rustles through their leaves.

I hope it will be sooner than later!

Have an amazing day.

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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