Category Archives: inspirational
Let Go
Are you a control freak, sure that you can manipulate everything and everyone? That is what your ego wants you to believe. Truth is, that everyone has free will and stuff happens. We are here to learn and grow. Obstacles will be placed in our paths. Some problems, are solvable, but painful lessons may include forgiving and letting go of hurts or the ones you love. To see a child floundering, regardless of age, gashes a parent. There is a time when stepping back is the better option. Letting go of a loved one due to death bores a hole in the heart that never heals. The love space is there for eternity. Walking away from a lover or letting go of unrequited love is gut wrenching, but if one truly loves this person, electing to move on is best. Pray for his/her happiness and your healing. Fighting to keep a tight fist on another human being is futile. Our children are through us, not our possessions. True love can only be by choice. Documents, guilt and threats cannot bind another’s love.
To let go, is one of life’s toughest challenges. Unconditional love, releases the chattels. If their love is strong, they will return. If not, new opportunities will appear. Trees lose their leaves, confident that new growth will appear in the Spring. Be open to life’s magical surprises. Be grateful for today. Happiness is a choice.
Grief
9/11- the world grieves, which reminds us of personal losses. I am reposting this video that I put together a couple of months ago, hoping that it will help at least one person deal with the pain of loss.
Life is to Live
“Life is short, and it is here to be lived.” Kate Winslet
I saw this quote today and wanted to share it with you. Many of us follow a rigid schedule, without any room for flexibility. My mother used to say that we get up, go to work, eat, sleep and do it all again, until one day we wake up old and wonder where our lives went. Structure provides direction, but too much of it stifles creativity. We function like robots, neglecting to see. Staring at our phones, we miss the beauty that surrounds. Ear buds block our ability to hear the birds. Attached, we do not relate to real people, including our families. “Friends” are on social media. Most we will never meet.
Below are 5 suggestions to start living, not existing.
- Try different routes to work or a different grocery store. Force yourself to think about what you are doing.
- Take an unplugged walk before work. Let your senses fill with sight, scents and sound. Feel the sun and breeze on your face.
- Plan dinners with family or friends sans electronics. Put phones on “Do Not Disturb.” Listen to what others are saying. Express how you feel.
- Take day trips. Get out into nature. Go somewhere you have never been. Listen to various types of music. Expand your mind. Visit museums. Step out of your comfort zone. Try new foods. Do something you have never done.
- Make a list of dreams, things you would like to do but put off because you do not have the time or money. Pick one and make it a goal. If you dream of having a yacht, think about other ways to get onto the water, sooner than later. Perhaps a canoe would fill the bill.
A wise woman told me not to wait to afford the big trips, but to build memories with mini adventures. Life is a collection of snapshots. Create moments to remember. Be present and enjoy!
Ten Ways To Lift Your Mood
- Start the day being grateful. If you do not feel it, fake it until you make it.
- Exercise. Make it a priority. If you cannot carve out a thirty-minute block, sneak in ten minutes, three times a day. Take the stairs. Pick a more distant parking space. Dance to music, while you make lunches. Do leg lifts while seated at your computer. Stand, twist, move, walk.
- Eat nourishing foods. Do not skip meals. Food fuels the body and provides the energy to cope with daily challenges. Hydrate.
- Get at least eight hours of sleep per night. There are exceptions, but make them occasional, not the norm. Exhaustion makes pebbles into mountains.
- Play. Let out the inner child.
- Laugh. Look for the humor in situations. Watch comedies. Laughter relieves stress.
- Help others. It takes the focus off your own problems and gives you warm fuzzies.
- Shut off the Ego voice in your head that makes you feel inadequate. You are your worst critic. Give yourself a hug. You deserve it.
- Get out into nature. Feel connected. Listen to the birds.
- Do what makes your heart sing. It may be chopping vegetables, planting flowers, listening to music, dancing, painting, writing, to name a few. Whatever you love, plug it into your life.
Self Help- Wisdom, Hope, Inspiration
Inspirational and motivational quotes from some of the greats to brighten your day.
Ditch the Blame Game
To blame your circumstances on everyone else is an easy way to relieve guilt. Life deals cards that are beyond your control, but you decide how they are played. Loss of job, home or person can be devastating. The choice is yours to curl up in a fetal position or rise from the ashes.
Everyone has a story. We all get hurt. Bend like a willow or snap like an immovable oak. Open to change and be accountable. Learn from mistakes and mishaps. Playing the blame game prohibits progress.
Be aware of the atrocities and focus on the beauty of this planet. Notice when someone is kind, including small, courteous gestures. Too often we think the news is a representation of the entire world.
Stand up! Be accountable for your actions! Playing the victim grows old. Know that you are worthy with a lot to give. Reach out and offer a helping hand. Your world will be a better place.
Ditch the Baggage
Ditch the baggage. It’s too heavy to carry. Life’s journey accumulates injuries that appear to heal, but beneath the scar, mental anguish continues to fester. Many years pass, but the hurt is as fresh as the day it was inflicted.
History is not part of today and tomorrow. Obstacles are challenging without yesterday’s weight. Kick it to the curb. Whatever happened is not relevant today. Take out the whiteboard and lots of markers to create a new day.
The pain of the past cannot be deleted. Open to feeling everything, good and bad. Let it flow like a wave. Do not cling to and regurgitate the trauma.
Feel the breeze on your cheeks. Hear the birds’ morning songs. Breathe fresh air into your lungs. See the wonders of nature. Live, Love, Laugh and be Happy. Today is a new day.
If not now, WHEN?
Are you stuck in a life that is not yours? Do you feel like an observer, instead of a participant? Is your soul screaming because you are not in alignment? If you answered “yes” these questions, it is time to make some changes, albeit small to start.
I immersed myself into my parents’, husband’s and son’s needs, while suppressing my spirit’s cries for help. Financial pressures in the 3D world demand that we work to survive. Our status expectations and chosen lifestyles apply additional stress.
With financial and family obligations, pursuing your heart’s desire is a challenge, but it can be managed. When our children were in elementary school and we were running a business, my husband and I obtained college degrees.
Realizing your dreams involves planning, prioritizing, persistence and patience. Playing the victim and crying in your beer will not get you there. Stop making excuses. Take charge. Manifest your own destiny. Soar! If not now, WHEN?
Light
Light shined into corners dark
Watch the guilty scatter
Hidden from the naked eye
Ugly deeds uncovered
Empathy, integrity
Honor, truth, compassion
Restoration needed now
Posterity at risk
Turn the Page
Marilyn Dalla Valle 