1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Always pray and make time to exercise.
4. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of six.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. Clear your clutter from your house, car, desk, and let new energy flow into your life.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
9. Accept that life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Understand that life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't talk yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up your present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600-thread count sheets and the good china, and wear the fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Every day is special.
16. Realize that no one is in charge of your happiness except you.
17. Frame every so-called disaster with this words: "In five years, will this matter?"
18. Time heals everything. Give time, time.
19. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.
20. Understand that envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides.
21. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
22. Do the right thing.
23. Call your family often.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a Fast Pass. You only have one ride through life, so make the most of it!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
procrastination
It is time for finals, and of course I'm procrastinating! I found this Calvin & Hobbes quote that pretty much sums up my life at this point.
"-You can't just turn creativity on and off like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
-What mood is that?
-Last-minute panic."
"-You can't just turn creativity on and off like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
-What mood is that?
-Last-minute panic."
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Joy to the world
"Joy is strength"
-Mother Teresa
I almost just looked past this quote today... but when I looked again, it really made me think. It is seemingly so simple. Joy is strength. But that is such an interesting thought. It is not easy to be joyful all the time. It takes strength. There are so many hardships, worries, fears in this world, that it is easy to let our joy be extinguished by these externalities. It is only a truly strong person who can look past all of that, and find true joy. Joy is not a temporary feeling of happiness because you had a good day or a good experience... rather I think it is something more. I read something recently that said we can be joyful even in the darkest of times... even as there are tears streaming down our faith, there can be joy in that moment. Because joy is the deep-down, never-fleeing sense that God is always with us, and he has saved us. Joy is the belief that everything will be all right in the end. Joy is the understanding that God is praying for us, even when we cannot pray ourselves. And that kind of joy takes strength.
-Mother Teresa
I almost just looked past this quote today... but when I looked again, it really made me think. It is seemingly so simple. Joy is strength. But that is such an interesting thought. It is not easy to be joyful all the time. It takes strength. There are so many hardships, worries, fears in this world, that it is easy to let our joy be extinguished by these externalities. It is only a truly strong person who can look past all of that, and find true joy. Joy is not a temporary feeling of happiness because you had a good day or a good experience... rather I think it is something more. I read something recently that said we can be joyful even in the darkest of times... even as there are tears streaming down our faith, there can be joy in that moment. Because joy is the deep-down, never-fleeing sense that God is always with us, and he has saved us. Joy is the belief that everything will be all right in the end. Joy is the understanding that God is praying for us, even when we cannot pray ourselves. And that kind of joy takes strength.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Alchemist
"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."
My friend Amy reminded me of a series of truly inspirational quotes from the Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo, and I thought I would reference another one.
This quote has so many interesting things to think about. First, the idea that the fear of something is worse than actually experiencing what it is we are afraid of. How often do I spend time thinking, What if I fail? What if I am making the wrong decision? What if my future doesn't work out the way I hope it does? This has been a scary year in that sense. So many decisions, and so much fear trying to prevent me from making the difficult choices. I have to keep reminding myself that conquering that fear is the hardest part of making any decision.
Then there is the idea that the time spent in search of one's dreams is an encounter with God and with eternity. How beautiful. When we are pursuing our highest ideals, we are doing God's will for us. God confronts us with challenges that are seemingly insurmountable, and we are overwhelmed by the obstacles. But at the same time, there is always that nagging voice inside us that urges us on... Go for it. You can do it. A voice propelling you toward the seemingly impossible. When we make those difficult decisions... when we take that final step off the edge into the unknown, it is then when we are encountering God. We are trusting him to carry us beyond that edge, and to be the one comforting known in a world of uncertainty.
My friend Amy reminded me of a series of truly inspirational quotes from the Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo, and I thought I would reference another one.
This quote has so many interesting things to think about. First, the idea that the fear of something is worse than actually experiencing what it is we are afraid of. How often do I spend time thinking, What if I fail? What if I am making the wrong decision? What if my future doesn't work out the way I hope it does? This has been a scary year in that sense. So many decisions, and so much fear trying to prevent me from making the difficult choices. I have to keep reminding myself that conquering that fear is the hardest part of making any decision.
Then there is the idea that the time spent in search of one's dreams is an encounter with God and with eternity. How beautiful. When we are pursuing our highest ideals, we are doing God's will for us. God confronts us with challenges that are seemingly insurmountable, and we are overwhelmed by the obstacles. But at the same time, there is always that nagging voice inside us that urges us on... Go for it. You can do it. A voice propelling you toward the seemingly impossible. When we make those difficult decisions... when we take that final step off the edge into the unknown, it is then when we are encountering God. We are trusting him to carry us beyond that edge, and to be the one comforting known in a world of uncertainty.
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