Slipped & Fell Off My Happy Track....

  Well, I have avoided any posting because I have been way off my game.  And then I thought don't be a phony, the honesty of the battle with living joyfully is important.  It would be misleading to try to sell that I am always happy and can always see the happy side of everything.  But I really fell, head over heels down the hill for a while.  I was mad about everything, I mean everything.  Although I remained grateful which is easier than happy, I was annoyed.  Little things like the music that plays in shows like Greys Anatomy, the music that keeps you from hearing the dialog.  It's so distracting and annoying!  Endless commercials is another thing.  If they show one or two I'll watch, no big deal but when they show twelve I'm gone.  I am either fast forwarding or I've gone to throw in a load of laundry.  People in blinding bright spandex on bikes who travel in the road as if they are in automobile instead of on a bike.  Then they get into a group and travel three wide. Why?
  People who don't say thank you for anything!  I won't get into politics,  there is so much to be upset about I don't know where to start!  People who tweet every thirty seconds and have to alert the the face book world everything they have a coffee. 
  Don't ask me my opinion and then get mad at me when I don't say what you expected.  Stupidity...oh boy....why am I so intolerant.
  I know we all have our own process and journey and we are constantly evolving so why am I irritated with people who are far along in their process.  Shame on me.
  I am working on getting my happy back.  Lots of reading back to gratitude.  On any given day that you and everyone of your family return home safely it's a flipping miracle, honestly.  I am not going to let myself be mad...I just won't.  But I will wonder if the same twenty somethings that tweet pictures of their lunch will be tweeting photos of their newest prescription or the mailman arriving late or worse a change in bowel movements in their senior years??????
  Let's hope the hell not!!!     

Tend Your Own Garden

  When you are very busy in our own garden it shows.  It's beautiful and your not in anyone elses garden.  I wouldn't say that the more self obsessed you are the better off you are.  This is not a plug for narcissism.  Just try to stay in your own emotional yard.  When someone needs you, asks for help or imput of course you would be there.  But it makes life so much easier if you do photoshop yourself into other peoples situations. 
  You need to practice to constanly monitor your focus and your emotions.  If you feeling bad, then you are on a bad frequency.  So even when a negative situation prevails you find a way to change your focus to another perception of that situation or find an entirely different topic to focus to produce good feelings.  Those god feelings even if other thoughts brought them to existence will put you in a better place  and put you on track to to attract more things that warrent those feelings.
  Do not allow the drama of others to get your eye or you will be lowered to that plain and attaract like situations.  Your children need these skills, teach them. If they are taught that thier thoughts effect their life and the situtations they find themselves in then they will handle things differently and feel more in control.  They will be less inclined to be afraid to take full responsibility for themselves.
  It may not be easy but it works, and it works everytime.  Tend your own garden.

elle

The Little Things....

  Why can't we just be content?  Why do we expect everyday to be like swimming in a chocolate river, before the limo ride to the circus and returning home by swinging on a star?  It's because we are so over stimulated by the ridiculousness we see and hear everyday that an ordinary day is not ordinary it's bad! A day that is peaceful and calm and safe is an amazing day.  Everyone you love is safe and at peace.  Maybe you found and extra half an hour to read with a cup of tea or call a friend you haven't seen.

  What about being thankful and happy that you had great weather for your commute.  Imagine being absolutely joyful that your day went of off without a hitch, that's it.  No band, no lottery win just a day that you accomplished things that needed to be done and you were able to do them and your world was peaceful. 

  This isn't about lowering your expectations.  This is about assigning happiness to so many more things in your life that have gotten a bad rap for no reason at all. Why can't I look forward to food shopping?  What about being excited to go to work; knowing that I am earning the money I need to take care of my family.  What if you were looking forward to a day doing the yard work you need to do to make your home worth a second look, fresh air, exercise.  Bonus, bonus.  If we found more joy in ordinary things maybe we wouldn't be so let down by the big things, the treats.  It seems to me that this is why New Years eve is always a disappointment and most vacations don't live up to to our bloated and distorted expectations.

  Change your perception.  Be happy with more of what is not what isn't!

 

elle  

Meditation....Hmmmm

Meditation ... hmmmm

  I am completely on board with the concept of gratitude and positive thinking.  I have learned that dealing with any situation from a place of love is another way to do life better.    But I also believe that we need to know ourselves, we can't be renters in our own bodies.  We need to be in touch and connected living honestly not with dilutions. I believe meditation is one of getting there.  

  But this is where I struggle because it involves quieting my mind...oh boy, no easy feat!  I have said many times it's like an episode of hoarders in there.  I am determined to get to a quiet and clear place. 

  Today I tried to meditate.  I know success doesn't come right away soooo baby steps are ok.  First I try to find a quiet time in my home.  Then 5 a.m. it is!   I decided to try laying down and letting the weight of my body go, let the mat take my weight.  Next I focus on nice images, ocean, palm tree, a huge closet with thousands of flip flops and great bags!  Ok, back to the palm tree because the bags lead to to many other distracting thoughts. Just the palm tree now with a hint of a breeze.  Add a sunset behind and some white sand.  A silhouette of a bird in flight in the distance, and then it happens....."we need eggs."  The palm tree is gone so is the sunset and it took the bird and I'm trying remember where I put the dry cleaning slip and I am suddenly worried that I have an item ending on ebay, ugh!  It was a quick decent into a shopping list, a growling stomach and visions of k-cups, news and email.  But the good news is, I felt good. It was a start and I will not give up.  Tomorrow I will try again, maybe even later today.  I will find a quiet place in my head! I am important and my mental and physical state are very important.  I can't be there for anybody if I can't be there for myself! I am thankful for any peace I find no matter how brief, no matter how small.


elle