Staying in Touch

When did everything in life become so complicated? Everyone seems to be running around and working very hard. We want what we want now and we will do whatever we can to get it. Always working, always at the gym, always doing something to get to that elusive "something" that we want.

How much time is spent with family and friends.  When was the last time you just called your best buddy to chat.  I attended the funeral of a friend last week. As I watched people come to pay their respects, I wondered how many of us there had not spoken to family or friends in a while.  We run after whatever goals we have set for ourselves at the expense of letting things fall by the wayside.

My family lives in another state. I think about them often, but I have to admit that I don't call a lot.  I am alway thinking that I will get to that call tomorrow.  We make a lot of assumptions that no news is good news.  Well I got a call last year that my brother had passed away unexpectedly. I was in shock, because the last time I spoke with him he was fine.  Then I realized that it had been over six months since I last spoke to him. 

I now try to call my family at least once a week.  I put it in my schedule of things to do because I realized that things can change in the blink of an eye. I ask you, when was the last time you called family or friends just to chit chat?  What good is it to fulfill all your dreams but not have family and friends to share with. 

Make it part of you daily schedule to stay in touch. We don't know what the future will bring so we need to enjoy the here and now.

Shirley 

Life is an Adventure!!

Life is full of so many different and wonderful things.  There is always something new or different to try. I have always wondered how people can say they are bored or unhappy with their lives.  Are you not in control of your happiness? Is it not up to you to relieve  your boredom? I have found that as I get closer to retirement I keep hearing questions like: what will you do or won't you be bored?

When did we let life become full of stressful work and no play?  Are we the sum of our jobs (which we may or may not like)? I think that in our quest for the "American Dream" we have forgotten how to relax and enjoy life. If you are close to retirement or not, why not start thinking about putting play back into your life.

About five years ago I started line dancing and found that it was a great way to have fun and to relax. Now when asked about taking trips or going to a play, my first response is when and where and not I am too busy. Several months ago I went on a off road adventure (in an open jeep up the side of a mountain) wth my daughters.  It was awesome. When are you doing to embrace the fun in your life? If not now, then when???

Remember life can be a joyful adventure if you take the time to make it one.

Shirley 

Are you ready to Change!!!

I remember when I was a child and I thought that all adults were old. They all seem to be losing their teeth, hair and walking really slow.  They always seem to be in pain.  So of course that was what I though I would be like when I grew up. I realized however, that those adults from my childhood were not really old (maybe late forties or early fifties) but were  living with a lot of health issues. Not only were they living with these issues they had come to accept them as part of life.

I know that those in the health care field will tell you that most illnesses are hereditary. If your grandmother or mother had something you will most likely have it too and therefore pass it on to your children. This may be true, but I also think this way of thinking just makes us accept whatever happens to us. 

Let's try something different. I challenge you to break the cycle with change. Change how you cook your food. You don't have to give up the old recipes but change them a little. Try some salt free seasonings, you just might like it.  Instead of sitting at lunch go out for a walk. This will stretch those muscle that have grown stiff from sitting all morning. Getting older does not mean gaining weight and living in pain. It just means "getting older".

What changes will you make to break the cycle you inherited????

Shirley

Best Version of Me

Best Version of Me

I was watching the final episode of the series “Warehouse 13”.   I shouldn’t have been because I am doing a group fast and watching TV before 10 pm is a no-no.  But I was having a weak moment.  If you’re not familiar with the show, it’s about Secret Service who retrieve and store dangerous, mystical artifacts.  In the final episode, the team is preparing for Warehouse 13 to end.  This means the end of their time and warehouse agents.  The main character, Pete, is very upset and eventually he admits that his time at the warehouse has allowed him to be the best version of himself. 

Let remind you, I was not supposed to be watching TV but maybe I was supposed to see that episode because that statement struck a chord with me.  I was in a weird mood, that’s why I broke the TV part of the fast.  And to be honest, I broke the food part too (that’s another story but let me say that sea salt caramel brownies are freakin’ awesome!).  But Pete’s desire to remain the best version of himself sparked something within me.  I decided that’s who I want to be—all the time.  The best version of me.  The question, who is that?  What attributes make me the best me  I thought back to who I was as a child-- before puberty, frenemies, and mean girls.  The Antoinette I was then was:

·         Fearless

·         Confident

·         Outgoing

·         Adventurous

I was someone who never cared what other people thought of me and I was willing to take risks.  I’m still that person but not everyone gets to see it, not even me at times.  But I realize that holding myself back from being the best version of me all the time is holding me back from living the best version of my life, all the time.  And who wouldn’t want that?  I decided that I do.  My new morning mantra, “Today I am the best version of me, creating and living the best version of my life.”    

 

Antoinette

Spring means Renewal!!!

When you think of Spring you think of a time of renewal. Look around  your neighborhood and what do you see.  Lawns being tilled, flowers being planted, houses painted and gardens growing.  Trees are bursting with green leaves giving everything a new and exciting look.

Spring is not only a time of renewal for our neighborhoods but for our bodies as well.  It is a time to renew our mind, body and spirit.  During the winter you may have been sitting more than usual because of the cold and now your joints are a little stiff.  After a long dark winter it's time to get out and feel the sun on your face. You will need to wake your body up slowly. Start with a walk or bike ride to get re-acquainted with your neighbors and friends.Get out of the office at lunchtime for 5 - 10 minutes. Take the kids to the park or zoo. Instead of joining a  gym to get in shape look for activities that you can do outside and in the sunshine. Try finding something new and exciting that will keep you from getting bored.  If you like to dance try line dancing. It's something you can do anywhere, in your back yard, in your basement and at a park with the kids.  It's fun and exciting and guess what: great exercise. Check out: http://www.dancepartythrive.com.

Remember: "Spring is a time for Renewal", so get out of the house, smell the roses and find something new to start your renewal process.

Shirley

How Do You Face Fear???

How many of us let fear run our lives? Every day you can see advertisements for new medications for illnesses that (according to some statistic) one out of every five people will soon have.  If you are not diabetic now, you soon will be. Every ache, pain or headache could lead to an incurable disease.  It is no wonder that we fear going to the doctor for a checkup. Our fear of the unknown lets us live with back aches, headaches that never go away, and pains in our chest that we call indigestion. If we all looked hard enough, we would see that we let fear run many aspects of our lives from health, to relationships to our jobs.   

Fear is not an easy thing, but if we tackle it one day at time we may defeat it.  Maybe you aren't feeling well and are afraid to find out why. Remember there are people who care about you and will be there for you no matter what. Are you being passed over for someone younger with a degree at your job?  Think about going back to school one class at a time.  

I worked in the Human Service field as an Executive Administrative Assistant for twenty-five years.  I figured that my experience was as good as any degree.  However in the real world, my experience meant nothing without the degree to back it up. I lived in fear of being the first to get let go when the budget was cut and fear of losing my job to someone younger with a degree. So I faced my fear and went back to school.  At 52 I got my Associates, at 56 I received my Bachelor’s and at 61 I received my Master’s in Business Administration.  This is how I faced by fear, how will you face yours???

Shirley

Relax and Enjoy Life!

Why it is so hard for us to enjoy life as adults? Do you remember when you were a kid and how easy it was to laugh and have a good time?  When did we as adults forget to play? When did our lives  become extension of our jobs?   Something is wrong with the picture when you want to go to work because you are bored at home.

If you remember, when you were a child life was far from perfect, however you still managed to have fun.  You found joy in running outside, biking, roller skating and jumping rope. How could we forget the fun we had hoola hooping?

Tell me, what do you do now for fun? I know we have to work hard during the week because of our responsibilities.  But, on the weekend, think hard about having fun.  Instead of making plans to clean the house, plan to be outside, hiking, biking or just smelling the flowers. Read that book about absolute nothing (but will make you laugh),  watch a movie, call a friend and go to dinner. Just get in the habit of  putting something fun into your life.  Remember, we have one life to live,  so enjoy every moment because you can't get those moments back!!

Shirley