Life Goes On

 This past weekend I turned 58 years old.  I'm  still trying to figure out just how.  It's not worth it here to go on as to why I cant figure it out but I'll say John    Mellancamp is right.  Hard to admit it but the thrill is gone.  Going through Facebook memories I was reminded via a photo of me 30 years ago on my birthday at moms house.  My face was robust, my outlook fantastic.   Today I'm showing that I'm 58.  The settings on my stock trading site went from aggressive to moderate.  

My mom turned 96 last month and I'm still her baby.  Regardless I'm alive, employed and own my car outright.  The 'trill' isn't needed

Perhaps I'm being melodramatic but at  12am on a Monday night I'm allowed

My question for you, my readers is does aging frighten
you? 

     

Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
I say, oh yeah say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone

attitudes are our eyeglasses

 Our/my attitudes and our ideas are the eyeglasses through which we see our lives.  If our “glasses” are smudged or dirty, our lives look dim.  If our attitudes aren’t well focused, the whole world appears distorted.  

To see the world clearly, we/I need to keep our attitudes and ideas clean, free of things like resentment, denial, self-pity, and closed-mindedness.  To insure our vision of life is in focus, we/I have to bring our ideas in line with reality.

Be Simple

 There is a traditional Shaker song

"’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free

’Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be" 

I started writing this affirmation blog during  time of unrest in my life and the  country (USA based)

Since then more angst has grown and I/people seem more vivid with goings on

I'm taking time away from policial news and such and focusing on what's simple

Can you join me?

Values over Interests

 

Make sure you share similar values (not interests)

Now that I'm more serious about dating at 57 I'm taking a good look at my values. Interests like going to the beach, museums. theater, etc are just that. 

Values such as trust, caring

for others, being 'penny wise" are what will make a good lasting relationship

Does this make sence to you? 

It's ok to feel that way

 With all going on at times I feel helpless.   Helpless leads to feeling sad.

Covid, the economy, US politics, jobs, etc can all weigh me/us down and that's OK

Ok as long as I don't stay sad.  But when we feel that way it's healing to sit in a puddle of sadness

Just don't swim in the puddle and allow yourself to get out

Better Than?

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦"

Some one said this to me recently and  I was in awe.  This person must know me since most of my life is about being better to me.  

So many people argue with strangers about politics,the weather, parenting and such

I/we can only do whats right for ourseleves

Do you feel the same ?

 

Try it, you might like it

So  many us, myself included, are doing things we/I never thought I'd be doing. Zoom meetings, masks even in banks, hand sanitizer galore. 

There are those home improvement projects. I promise I'll move that bookshelf!!

We'll here we are several months into the pandemic and I'm trying new things at work

I created a form that makes getting medicines from pharmacies easier to track

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ― Lao Tzu

What have you tried new?

See it, Say it, Live it

This blog is about keeping an upbeat outlook and affirming attitude. I/we try to say those things and have those thoughts that bring peace, joy and happiness.  

When I want to believe something or learn something I see it, say it and live it

During my recovery from a stroke I KNEW life would go on and  I choose to do all I could to return to normal   I said it, wrote it down then did all i  could to get better. That meant therapy to walk, read and write

Right now is there some thing you/we are changing or just want a healthy status quo?

See it, Say it, Live it

Repeat these to be a mantra

It Is Well

There is a song in a Christian tradition "It Is Well With My Soul"

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)

These past several weeks have been surprisingly  busy with work, a house guest, setting up my  non profit, family issues.  Add the  stress of the COVID 19 pandemic sometimes life can be a bit much

That's when I pause and realize I/we've been through some of this before and my worry wont change any outcome.   Using tools I've shared  with you here before I remind myself "It is well"

Regular readers are aware I use mantras.They are repetitive phrases that reaffirm thoughts

"It  is well with my soul" is this months mantra.  Do you have one or any? Do they work for you?

Please comment in the space listed

 

I am not worthy

One of the most damaging beliefs is "I am not worthy". 

• It lowers your vibe. 
• It makes you settle for less. 
• It makes you unconsciously sabotage yourself when you receive more than you think you deserve.
• And worse of all, it gradually turns you into a water-down version of yourself.

Please know you ARE worthy and I am too and we are all goood enough!!

Did My Way Work?

Frank Sinatra has a song "My Way" where he sings

Regrets I've had a few

But then again too few to mention

I did what I had to do

And saw it through without exemption

I planned each chartered course

Each careful step along the by-way

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

Thinking about this I have had more than my fair share of mistakes and looking back it was because I did it My Way.   

A big part of going to school is to learn new ways. Ways of problem solving, ways of experiencing, ways to  grow.   We/I had the opportunity from others  so I wont need to make mistakes. 

Those in recovery are always aware there are other ways of changing behavior 

Doing it MY WAY didn't always work.   I had to fail enough to know OTHER WAYS are OK

Where are you in accepting other ways? Ways of doing something; ways of learning; ways of growing

Gratefully yours

My gratitude has a voice of its own; when it speaks, the heart understands.  Today, I will share my gratitude with others, whether I can find the words or not.

My gratitude for today is three fold: one is my home. I can afford a comfortable place to be with the comforts I choose.  Second is employment: with so many people on furlough due to the pandemic I rejoice in going to a place where I actually help people. Third is family/friends or human connections: My mom is #1, yes I'm a mommas boy!  My sisters provide strength too.  Add my house guest and potential room mate even as we socially distance it's nice to have people in my home

Please share via comments what you are grateful for.  Remember when we visualize or speak it thoughts can become reality 

You

Have you ever feel like you take a photo and say, is this who I am, is this my essence?

During this pandemic I know I have more time to be introspective.  I find looking at one of my eternal questions "who am I?" has me being much more aware.

Are you looking more closely at the who you are? 


Thanks friend in Sacramento for this topic

3 Things

I read this on someone else's blog and found it very appropriate

There's three things I tell myself and others.
1st- you have to respect yourself
2nd- you have to care about yourself
3rd- you have to love yourself.

If you can't do those three things to yourself how are you going to do it for anyone else. And always remember to take your peace back and don't give it away to anyone.

Right now we are all going though this "social isolation" and I've been questioning my own sanity and such.  

To guard against despair I'll look daily at these THREE THINGS and promise to live up to them

What do you do to keep up self esteem these days? 

Please comment on this blog so others can see and learn from each other

Argghh

H A L T

Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired

I'll admit this whole mess has me going though all these and more.  You too?

How do I combat these feelings?  Knowing that there WILL be an end doesn't feed my ID those feelings and related cravings will continue.  

Primarily its the lonely I'm hating. Work is full of people.  However they are in lock down (I work for an assisted living facility). 

I'll call people, not text to fight the loneliness.  It's a beginning

How are YOU dealiing with H.A.L.T.?  Comment in this forum so we all can share

Roads

In light of the current health crisis I'm taking comfort in wisdom of ages.  What seems beyond fathom does exist.  It seems we are on a long road. Much to learn: about this virus, our/my own self awareness, fortitude and grace.  This is one more long road we/I will be one yet

Roads were made for journeys not destinations

Compare? No

Never compare yourself to the person next to you.

That's a headline in an article about getting good results at the gym.
I find it a useful line in other parts of my life, too.  There are dozens of people at the gym I go to so why I even bother only seeing a few people to compare myself with makes no sence.  I have my own goals and standards. I know my own limits and abilities.

I make my goals for me not the universe so I keep to my lane and will not compare how I'm doing in the gym, professionally, financially, etc with others

I hope you know you are  beautiful just as you are

Mantle of Change

I  was watching a program where Winston Churchill was quoted when he was 24 years old

Take up the mantle of change,  for this is your time 

Just 9 short months ago I left the comfort of retirement and returned to full time work. So many things went into that decision and I am happier for it. That phrase from Churchill seems so appropriate as we/I start a new year and decade.

Have YOU 'Taken up your mantle"?