We experienced a somber event in my workplace this past week and it reminded me that we have to make the most of every moment while making the effort to tell people we care about how we feel – never, ever take anything for granted.

One of my colleagues suddenly lost their spouse on Friday. They were in the prime of their lives and had children and now, in just a few moments time the entire picture has changed. How tragic.

We always talk about living in the moment for ourselves. But we must remember to live in the moment with others whom we love.

Take a few moments today and make sure you have a plan of action that you want to follow day after day. Why do that? Because time goes by so fast and we get so wrapped up in our own things that if it’s not an established habit and pattern, you may not do it.

Be grateful and appreciative of people all the time AND  let them know that. This applies not only to those you are intimate with but you should practice this approach with everyone around you.

Is this a very metaphysical post? No. Is it an important post? You bet it is! Probably one of the most important that I’ve done all year.

The other part of this is that we should really look at everything in the proper perspective. Is it really useful to be upset about things and hang on to them? Do we get anything from holding grudges or sulking? Move on and enjoy every moment we have. Is it really important who got that last parking space? Of course not. Should it be cause for you to be in a bad mood all day? Is anything cause for that? Probably not. If we’re in a bad mood, we can’t be paying attention to those around us as much as we should.

Enjoy your week and please send thoughts and prayers to those who are experiencing grief, sadness and sorrow.

Terrie

 I don’t know about you but I do not like election years (which is actually 1 1/2 to 2 years). Have you ever thought about what all this debate and jab-and-punch rhetoric and digging into people’s pasts really means to you. Remember that unless we specifically guard against things we are susceptible to vibrations, thoughts and emotions being lobbied all around us.

It’s difficult, although not impossible, to maintain a positive, kind and gratitude filled demeanor when everywhere we turn there are “verbal snipers” lurking and pouncing. You cannot read the news, watch TV or listen to the radio without hearing about how one candidate has attacked the other.

What does this say about our country and its values? What does it say about the people we let run for office? What does it say about us? Remember there is a Mind Consciousness of any group of people and Americans certainly are a group with a mind consciousness.

I smile when I think of the phrase “Can’t we all just get along here?”

But then I frown when I realize the answer probably is “no”.

Politics reflects our daily life. How do you view your life in relation to these daily events? Can you see any similarities in your life? Does viewing the outside world give you any ideas of what you might want to change in your internal world? Think about it.

Terrie

“When you feel gratitude, often you are looking at a difficulty that you have overcome, but there is still some of that “struggle” vibration present. The state of appreciation is seeing whatever you are looking at through the eyes of Source. . . You could walk down a crowded street with all kinds of things that a lot of other people would find reason to criticize or worry about, and you would not have access to them because your vibration of appreciation is picking out for you things of a different vibrational nature.”  ~Abraham  Excerpted from: Money and the Law of Attraction on August 31, 2008

This week we’re discussing the difference between gratitude and appreciation. Until I read this quote I really thought it was just a matter of semantics. But if you look at the difference from this perspective, there really can be a difference. AND – there is a place for both in your life. One does NOT supplant the other.

If you are grateful for something not so good that happened but you’re wanting to declare it good and be thankful for what you’ve learned from it, this is where the “struggle” vibration comes into play that Abraham is talking about. The “struggle” here is because it wasn’t such a great thing and you’re working to transform it. If you appreciate this “not so good” event, then you’re recognizing it for what it is without assigning good or bad and without trying to change your inner feelings. You just accept whatever it is and think good things. You simply look at it from a different perspective and appreciate that it exists. Gratitude implies thanks and we’re not always thankful for something not so good that happens.

I am grateful (thankful) that I became a doctor. But I appreciate all that has happened to me in the past year – not all of which was good but I appreciate it for all that it taught me.

Think about this for awhile and see if you can discern the difference and see how you feel when you say you’re grateful for something and then when you say you appreciate it.

Terrie

As part of your creating new beginnings you may be having to start some things over. This can be very discouraging. Somehow, though, you have to find a way to overcome this discouragement and keep going.

Take my case for example. I was out of running for 5 1/2 months after my Tennessee Trek and the resultant medical issues I had from that and then just to complete “the Year of the Doctor” (you know  – like the year of the Rat I have named 2015 as the year of the doctor since I spent so much time there).  So finally, in the past week I’ve been able to get back out there on the road again to try to build up some endurance.

It’s been extremely discouraging – first this, then that, then something else and on and on. And all that in one week. But, you see, that’s the key, it’s just been one week. In this time of fast living a day seems like an eternity. But if I put things into perspective, then I realize that it isn’t a long time. And I just need to persevere.

I am also finally willing to listen to my body and realize that at every moment it is trying to communicate with me. My job is to listen. I must confess that I have not been a very good listener all these years. Even though I don’t feel as if I used those 5 1/2 months of down time productively, I am also willing to entertain whether or not that meant I needed to rest my mind as well as my body. Sometimes we don’t want to admit that we’re older and/or maybe are pushing our bodies too hard. I refused to really listen as 2015 progressed although I did receive strong messages early in the year. The body is so wonderful though. It does not give up sending messages- until you listen. So now my job is to try to translate the messages I get and do so accurately as the year progresses. The key is to listen as time goes on and not wait for a major event.

Next thing to do is to use your memory. I remember what it was like when I first started running. I was disappointed with my inability to run very far without stopping so I made a vow to work til I could run to the end of the block (.35 mile) without stopping. If I remember that time and finally being able to do it, then it makes this time easier because the vow is still embedded in my mind.

Speaking of being embedded in my mind, there is also the persistence factor. I remember that I had to be persistent to get what I wanted, whether it was running or getting into medical school. You just have to keep on going.  You will get there and will feel more accomplished when you have achieved your goal.

Enjoy the ride. This is so important to me. I teach people in my “What’s in Your Weigh” Coaching Program to live in the now and to not say “when I lose weight, then I’ll be happy”. You can be happy now. I have to apply the same concepts here. I am able to be out there and see progress some days and some days not. But I’m out there enjoying the environment, the movement, the thoughts that are going through my mind, etc. It’s all part of a wonderful life.

I also have learned to be realistic. If I can’t end up doing the distances I could before (even though I still want to do Tennessee again this year), I can do something and something is much better than nothing. That makes me feel happy. I have learned to enjoy the moment and the progress I do make, even if it’s not what I really would like. Part of the being realistic is recognizing my age. This is not “giving in to” my age or giving up. It’s simply knowing that things slow down and may take a bit longer to achieve as I get older. So I’m willing to give it more time.

This is an interesting one. I have to be proud of starting over. It would be easy to just give up and do something else. But that desire to do this thing (in my case it’s running) will continue to burn within.

Stop being ashamed. I see people around me who are really running while I trot or jog or walk. I feel they are making fun of me. So, then I kick myself and I just remember that I am out there at least and they don’t know (nor do they have to know) what I’ve been going through these past 5 months.  I’m not there to impress anyone else and I really don’t care what they think about me. I am there for myself and my health and enjoyment.

Take it slow. I have to continually realize that pushing it has been the problem in the past. But I was forced to miss my two favorite ultras this past fall and I survived even though it was painful. I can go to them this year if I can take it slow and not injure myself again. This is probably part of listening to my body but for other situations, taking it slow is a separate step. However, it’s an extremely important step.  It’s kind of like eating – if you slow down and pay attention to what you’re eating, you’ll learn to love and enjoy the flavors more. If you just scarf your food down, then, not only is it not digested well, you’ve missed a wonderfully enjoyable experience. And you’ve created a chronic stress state for yourself as well.  Living in a chronic stress state is not good for any of us and if we can slow down, we’ll do much better and all of the negative effects of stress will diminish. So, try it for awhile, slow down and don’t try to conquer the world in one setting.

Hopefully these things will help you if you’re having to start over. They helped me.

Terrie