Category: Daily thoughts

Everything in moderation, including moderation because – life’s short.

Those who know me are well aware that my definition of socializing is chatting with friendly people when running errands. People tend to talk to me and I am not shy when it comes to engaging, or initiating if there is something that deems conversation worthy. Visit a few stores, talk with some pleasant folks then it certainly qualifies as an official night out!

Waiting in the supermarket checkout line, I inched forward in an attempt to get what I referred to as the ‘thing-a-majiggy’ and the lady ahead of me knew exactly what I meant – the ‘whatcha-ma-call-it.’ The artfully decorated cake in my basket led to chatter about life’s celebrations and I proclaimed that any occasion was an occasion for cake to which she responded, ‘But after dinner, of course.’ Absolutely not 100% of the time!

Sometimes it’s before dinner – and sometimes, it is dinner. We may sneak a piece during the day or sliver a slice as a snack. We may even cut some for breakfast, followed by our multi-vitamin because surely our decisions aren’t necessarily nutritious or healthy ones – but those decisions are ours to make. We are grown-ups. We’ve earned the privilege of tossing some rules right out the window, and I can think of many.

Life is short. We should moderate everything, including moderation. We say it. We buy signs that proclaim it. We tout the message, yet rarely do we live it.

We find ourselves bogged down by the can nots and should nots. We are plagued by potential guilt and shame. We get so caught up in these things that they become life itself – and that takes up way too much mental space and stands in the way of what? Enjoying our lives!!

I’m the queen of it, so no preaching here. Maybe I’m nudging myself because I say it, buy the signs, and tout the message – but sometimes I forget and lose too much time restricting myself, judging myself, and not living in the way I believe every one of us should be – and we can’t get that time back. It’s gone, forever.

Yes, there are things we need to improve upon. There are habits to be broken. There is a need for some control and restraint so that we don’t become selfish, reckless hedonists. We need to honor our conscience, yet respect our true selves.

But we can have cake before dinner. Not every day, but some days – and we should let go of certain rules that actually hinder the joy of living rather than celebrate our very existence.

Reframe your thinking and start living today.

Got faith? Our world needs your prayers.

It’s the holiest time on the Christian calendar – the Easter Triduum, three days commemorating the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It’s also Passover, a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt.

Rocket attacks and airstrikes in Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza. Another school shooting in Nashville. Racial discord. Gender issues. Mental health crises. Addiction. Leaders and politicians who conduct themselves like high school cliques.

It’s disheartening, sad, and seems to be spiraling out of control right now – everywhere. Not just in America, but around the globe.

As I sat in church last evening, I reflected deeply. At anytime, anywhere – anyone could walk through the doors in places of worship and cause mass destruction. How could they? Why do they? None of us are safe.

Last weekend I sat in a school cafeteria, watching the kids interact and go about their day, doing the things that kids do. I reflected deeply. How could anyone, for any reason walk through the doors of a school and murder, or injure, any child, any human being? None of us are safe.

It’s heartbreaking and we, as a society, as a world, need all of the prayers we can get. Hug your loved ones, appreciate every moment, and if you have it in you – pray. Pray for peace. Pray for unity. Pray for a better tomorrow.

 

Riding the waves of life.

Life is like an ocean.

Sometimes calm and peaceful, but more often than not coming at us like waves crashing up against the sea wall – wild and unpredictable, a magical pool of wonder with a mind and mood of it’s own. If we are not careful, we can get pulled into the current, tirelessly fighting to catch our breath and find some way to swim safely back to shore.

Oh, how we fight the currents, exhausting ourselves by swimming against the tide when we should be surfing the waves – allowing ourselves to ebb and flow, rise and fall. When we get sucked under, finding the will and confidence to paddle to the top, mentally letting go while physically persevering.

Letting go – it’s something most of us aren’t good at, even if we think we are. Call it delusional, or denial. Call it what you will, but we all fight the currents, swim against the tide, and find ourselves drowning in this thing called life.

We want balance. We want happiness. We want consistency. We want – well, maybe we don’t always know what we want. Maybe, we have a mind and mood of our own – just like the ocean.

What is the moral of this post, you may ask?

Keep swimming. Know when to front crawl, know when to float. Know when to dive in, know when to do laps. The key to success is in continuity – in not giving up yet recognizing when to modify or adapt.

The sea speaks to the soul and if you listen carefully, it can speak to you, as well. There will be storms. There will be shipwrecks. There will be sailing on the bright and clear blue water.

Welcome it all. Your heart will go on.

It’s a Winter Wonderland

As the snow falls outside the window, I can’t help but be reminded that winter will soon be behind us. The clocks sprung ahead last Sunday morning while we slept, and the days have grown longer. Birds chirp as dawn breaks and the geese that fly overhead in the evening have clocked in an hour later than usual. Spring is in the air.

Winter is one of my favorite seasons, second only to autumn and some days bumps to the front of the line. Those days are days just like this, when the world seems to stop and most people are nestled inside of their warm homes, working, playing, reading, cooking, baking, or doing nothing at all.

For those in the New England area, even if you are not a lover of the cold or snow, I encourage you to take a few minutes today and marvel in its the majestic force that is Mother Nature. Watch the snowflakes fall, each one unique in its own way – just like us. Take in the beauty, if just for a moment, rather than anger at the burden of shoveling and inconvenience. There’ll be plenty of time for that.

Then close your eyes and let gratitude fill you. Gratitude that you are reading this from a warm place with a roof over your head. Gratitude that we live in a locale where the seasons change and offer us something new and exciting four times each year. Gratitude for simply waking up this morning.

And join me in thanking all of those who keep us safe, protect us, and serve our communities – those who brave any weather, work the nights and holidays, and who don’t have the luxury of taking snow days: DPW workers, police, fire, paramedics, EMTs, nurses, doctors, and more; as well as those who have no place to place to call home.

What to seek out when you’re overwhelmed.

Life moves fast, super fast, and too often we forget that we can opt for cruise control.

There are tight deadlines, endless responsibilities, and schedules that we allow to own us.

What we may lose sight of, or not even realize, is that we often place unnecessary pressure on ourselves. We overbook, stress, and make important what may be quite insignificant – if it even counts at all – in the larger scheme of things.

Continue reading “What to seek out when you’re overwhelmed.”

Unsubscribe. It’s not necessarily personal.

As a marketing professional, I’m a subject matter expert on algorithms, metrics, and analytics.

Check out something on social media and you’re automatically placed in a funnel that will market to you anything and everything pertaining to whatever you searched.

Emails are measured, to learn how many people opened and clicked through.

If you made it that far, metrics will analyze how you came in to the site – was it the email? Or was it Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter?

Corporations place enormous emphasis on such data, and I get why. The metrics equal engagement, interest, and future sales. Maybe.

But I’m on the flip side. I kind of remain the social media anti-Christ. I’m also the outlier, the exception to most rules, and the one who proves the norms wrong. Not a life ambition, yet one I seem to achieve time and time again.

Tonight, I scrolled through my emails and embarked on the daunting task of unsubscribing. It’s not that their content isn’t interesting. It’s not that I don’t want to purchase their goods, or follow their blog, or pursue any other call to action that they thoughtfully, painfully, and wholeheartedly planned.

I simply get too many emails that I label as ‘junk’ and long to filter the solicitations from the messages with actual intent – family, friends, and personal business.

Don’t take it personally. Sometimes we unsubscribe simply to cut through the noise. Doesn’t mean we don’t like you, or want to buy in the future – we will find you when we are ready.

Signs.

Today is the anniversary of my grandfather’s passing, 01/13/2012 – also a Friday the 13th. I miss him even more today than I did the day he left us – yes, that is possible.

As I sat at my desk, preparing to work, and flipped the page on my daily calendar, this faced me.

It’s a sign. It’s a reminder of what’s important in life. And I’m forever grateful that we were able to be with my grandfather as he transitioned on from this earthly life to his eternal resting place, surrounding him with love and care in his own bed, in his own home.

Tell your loved ones how you feel. think twice before sweating the small stuff or growing irritated by things that truly don’t matter when we look at the big picture. Be the person they need, and be tolerant of differences. Kindness and understanding are not to be underestimated.

Even the universe is remembering my grandfather on this solemn anniversary. What a gift he was, and how blessed I am. I feel his presence, and he is with me every day – in my heart, on my mind, through my choices and actions. We will forever ‘sing in the sunshine.’

Are you complacent? Not busting out of your comfort zone so you can grow?

This definitely applies to me in some ways, despite my propensity for change and growth. There are certain things that are familiar, most in a good way, but others that aren’t necessarily serving me well or helping me to be my best self.

This year’s daily calendar choice was excellent. In past years, there were a number of daily mantras not worth the words on the page – yet I’m sure they spoke to someone who needed to read them, no offense intended and quite selfish an opinion.

If you don’t have a daily thoughts calendar, I highly recommend considering the purchase of one then starting your day with words of wisdom that you can carry in your heart and reflect upon throughout the day.

Don’t let yourself dwell too long in complacency.