Happy Wednesday my friends! Today I want to talk for a minute about something that each of us experiences or needs at different times in our life. We work hard at keeping our bodies healthy and staying safe from dangerous things. Yet, we often times forget that we also need to work on healing our inner self or our spiritual self.
Not everyone is religious. Not everyone believes the same. You have to do you! But we all have a need for a healthy mental health. We all need to feel happier, less anxious, and more confident in ourselves and the world.
Often times it is as simple as simplifying our lives. A simpler life is NOT a step backwards. I think it is a move forward.
Healing our heart and mind is important. It can make life so much more enjoyable. After all we only get one shot at this - right? We owe it to ourselves to make it happy as can be.
So many are searching today. They think their happiness lies outside themselves. A new mate, a different home or job, a magic cure. People got very comfortable staying home in the past few years - and now they truly don't want to go back out! They believe home is their safe spot. Maybe it is, but is also hampers growing in new ways. We cannot live a in hobbit hole - we have to face reality and grab it by the proverbial "balls" and march forward!!!!!!!
It can be a long road to realization. It takes time. But we owe it to ourselves to be happy in some way. It may not be the "happy" we had before - it may be a new happy. That is OK!!!!!! Just because you experience loss or rejection or sadness in the biggest way does NOT mean that you cannot be happy again. YOU CAN and it is OK!!!!! Noone will think bad of you. I think we wish happiness on all people.
We grow and expand, and things change, and crap happens. Bad crap happens - yet here you are reading this! You are here today!
Does it mean that you won't still have anxious moments? No. Does it mean that you won't have anger or fear? No. But if you work on giving yourself a break and let peace work into your life, you can handle those things a little better. Maybe it is just a teeny-tiny bit better tomorrow, and a bit more the next day, and so on. That is fine - that is good. It is moving forward - inch by inch.
You owe it to yourself and to your family and your friends. You also (if grieving) owe it to the memory of your lost one. They would want you to be happy - they would want you to live life - they would be encouraging you from the sidelines. I truly believe they are still with us in spirit and that is what helps me each and every day.
So yes, if you need to yell and scream, throw things, cry, sleep, have a fit - DO IT! THEN get your butt in gear and move and move forward. You are surrounded by love, more love than you can imagine. People WANT to help, they really do.
So don't forget to work on the inner you as well as the physical you. Do whatever you need.
Never think it is a weakness to ask for help, even professional help if necessary.
Take care of you! You owe it to yourself and to all those here and those who have passed. Honor the lives of them and honor your life! After all you are a child of God! That is pretty special.
Have a blessed day my friends.
Today's blessing:
When life gets so stressful, I think God has a plan for me and although I don't know what it is, I am sure what I am going thru is part of how He wants it to be done.
ReplyDeleteExactly!!! I do believe that as well. We may not know why - but someday! It is all about learning.
DeleteLovely post, thank you. Hilogene in Az
ReplyDeleteYou've been on my mind and in my prayers, Hilogene. Sending a little hug your way today. --Elise
DeleteThank you. Hope you are doing well, and getting settled in the new place!
DeleteExcellent Scripture! Miss Ellen is right...the Father's plans for us include the bad and stressful times...just wait and see what He will do. Trust in Him!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful day again! We got a smidgen of rain last night. Mr. Ed, the horseradish, looks very happy. Apparently horseradish plants require lots of water. Phillip, the fig tree, has 7 or 8 figs. Need to check to see if it is okay to harvest the first year and wait a year. Think we will head to Cox's Plant Farm just to look around. Nurseries are our happy place. Enjoy your day.
Indeed, He has a plan. Faith!!!!!
DeleteIt is gorgeous out. We got a smidge of rain yesterday and last night both. No need to water today! Enjoy!
Timely post today. I have some therapy homework I have been procrastinating, and I have decided today is the day I start.
ReplyDelete--Frances in the Trailer Park
Sending a little hug out to you, too, Frances. Praying for both of you every day. --Elise
DeleteYou got this gal. I think life is one continuing therapy session. It is for me. Hope you are both well!
DeleteThis is an excellent post Cheryl! Thank you for sharing it. I try to remind myself that it is ok to be sad, hurt, angry but not to stay there in that mindset for too long. We do all owe it to ourselves to see the joy in each day no matter how small or insignificant it may seem at first. The small joys are actually usually the most important. Have a wonderful day!!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Those small joys sure do add up quickly! We have ups and downs - that is life. But those ups are just the icing on the cake!
DeleteGreat post filled with wisdom! Thank you. Lynn Ewing
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post for the day, Cheryl. It truly resonates. I start with meditation on the gift I've been given every morning, as I walk my pup (who wakes at the crack of dawn; he doesn't understand that I've retired and can sleep in) and typically watch the sun rise over the pond across the street. I give thanks for the gift of a new day and count my blessings. Yes, there are stresses, and yes I stumble, but I know just how strong and reslilent I've become. We CAN do it!
ReplyDeleteWe CAN, Lori. And why is it dogs don't understand retirement? Sleeping in? One or the other of ours will wake us up at 1st light. Then again, it means we get to enjoy the sun rising every morning. So there's that. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Delete--Elise
Thanks. It is those basic things like a sunrise or sunset - the birds singing, the pets giving us a loving. They all all great and make it all worthwhile! Each day is a gift.
DeleteThank you for this post today, Cheryl. As my Pop used to say, it hits the spot. We've had (as you know) a LOT of change in our lives. Ellen is on target, too. I know there's a purpose.
ReplyDeleteWhen discussing changes in ourselves the other night, Hubs mentioned that I've become so much more a homebody, it has surprised him. I told him I *like* my life now, no longer dwelling on what isn't, but what IS and living in the moments as they come. Good and bad. My faith has deepened. Strengthened. I still struggle with changes in our society, America and the world, but understand (finally) I'm not in control of any of it. Can't effect it. So, as best I can, I give it to God: His will be done, whatever that is.
And I pray. When I pray everyday for others it shifts focus away from myself and I'm so grateful for each person... each and every one. You are all part of the beauty in this world, whether you realize it or not. Thank you for being here. --Elise
Thanks. Thy will be done!!!!! I have said that more times lately than I can mention. He is in control and you are right, all we can do is give it to Him and continue to pray. Life shifts so many times and we just go with the flow - I mean what else can we do? You are part of that beauty as well!!!!!
DeleteGM to the Corner!
ReplyDeleteI awoke to the beautiful sound of a steady rain. Music to my ears! When I got up at 2am, I saw lightning and heard thunder, but anyone that knows Midwestern weather knows that all that might mean nothing. I've been humming a song in my head that's a Psalm we sing at Mass. "Lord, send down your spirit, and renew the face of the earth.". I'm still looking for a verse about Him pulling over and taking off his sandal, wink wink! It's a beautiful morning and I have all the windows wide open. Hubs even put the houseplants out to clean their leaves and enjoy some water from heaven.
My knee is pretty effective at keeping me at home, for the most part. Fortunately, we have a very active church life so we spend an hour or more yapping with friends afterwards. Plus the activities there we're involved with. We're early birds so we don't do much evening socializing. And really, we're both homebodies. Life was so topsy turvy when I wasn't living with my grands that I cherish a home, feel so happy to have one, and I truly like it. It's not like my youth when I'd much rather sit just about anywhere else. I mean, my fall dorm opened at 11am for moving in. I was there by 10:30 lol.
As for anxiety, how do I phrase this kindly lol?! As toxic people have passed on and I've cut ties from others, my life has grown far more peaceful. Nobody calling me to tell this person this and that person to stop that and.....gah!!! As if I could EVER control crazy people lolol. I used to get an adrenaline rush every time my phone rang. It's take an hour or more to relax again. That's ridiculous, ya know?
Anyway, I'm off to check store ads, scrub the loos, and enjoy the happy birdsong. Toodles!
SO glad you finally got rain, Debby. Woo-hoo!!! We're at the dusty, dry phase before the monsoon, but I remember well Midwestern weather. Crossing fingers and saying prayers Hubs can get the last of the gravel spread out before "microbursts" arrive, or as I call then, "Texas dumps" (even in AZ.)
DeleteI though of you when going over a pattern I have for rosary coil bracelets. They're on my to-do craft list. As for toxic folks in the family, I've always referred to them as "challenging opportunities for growth". God put us in the families He did for His own reasons, and if nothing else, there are lessons we learn while in them. Don't you think? For me it's been a lifetime of lessons in what NOT to do.
Our Safeway ads this week aren't great. Not much truly sale prices until Friday, when 18 count eggs will be 2/$5, tortilla chips, tortillas and salsa 2/$5 and avocados 5/$5. Even their "sale" lettuce is $1.69 this week. Yikes! Hope you have better luck with your store ads this week. --Elise
So very happy you got some rain. It is a joyful noise!!!!!! The plants just seem to grow overnight from God's water. I could water and water and it isn't the same.
DeleteYes we have to remove toxicity from our lives. I have learned a lot of that the hard way. Slowly but surely I am removing it. It is so freeing!!!!!!!
Well, He has the wheel - so I guess He doesn't need to pull over!!!!!!!
Hope you have a good day.
Sorry Elise, I have to disagree about some people being opportunities for growth. Growth is one thing. Psychological wrecking crews are another. Some people are just too willing to mow over boundaries and enjoy inflicting pain. I'm not a fixer or a professional. No regrets. My only regret is that I tried to 'do the right thing ' for as long as I did.
DeleteI hear you, Debby. Such was the case with my natural father, a couple of uncles, and aunt and (sadly) my brothers. They left a lot of destruction in their wakes. I tried also to "do the right thing" for decades. Then I gave up, gave it all to God, dusted off my sandals and walked away. But there were lessons in that, too. Hard ones. --Elise
DeleteP.S. When it's dangerous, it's imperative to walk away.
DeleteI wish I could express how this hits me today. This is the 1 year anniversary of my loves passing. I have had so many questions and pray constantly for answers. However I have come to realize that sometimes the answers will not take away the grief. Grief changes over time, I go on, but the missing of my love is always going to be with me. I am thankful for the ones still with me and I know he is with me in spirit.
ReplyDeleteThank You so much for todays blog writing it is such a blessing to me.
JC
Hug and prayers, JC.
DeleteI found the first year after was the worst. Not that it becomes easy, but it's not the same after the first. But oh how much I miss those who have crossed over and gone ahead, and some days (many days?) I wish *I* could go too.
DeleteAnd then I wonder who would take care of Blackie, or would he spend years in a small cage in a rescue somewhere, and that would be so cruel, he's been such a comfort to me.
Sometimes it seems like just a tiny thread that holds us here. But we hang on. We'll go in God's time, not ours.
MaryB
JC huge hugs. Timing is the Lord's - so that must be the reason for the post today!
DeleteThe first year is the worst -like Mary said it gets better (well different) each day. I guess never better - but we grow and we learn yet we never understand. Seems so much of what we wanted is lost. I get that!!!!! Shoot 4 years in and I still have conversations - one sided - but conversations. And in some way I think I get some answers. Hold tight to what you have here, and moment by moment you get through. Is it easy? Nope. Is it any fun? Nope. Just something every person on the earth has to go through at some point.
HUGS
Public Service Announcement/Blue Light Special comment:
ReplyDeleteBasha's in AZ has a few great prices for AZ shoppers this week. Not a lot, but a few, like red cherries for $1.98 lb., all lettuce 88 cents ea., limes 5/$1 and bone in pork shoulder roast [great for pulled pork] at $1.99 lb. If you bring donuts to church, Fri., Sat. and Sun., buy a dozen Basha's bakery donuts and get 6 free. That concludes the announcement. Back to better topics...
--Elise
As always, a wonderful post Cheryl! I we are so fortunate to be surrounded by tools of every kind, should we choose to use them, to help us. A few things that I learned early on are: Happiness is an inside job; not to compare my insides to someone else's outsides; to live simply so that others may simply live. If I'm starting to feel bad over something it's time to go out and do something kind for someone else. Am I always perfect in some of these things -- no -- but I keep at it. I feel blessed that there are many, many tools I can turn to. Today it was Psalm 90. It was mammogram and ultrasound day today and I was very anxious. Reading Psalm 90 in the waiting room was the best thing I could have done.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I love about God's creations is the sunrise. Our home is situated as such that if you look to the east very early in the morning you can see the sun coming up and at the same time, if you look straight ahead it's still pitch dark. We can actually see how the earth rotates just by watching the sunrise and move across the sky. It is miraculous.
Blessedly, we have had rain again last night and today. It's been so dry here that on Monday a burn ban for 30 days was put into effect, which means no fireworks on the 4th. Maybe with the rain the burn ban will be lifted. Wishing everyone a blessed day. Cookie
You said that perfectly. Happiness comes from within. We can choose to be happy or we can choose to be miserable. Circumstances has a little to do with it, but in the end we make the decision.
Delete"Happiness is an inside job" - perfectly said.
We sure do have an awesome God. He gives us the tools to comfort and calm.
Glad you got some rain. Lucky you - no fireworks!!!! They have already started around here, and it scares me, with the dryness we have had.
I am trying so hard to learn to slow sown and I am making a little progress I think.
ReplyDeleteYou have made great strides - do not doubt yourself. Proud of you!
DeleteGreat post Cheryl, full of lots of great advice and some great advice in the comments too. Much food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Louise
Thanks dear. I appreciate it. Our folks make great sense, and they help each other. I love that!
DeleteA wonderful reminder Cheryl. I'm not religious but do consider myself spiritual. Nothing restores my mental health than a walk in the natural world around us.
ReplyDeleteI find the older I get, the less I worry. Que sera sera. No amount of fretting or worry will make a difference over the things I cannot control. I can only control how I react to the things that happen in my life.
That is so true. We are responsible for our reactions and really nothing more. Worry just harms us. I think you have it figured out!
DeleteI always say to myself in situations, "Let go and let God." It really helps me get through some tough situations.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Love that saying!!!!!! I will remember that one! Thanks
DeleteOne Drive shows you memories from the date it is today. Hubs was shown a picture of our oldest son's MBA graduation 8 years ago. It's a pic of our son with both of Hubs' parents... both have since passed. We moved to another state for retirement. Our oldest remains where we'd been. Some nights I just feel very tired. Tonight is one of those. Thanks again, Cheryl, for this blog post. Calling it a day now. Hope you sleep/slept well.
ReplyDelete--Elise
I hope you and he get to visit. Time sure does change things.
DeleteHope you get rested tonight!
Love this post Cheryl! Such good words to ponder and strive to live by. Bless you for lifting us up with your thought provoking messages. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope it helps someone - just one - would be worth it. Everyone is so special.
DeleteEveryone deserves peace and healing.
ReplyDeleteYes mam. That is truth and fact!
DeleteSuch a wonderful entry and reminder Cheryl! Bravissimo!
ReplyDeleteVery comforting Psalm too. I also love Psalm 91.
We absolutely must take care of ourselves, yes, we must, otherwise we can't help others even in our own families. Great reminder, most of us need that!
Hugs! ~Amelia
Thank you. I appreciate that. Yes, our inner health is so very important for every else as well.
Delete