In the Moment...

12/7/2019

Hi there...
I think you have probably heard this one but I'd like to share it just in case:

I want to thank you, Lord, for being close to me so far
this day. With your help, I haven't been impatient,
lost my temper, been grumpy, judgmental,
or envious of anyone.
But I will be getting out of bed in a minute
and I think I will really need your help then.
-author unknown

   I know this is meant to be humorous (and it is), but at this time of year, right before
the various holidays, eg. Christmas, it can be a serious plea for help because of the frantic activity we place ourselves in. What we seem to forget is that everything we do is a choice and although we want to be a part of something wonderful, often the commercial chaos overwhelms us and creates a great deal of pressure and stress.
Here are a few suggestions that research has found to be effective at reducing stress:

---spend a few minutes each day, or several times a day, and place yourself
  in quiet...with no demands on yourself---even if the bathroom is seemingly the only place
  to find quiet.
---walk outside in a city park or nature area and breathe slowly and deeply.
---concentrate on the reason for the season--where real peace can be found.
---try to fully experience togetherness, church services, special food treats,
presents---or at least the intention, decorations, etc.
---take time to be kind.
---pray for others who have less than you or are lonely, confused, hungry or in pain.

I could go on but I think you get the idea. Put your life into perspective,.. but know that you may
still need God's help...

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The following interesting thoughts are from another unknown writer. I've adapted a few.
See if you agree:

    I've learned...
that the best classroom
in the world is at the feet of an
elderly person.

I've learned...
that having an infant fall asleep in your arms
is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

    I've learned...
that being kind is more important
than being right.

I've learned...
that no matter how serious your life
requires you to be, everyone needs a friend
to act goofy with.

I've learned...
that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned...
that life is like a roll of toilet paper.The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned...
that sometimes all a person needs
is a hand to hold and a listening heart to understand.

author unknown
and I've personally learned...
that everything other than love
is just clutter and fluff.

Peace,
Jeanne

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11/18/19

“But if I choose life, what would I do with it?”

The above question was asked of me by a very lonely and depressed woman on a hospital psychiatric unit.

I wonder how many other people feel the same way about living.
I wonder what became of the happiness skills we had as children---the ability to be spontaneous and free, to experience a sense of wonder and appreciation, a sense of discovery and awe. Why do so many adults simply give up on life, sit back and wait for happiness to happen someday?
How much happiness do you, in a sense, give up? Have you lost contact with the joys of living?

Try a simple exercise:

IMAGINE AN IDEAL DAY… If you could do anything you wanted all day, how would you spend your time? Write down 10 favorite activities that you see yourself doing on this ideal day, and then ask yourself: How many of these activities do I do in an average week? How much time do I spend on each activity?
Am I selecting happy times for me? Am I doing what is really important to me?
And if you choose life do you know what to do with it?

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11/9/19
Ok, being an honest person, I have to admit that this is not something written in the moment. I actually wrote it awhile back. However, with the present drowning of "holiday" commercialism, it seems to fit with today's growing chaos...

Tell Me Again...

The world with its complexities appears to be escalating at too rapid a rate to maintain understanding. As soon as I think I understand one change, another inexplicable one takes place and I am left to simply scratch my head and wonder why. It seems that in the frantic race to be the latest, simplicity, common sense, goodness and quality have all taken a back seat, replaced by things that just don’t feel right. So, for the sake of those of us who haven’t kept up with the reasoning behind all that has changed in society, could you please try and explain?
            For example, tell me again:

---Why natural beauty goes unnoticed or ignored, while garish and bizarre images
    permeate our media.
---How all those insurance companies got their medical degrees.
---Why manufacturers continue to insult consumers by sneakily reducing the
volume of a product until the original size is called “double” with double the
                price.
---How the economy can be doing so well when so many people have to hold two
    minimum wage jobs in order to survive.

Please explain…

---Why we spray our lawns with toxic chemicals that harm children, pets, and
nature; or
---Why we completely destroy acres of trees in order to build a group of high priced houses on barren land, and then call the development “Woodland”  Estates.

---Why, even with all the latest technology, the weather report still
                seems to be wrong half the time.

And while you are at it, could you also tell me again:

---Why we seem to have lost our awareness of what is good and decent,
                respectful and genuine.
---Why people do not listen the first time, why bureaucracies breed
    incompetence, or why there are those who think that to love someone is to
                control that person.
---When did shooting someone became the answer to everyday problems and greed replace integrity?

          Try to explain…

---Why millions are spent on lighting up the sky for 10-minute spectaculars while
    some of America’s children still go hungry.
---Why, when you finally become aware of what is really important in life, time
    passes so quickly.
---How people can teach intolerance and hate, and then wonder why there is so
    much violence, or what happened to getting to know your neighbor and being
    there for each other.

And, remind me, once again, about the importance of:

---Having dreams...
---Believing that I am loveable and capable...
...And, learning how to be kind…

Please, tell me again

******************************************************************

11/2/19
In the moment I'm thinking about all those who may have lost perspective on life..).

I wonder now when it was that I ceased to walk with the fluid motions of one who is young. It seems like only a few months ago that I wasn't taken seriously by those who were wise in the way the world works.

It's almost as if we are deceived into thinking that there really is an optimal time in life when we have it all together. But in reality, it seems that just when our minds and hearts finally begin to feel comfortable with explaining old insecurities and we can smile at ourselves lovingly, the body decides to go on strike--one department at a time.

And so we unfairly go from not having control because of our youth to not having control because of our failing body parts.

Right between young adulthood and middle age someone needs to invent a longer, more recognizable time period during which we can feel both healthy and secure....a time when, at least for the moment, we can feel up to the struggle.

Peace,
Jeanne

You can reach me at jpwriters@aol.com

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I Want to Get Off...
10/25/19

Have you ever watched an animal (e.g., dog or cat), sitting and just looking at the world around them? Have you noticed a bird simply sitting on a branch just observing life? Do you ever wonder what they are thinking? Even animals seem to take time to rest and reflect.

    Sometimes we find ourselves lost in an almost constant state of distraction. We go from being distracted by noise to distraction from over stimulation, or agitation from pain and fatigue. Demands on our time and multiple social expectations can lead to a robot-like existence.

When this continues on a daily basis without relief, we can be left with feelings of being overwhelmed, embattled, and confused about life in general. Have you ever felt this way? Well, it seems like this might be a good time to stop the thrill ride and begin to treat the dizziness and confusion. This might be the time to look at life from a new perspective—a perspective of personal peace and simplicity.

Mindfulness really does work. The short but regular time spent in silence and alone can help you look at life from a new viewpoint. It can simplify what seems overwhelmingly difficult and create a new you--someone who can answer daily demands with calmness and confidence. Just remember that now is the only real time. The past is just a memory and the future is in our imagination.

Peace,
Jeanne

Questions, comments, suggestions? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have any blog subjects that you might like.

You can e-mail me at JPwriters@aol.com.



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10/20/19
  Recently a lot has been said about clutter and its effect on those who are unable to control it.
Sitting here (in the moment), I am aware of how easy it is to produce clutter without seeing it until it begins to overwhelm. As I look around my office, there are piles (neat piles) but so many that I don’t know what specifically is in them. In fact, it almost looks like a wanna-be professional hoarder. (I wonder what happened to my seeking simplicity and mindfulness).

Yes, my piles seem to have purpose. But do my many projects and pending works justify this? It looks like an office of someone who may live in the moment, but is terribly disorganized in the moment. It is an affront to my integrity.
   So, what can I do to fix the situation? Well, I could diminish the piles by putting them all into one pile and create a pretend organized environment. Or I could stuff them all into bulging office files and never find them again. I could do mini fixes like stop paying bills, stop writing and submitting manuscripts, and take the time to finally put my recipe book together. Not gonna happen…all
   There are two days free, today and tomorrow, that have no commitments other than college football. Should I spend my time on Facebook and Pinterest or become the organized person I wish I were by clearing off some of the noncritical piles?

  Ok, help me, what do you think?…

************************************************************************

What are you looking for?

In the moment I am thinking about the concept of happiness, peace of mind, and what really works to achieve them.

Awhile back there was some research on what is absolutely necessary for peace of mind (happiness). Following is my adaptation of the factors that had the greatest number:

1. Shun suspicion and resentment. Keeping a grudge has been found to pull down happiness levels an average of 50 percent.

2. Live in the present. Most unhappiness comes from an unwholesome preoccupation with the mistakes and failures of the past. Forgive yourself for past mistakes. It is as vital to your happiness as forgiving others.

3. Don't waste time and energy fighting conditions you can't change
There is little you can do to heal the incurable disease of a loved one, or change the personality of those with whom you live. So stop hitting your head against the wall.

4. When you find yourself in a state of emotional stress, reach out to others instead of retreating within and building a prison of loneliness.

5. Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues of love, humor, thrift and church attendance, etc.

6. Stop expecting too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between the standards you set for yourself and actual achievement, Unhappiness is inevitable. If you can't improve the performance, try lowering the demands instead.

7. Self-centered materialistic people score lowest on the Duke University tests for measuring happiness. While those are are high in altruism and wholesome religious attitudes generally come out with the top happiness ratings.
Author unknown
(There is much more about happiness in my book, HAPPINESS--Hidden in Plain Sight. It can be purchased through my website here.)

As always, I wish you peace...
Jeanne

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Don’t you wish you could slow down
the pace of life?

It seems that this would be a good time for mindfulness and meditation, but it probably sounds like more work to some of you. I wonder how many approach anything new to them as an obstacle to be overcome. But mindfulness and/or meditation are designed to take away stress and to create personal peace..

Some people are afraid to let go and to just be. Some feel that if they stop accumulating pockets of stressful activities, they may realize how pointless these are. Other individuals are afraid to be alone even for a few minutes. And some seem to be misguided by our social network and have priorities mixed up.

Whatever the reason, it is worth it to try—in a simple way. Give yourself only five minutes each day to just sit in a state of calm and peace with no thought to problems, events, relationships, meetings or appointments. Don’t plan dinner or the weekend... Get the point? If doing this occurs on a regular basis it is very possible that you will become closer to the really important things in life, and living will have more meaning. It may even bring you closer to God…

Now is the Time

I’ve often thought that most of us live life backwards. It seems that we tend to place all the important things on the back burner and to spend copious amounts of time on non-essentials, especially early in life. We allow negative things from the past and fearful imaginations of our future to control the time we have now—the only real time there is.
I wonder what would happen if we turned things around and spent our energy, thoughts, and awareness on the important things now.
Someday soon I would like to be able to slow down enough to experience all and only the good things that happen in the moment. I will take time to be aware of what is going on around me---to finally realize that this time and only this time is life.
Now is really the time to be grateful, to listen, to try to understand, and to love. Now is the time to be aware, to look at beauty, to learn, to be kind. Right now someone needs you. Right now there is pain in someone’s eyes. Right now someone needs to hear that they are loved.
What would happen if instead of continuing to live lives of quiet desperation, we listened in silence to the soft voice of God within us? Would we possibly then be able to see the God within each other?
Choice…what a wonderful gift.

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A Quick Perspective on Life

In the span of a lifetime, we learn many useful
insights that can help create a perspective on life.

For example, Life is always and only right here, right now, this moment... Think about it. The past is just a memory and the future is in our imagination. However, if that promotion brings your 15 minutes of fame, you may discover that it is superficial. And we know that Publishers Clearing House will probably never visit... but God is always with us.

It can take awhile for some people to realize that a great amount of happiness comes from the ability to be positive and aware of goodness.
Beauty is all around us, but some people spend their lives fixated on trash. Few are aware that negative thinking only makes pain worse.

One of the hardest thoughts to assimilate for some is that we are all children of God --- and the family needs you. As the world seems to decay around us, and at times the skies are an endless gray with only patches of blue, we try to look for good news. But the overwhelming negative conditions seem to be blocking our search. So, we are stuck with basically two choices. We can sink to new levels of low morality, lack of integrity, greed, disrespect of others, and negativity, or we can seek out what is good, kind, trustworthy,and naturally beautiful---and become the good person we are hoping to meet.

It's your choice...do you see that patch of blue?

One last insight: Genuine love is the immediate and final answer to everything...

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How to give yourself a hug…

---put your “To Do” list on hold temporarily and simply “be”
---spend time around those you love without any
   electronic devices
---make a steaming cup of hot tea or cocoa
---wrap up in a throw blanket and engage in a good book
            ---sink into in a warm bubble bath
            ---allow yourself time for a nap
            ---buy fresh flowers just for you
            ---enjoy a special ice cream treat
            ---relax with your favorite CD
            ---buy an impulsive inexpensive gift
            ---snuggle with a pet
---put on comfortable, loose fitting clothes
            ---if available, relax in a hot tub
            ---feel the freshness of clean sheets and a warm blanket
            ---take time to make a special breakfast and enjoy
            ---sit back in a recliner chair and browse through a favorite magazine
            ---give yourself do not disturb time
            ---put your right hand on your left shoulder,
                your left hand on your right shoulder,
                and remind yourself that you are worth it…

*******************************************************

It’s nice outside. Sunny and warm. The trees are quivering in the breeze and the birds are racing across my view. I finally have quiet and my own time. I find that this is essential to having a spiritual life that is meaningful to me. There is so much to see when looking out a window into nature, and I am grateful to have a view like this. Focusing on nature has been shown to almost automatically create a relaxed feeling and frame of mind.

Of course, focusing, in our chaotic and unsure world, is difficult for all of us. It seems that we can’t get over the rushed schedule that we have made for ourselves. Always adding another activity appointment, agreeing to another request, learning the rules and language of yet another sport, preparing for a too soon family invitation, etc. We seem to spend an awful lot of time trying to catch up with ourselves.

I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if all of us took just ten minutes every day to listen to silence through meditation and mindfulness. Would we eventually slow down the rest of the day? Would we more likely keep what is really important to us on our minds? Would we find it easier to be kind?

There is so much that silence can teach us. Try listening to the quiet and if you hear God whispering, listen to the message. It is probably in the quote by Dr. Jarold Jampolsky, Teach only love. The only time is now…

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. Life is full of minute-by-minute choices. Every choice that we make determines not only how we are changed, but also how the world around us is changed.

We can choose to reach out to our environment with a sense of curiosity, wonder, respect and appreciation. As a result, our lives can be filled with enjoyment, playfulness, and peace of mind. It's largely a question of attitude and personal actions.

It has to do with who we are. If we see a world of possibilities, it is because we look around us with a positive outlook on life. If we see a world that is dangerous and threatening, we can become someone who is fearful. Every thing we do, every choice we make, changes the world. By choosing to be happy with determination and conviction, we start a process of positive thinking that allows love to come in to our lives--and into the world.
Be at peace within...

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It seems that wisdom is actually hard to discover or obtain. Books will help, but only to a point. Wisdom seems to come with steady observance without prejudice and much reflection on your own and others' behavior.

The more time I spend in the chaotic world of human interactions, the more I realize how often we simply get it all wrong. Some of the things I have come to know are so opposite what we generally see as truth. For example, along with others I have discovered.....
                   ---that the more we hurt, the more self-absorbed we become.

---that the ability to put things into perspective is critical to dealing with stress, pressure, chaos, disappointments, twists and turns in relationships, and general upsetting occurrences in life.....and that the person with the most personal power is the one who has this ability—to put things into perspective.

---that people who choose to consistently function at the user relationship level are left with families and friendships that are dysfunctional, superficial, and lacking in trust and love.

---that the strongest person is the one who refuses to be pulled down to the level of behavior that includes manipulation, gossip, criticism, and put downs of others.

---that the most mature person has no need to be aligned with whoever is perceived to have the most power, the most popularity, or the most attention at the moment.

          ---that cleverness is not nearly as attractive as compassion or kindness.

---and I now know that the more we can quiet our minds, the more we are able to let peace come into our lives.

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Although there are many more Life Enrichment Skills like humor & playfulness, spontaneity, enthusiasm, etc.,I am going to end this monologue with the skill of Compassion.

This is one of the most important yet difficult skills to master because it takes awareness, caring, respect for an individual, and empathy to even start. Compassion not only has sympathetic feelings for another hurting person, but takes a major step forward that brings humanity to a new level. Compassion makes an attempt to help a suffering situation. And it is the action of reaching out to another that sets it apart from just feeling sorry for another in pain or discomfort.

Probably the best known story that demonstrates compassion is the story of the good Samaritan. It can be found in the New Testament and is the story about the Samaritan who stops to help a stranger who was beaten by robbers. He took the man to a place where he could be cared for and paid for the man's care, leaving extra money for further needs.This occurred after several people had gone by, saw the victim of the robbery on the ground but walked on, doing nothing to help.

It is difficult to reach out to someone in need. It can make us vulnerable to unknown circumstances and reactions. But no matter what religion we follow, reaching out to anyone suffering is usually one of the basic behaviors expected of all who are sincerely living our faith...even just a smile or statement of caring.

Compassion includes elements of gentleness and respect for all who are in need. So, if you see someone who has mastered the skill of Compassion, it will be one of the most beautiful scenes you will ever remember.

Peace...

Jeanne

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Ok, just a couple more Life Enrichment Skills. This one is Curiosity.
Do you remember as a child, being curious about everything? You would pick up a leaf or find a toad, lay down on the grass and wonder about the clouds.You might have wondered about the stars and where you came from.Children have a delightful sense of curiosity. They are awed by the world around them and search for explanations. In a recent book, I have over 500 ideas of positive things that seem to be lost as we grow up.I feel that they are hidden in plain sight, but we don't see many of them.Curiosity as an adult allows you search for the beauty in life.

I suggest that the best place to start to become curious again is in nature.There are endless opportunities to help you have wonderful experiences. And it has been proven that being in nature enhances relaxation. I hope you will try to develop a sense of curiosity. It is a way of becoming alive again as most of us are living by rote.

Have you wondered about any clouds recently?

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One of the great Life Enrichment Skills is Creativity. (I can hear you say, "but I'm not creative.") You can be and it will open up a freedom
that you may never knew existed.
The difficulty with creativity is the need at the start to be relaxed and not feel you have to be in control. It is also necessary to not worry about being judged. You see, creativity involves use of the right side of the brain--the non-controlling side.To be creative, you need to simply let go of having to control everything, be open to new things, and see possibilities, etc.

Do you remember having a hobby or a favorite activity as a child? I'll bet that might have given you a sense of freedom. Do you ever get so lost in an enjoyable interest that you lose track of time? This is called "flow" and is in the realm of creativity.It is healthy, and has the potential for a creative experience.There was an art therapist I knew who answered the statement, "I can't draw" by saying, "just make a mark." This would usually help to start the creative juices flowing.

With a daily life that is so regimented yet chaotic, it is definitely worth it to do something creative as part of your life..There are so many possibilities to be creative.
Just make a mark...

Jeanne

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One Life Enrichment Skill that you might not imagine is simple Awareness. This is the ability to notice things outside of yourself. Ironically we have become a society that has made it much more difficult to be aware. The almost constant absorption in digital communication has left us with crooked posture, sore necks, and still another addiction.

Awareness isn't always a skill that we think of as wonderful to possess. Although it opens us up to some of the beauty and goodness in life, it also allows an openness to things like the needs of others and the pain and poverty of life. And once awareness of negativity and suffering becomes known, there is the problem of deciding how to respond. This can include the response to a friend who is sick and would benefit from a note or card, deciding to volunteer where there is a real need, actively trying to change laws that are insufficient or wrong, offering random acts of kindness, etc.

Awareness puts us in the position of being open to learning new things. It helps to take us above the level of user relationships. Of course it is much easier to keep our heads in the sand (or in our phones), but awareness can be the first step to a genuine spiritual and caring life, and in the end this is what matters...

Jeanne

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Another Life Enrichment Skill is the ability to enjoy yourself. But wait, when was the last time you really enjoyed yourself? For some people it has been a very long time...

I think very few people know how to enjoy the goodness that life has to offer. Enjoyment can come from many different avenues.You can enjoy food, art, sports, nature experiences, recognition at work, finishing a difficult task, playing with pets,driving a new car for the first time, receiving a present, watching something beautiful, listening to meaningful music, etc. These are just a few examples.

I'm sure you have observed that most people ( especially while on vacation or at an event) try to take something home with them by repeatedly using whatever camera is
available to remember the experience. The problem is that they miss the experience. So, many of the good feelings that might have gone with actually experiencing the situation are lost. And many times enjoyment is lost.

This is where mindfulness might help.because to live in the moment and silence the noise in you head, opens yourself up to what you are experiencing. After all, now is life; now is the only time we have to live. The past is just memories and the future is expectations.

I hope you will allow yourself to be aware of each moment and to feel good about something. Now is the only real time that you have.Enjoy yourself...

Jeanne

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Ok, The next Life Enrichment Skill is Appreciation. This is what allows us to to be moved by beauty or to become enthusiastic about another persons' competence, (ie. usually a sports figure, etc.).Other examples are our appreciation of Grandmas' apple pie, the best coffee we have ever tasted, or the bigger than normal tip we received.

In many ways appreciation precedes gratitude. After all, it is hard to be grateful for something we don't appreciate. Appreciation opens the door to all the good things in life. Look at the above picture. It can be seen as just a picture of water or as a waterfall that gently flows in a peaceful way. It's obvious that to appreciate the details of a nature scene is to have more enjoyment. Often when someone really appreciates a particular thing, they become expert hobbyists in the field. For example, someones' appreciation of wine can lead to them becoming a wine connoisseur.

It seems that without the ability to appreciate life we are left with a life of rote and boredom. So, can you slow down and take the time to develop the art and skill of appreciation? There is so much beauty out there...

Wishing you a peaceful week.

Jeanne

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Life Enrichment Skills ---what really add quality to our lives. The second one in my series is a sense of Wonder.

Do you remember when you were young and the whole day was filled with amazing surprises that sparked your curiosity more? A sense of wonder is the ability to say "Oh, Wow!" at life, to be actively aware of beauty, talent, goodness, etc. It fills us with positive energy and makes the world brighter. And it increases our ability to appreciate the gifts that we have been given.

We can wonder at something or about something. For example, we can wonder at the presence of a newborn infant or wonder about how decorative cakes are made. But when we talk about a sense of wonder we usually mean to wonder at something wonderful.

This is one of those skills that children have naturally, but as we grow up we seem to lose. One time I was with a client sitting by a stream when three Canada geese came down and did a simultaneous perfect landing on the water. My spontaneous response was, "Oh wow! did you see that?" But from her perspective, it was just another mundane situation. Lack of a sense of wonder can occur because of many things like depression, grief, self-absorption, loss, etc. But it can be renewed.

Suggestions for renewing a sense of wonder: Spend more time in nature; be aware of sights and sounds; allow yourself to be silent; consider the importance of living in the now as much as possible since now is the only time we really have; begin to be aware and appreciate small experiences that have been taken for granted.

Go in peace...

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6/29/19

Okay, I don't have anything material to pass out, but I have "something much more valuable"...
Life Enrichment skills and gifts are the real things that help make us happier individuals. There is no cost, no price--they are free. However, we seem to have lost many of them along the way. We tend to have been sidetracked by society.
What I would like to do is to increase awareness of what some of the Life Enrichment Skills are so you can practice (maybe again).There are approximately 15 to 20 of them. The next several blogs will be my meager thoughts--in the moment, on a variety of Life Enrichment skills that add genuine value to our lives.

The first life enrichment skill is Gratitude. This is the ability, no matter what our situation is, to be grateful for what we have been given. Some of the happiest people in the world have very few material items. In reality, material goods are not necessary for happiness. Many of us have been given the wrong message that the more we have the more successful we are, and if we can only acquire more we will obtain peace of mind. With this wrong message can come a sense of entitlement, and a belief that others do not deserve what we should be entitled to.
Gratitude helps us realize that all though all that we have may be more or less than what others have, we are gifted with numerous things to be grateful for. Gratitude can change our attitude and give us satisfaction and acceptance.It takes us off our podium and places us firmly on the ground with all of our other brothers and sisters.

So, what are you grateful for?
When was the last time you said "thank you" and sincerely meant it?

Peace be with you...
Jeanne

************************** 6/22/19 Hi there... You may be aware that there are four basic ethical principles that we as human beings need to follow or at least hold true.They are the ethical principles that are taught in all healthcare professions.
(Too bad they are not consistently taught in other professions such as business and politics.)

I can't help but wonder what would happen if each of us chose our behavior with these in mind...

First--Do no harm
Make things better
Respect others
Be fair
Be honest

Ok, who's the smart one that noticed there are five listed?
And there is even one more ethical principle that Jesus gives us: Be loving to all.

When I wrote this last sentence I was so tempted to put it in the past tense, eg..Jesus gave us...But I think we tend to then use his teaching as just something in the past rather than today, and today is the only time we have to love others...

Be at peace...
Jeanne

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It’s one of those days that is almost summer but not quite. It’s even better. The sky is blue and the trees become a sparkle field when I look up through them. The temperature is between 60/70. This is my favorite kind of day—the type where the weather allows no reason for negative thinking. Here and now I feel good, positive, and kind. It is a day—like any other day really, where the environment does its’ best to help with happiness.
It is interesting how once I am in a positive mood it leads to awareness of other positives. I am more aware and appreciative of the bluebird I saw on the fence yesterday or the catbird meowing outside my office window. I am glad to get a magazine in the mail. It will be added to my reading list tonight (one of my favorite parts of the day.) With my senses on alert for some of the good things in life I feel like I can be my best in whatever situation occurs. Relaxation causes this but mindfulness and meditation also can. They all have the ability to put me in the now--
the true reality.
I wonder why I need things outside myself to be prompts for being my best. Couldn’t I just be reminded that learning to be my best, along with learning to love are the two main goals in life. Sounds easy but is very difficult. If only it could go on regularly, consistently, without over thinking. If only it would always be easy to feel positive. If only I would spend more time with the silence that is peace…

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My new senior bucket list...

Being of the age where I am bombarded with wisdom, I’ve discovered that I need to adjust my lifetime bucket list because my body is not being cooperative. So, the following are what I hope to do before I die.

--Finish my racy novel and send it to Harlequin.
--Watch the Cleveland Browns play in the Super Bowl.
--Review my vacation pictures of the top of Mt. Everest.
--Re-gift my husband.
--Stay up once a week after 9:00 pm.
--Get my scooter detailed.
--Go on a zip line ride through virtual reality.
--Finally earn the medical degree I have been seeking--one body part at a time.
--Use my lifetime collection of fruit cakes for Christmas gifts.
--Get rid of all Christmas wrapped boxes from 1960.
--Definitely finish the wine left over from my sister’s wedding in 1954.
--For the first time, treat my family to dinner on my good china.

Wish me luck…

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The Present of Your Life

Present is a rich word in two senses. It means gift and it means now.
That describes your life too. It is a gift, and it is happening now.
As you read these words, you are living your life. Your life isn’t something that’s going to happen once you’ve rehearsed the right lines or saved up enough money or found the right spouse or landed the perfect job or moved to the perfect place, etc. Your life is happening every moment and you can’t escape or postpone it. What you’re doing now is spending a small portion of your life reading this. You are using part of that gift that is your life. And you need to use that gift as well and as wisely as you know how with a sense of responsibility, truthfulness, wisdom,and compassion.

The following truths or facts of life are starting points from which new growth and
happiness can occur:

----- No one can bring your life to you
----- No matter what you do in life, someone important to you isn’t going
to like it at times.
-----   Though it’s painful, rejection won’t kill you--- and it may even
  lead to growth.
-----   Every choice means giving up something else.
----- Some people are not capable of giving you what you want from them.
----- The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.
----- Life is a continuous range of possibilities, not an on/off switch.
-----    Some problems cannot be solved, but you can make peace with them.
  adapted from On a Clear Day You
                                                                                     Can See Yourself   by
                                                                                     Dr. Sonya Friedman

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5/11/19

Many of us are aware of the Serenity Prayer, but most have only heard the first half of the prayer. I feel the second half is equally as useful so I want to share the the whole version with you:

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change, the courage to
change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Grant me patience with the changes that take time,
an appreciation for all that I have,
a tolerance of those with
different struggles, and the strength to get up
and try again one day at a time.

************************************************

5/3/19


  Necessary “How To” skills you never learned in school…

   A while back I had written a blog on critical “how to” skills you never learned in school. By request, I have added some additional necessary skills that go with the challenges of adulthood.

See if you agree…

            ---How to handle suffering in your life
            ---How to keep perspective when things seem overwhelming
            ---seeing beyond political rhetoric and commercial manipulation
            ---learn to be at peace with yourself
            ---How to prioritize your needs so that effort is spent on the
  most important
---listening to advice from an older person (who may know what is really
               important)
            ---How to raise children in a constantly changing society
---going beyond tolerance to seeing the dignity of each individual
---learning to focus on all that is good and let go of what drags you down
---How to live in the now with awareness and without judgment
---How to gradually reduce your ego and get out of yourself
---realizing that love is a verb…

Someone once said that life is not a dress rehearsal.
Take time to go in peace…

**********************************************************

Happy Easter to all Christians out there. Easter and Holy Week are the basis of our religious and life beliefs.
But because of my own difficulty in living the life of a Christian I wonder, sometimes, if we really know what we should be doing in order to genuinely call ourselves Christians.
So, here are some things that I believe illustrate what are important if we want to actually claim the title:

It seems to me that you'll know you're a Christian when---

---You see everyone as your neighbor.
---You take your faith to work (and wherever you are)
---"Oh my God" is more than an exclamation of surprise.
---Prayer becomes a daily conversation with God.
---The light shinning in the darkness is you reflecting God's love.
---Lifting up others becomes a daily exercise.
---Your preaching is "wordless"
---"Come follow me" takes you in a different direction than the crowd.
---Compassion is actively lived.
---Your car knows the way to Church as much as to Walmart.
---Choosing forgiveness is more important than being righteous.
---Learning to love is your main goal in life.
---Jesus Christ is by far the biggest hero you know.
---Someone' s need is more important than your want.
---You accept people where they are.
---You take loving action toward anyone in need.
---etc.

Now the hard part is being consistent (ie. faithful)...

******************************
4/12/19

Jumping Over Quicksand

Seldom do we know when life is about to throw us yet another challenge. It creeps up and strikes so quickly that we only have time for the usual defensive rote reaction to a stressful situation. This is the reaction that slams the door on any pretense of gaining understanding or perspective on the situation.
One of the most difficult things in the world is to be at peace with oneself on a daily basis, and especially when we find ourselves in one of these situations. To do this takes a lot of letting go and ego eliminating, like letting go of control and getting rid of self-absorption.
It’s amazing to realize the extent to which our egos have power over our lives. Much of our time is spent in fear because of it. The ego seems to keep us in a constant state of defensiveness, i.e., protection of our self-esteem, the need for control, trying to justify our very existence. If only we could instantly know and believe how unique and worthwhile we are. To know what it means to be a child of the God who gives unconditional love. To understand that rules, regulations, and threats mostly come from other human beings who likely are playing the control/power game.
But no matter what condition we find ourselves in, God’s call is always to learn to love...

++++++++++++++++++++++++

3/19

It’s snowing again, a gentle but steady snow. It’s the kind that makes you want to go into hibernation and slow down the pace of life.
It seems that this would be a good time for mindfulness and meditation. When I say this it probably sounds like more work to some of you. I wonder how many approach anything new to them as an obstacle to be overcome. But mindfulness and/or meditation are designed to take away stress and to create personal peace..
Some people are afraid to let go and to just be. Some feel that if they stop accumulating pockets of stressful activities, they may realize how pointless these are. Other individuals are afraid to be alone even for a few minutes. And some seem to be misguided by our social network and have priorities mixed up.
Whatever the reason, it probably is worth it to try—in a simple way. Aim to give yourself only five minutes each day to just sit in a state of calm and peace. Give no thought to problems, events, relationships, meetings or appointments. Don’t plan dinner or the weekend... Get the point? If doing this occurs on a regular basis it is very possible that you will become closer to the really important things in life and living has more meaning. It may even bring you closer to God…

In the Moment...

2/10/19

Hello again...
I'm one of those people who rarely get frustrated and feel irritable about something negative in my life such as breaking something or making a mess and having to clean it up. I usually just go ahead and fix the situation. But today, when I came on line to copy a blog that I had just written yesterday, I found it gone, floating somewhere in space, and I was left frustrated by what happened. But being the practical human that I am, I finally realized that what must have happened is that I forgot to post it. Arrrgh!!!...
So, what am I supposed to learn from this?
Well, I guess my words are not as important as they might seem, and the world will certainly continue on without them. Maybe losing something is a way of taking the ego down a notch by pointing
out what is not really important. So life goes on one moment at a time and living in the moment gives a chance to decide how to respond to frustrating situations, such as loss of our work. Every minute we have a choice...

1 Comment

Barb

5/6/2019 11:07:20 am

Agree!!! Well stated, Jeanne...!

From My Perspective

In the Moment...

In the Moment...

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