Learn, Think, Write

Organizing myself online

Practicing Forgiveness

I am a feeler, an empath. “You’re too sensitive,” I’ve been told.

But over the past ten years, I’ve been practicing being more resilient, more forgiving of myself.  Writing helps, finding the parts of my story that don’t work for me any longer. Breathing deeply and whooshing it all away helps, too.

There is such a mystery as to why we act the way we do and make certain choices. Becoming more thoughtful about those choices– and realizing that we do, in fact, have a choice, has helped me feel less stressed.

Two new practices:

  • listening to a meditation podcast before I go to sleep each night
  • paying less attention to the news

When you forgive, you in no way change the past – but you sure do change the future. Bernard Meltzer

Be kind to yourself….

Rumi’s Words Always Resonate

“But listen to me. For one moment quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.” ~ Rumi

Traveling the Danube recently allowed me to put problems with Mom, world events, and stress behind me. What a gift to spend time in places like Prague, Vienna, and Regensburg with good friends.

 

One thing I’m learning about living with a mom with Alzheimer’s is I can’t let it consume me. I can’t control it. And if I don’t live my own life, too, I won’t be of help to her.

Three things I’m going to do more often that I learned on the trip:

  • stop at a local coffee shop and drink espresso mid-morning
  • wear clothes that make me happy
  • laugh with friends

I also realized I can’t eat anything I want. Whoa, is it easy to get off track while traveling. Pastry, wine, bread, bourbon, wine, strudel… you get the idea. A little goes a long way for me, and I need to protect my gut.

But what a lovely adventure. I will carry it with me for a long time.

Creating

Connecting with  small, local businesses makes my heart open. I love collaborating with others on projects, and with my press, I can help create what they’ve been imagining. This is Willow’s two-color note card, which means running it through the press twice- once with light gray and once with dark. Pairing the cards with a pale gray envelope makes a lovely presentation.

Life has been crazy with moving my mom and trying to get her settled in a new facility. Taking time on the press yesterday made my heart rate slow down and my focus return.

A printer friend once said that she’d hoped she was saving letterpress but discovered she was really saving herself.

I get that.

To Live Better, Not Necessarily Longer

I enjoy the Blue Zones newsletter, and this recent newsletter gave advice for living longer. That’s not necessarily my goal. But I do want to live better– and these tips certainly resonate:

Power 9®

Move naturally throughout the day

Have and cultivate a strong sense of purpose

Downshift every day to relieve stress

80% Rule: stop eating when you are 80 percent full

Plant Slant: Make beans, whole grains, veggies, and fruit the center of your diet

Wine @ 5: Enjoy wine and alcohol moderately with friends and/or food

Belong: Be part of a faith-based community or organization

Love Ones First: Have close friends and strong family connections

Right Tribe: Cultivate close friends and strong social networks

Photo on Best Running