April 27, 2017

“If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully.” - Maya Angelou

On the last Thursday of every month the Coffey County Cancer Support Group holds their monthly meeting. This is a wonderful group offering both financial and emotional support to those suffering from cancer as well as their caregivers. I attend this meeting as much as I can. When there, I leave with a mixture of emotions. Joy for those that have won their battles with cancer, heartache for those that are on hospice (and their loved ones), and respect and admiration for the courage shown by those currently battling this horrible disease. Tonight there was sad news as we learned about members of our group that were now on hospice and of other members in our community that were continuing their fight with cancer. Tonight, more than ever, I am reminded of the importance of living mindfully and being grateful for my blessings.

Always remember, my friends - live and enjoy the moment, for tomorrow isn't guaranteed.  Please pray for those suffering from cancer and their loved ones.

 

(Days 129-131)

April 24, 2017 - Resistance

“Resistance is a slayer of dreams.” - Matthew Kelly

 I've gotten away from posting mindful living tips and decided to refocus. Some may be similar to earlier posts, but I think they are important for my mindful living journey (and yours if you are following along). A few things to work on so we can be more mindful:

1. Resist Urges. Watch your urges. Sit there and watch the urge rise and fall, until it is gone, without acting on it. Resist your urge to check email or social media, to eat something sweet or fried, to drink alcohol, to watch TV, to be distracted, to procrastinate. These urges will come and go, and you don’t have to act on them.
2. Resist Ideals. We all have ideals, all the time. We have an ideal that our day will go perfectly, that people will be kind and respectful to us, that we will be perfect, that we’ll never fail. Of course, we know from experience that those ideals are not real, that they don’t come true, that they aren’t realistic. But we still have them, and they cause our stress and fears and grief over something/someone we’ve lost. By letting go of ideals, we can let go of some of our frustrations.
3. Watch Your Resistance. When you try to do something uncomfortable, or try to give up something you like or are used to, you’ll find resistance. Matthew Kelly, a speaker with Dynamic Catholic, says "Resistance is that sluggish feeling that stops us from doing the things that we know are good for us. It’s that sense that, “I don’t want to do that,” even though we know it’s the thing we should do."  Be mindful of your resistance. Learn to recognize it and be curious about it so you can conquer it. 

These are all things that I plan to work on this week!

(Days 121-128)

April 16 - Happy Easter!

"The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter."

Days 103-113, April 3 - 10

"Always be a work in progress."

While I haven't been as consistent at doing yoga recently as I have in the past, it is a practice that when I do regularly I find very beneficial for my both my mental and physical well being. Physically yoga helps improve flexibility, balance and posture. It increase blood flood and has been shown to boost  immunity. It also increases  muscle strength and helps me get toned. Mentally, yoga helps me relax and reduces my anxiety. It also makes me more self-aware. If I bring mindfulness to my yoga practice, I will get even greater benefits out of my yoga practice.

 Yesterday I had the opportunity to yoga with some friends outside at someone's place in the country. Although windy, it was a beautiful evening. It was relaxing and enjoyable. A reminder for me of why I need to go back to practicing yoga regularly.

Days 97 - 102 / March 30 - April 3

"Today, fill your life with a cup of sunshine, love, and laughter."

After several rainy days it was a beautiful afternoon with the sun shining! I was mindful of the warmth of the sun, the budding of the trees, and the blooming flowers. There is a spot outside on my patio that catches the afternoon sun. When my mom lived here before her passing, I would often come by in late afternoon or early evening and see her sitting on a bench enjoying the afternoon sun. It felt good to sit in that spot and embrace her memory.

Mom and Dad always treasured the simple pleasures in life - like sitting in the sun or watching the sunset. Remembering my mom and dad in ordinary moments like this helps me to turn my heartache into happiness. For it is my daily reminder of the love I was blessed with throughout my life.