Fall Down Seven Times Get Up Eight

What's on your plate?

Interesting question...what is on your plate? 

Yesterday someone said I have too much on my plate.  That has gotten me to think...exactly what is on my plate?

So here is what I am doing...I am looking for a delightful plate.  Not a plain white one...a colorful, festive one because that is how I see my life.  Then I shall write down everything I am working on on a different piece of paper. All different shapes and sizes.  I shall pile them on my festive plate and see what it looks like.

I am a visual person... I love, simply love visual aids. :)  This will be a grand visual aid indeed.

My friend said I need a smaller plate...but I like a big one... a big life. 

I just need to figure out if there are some things I can clear off so I can actually see that plate design.

Today's word is vital.

Vital ... defined as what's important.  Vital to your body...vital to your soul...vital to your life.

So what is vital to you?  Do you have it?  If not, do you have a plan to get it?

Do you ever know what's vital to you?  Maybe it's time you stop and figure it out.

I am spending some time tonight to revisit that for me.  While running around like a crazy woman is entertainingfor the people watching...it doesn't necessarily get me where I want to go.  Get me to what I believe is vital for me to have the life I want to live...

So what about you?  Are you clear? Do you have what's vital? Just askin'...

Today's word is alive.

Yup...alive.  If you are reading this ...you are alive and that is a gift.  One not to be wasted.

I was one of the first 26 people in the 80's in Wisconsin hired by the state of Wisconsin to work with people who had HIV/AIDS.  It was a time of fear and the unknown for most people.  But of all the lessons...the gifts I got from that experience...the most important was to be thankful for the gift of another day.

Almost to a person...everyone I worked with would have given anything for one more day.  Just one more.  So if you are reading this you have that gift.

Here's the question...what are you going to do with it?

 

 

Eyes Wide Open

Is that how you live?  With your eyes wide open? Or do you see only what you expect to see?

Just askin'...

Do you have super powers?

Oh yes you do!

You have the power to say yes or no. 

You have the power to say that's enough.

You have the power to ask for help.  

So quit complaining, dust off your cape and flex that power. 

 And  poof watch your world change.

Everyone is doing the best they can...including you.

That's where we have to start.  We are doing the best we can.  We can always do better.  But where we are, what we are doing...if we are giving it our all...our best shot...we need to say we are doing our best.   And we need need to cut ourselves some slack.

I have been sitting with this for the last day or two.  I have a "to do" pile...not a list...that can seem daunting on the best day.  This morning I realized everything I am doing in the very limited time I have available...and myself talk around the pile has changed.

If you truly can say to yourself that you are giving your best.  That's what you can do.  That's it.  Unless you are a superhero...you have some limits...and to acknowledge those limits...be them time or energy is not to admit failure...it's rather to acknowledge what is real for you.  And once you do that...the pressure can shift to doing what's in front of you rather than the sheer size of your pile.

You are not your past.

And for that matter...you are not your future either.  You are you.  Things happen to all of us but they are not who we are.

We are who we define ourselves to be.  So who are you?

It's your life. You decide.

I think input is great.  When you are going to make a big decision it's fine to ask for other people's input.  Gather some opinions.  Then you can consider them if you wish...sort through them.  But in the end..it is up to you.

Plain and simple.  Your life.  Your choices.  Your responsibility.  It is how it is suppose to be.

*I know this seems simple but you would be surprised how many people don't embrace this.  Sigh...

Moving in slow motion.

There is something to be said for speed.  It gets you where you want to go faster. If you are focused and directed and know exactly where you want to go...speed can be your friend.

On the other hand if you aren't as sure where you are going...slow motion can be good too.  It gives you time to figure out where you want to be without having to turn round so much because you got on the wrong road.

Today is a slow motion kind of day and Pumpkin, the wiener dog and I are enjoying the ride.

Today zig when you would usually zag.

Just for today...zig when you would usually zag.  Do the unexpected.  For just today take a different route. Just for today look at things differently.  Just for today :)