Feeling Blue?

I woke up yesterday feeling really down. Sad, frustrated, and a little angry. The reasons were valid, and I had to remind myself that I am still grieving. For some reason, I have always felt that being sad was a weakness. (I was raised to be a silent sufferer) I usually use my tools in my toolbox: prayer, thanksgiving, and focus, to draw myself out of my blues and move on with my day, and most of the time it works just fine.

Yesterday, however, I just carried it around like a lead weight. I have a feeling it was God's way of reminding me that I am not out of the woods yet. Clients noticed my heaviness and commented, and I tried hard not to cry in front of them, because I feel that is weakness too.

As the day wore on, my blues lifted, and by mid-afternoon, they were gone. Why? Simply because of the people I have in my life. My daily life requires giving my time, knowledge, and energy away to others. Pretty much from the time I wake up until the time I fall asleep, some one needs something from me. For some this sounds exhausting, but for me, it is my saving GRACE!

Next time you are down, I challenge you to reach out to others and take the focus off of yourself. Attend to the task at hand with your full energy. If your mind wanders back to why you are so sad, redirect your energy into something productive. There are others who are walking around with the same lead weight you are. Reaching out, lending a hand, and paying attention to the "here and now" works wonders.

Sitting around dwelling on how imperfect your life is never fixes things.

Dwelling on how imperfect you are leads to depression.

Obsessing on how imperfect someone else is leads to broken relationships.

Keep moving, keep God present in your daily activities, and embrace your sadness as temporary!

Tomorrow is a brand new day and you never know what good things will come your way if you are looking for them!

Dreamsicle smoothie

1 scoop of vanilla flavored protein powder per person

4 oz of OJ per person

2 icecubes per person

blend until smooth...so simple, so refreshing, sooooo yummmyyyy!!!

Ecclesiates 5:18

So after yet another lengthy text exchange with someone who thinks they know me, but doesn't, I got upset momentarily because my side will never be heard. Conversing in vain with a shadow lurker who is afraid of the light, I found myself facing shadows and knew immediately I needed to turn the other direction.

So I picked up the bible and I swear the book just opened itself. Right to Ecclesiastes. I have spend an awful lot of time beating myself up in my life and loved the points that Solomon makes.

As arguably one of the wisest kings of the Davidian Empire, Solomon wrote his wisdom down and it had been a while since I read it. In the first 5 chapters, he talks about how we worry about all the wrong things. Most of what we do and is done to us does not matter in the big picture, it is a pretty intense take on life. He talks about money and power being meaningless, the fear of God, and fools with big mouths (wince). He ends the chapter with this:

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine and enjoy their work-whatever they do under the sun-for however long God lets them live. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.

Today lets all understand how wealthy we are. Enjoy what we are doing, and walk in the light! That my friends is GOOD NEWS!

Comparing yourself to others...

Comparing yourself to people you envy creates feelings of inadequacy.

Comparing yourself to people you disapprove of makes you feel superior.

I don't think either one is a good idea.

I can always tell when a woman (or young lady) is sizing me up in a competitive manner. Because I literally grew up in an unhealthfully competitive environment called the health club, I am used to it. Here is my message to those of you comparing yourself to me...

I am not your competition. I am not sizing you up in return. I am friendly and polite by nature, so I may just smile and continue about my business, or I may be so focused on what I am doing that I don't have time to respond at all.

I am my own best competition. I know what I am capable of and I am very hard on myself when I fall short. There will always be those who are better, prettier, richer, smarter, whatever. I would go crazy if I sized myself up next to them.

Know this: Envy is ugly. A superior attitude is even more ugly. Focus, determination, and a winning smile... gorgeous. Self confidence is sexy.

Male or female, young or old, next time you find yourself comparing yourself (or your stuff) to someone else, stop immediately. I guarantee you there are some very un-enviable parts of their life, just like yours.

Ah yes, the big picture...the great equalizer...