Tag: coffee
So the podcast will resume 2/13/2023
Literature Review: Choose The Life You Want (The Mindful Way to Happiness)
I am nearly finished reading this book. It has provided a lot of useful information. I am happy to have found it available at my local library. So a choice piece of literature for free. Bonus! And for a person that hasn’t been able to complete a book in a very long time I am feeling very good about including one of my old cherished past times of reading back into my daily routine. That word “routine” seems funny for me to even write. I have very few things that are routine. However, I seldom perform these “routine” tasks at the same times each day. Is it still considered a routine? The definition describes it as a “fixed program.” One fixed program that I must stick to is making a cup of coffee in the morning. Each morning a wonderful little invention called a Keurig creates a bit of magic in my kitchen. It dispenses a perfectly made cup of motivation. I don’t know what I would be without it… probably still asleep. 🙂 Thank you Keurig manufacturers.
On to the highlights of the book. I get carried away sometimes with my thoughts. It is my inevitable “squirrel” moments.
Chapter 88 is a chapter every living, breathing person should read. And possibly revisit several times throughout their lifetime. The title says all that needs to be said, “Experience your mistakes as catastrophes -or- Treat your mistakes as valuable feedback” As a teacher it was very easy for me to remind my students that mistakes were part of the learning process. Inventors do this and learn from their mistakes. We know that mistakes are inevitable. The fact is no one is without their faults… The trick here is to find the value of every mistake made. Remember the lesson that you learned from your mistakes and then avoid making the same mistake again. Consequences are valuable teaching tools, but they aren’t nuclear bombs. You can LIVE and LEARN and continue LIVING. If we were meant to learn without mistakes, erasers would not exist.
One of the final statements made in the book is this, “Choice unleashes the potential within each moment. As you become MINDFUL of the potential within this moment your life gains momentum, becomes momentous. When a moment matters, LIFE MATTERS.” I really hope to remember the meaning of this statement for the rest of my days. We are the directors of our lives, each and every day plays out the way we choose it to. For the longest time I have always told myself that someone else was in charge or controlling parts of my life and this would always stifle my personal growth. I now take responsibilities for myself and my decisions, staying mindful of this will help me continue with making progress. 
Have a wonderful day being in charge of your life!
Friday Self-Evaluation
A question I have always had an immediate response for is “are you ok?” I know because my answer is always one given without much thought at all. I say “yeah!” or “Uh-huh!” I say this without really checking myself to see if I am actually doing ok. It’s more of a reflex, really. I should be more mindful of this response when people ask, right? I want to give them honesty. A true response, but I just give the short, quick answer because I don’t feel that anyone wants to really hear my thoughts on if I am truly ok. Does this say more about me, than the person asking the question? I think so.
I have asked people this question before, with the expectation of getting the answer I usually give… The reflexive “Yeah!” or “Uh-huh!” When I actually meet someone that wants to divulge their personal problems to me or dives in a little deeper than I am comfortable with, I usually mentally check out. The occasional head nod and eye contact usually works incredibly well for managing a conversation without really having a conversation. Then, I start wondering how many times have I done this to someone? How many times has someone used this “checked out” strategy with me? 
It is very scary to be vulnerable and honest with people. I just said these words yesterday. “I have been dissecting myself for all the world to learn about this disorder.” I have no end goal for this forced transparency shown through my blog… Except to practice transparency. In hopes that being mindful and transparent one day becomes automatic. I also utilize blogging as a system of accountability and as a log to refer back to later on in life.
To answer the question, “Are you ok?”
Yes, I have been doing ok. I have noticed that mentally and emotionally I am not ok with my weight gain right before the summer months. It emphasizes my need to be smaller and to look more toned and trim. I will more than likely limit my eating or invest in a cute bathing suit cover up. 
I am physically drained everyday. I feel as though I have accomplished something worthy of mentioning when I complete laundry or put the dishes away. Lately, just making sure I have sent my son off to school with a good breakfast and a lunchbox full of food is equivalent to working a full 8 hours. I know it doesn’t make much sense, but I feel that if I have done that than most of my work for the day is complete. The other half of the day I only need to take care of my daughter’s physical needs. If I am having a good day, I will add a little more excitement to our day by going to different places or just letting her play outside while I lay down on the patio furniture. These days are rare.
I am hoping to add more to our day today. I am resting on the couch now and it would be fine with me if someone could come in and take over for me today. Lethargy has taken residence inside my whole being.
I woke up at 6 am, made my son breakfast, made sure he was well equipped to tackle the day on his own and dropped him off with his baseball team for a tournament. I then made it back home, served the baby girl breakfast and started the Keurig. I was able to get a cup of coffee down. I still feel that I need 12 more to get to a level of “just woke up” Does anyone else deal with this? How does one overcome this? I want to work efficiently throughout a day, I would take one day.
So maybe I am not ok… I am realizing I need things to get me there.
on to cup #2. Have a great day! I will most definitely use up all of my energy, trying.
The World in Black and White 
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