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Make your bed
“When life feels like an emotional roller coaster, steady yourself with simple rituals. Make the bed. Water the plants. Rinse off your own bowl and spoon. Simplicity attracts calmness and wisdom.” ~Marc and Angel Chernoff, Marc and Angel Hack Life Everything feels like it’s in a state of chaos right now. While there’s not much we can do about national and international turmoil, it helps to create order out of disorder in our homes. The effort it takes to launder your bed linens, for instance, is rewarded when you pull back your fresh sheets and retire for the night. I used to think that being tidy was overrated by professional organizers —…
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When the truth isn’t out there
“Sometimes the only sane answer to an insane world is insanity.” — Fox Mulder Earlier this spring, I made myself physically ill by consuming a nonstop stream of political news every night on cable TV. My blood pressure fluctuated wildly and my sleep was often disrupted by apocalyptic nightmares. I had to put an end to my nightly news addiction. That’s why I’m grateful for Comet, the science fiction and fantasy broadcast network that focuses on cult classics such as Grimm and The X-Files. Now, every night before bed, I tune out the politics and catch up with special agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder. I’m happy to report that I have fewer nightmares now.…
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Whose approval do you need?
“I must work harder to achieve my goal of not seeking approval from those whose approval I’m not even sure is important to me.” ~Lauren Graham, American actress Some folks are hungry for attention from virtual strangers on social media. There’s nothing wrong with sharing our gifts or viewpoints with a wider audience. But once in a while, it’s healthy to step back and take a closer look at our motivation for doing so. It’s worth asking yourself whose approval or attention you’re seeking — and why it’s important to you. Are you spending more time trying to impress people you’ve never met? Are you investing the same amount of…
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People pleasing
“I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: Try to please everybody all the time.” ~ Herbert Bayard Swope, American journalist One of the gifts of aging is the realization that we can’t please everyone. The journalist who’s famous for today’s quote understood that achieving success often involves taking risks. Whether we’re creating a piece of art or expressing an idea in print, we risk upsetting others if we rattle the status quo or challenge a tribal norm. Born in 1882, Herbert Bayard Swope was a famous war correspondent and editor of the New York World. He was the first journalist…
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Who are you, really?
“You are what you are when nobody is looking.” ~Abigail Van Buren Today’s quote invites us to think about authenticity. It’s human nature to present our best image in public, but being truly authentic takes self-reflection and courage. That’s not so easy. Consider all the photo-shopped selfies and stage-managed lifestyles that are posted daily on social media platforms. Once in a while, it’s worth doing a reality check: Who are you when nobody’s looking? ~CL
