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Deep thoughts
“To find yourself, think for yourself.” ~Socrates The simplest truths are rarely as simple as they seem. Today’s quote from the philosopher Socrates is a case in point. “Thinking for yourself” is tricky when you’re under the influence of family and friends, popular culture, and social media. There’s always a cacophony of voices sharing views on everything from business to fashion; from politics to religion. So, every once in a while, it’s worth questioning: Am I following my own heart? Are my choices really my own? Or am I simply re-spinning a “brand” I’ve borrowed from someone else? ~CL
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Back in the flow
“It can be tempting to prolong certain agonies. There’s the sympathy vote to start with, and if you haven’t felt well or you’ve been through a difficult period, you certainly can’t be expected to work full days or do your own laundry. But bouncing back as soon as you’re able means getting back into the stream of life. This is where the opportunity is.” ~Victoria Moran We all have different ways of coping. During periods of grief or illness, I tend to nurse my deepest wounds by myself. When I’m really down, I decline activities or events that usually spark joy for me — because I hate to dump my…
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Your side of the fence
“So often we seek more fertile ground — that greener space on the other side of the fence. Where we fail to thrive and where we falter in our appreciation of the everyday is in this urge to be ‘there’ and not ‘here.'” ~Patti Digh, Your Daily Rock Isn’t it painful to imagine there’s always something better going on somewhere else? It can feel like being in junior high again — wondering if there’s a party you haven’t been invited to. Even as adults, we spend too much time looking at what other people have instead of appreciating our own unique place in the world. We can do better. And…
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“Goodbye to You”
“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. That meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and bad habits — anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” ~Kim McMillen Last week I wrote about meeting the Dry January challenge. That post hit home with a lot of readers. Some of you emailed to tell me about the habits you’re breaking (sugar was a big one) and other health changes you’re making. One reader hinted that there are other habits in her life — aside from food and drink — that “need to be cleaned up.” Today’s quote speaks to…
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Who’s the boss of you?
“I need to take an emotional breath, step back, and remind myself who’s actually in charge of my life.” ~Judith M. Knowlton This month, you’ll find plenty of articles on how to break bad habits and establish new routines. One feature I read defined a bad habit as anything that harms us (and others), negatively impacts our relationships, or devours the time we could be spending more constructively. Right now, I’m trying to decide whether or not my serious addiction to morning coffee is healthy. The jury’s still out; the studies are contradictory. To riff on today’s quote, the habits we really need to change are the ones that control…
