Climbing out of my Slump

O.K.

I've fallen in a slump.

Not walking.
Not drinking all the water I should.
Not sleeping well.

Time to take stock...I've fallen away from the things that make me feel good.

What to do?


Today I'm choosing to start my healthy choices, one at a time.
Forgive myself and move on...

I'm going to go have a glass of water...then walk the mall.

What are you going to do today?

Take Charge of Your Life and Follow Your Dream...

Whatever your dream...don't wait to try to achieve it.  Don't wait for a tomorrow that may never come.
Fear keeps us hostage.  Fear keeps our potential at bay.

Say yes to taking a chance.  Say yes to the possibility of failure, because if you make a move to create your dream, the possibility that you could fail iss there, but doing nothing at all makes it a sure thing!

Here is a great blog I found to inspire you!  Dare to dream; dare to make a move to achieve it.  Start today and don't waste another minute!

http://www.ibelieve.com/blogs/allison-vesterfelt/why-you-shouldn-t-wait-to-chase-your-dream.html

Antioxidants and Health

Just came across an article that has great ideas in detail about how to get antioxidants into your diet and how important vegetables and fruits are to keep you healthy...

Don't forget to drink plenty of water too!


http://www.lifescript.com/diet-fitness/articles/archive/diet/eat-well/antioxidants_for_what_ails_you.aspx?p=1

Running in Circles

Reading a book right now...The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson...it has me thinking about how I find myself thinking like I'm sometimes running around in circles.  Sometimes I stray from being focused on what is important in life.

Have you ever had those moments?  Moments when you wonder what you are doing and how you find yourself where you are at the moment?  Suddenly in a place that wants to know:  Where am I going?  Where do I want to be?

That is where I am right now.  This book is making me try to visualize what I really want to accomplish with the time I have left on this earth and I'm looking for inspiration to help me find out what it is and how to get there.

I'm collecting quotes, reading bible verses and reading blogs that can inspire me.  I'm also determined to carve out time to focus on creating goals so that I can have a concrete vision to guide me and to reach for in a purposeful way.

Do you have any blogs, ideas or outlines for setting life goals, year goals or step by step plans to achieve success?  If you do, I hope you'll share them here!

Here is to creating a VISION to inspire yourself to be all that you can be and for taking time out to WRITE IT DOWN, so it becomes a REAL Purpose in your life.  May we each find success for our highest good as a part of God's plan...

Being Thankful is Good for You

My parents taught me to pray and to be thankful for everything in my life.  When I was young, I was thankful for my family and for ice cream and my dog. Over the years, I've read many articles that tell me to be thankful.  More recently, I've take to heart the need to be thankful for the good and the bad.  It is in retrospect, that we can see that things that we didn't plan; things that felt terrible or unwanted at one time, are really many of the ways we were blessed.  Through people in our lives, lessons learned, people who left our lives to create space for healthier relationships, health challenges that brought us closer to family, friends and that deepened our relationship with God, we grew.  We started to morph into stronger, wiser, more humble people.  We became more empathetic to others and less concerned with ourselves and more open to helping others undergoing hard times.

I'm thankful today, for the good and the bad in my life.  I am grateful for the rich tapestry that is our life, one with threads that are thick, thin, black and streaked with silver and gold. I am determined to spend the rest of my time on earth being grateful for each day and blessing the good and the bad and looking for the rainbow to clear the stormy skies.  I believe in God's promise to be with us through it all.  Since I am a child of God, since He loves me, I know that I can be grateful, because everything that happens is ultimately for my good and the highest good of those around me.

Thank you God for every good thing.  For every person you send into my life.  Thank you for my life lessons and for providing for me throughout my life.  Thank you for loving me, for dying for me, for creating me and all those I am privileged to love.

Amen.

Alzheimer's The Musical

My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a number of years ago.  He has out-lasted many of the predictions of the doctors and has battled the disease with a wonderful temperament.  I saw him last week because the nurse at his assisted living said he is in the last stages.  Although I'm far away, he is never far from my thoughts and prayers.

My dad loves music.  He played in the band for Notre Dame High School in Chicago, loved the marching band at Purdue University, where he became an Engineer.  He sang at piano bars with my mom while they dated and joined a Barbershop Chorus while he was a young father and went to night school at the University of Chicago for his MBA.  Mom and dad's best friends were his quartet and their wives and our families took vacations together.  His quartet came to sing at my reception when I got married and they were one of the day's highlights.

When my mom passed away in her early 50's to cancer, music was dad's solace.  He joined a new Barbershop Chorus and quartet, since some of his friends had moved away.  He traveled the world singing and finally his Chorus won the Internationals.

When dad needed assistance and moved into his assisted living home, he sang to the residents.  He and another woman who played the piano, would entertain their fellow residents.  He even coached my sister's 4 boys to sing in 4 part harmony and they came to entertain there too.  When my dad's body  and mind started to shut down, he would sometimes stand up in the dining room and sing spontaneously, even though he rarely spoke.

Last week, when I visited, we brought in an I Phone and went to You Tube and found his old Chorus was celebrating 60 years and had recorded their concert.  It went back to the 50's playing music from when my dad dated my mom...the sixties when we all watched hits on the TV for the first time, the 70's when he was part of the Chorus going to Nationals and taking 5th place. I got to go on a family vacation because of that concert and I recognized the music, just like he did. It has been weeks since he's gotten more than a word or 2 out, but he started humming and even sang with his lips, although his voice was missing.

He loved the music.  He moved his hands and smiled and for a few moments recognized me.  He tapped an almost empty cup that he held with a fierce grip.  Soon, we took him down to lunch and I fed him. He ate almost everything and the cup would tap, and I knew the music was still playing in his head.  He lifted the cup absently to his lips and drank by himself, which he hasn't done in a very long time.

Music is magical in our family.  It is a part of our childhood; a part of who we are and how we raise our kids.  We all love it, in a variety of forms, just like our dad, but last Saturday, the magic was that much more real. Watching how my dad's mind came alive again, watching him smile with his eyes and drink from a cup because of the music; it was a blessing.

They say the music is a universal language, as infinite as numbers are and as close to our Creator and the realms of heaven as we can get here on earth.  I have to say, after watching my dad over the years, music is more than magical, it is miraculous.  I don't know how much longer my dad will be with us, but I know music made his life, and mine, richer, fuller, better.  I've raised my kids with music and see it live in their hearts and minds as well.  I know music will be with me long after my dad moves on to celestial concerts, long after my kids watch me sing my own swan song.  I also know that music will get them through life as happier, healthier people.  I've seen what it has done for my dad and know what is continues to do for me.  Music is a healing gift from God.  Sing Alleluia!

Spiritual Fitness Makes A Difference

Been a while since I posted, but I want to share my thoughts about the importance of spiritual health. Without it, the body is never really fit!

I believe that when I'm in tune with my Creator, praying throughout the day, taking time to sit quietly to tune out the noise and tune in to God, that I feel better.  The quiet, without the TV, Computer, IPad, Cell Phone or other distractions clears the mind, releases stress and creates in me a healthier outlook.

With daylight savings and the length of darkness in our days, the quiet reflection time is easier and even more important.  Here is an article from Web MD that I think is helpful.

Winter Darkness, Season Depression
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/seasonal-affective-disorder

Be aware of your moods, and the moods of those around you and try to fight the winter blues.  Depression can be a serious state of being and it is important to fight it; nip it in the bud; don't let it get the best of you!  If you or someone you know is unhappy, depressed or "dark,"  can't seem to shake it, despite the helpful tips you find on Web MD and other sites, then get help from a professional.

You deserve to be happy, so spend time praying, reflecting, interacting with others and tune out the video games and chatter and get in tuned with yourself and your Creator.  You'll be happier and healthier and live a more fulfilled life.