Today's Thought....

“May you live every day of your life.”   - Jonathan Swift While raising 2 boys, I always told them that life was an adventure and that it was their responsibility to take in eveything that life had to offer.  This means, step out of the robotic life of doing the same thing every day - just going throught he motions. Unfortunately, I did not always follow my own words.  Carrying 265 pounds on my frame made moving challenging.  Having a low self esteem and wanting to hide in the house gave me few adventures.  It was depressing......It was easier to stay within my comfort zone by getting up, going to work, coming home each and every day. Shortly after surgery I received this quote on a card from one of my boys.  How fitting.....I keep this quote in front of me as a constant reminder that I need to live life every day - and boy have I.  I know when I'm 95 and on my death bed, there is a lot of things that I can say that I did. But, how do you live life every day?  There are lots of ways...laughing, physical activity, doing something for someone else, or just relaxing in your surroundings.  The term living life has personal meaning to each of us and could mean something different to each of us. Often I am asked what did I do that has made me successful.  While there are many things, I think living life everyday is at the top of my list. So, think about your own personal journey.  Have you truely lived every day of your life?  What can you do to make sure that you are living life every day?   If not....let's start today......

Great post! Post op now 11 months, I live such a full wonderful life. It started because like you, my self esteem got lower and lower. I despised the person in the mirror. Now everyday say 'dang it, you did it again, you get better looking every day" I stole that line from my husband! I make sure to tell those close to me how much they mean to me. All of you here on this wonderful Virginia Board are so special to me. THANK YOU.

I LOVE that idea!  I'm stealing it.  Especially on days when I don't feel like I do!

 

I like this topic.  I have also believed that each day is a new adventure & I TRY to enjoy it.  I'm not always successful, but one thing I DO accomplish each day & that is to appreciate that yet another day I woke up & discovered I'm still breathing.  That, in itself, is half the battle, right?  LOL  I try very hard to be honest to myself & to those around me that mean something to me.  You all know about my recent bout with depression.  Well, that is easing it's way out of my life, thanks in no small way to many of you.  So there's an adventure that we have shared on MY personal level.  I reached out & actually ASKED for help, & wow...guess what?  I actually got what I asked for!  I am so happy to hear you, Jen, say that you now look in the mirror & recognize that you are looking good!  How uplifting & positive that is.  Jill, ain't it grand when we can learn from our kids??  Kinda reaffirms the good job that we did as their parent, doesn't it?  Of course it can sting a little bit when they turn our own words back to us...lol...but that just means they were paying attention after all.  Since dealing with all these health issues of mine, in particular my puny little heart, & never knowing when it's just gonna get too tired & quit on me, I have learned that I just don't have time to waste.  I could fill my days with talking smack behind someone's back, or carrying a grudge, or judging another harshly.  But WHY?  To  what end??  Is that going to make ME feel good?  No.  Will it change anything about the other person?  Probably not.  I can CHOOSE who I let into my life, who I can dismiss, & how much I'm willing to overlook for the sanctity of the relationship.  Each day I work on acceptance & not to judge others.  Last time I checked, I was NOT Christ.  I instead choose to spend quality time with others, hear what they have to say, learn new things from them.  Hopefully I can contribute as well & they will receive me & I try to receive them.  I notice things more now than I used to.  That old adage about stopping to smell the roses?  Well, when I was young, healthy, & foolish...who had time?  But now I get it.  My big adventure this week is to clean my horse trailer.  Doesn't sound like much to some, but for me it's gonna be a fun task as I look at every thing we've accumulated in such a small space.  Then I have to decide do I really need to put it back in?  Of course the moment I leave something out, THAT will be the thing I should have put back in.  But in the end, I will have a sense of accomplishment, I will probably find stuff that I didn't even know I was missing.  Hopefully I'll find my ruby & diamond earring that's been in there for 3 years!  But there are pictures in there, & flyers of civil war events we've attended.  There are clothes that haven't been worn & hopefully now too big.  No telling what I'll find in my wooden food box...probably need to toss most of it, but still I get to reflect on where I was a year ago just by way of what I stashed in that box.  Do you see what I mean?  It's all in how you look at things & wrap them around your brain.   Some would see this task as dirty, tiresome, time consuming...a real chore.  For me, I get to see where I've been & then re-think where I wanna go from here.   And all from just cleaning my horse trailer.

As always...LOVE your honesty!

How's your Ipod this morning??

hahahahaha!!  My ipod's working like a champ!!!  Thanks for asking!!!  I love you too!