Finding yourself
“No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see”.
~ Taoist Proverb
I’ve heard it over and over and I’ve even said it “I need to find myself”. The thing about getting older, you do get wiser. With that said, this phrase makes less sense to me every time I hear it.
Ongoing life lesson: With time, your being changes. Trying to find yourself keeps you stuck in the past. Embrace who you evolve into, without getting lost by compromising your values and principles.
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What’s in the box?
“The best things in life are unexpected – because there were no expectations.” ~ Eli Khamarov
I’m not saying that everything you’ve attained with a set of expectations were a disappointment but if you think about what gave you delight, most of it were probably what you least expected.
Ongoing life lesson… set expectations on certain goals to continuously challenge yourself, but definitely make more room for surprises.
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Imagine
What would be left to the imagination if you were already in paradise?
Location: Kauai. This picture was not edited at all and yes… the water was THAT blue!
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Some little known facts about the apple from healthdiaries.com:
- Weight Loss - A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.
- Bone Protection - French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
- Asthma Help - One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.
- Alzheimer’s Prevention - A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Lower Cholesterol - The pectin in apples lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.
- Lung Cancer – Prevention According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.
- Breast Cancer Prevention - A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.
- Colon Cancer Prevention – One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract. Liver Cancer Prevention Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.
- Diabetes Management - The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body’s need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.
Sounds like a trip to the store for me… need more apples since it also has more caffeine than a cup of coffee and I’m trying to cut down.
Staying young
“We do not cease to play because we grow old. We grow old because we cease to play.”
~ George Bernard Shaw.
Do over
There are no backspace or delete buttons in life, but don’t let that stop you from trying again.
~ Christine Sternfels
I think we’ve all been in situations where you might say “Wish I could click undo. Do over!”
I’ve been there too many times and continue to realize that had I given up in my darkest moments, I wouldn’t be here. Had I given up on love, I wouldn’t be happily married. Had I given up on my daughter, someone else would be helping her plan her wedding. Had I given up on my career, I wouldn’t be able to pursue my dreams. We learn things along the way and we don’t find the value in pain and hardships at the time but it’s what helps us achieve. Learning from our mistakes makes us wiser and more equipped to be able to handle, maintain and appreciate success.
Life is one lesson after the other. Each time you fall flat on your face or even if it’s just a scratch, get up and start all over again.
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Smile
A smile is a frown turned upside down…
I know sometimes having a good day takes work, yet somehow no matter how bad things get there’s always something to smile about. A sweet memory, a funny joke, a silly comment… whatever it is and as the song goes ” Smile, what’s the use of crying.”
So go ahead, look at the mirror, make a funny face at yourself and smile. If you want some background music to go with that, CLICK HERE and feel free to sing along.
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Beauty
If you need make-up to feel beautiful, that’s okay… as long as you embrace the beauty that comes from within you. ~ Christine Sternfels
My husband and I have date night at least once a month. Last week I decided to get all “prettied up” for my honey and asked my daughter if she would help me with my make-up, it’s been a while since I last painted my face. She was so excited and laid out a variety of beauty products and what seemed like a hundred colors to choose from.
There was a point in my life when I thought how I looked was more important than who I was inside. I would say things like “You wouldn’t want that fried chicken if it didn’t look good.” or “It’s all in the packaging.”. Then I went through the stage when I convinced myself I was happy with my self and didn’t need make-up at all, because my bubbly personality was enough. Yes, extremes.
Just like with everything, I learned that doing things in moderation is a key ingredient to a well-balanced life. So every now and then, I make time to be pretty for my husband and for me.
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Intend to finish
If the word quit is part of your vocabulary, then the word finish is likely not. ~ B.G. Jett
Materialism
When they were new, someone couldn’t wait to have them… until something shinier came along.
~ Christine Sternfels
Location: Seattle Underground Tour
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Stay still…
Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess. Just breathe, and have faith that everything will work out for the best. ~ Anonymous
Sunset Race
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~ Mark Twain
Location: Everett Marina
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Have your cake and eat it too!
Can you have your cake and eat it too? We all know the metaphor’s message. “You can’t have it all”. I personally disagree. You can have it all, just not all at the same time for complex needs. But for those with simple needs, I believe it can happen. What do you think?
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Faith
You block your dreams when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.
~ Mary Manin Morrissey
In the woods…
The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.
~ Anonymous
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