Month: January 2021 (Page 2 of 3)

Are you able to look around your world as if it’s the first time. I know it’s nearly impossible, but I try to do my best to never take any views for granted. Whether it’s a raucous rain storm, a night time skyline of the downtown skyscrapers, a blue sky with wispy white clouds or the wind bending a tree’s branches as it scatters its leaves across the ground.

It’s easy enough to brush it off and return to the computer screen as I have done countless times in the past. Although, sometimes I can get caught staring at the snow covered mountains or a hawk gliding in the ether. It is these times when I begin to notice small nuances of color changes in the foliage on the ground or patterns in the shapes of the foothills I didn’t notice before. Then a humming bird hovers three feet in front of me just outside my window or I hear the screech of a hawk as I stand in a clearing. It’s almost like the more you observe with all of your senses, the more you begin to notice.

If you close your eyes for an extended period of time, I’m always surprised at how vibrant the colors are when you open them again. If I could teach these eyes to see the world we live in as if it’s the first time, I would be a happy man. Or I can just appreciate the view and not take it for granted.

Everyone likes receiving gifts. I think. I do. I especially like surprise gifts. When someone says to me, “I have a gift for you,” and it’s not even my birthday or Christmas or any other holiday. I get really excited. I realize that makes me sound boring, but it’s true. Or they say, “I know it’s not anything big, but I thought of you and I got you a little something.” I get giddy. For more than one reason: First of all, it’s not really about what the gift is in the end. It’s the thought. The effort. It’s the fact that this person actually took time out of their day in lieu of all they have going on in it and purchased this item because they thought it would bring me joy. Because they had a billion other choices they could have made in that moment but they pulled money our of their wallet or purse to spend on me. That’s really neat. I know I’m sounding really hokey right now, but it’s true.

If we can all find pleasure and appreciation for the small things in life then our big world may not seem quite so scary and overwhelming at times. It might just bring you some joy. A smile. Or dare I say . . . some laughter.

You want to get real crazy? Go out of your way today and buy, create or give someone you care about or don’t even know a gift. Tell them you were thinking about them when you saw it. Look them in the eyes and connect with them when you say those words. See how they react.

Maybe the best gift you receive is from the gift you just gave away.

I believe breathing is a very simple way of grounding us, keeping us centered and bringing us back to – or keeping us in homeostasis (our optimum functioning state). In particular nasal breathing. There are a number of benefits to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth. It can be a challenge to do, especially when you are sleeping or when exercising, however I think the overall benefits are well worth it.

Proper breathing is also very important. A deep steady breath in through the nose, filling your lungs from the bottom – as you will see your belly expand as well as the bottom ribs – until your lungs are full and then releasing the air – through the nose as well – exhaling twice as long as it took you to breathe in.

Try that 3 times in a row throughout your day. You will feel relaxed, revived and grounded all at the same time.

We all have a choice to how we react to tragedy, loss, adversity or unwanted results. Not failure. Unwanted results. We have a choice of how to react after our successes as well. Gloating because of a victory may seem to be the right thing to do in the moment, but you could choose to continue to learn, grow and evolve from your temporary moment in the sun. It’s up to you.

When you wake up in the morning you can choose to go through your day being offended by someone cutting you off in traffic or you can choose not to because you bless them hoping they get to their destination in time as they are obviously in a hurry. They just cut you off. You can choose to have a glorious day no matter what transpires.

What I have found to be true is once you choose – let’s say to have a great day – everything else falls into place. I don’t take the small hiccups quite as serious. I have a bit of separation from that result. Why? Because I chose to have a great day! I don’t have time for the other stuff.

We make hundreds of choices throughout a day. Think about making a choice that propels you to a place you want to go, not a road to no where. No one wants to end up there. The power to choose how you lead your life is one of the most powerful parts of free will.

Choose wisely

I used to think I had an abundance of time when I was younger. Too much sometimes. I didn’t know what to do with it all. The sheer volume of it seemed almost exhausting. The events I was looking forward to couldn’t come soon enough and the tasks I didn’t enjoy took too darn long to get through.

I’m not quite sure what I was rushing to get to. A place? The age of 18? 21? 30? Graduation? Leaving home? Getting married? Where was I in such a hurry to get? To this day I cannot answer that question.

There is one thing I have come to realize: Time is the most precious resource I have. Hands down. And I have taught myself to cherish every moment. Not without some slip-up’s. You want to slow time down, go for a long run. Workout. Do an abdominal workout. Hold your breath. This helps me. Any activity that helps me stay in the moment without going on auto pilot. I catch myself not remembering the drive to the office some mornings. Or at least parts of it. How is that possible? I’m driving after all.

Whether learning how to play an instrument, reading a book, taking on a new endeavor or just getting out of my comfort zone, I do my best to slow down the hands of time, stay in the moment and enjoy every minute. Good or less than good. At least I’m still here.

We all have a limited amount of it here on this earth. Choose wisely how you spend it. From the people you are with to the activities you engage in. It goes fast. Hang on.

But what do I know.