WEDNESDAY MAY 12, 2021 CONTINUING LOOKING AT BUILDING RESILIENCE

 WEDNESDAY MAY 12, 2021 

CONTINUING LOOKING AT BUILDING RESILIENCE

Sometimes I find things that are interesting to me, that have a few new thoughts - and also have many old thoughts - so today I will highlight the new thoughts - or new thoughts to me - and breeze through the older thoughts.  This is coming from 

https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/resilience/top-tips-help-build-cultivate-resilience/

Think of the larger purpose of your life. Live your days aligned with that sense of purpose.

What do you want in your obituary?  That you lived by yourself as a hermit, or that you served humanity?  (One of my friends when asked “As you are in your casket, what would you want people to say?” His answer was “Look he’s moving!!)

Embrace your vulnerability. Be authentic. Accept that it’s okay to feel sad once in a while.

I am trying to be authentic.  And yes, I can feel sad occasionally, but I focus on love, joy, and happiness. I live alone but rarely am lonely!!

Be kind, especially to yourself. Kindness is a marker of strength and not weakness.

If you can be anything, be kind (or be nice)!!! AND… .this means be KIND to everybody.  Smile at the grocery clerk, and those in the grocery store (yes, we are wearing masks, but smile anyway), I say “Good Morning” or “Hi” to people - both that I know and I don’t know!!!

Lower your threshold to feel grateful. Be grateful for a deep breath, the smell of coffee, the smile of a loved one, or the taste of water.  (In everything, give thanks!!!  I am grateful for so many things!!  God has blessed me with great friends, great experiences, and with His love and grace!!

Creatively work with what is, instead of fighting the uncontrollable.

I can only change one person - me.  I can’t change others, I can’t change the uncontrollable.  I can complain about others, but that doesn’t do anything.  I need to LOVE others!!!

Make a 'not-to-do list to keep your days light, alive, and humming.

That was a new idea to me.  I’ve had ‘to-do’ lists for years, but to have a ‘not-to-do list challenges me to think about what I really do not want to do.  Let’s see.  On my not-to-do list is be mean, be judgmental, be selfish, think too much of myself, and spend more than 6 hours of my waking day in my apartment.

Feel connected to nature. Spend time noticing trees, birds, clouds, lakes, and rivers

I love being on KW’s front porch as she has bird feeding stations; likewise, RP has plants on her patio and is setting up a hummingbird station.  

Join or create a group that is focused on a cause that resonates with you.

I need to explore groups to find ones that do focus on my interests.  The Williamson County Symphony is one, the Bridgebrats Bridge group is one; Granny Basketball is one; but what might fit me better?

Read good books. Watch inspiring movies. I have slacked off my reading a little.  I need to get back into that.  KD (my expert on music and film) has all kinds of inspiring movies to watch.  (Confession, I don’t always like movies as I’m giving up my time to sit and watch.  My audiobooks allow me to do two things at one - ‘read’ (okay, hear), and walk.

Sleep at least 7 to 8 hours every night. To be awake is human; to sleep is divine!  As a retired person, I generally get my sleep.  I try to go to bed at about 9:30.  I find that I wake up about 3 (needing the restroom), and then I sometimes can’t get back to sleep!

Practice deep breathing and other forms of meditation on most days. Aim for at least 15 minutes.

There are mornings where my “quiet time of prayer and Bible reading” is short and there are days where I spend an hour meditating.

Avoid prolonged sitting.

I’m not good at this one.

 

Optimize the dose of news you consume every day. For any headline that distresses you, read something that inspires you or helps boost well-being.

Without television, I tend not to know the news.  I have friends in other states that ask ‘was that tornado close to you?”; “was that shooting close to you”, and I don’t know what they are talking about!!!

Get up from the dining table a little hungry.

When I get home from the hospital, I think I will go back to my intermittent fasting program.

Nurture your spirituality and make time to integrate it into your life.

In the past four years, God has been working on me.  There are times that I get “caught up” in my spirituality!!!

Those are my thoughts with the linked article (at the top) for today.  I am thinking of a more controversial topic tomorrow.  Let’s see where I go!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen