Practice Mindfulness!

I recently fell in my house! I was on my way out the door and went back inside to make sure I turned off my curling iron.

It is always off but for some reason, I have to double check every time. Well, I slipped and fell and took a Dixie on my shiny, hard, tiled floors in the hallway and came down real hard on my right knee! Ouch! 

 

I was in a hurry to get o my Pedicure Appointment that I have been looking forward to since I received a gift certificate for my birthday at the beginning of the month from a dear friend for this Pedi at Susanne’s, so I was anxious to be on time. I’m always on time no matter where I go so there was no reason to be in a hurry in the first place.

Well, it hurt lifting my foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal while driving to my destination. When I got there, I went in the back room to pull down my jeans to see the damage….Ugh. Nasty, swollen, red, skin peeling……….Ouch!

Suzanne only has a small tiny fridge and only had cans of “Coke” to apply to my knee. Thank goodness only all girls were there as I sat in my bloomers with a towel wrapped around me from the waist down! Not a pretty sight!  Jeans are too tight to roll up above the knee so they had to come off so I could feel the cold from the cans of Coke.  Oh my.........LOL

My toenails sure look pretty but I was in great discomfort. The two glasses of wine helped! I couldn’t wait to get home and apply ice to my knee.

LG, I’ll remember that you declined to buy a bag of frozen peas for my injury because it was a $1.69 for such a small bag! Hehehhehe

I called my doctor the following morning and she reminded me that I have to practice mindfulness, as many trips and falls happen when we’re in a hurry or not thinking about what we’re doing.

She told me to practice focusing all of my attention on what I’m doing when walking and watch where I place my feet and to pay attention to the journey and avoid thinking about the destination…..even if you are only walking from the bedroom to the kitchen.

Same applies when outside, watch for tree roots, uneven pavement, garbage, slippery leaves, fallen branches, etc.

Yikes, I got the talk! The talk given to most older seniors!...Sigh!

Government Monopoly!

Our Society continues to get worse!

I have learned throughout the years to never talk about politics, religion, etc. because it only opens up an venue for a heated argument with others, as we all have different views and opinions but lately, even if I try to avoid the News on TV, it is boldly hitting me on my Welcome screen on my computer the first thing in the morning.

I know now why my insomnia continues to get worse; it is because I stay awake to watch the 11:00 PM News filled with senseless tragedies like the most recent shootings in Arizona. It leaves my mind filled with horror and rents space in my head for days because of all the updates that follow on our daily News.

So, they lock up the crazy 22 year old and the taxpayers have to pay some 20 odd years for him to be in prison. I find something wrong with this theory.

What a waste of money for all these prisoners that are eating free, a roof over their heads free, free water, free gyms, free education, free representation. Makes me sick especially to the ones that killed innocent people.

Then we have to hear all about the local politicians who point fingers of disdain at corrupt public officials yet the people continue to elect them over and over again.

We need to become a civilized society again. We have to have the ability to disagree without being disagreeable.

We are an intelligent bunch, I’m sure the politicians can meet on common ground. We don’t have any other options, yet we have these stubborn idiots that get paid well, fly on private jets, have the best healthcare and even get free expensive haircuts on our dime! Hmmmmmmmm! Sounds like they get special treatment like the prisoners!  Why do we treat prisoners and politicians like royalty?

 

Frazzled!

I learned to recognize that things are what they are, regardless of perceptions. I have to accept things as they are and not as I want them to be but I’m stubborn and I find it hard to accept certain things “just the way they are”. Strange, sometimes we welcome change and other times change takes us out of our comfort zone.

I try to check-in with myself now and then to see if these perspectives are working for me. I recently checked in my own radar system and said to myself…. I will never be alone on Christmas ever again. As I get older, I have to learn to gain greater inner control and smooth out the rocky road of life!

We have all heard Financial Planners on TV such as Suzie Orman say: Pay yourself first. Well, I think this theory applies to other things such as: Be good to yourself, trust yourself, know what you want and need. Put yourself first! I need to let my feelings be known. My feelings are important.

My girlfriend and I were discussing “feeling important” not that long ago.

Every time I need something, I talk myself out of it. Even if I can’t have it, it’s ok to need. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!  We both agreed that we have to transform frustration into an achievement.

Then I learned to get some perspective and step back and look objectively at the reasons why I get frustrated. I zeroed in and focused seriously on this matter and came to the conclusion that I don’t feel important.

Perhaps the distance between me and my family due to living in different states is the cause…….you know “out of sight, out of mind”. I was dwelling on the closeness I had for years yet now seems to be vanishing away and it scares me the older I get.

I know my frustrations were telling me something. I just had to find it and bring it to life and express my feelings. My mind was all over the map jumping from one issue to another. Gosh, I was a total mess over Christmas all because I was alone. It is terrible to be alone for Christmas. I come from a very large family and I was never alone. 

So, with nothing to do that day, as all my friends were jetsetting to visit their family, it only made me dwell on my “To Do” List and that most things on that list I don’t know how to do!  Sometimes, things just become overwhelming for an older women to do things around the house and handle repairs and make decisions and then try to figure out how the hell am I going to pay for this????

I was a little upset with myself because when I was younger, I was able to handle these matters that pop up but the older I get, I get the crazies trying to methodically find the right contractor, or can just a handyman take care of these freaking issues.

I remember when I was able to paint, wallpaper and dance around a 6’ ladder with ease. Well, I fell off of that freaking ladder not once but twice so NO MORE ladders for me so hence, no can do repairs nor do I want to do them either! Enough of this, when does it ever end?

They say: Life is what you make it. No one is responsible for your happiness, sadness or success. No one but you. Yes, you! We all have to take complete responsibility for ourselves and our choices we make are the ones that the allows us all to take that journey toward personal fulfillment.

I am well aware that accepting responsibility without excuses, frees your power to achieve. I know I'm responsible for my own wellbeing footprint!  But no one told me it all becomes more difficult to do all this stuff when you are alone and older!

OK….that venting felt good for a while! Oh the stress!  This rocky road has so many obstacles to climb.

Oh, and I won’t even discuss the new computer issues and troubleshooting, reading and more reading. Researching and more researching. I’m exhausted….where is that bottle of wine?

Whereas, Windows 7 has some nice features but I really liked my XP, it also seemed faster.

Things to Ponder About!

~ I ponder about what will be on that list for us to say goodbye to at the end of 2010?

That list of people, brands and products and companies that have been a part of our lives for many years. I know my car is on that list that they no longer make anymore. My old computer will be on that list too, as XP…….. I think was everyone’s all-time favorite. Vista didn’t cut it so I’m grateful to now have the Windows 7. It is taking some time getting used to as I am one of those XP lovers.

~ A friend once mentioned to me that she designated me to clear her computer history if something should happen to her!

~ Nothing is more embarrassing than that moment during an argument when you realize you are wrong.

~ We all need a sarcasm font don’t you think?

~ What’s this I hear, they are not teaching the kids how to write in cursive in schools?

~ Bad decisions make interesting stories to tell.

~ I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.

~ Gosh, I love technology but it’s getting expensive to keep up. Can we all agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray and IPad? Enough already! And, I love the stuff but it is getting to be overkill!

~ I still find it difficult to fold a fitted sheet properly……..don’t you?

~ Obituaries should include how the person died.

~ Families should get together more often. Life is too short!

~ Every state should outlaw texting while driving and walking on the sidewalk bumping into people and trees! And, also that cell phone glued to their ears while driving is very distracting. I get so furious especially when I see a car seat with a baby in it while Mom is texting away or chatting away. Don’t they care about safety?

~ Restaurants should outlaw cell phones ringing and annoying others that are trying to enjoy their dinner but instead are forced to listen to other people chatting away. Come on people, where are your manners?

~ Companies should be fined when they leave automated messages on your phone!

~ How come every time I exit out of my “Word” document, they ask if you want to save your changes when you have not made any???? But, be careful, it will change the date on your document if you click “yes”.

~ What do you ponder about?

Happy New Year 2011

Hugs, Rose

Christmas E-Mail

I have a list of people I know, all logged in my computer, and now at Christmas time I have gone to take a look.

And that is when I realize that these names are a part, not of the computer they're stored in, but of my heart.

For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime, and in that meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme.

And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim, I feel that I'm composed of each remembered name.

And whether I have known you for many years or few, in some way you have been a part of shaping things I do.

And now that Christmas has come, I realize anew, The best gift life can offer is having friends like you.

 

Old Friends!

All through school, my friends and I all lived in a constant proximity to our age peers and made friends almost without effort. Later on, especially after marriage, many of us grew apart and failed to renew. Then we found each other again and what a joy for all of us!

Old friends can cheer us up, provide a sense of community and continuity, share memories because they new our parents, rejoiced in our triumphs and commiserate in our sorrows.

I’m blessed that I have renewed my long dear friendships from elementary school to high school until today! I also do a separate blog just for them. Yes, I’m blessed. We are such a special bunch for sure! We share what is going on in our lives and we genuinely care about each other.

It’s unrealistic to believe that one friend can meet all our needs. A few treasured friends and some if we are lucky are relatives too adding richness to our lives and we share decades of memories together.

Other friends enter our lives for a reason and then they are gone. But even brief friendships can have a purpose and value. As vital as good friends are, less than good friends can suffocate you and may need to be jettisoned.

There are no friends like old friends who knew you “when”….knew your parents and siblings and matured into adulthood with you. So, if you miss your old friends from the old neighborhood, why not look them up and have a get together. I just had one last October with my Forever Friends and had a blast. Some travel from other states like I did for these luncheons and some still live in the old neighborhood. Oh, the memories and the pleasure it is to see them all again. They are like mini reunions.

 Fortunately for me, I visit the old neighborhood at least twice a year because my family still lives there so I have the opportunity to see my friends during my visits. Our 50th Reunion will be in 2012.  Oh my, where did all those years go? 

How many of you still keep in contact with friends you had from school days?

Try tracking down long lost friends by either looking on the Internet through Google or other search engines…….try Classmates.com or Facebook and you will be amazed of all the long lost friends you will find. Go to your Reunions and have a blast from the past.

I’m blessed having my Forever Friends in my life. They mean a lot to me even though we are miles apart. I wish I were traveling up north for the holidays but my budget is tight and I’m in need of a new puter so perhaps I’ll go up again when I find a reasonable airfare.

I will miss seeing my children and family and the snow at Christmas time. Remember sticking your tongue out to lick the snowflakes coming down? It just doesn’t feel like Christmas here in Florida……never did. Plus, Santa wears shorts down here!

Giving Thanks!

A dear blogger friend, (DB) wrote the following in one of his posts recently:

“I once worked for a chef. One day during a slow period we all sat down to have lunch. The chef ladled out a bowl of soup for himself. Then he took a slice of bread out of a package in the refrigerator. He normally baked bread in the morning but for lunch he would use store bought bread. I watched him as he carefully studied that slice, turning it over in his hands a few times.”

“I asked him if he thought there was something wrong with the bread. He said there was nothing wrong with it, and then he talked about American farmers, wheat fields, the big machinery that harvested the wheat and left it in windrows to be picked up, put into a truck and taken to where it was processed into flour. He told about how the flour would be poured into large cloth or hardy paper sacks, loaded onto trucks and delivered to consumers.”

After reading DB’s post on his blog, my mind kept thinking about it every time I made myself a sandwich. It rented space in my head. Do we just give thanks only on Thanksgiving?

Now, it makes me think every time I eat a meal and recognize the dozens of people who did hard work to get food to your table…..the farmers, the grocery store clerks, the friends and relatives or restaurant chef who transforms raw vegetables into a bowl of delectable soup or side dishes.

During my last trip to Boston and while having lunch with 20 of my dearest friends at a local restaurant, one of our friends (Joanne Nardone) said grace before the meal. We all agreed that her words were absolutely lovely and coming from the heart.

Saying grace with a group of people around the table suggests not only the grazie of thanksgiving but also the calm, gracious elegance of living fully and well. Something we all don’t take the time to do.

I know I don’t find grace rushing around, gobbling down food, eating over the sink or eating too fast and polishing off a meal in 5 minutes.

I now try to sit down to eat all my meals and say a small prayer all my by myself to give thanks that transforms a meal for one into an act of celebration, focus, gratitude and Giving Thanks!

Oh, and thanks to “DB” for my thoughts while preparing this Post.



Veteran's Day!

November 11th

Veterans's Day honors all members of the Armed Forces who who served this country valiantly, and in a very big way. They served and fought to protect us, to keep our country safe, and to preserve our way of life. Veterans gave their time, and risked their lives for you and me. In some cases, they made the ultimate sacrifice.

The brave men and women who serve and protect the U.S. come from all walks of life; they are parents, children and grandparents. They are friends, neighbors and coworkers, and an important part of their communities.

We are all proud of all who served our country.  I have five (5) brothers:  two were in the Air Force and three were in the Army.  I remember, as a young girl how I prayed for them every night.  It was a joyous time when they all returned home! 

Add a habit of success to your life!

Whatever you do again and again turns into a habit just like putting on your seatbelts which is a great habit!  My habits have a profound effect on the quality of my life. The last 10 months have proven that to me without a doubt.

My horrible lab work results at the beginning of the year has drastically changed my habits! My eating habits, exercise habits and total lifestyle has changed with one blood work results that was so frightening and continued to get worse every two weeks and blood was drawn repeatedly out of concern.

I was feeling fine on the outside other than some weight I have gained during the last four years or so.  I learned to control my actions and habits and chose what I had to stop doing and develop a new and healthy way of life or things would turn grim.  I thought just my exercise in the pool was enough cardio but I was wrong……..need a lot more than that.

Though you can’t get rid of bad habits overnight, you can indeed choose and control them. I added so many new life changes and I certainly got rid of so many destructive ones that dramatically improved my life. I believe I was scared enough to do as I was told by my doctor. It took 10 long months to see improvements but they finally came. Thank goodness!

The Vegan Diet is the most difficult to do for me. I’m now allowed just a few things back like fish but still NO meat, dairy and grainy stuff like bread and crackers. Just eating fruits and veggies is boring but I have learned to make some new recipes that I enjoy some and some I don’t but I have programmed my head to be strict with myself. I didn’t say it would be easy!

I couldn’t believe that even small little habits made big differences. Because each time you do it, you steadily add more power to it. I added two more days to the gym. I now eat breakfast and lunch which I seldom ate………not to lose weight, I was just never a breakfast person and I was always running around at lunchtime doing errands but I now make it a must to eat breakfast and lunch. Actually, by not eating those two meals was causing me not to lose weight!

Think of what you can do, beginning right now to rid of an addiction. We get addictive to certain foods just like over the counter drugs or smoking or alcohol or any other addictive destructive things…………..Don’t wait until you become a senior citizen to start changing your life. Your quality of life will be so much better………trust me!  Keep in mind, your environment, selection of friends and choices of certain social activies can create bad habits!

I recall feeling like an outcast four years ago when I was the only one still smoking when all of my friends have stopped.  Now, I'm with the "In" crowd and on the right track!  I'm praying that some will kick the habit......you know who I'm talking about!

A dear friend recently gave me the recipe for WW muffins made with pumpkin.  Well, they tasted so good but were personally very addictive to me!  I did not have the willpower to have a dozen of these delicious things in my house so I had to give them to a neighbor!  LOL  I'm still craving them like I did the cigs when I stopped smoking so habits in all forms become addictive!

I got those new “Rocker” sneakers on sale for $32.00.  A fraction of the cost than the New Balance or other brandnames that cost $100.  First, let me start by saying that I was very skeptical and was an extreme doubter of the hype of this shoe. Such a weird shape and profile can really set anyone on the path of apprehension.  But they certainly force you to stand up straighter and align your spine. You have to get used to them at first and be super careful. I love them now! You definitely feel the burn in the back of your legs after a long walk or a Silver Sneakers Class routine!  I only wear them for walking and a workout.

P.S.  There was an 80 year old lovely lady in KMart that was wearing these Therashoe sneakers.....that sold it for me!  LOL  If she could handle the Rocker, then I knew I could do it too!

Add a habit of success to your life!

Hugs, Rose

My Trip to Boston October, 2010!

I just got back from visiting my children, family and friends in Boston. I had a fabulous time and couldn’t request better weather for New England breathing in cool, crisp air with the exception of the last day or so when a nor’easter approached! Brrrrrrrrrrr!

  

Yes, I was on the MTA with the trains and buses and the homeless people sleeping on the benches. Brought back memories of the days I went to work everyday in Boston. It is an amazing city. I truly miss it. My daughter and I had a fabulous day and met Rhonda for lunch.

Every time I go back in to the city…….there are new changes that I have not seen from the trip before.

My son cut and colored my hair and did his magic to make me look 10 years younger!

I’m happy I had the opportunity to visit with a sister who is ill and other siblings as well. I have such a large family and I don’t rent a car so it is so hard for me to see everyone during each trip.

I was disappointed not to be able to see one brother that was rushed to the hospital the day that was planned for a get together. The matter is under control now.

I had a blast with my classmate Forever Friends. I don’t believe I know anyone else that still is in contact with their classmates from childhood and all the way through high school and still have such a close friendship with a 50th Reunion approaching in the year 2012. We had a lovely luncheon at DeMaino’s Restaurant in which is one of my favorite restaurants.

And, my dear friend, Nina drove a long distance to have breakfast with me the day before my departure. I have the best friends in Boston and here in South Florida!

On my return flight home, oh my, I was taken out of the line at the airport to go through that new security machine that can see through your undies! And a women in uniform still patted me down………………Ugh!

I met very interesting people on my flight to Boston……a women doctor and her husband and during my flight back, a gentleman originally from Newton, MA that knew some of the same people I know. So both my flights did not require me to dig into a book and get focused on anything but the flight. I’m not the best flyer!

I had the pleasure of seeing my son again here in South Florida as he flew down two days before me to surprise me. Rhonda and Brian came too. We had dinner together last night and they surprised me with boxes of lovely gifts. They are tanned already! People who live in Florida year round stay out of the sun.

I thought I took care of everything before leaving for my trip…….you know, the “need-to’s,” “have-to’s,” and “ought-to’s,” yet, I somehow forgot a few things! LOL

I spent the first day getting my bills up to date, then sending off a card I forgot to send and the endless phone calls to return and the numerous emails to open……sigh, now my vision is clear!

Living away from my hometown for 21 years now, circumstances have changed, and with change there is great challenge. And with that challenge comes opportunity. With each change, new positive possibilities are born. It is hard to put your energy, your awareness and your creativity into figuring out what those possibilities mean.

One thing you can always count on is that the world will change. And even in the difficult changes, there is value to be found.  I will try to be ready and willing to uncover that value, and hope to make the most of it. And no matter what happens, I’ll always have the ability to get where I decide to go or need to be.  Decisions always need to be made daily.

It is great to be away for a while but always feels good to be back in your own bed!  I missed my make-up mirror the most!  LOL  I can't see in a normal mirror.  I need that magnifying side that allows me to put my eye make-up on to perfection!  At my age, my eyes are not what they used to be.

The time went by so fast, I can't believe I'm home already!  A special thanks to my children who spoiled me rotten!

Meditate! (I am)

You only live once. And, it doesn’t hurt to think of this, from time to time. The worst thing would be to look back on your life, wishing you could have been happier or done more. Unfortunately, I allow too much junk to rent space in my head. I try hard to let go of unpleasant things but sometimes it is not easy. There are many things I would love to change right now but with today’s economy, it has put a halt to my plans.

Recently, I learned how to meditate. For years, I found it difficult to do and a dear friend gave me Meditation CD and it did not work for me but watching Dr. Oz one day and Deepak-Chopra was a guest on the show. Deepak-Copra also provided a video on how to meditate.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/deepak-chopra-meditation

Just click on the blue lettering to view

Whoooooooooohooooooooooo, it worked! I have to turn on the video each day for it to work for me. I can’t do it alone like most people.

Now is the time to take a good look at your life and make changes so that you have no regrets.

We all know time flies by too quickly.  The days, weeks, months, and years slip away. I’m getting older and I feel like time is passing me by. I need to make some changes to allow and create more joyful memories back into my life, so I can look back with no regrets.

I found that Meditation allows me to go deep into my thoughts about events, people, etc. Deep down inside there is a longing to explore and to express more of myself. It requires a lot of solitude time and deep concentration to let go of certain things and allow other things into my life. Sort of like the “Law of Attraction”.

There is plenty of joy to be lived in this moment. I have now learned how to turn the uniqueness of the moment to help me discover new ways of enjoying life's real pleasures.

Hope the Meditation site helps you as well.