IS YOUR LIFE TOO FRENETIC? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 170

The pace of life today can be overwhelming.  Employers are demanding more from fewer workers.  Children no longer safe to go out and play have play dates.  Children of all ages are in organized activities and sports. School buses are not available in all areas as they used to be.  This means parents are spending lots of time chauffeuring their offspring.  With the divorce rate in America at almost 1 out of two marriages this means there are a lot of single mothers (or single fathers) taking care of everyone and everything.  Some aging grandparents are raising their grandchildren, and some children are caregivers for aging parents. Then throw in housework, yard work, bill paying, grocery shopping, food preparation, religious training, exercising and so many other tasks that one day does not seem to provide enough time to accomplish everything and still get sufficient sleep to prepare to do it all over again the next day.  Our lives are in constant motion except during sleep.

We all need time to decompress and to catch our breaths.  We all need to learn to delegate so that home life becomes a joint effort. Even toddlers can be taught to pick up toys or toss things in the trash.  We also need to decide that children or grandchildren do not need to have play dates, sports, various types of lessons, or any other extra-curricular activity 7 days a week.  Have them choose only one or two activities to participate in during any given time period.

Even if it is only 30 minutes a day we all need to rejuvenate ourselves which we can do if we and all family members

LEARN TO BE STILL!

ARE THERE MEAN PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 91

There are many mean-spirited people in the world, and we all know at least one or more such people. There are people who abuse others physically, sexually, verbally, mentally or emotionally.  It can be difficult to get away from them sometimes because they can be parents, foster parents, step parents, spouses, bosses, classmates, co-workers, teachers, pastors, priests, scout leaders, neighbors, caregivers, bullies, gang members and criminals. If you are in a situation from which it is not possible or easy to escape because you are too young, too old, or too frightened you still have an option.

The world has many more good people than mean people, and you can help yourself by seeking out those who are kind and caring.  Even one kind person can make a huge difference in your life especially if you are truly being harmed by a mean person.

Kind people are out there so look for them, pay attention to the people around you wherever you are, and open yourself up to get to know them.  Do not let shame, fear, or pessimism prevent you from surrounding yourself with as many kind people as you can find.  Do not let fear prevent you from telling someone if you are being harmed or threatened.

Today's message is:

SEEK KINDNESS