DO YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO THINK FREELY? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 180

As children we allowed our minds to be free from restrictions.  We used our imaginations, and our thoughts ranged from the ridiculous to the sublime.  As we grew up some of us were able to retain that flexibility to permit our thoughts to take us at certain times from the wild and free thoughts to the conservative, practical and pragmatic thoughts encouraged by parents and teachers.  For adults who continued to be creative thinkers society labeled them "free spirits" meaning that they were not confined by customs, mores or other people who had authority over them.

While we all have to grow up eventually, we should still take time to allow our thoughts to wander.  Who knows what great ideas, marvelous inventions, or works of art have been created because of free thinking? You might be the next great scientist, painter, doctor, philosopher, or anything else if you sometimes allow yourself to still

HAVE CRAZY THOUGHTS!

ARE YOU BREATHING? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 144

When I was a little girl I would hold my breath when I had to take medicine, have a shot or a vaccination. The doctors would tell me to breathe and not hold my breath.  When I lived in cold climates and had to drive on wet or icy roads I would hold my breath until the possible danger had passed.  As I got older and needed to exercise I would hold my breath when I was doing something strenuous or using a machine that I happened to dislike.  The trainer or coach would tell me to stop holding my breath.  Then when I had a number of life-threatening surgeries I found that much of the time I would be holding my breath.  Again, the doctors and nurses would tell me to take deep breaths to ease the pain, to lessen the nausea, etc.  Most recently I have had physical therapy for several different problems, and the therapist told me to stop holding my breath.  I guess old habits die hard, but I am trying to reduce the stress in my life and my body by remembering to breathe.

What about you?  Do you hold your breath?  Do you breathe shallowly instead of deeply?  What makes you hold your breath?  The good advice I am trying to take is to put my shoulders back, sit up or walk straightly, and

BREATHE DEEPLY!

DO YOU TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 44

Many people have grown up being very blessed in terms of how they live, what they have, and having a support system.  Too often those blessings are taken for granted rather than being appreciated.  As we mature we realize that at least 2/3 of the world's population if not more are much less fortunate.  It is when we become cognizant of the needs of others like clean drinking water, food to feed their children, medicine to take when they are sick, and proper shelter that we begin to be grateful for what we have and have been given.  It is true that there are some young children who are already grateful and doing amazing things to raise money to help those in need, but sadly we live in an era when many seem to be more concerned with themselves than with anyone else.

I remember someone once describing their children as "take me, buy me, give me, get me" kids.  It seems as if perhaps too many have grown up to be the "take me, buy me, give me, get me" adults.  If you take things for granted and are more interested in what your next purchase will be or the next gift you will receive, it is time to reflect on all that you already have and give thanks to the provider.

Today's message is:

GIVE THANKS