August 2010
This down economy seems to have had its way with all of us. I know there are times when I take myself a little ole` trip to the Pity City and question….what is going on, what is happening, when will things turn around? I just get so sad for me that I am beside myself. I am sure many of you have had, or are having, the same experience. Then I remember something a very successful elderly person once told me. This person had lost all he had during the Great Depression…but because he believed in himself and kept these positive thoughts, he came back stronger and more successful that ever. This is what he told me:
“Recession is a time of great opportunity. Time and time again, success has its roots in failure, because failure knocks you down from the top of the hill so you can then climb a mountain. Yes, it’s unsettling, yes, it’s scary…but this can be you greatest opportunity in life…if you choose it. The recession has cleared the space of clutter – think what have you always wanted to do but brushed it aside from the top of your hill? Now is the time…”
Not long ago during one of my pity sessions, from what seemed like out of nowhere, I remembered what this man had told me.
As the saying goes, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and started to reinvent myself. No more self-pity; I wouldn’t let it take space in my thoughts. I needed the space to think about new opportunities and how I was going to make them available to me. I really got serious and started cleaning house, my business house. I looked at the things that had been working well for me before this recession, tweaked them to modernize them, threw out some things that never did work too well, and put new strategies in their place. Oh, by the way, I threw out my Ego and Pride, as well.
I made sure I had myself in the right places with whom I guessed would be the right people and just started talking up my passion, which is my business and how I make my living.
Yes, the entire journey took time, lots of insight, and it was hard climbing that mountain. Scary is not a big enough word for what I felt, the unknown is always fearful. Once the clutter was cleared, along with the feeling of helplessness, things really did start to go my way. I wish I could find hat man so I could thank him for his wisdom, motivation and my new frame of mind.
Warmest Regards, Dr. C.
There have been times when we have all felt that someone has been unkind to us, either in word or deed.
We can choose to let it upset our day and state of mind, as well as how we treat others. We can really work it up without much effort.
Oh, just how many times have we all danced with “Poor me, my feelings are hurt”?
I say lets STOP the “Pity Dance” and begin to understand that there can and will certainly be times when others “do” things that upset us, but not “to” upset us.
I, no doubt, have been guilty of doing that, and I bet you have, too. Something just seems to slip out of our mouth, or we can be preoccupied, and act in a certain way, without any malicious thought, but BINGO, we have hurt someone. Then we walk away and never give it a moments thought….that we may have rained all over someone’s parade.
So, next time this happens, (and I am sure it will!) lets all try excusing, rather than accusing. Because when we think about it, it is indeed fact….others can “do” things that upset us, but “not” to upset us.
Ahhhhh! Now doesn’t that feel better?!
Warmest Regards, Dr. C.
I came across a man sitting in the middle of a meadow. I asked him what had brought him there.
“I’m in my living room, reading a book,” he replied. “Do you like the view of the backyard? He asked, making a gesture toward the rolling hills that cascaded gently in the background. “That’s my patio,” he said, pointing to a small area just around the corner. “The morning sun hits there. It’s a warm place to sit and eat breakfast. Sometimes I sleep in that tent,” he said, pointing off to the side. “And sometimes I take my sleeping bag and curl up under the stars in the landing area, over there.”
I looked around, almost envious of his freedom.
Sometimes, we get so busy and involved in creating a “home” for ourselves that we create a structure that’s too safe, limiting, and confined. We forget about our real home, the planet Earth. It’s good to sleep indoors. It’s nice to make ourselves comfortable in our homes. But don’t let your cozy nest become a locked, confining box.
Stretch your arms. Push the lid off the box. Get out into the world. Walk around. Move about. See the hills, the lakes, the mountain peaks, the valleys, the rivers.
See how big your world can be. See how connected everything is. See how connected you are, too – to all that IS. Make yourself comfortable, wherever you are. Make yourself a home and be at home in the world.
Warmest Regards, Dr. C.
As of late I have noticed that when my Pal Al and I are driving in the car there seems to be a third person present.
This person is a woman with a very commanding, yet sexy voice. I have taken to calling her “Ms. I know It All”. Pal Al calls her his GPS system. Not only does she seem to know it all, but I have the sneaky suspicion that she is out after my job. No, I take that back, she already has taken over my job!
For years it has been my job to tell my husband where to go (now don’t’ take that the wrong way!) and how to get there. But not any more! Oh, no….the “Car Nazi” (that’s my other name for her) has just smoothly slipped in and has taken over.
“Go 5 miles and turn left, go 6 miles and turn right at he ramp…blah, blah, blah…and not 7 miles, turn left and you are at your destination. And as you might guess, my Pal Al never argues with “Ms. I Know It All”. Nope, he just smiles and lets her have her way with him.
Now, if I were telling him where to go in a commanding, yet sexy voice, it would be a completely different story. He would be telling me to be quiet, let him to the driving. After driving (for what feels like forever) we would be in no-man’s land, and I would be begging him to stop and ask for directions. By this time, even I wouldn’t have a clue about where we were. After that you can be sure there would be dead silence for many miles; just a lot of heavy huffing and puffing from both of us. In time he would stop and get directions.
Upon arrival at our destination, there would be no smile, such a the “Car Nazi” gets, only a request from him, to me, to swear on my children’s heads that I wouldn’t’ say a word about being lost.
If this keeps up, I won’t remember how to read a map, write down directions, or even know north from south!
I took Pal Al’s car out myself, with the sole purpose of just plain and simply playing with that woman’s mind, until she just yelled uncle and shut up. When she said turn left I would turn right, if she said turn left I would turn right and so on, and so on…This went on for about 20 minutes. Now as far as I’m concerned that would be enough to drive anyone to distraction. You got it….she didn’t’ lost her cool one time. Just kept up with that commanding, sexy voice, saying over and over, “recalculating, recalculating”! I am telling you right here and now, she truly is a “Car Nazi”. She is out to put every wife out of business. All you wives out there: be on notice…..we are quickly being replaced.
I did just hear that there a way to keep her quiet. I’ll try it and if it worked, I’ll let you ladies know the secret. We gotta stick together, Sisters! This is war!
Warmest Regards, Dr. C.
I think that no matter what our live was like growing up, we can look back…. (and for some of us it may take a great effort) ….. recall at least one memory that we can label a “Warm Fuzzy”.
I have tow “Warm Fuzzy” memories that I would love to share with you folks out there in cyber-land.
I would like to tell you stories about when I was just a wee slip of a girl, and about my Uncle who was also my Godfather.
I can remember after being told by my parents that my Uncle was going to be visiting, I would keep a vigil on our front porch, just waiting to get a glimpse of him.
After what seemed to this lip of a girl a very long wait, he would pull up in his shinny car, run up the walk and the steps to the porch, where I would be waiting, my arms outstretched and a big smile on my face. He would scoop me up in his arms, smother me with hugs and kisses and dance me around in a circle, always chanting the same words. “Hey, little girl, who do you love?” and I would squeal with glee, “I love you”. Hugs and kisses weren’t very plentiful in my house, so these times were very special to me.
Before saying goodbye, my sweet Uncle always seemed to find a five dollar bill hiding behind my ear! At that time five dollars would by me a pretty new dress. Oh, how I loved getting a pretty new dress!
In time, a war came and took my Uncle away. I remember being so proud of him, as I had been told he was a “fighter pilot”. I really didn’t understand what a “fighter pilot” was, but I somehow knew it was something I could take great pride in.
As I used to wait for his visits, I now waited for the mail carrier. While my Uncle was busy keeping me safe from the enemy, he somehow found time to write a little note or two addressed “just to me”. The importance I felt when those letters arrived goes way beyond words.
So now, my cyber friends, I have shared two of my “Warm Fuzzys” with you. Why don’t’ you reach back and pull out one of your “Warm Fuzzys”, just for yourself…..it feels soooo good!
PS: Thank you Uncle, for all the pretty dresses and for being my hero!
Warmest Regards, Dr. C.
