Focusing on Quality Of Life, NOT Quantity In The New Year
January 4, 2010 by Kasey
Filed under Healthy You, Living Life, My Thoughts
Happy New Year everyone!
For most of us, it’s back to work and school today and the temps outside are frigid. It’s awesome that some of us get to stay inside and stay warm. My kids (Ella and my daycare kid, Eva) don’t start back to school till the end of the week, so we still have a few more days to relax and hang out before we get completely back in gear.
At this time of year, we tend to think of New Year’s Resolutions and what we think we can accomplish in the year to come. I think most of us make the same ones year of after year: lose weight, stop smoking, get out of debt, etc… And, those are great goals to have and I think they’re very attainable, if that ’s your thing. This year when I thought about my resolutions/goals for myself, I decided that I’m focusing on “Quality of Life”, NOT “Quantity”.
We tend to spend our days cramming in as much as we possibly can from the time we get up to when we go to bed at night. It causes high blood pressure, stress, insomnia and bad moods. It’s not good for us and it’s not good for our families. Yes, we may think we’re doing a good thing for all those around us when we fix the perfect breakfast, get the kids to school, play groups, doctor’s appointments, lunch/play dates, do the dishes, the laundry, fix dinner, get the kids a bath and a story and then the kids to bed, more laundry and so and so on, all in one day. We end up falling in bed late at night and not getting quality rest and wake up fatigued, stressed and more tired than we were when we went to bed the night before. I’m guilty, I admit it and it’s not good for anyone – especially us!
So, my goal this year is to cut back on the “stuff” and spend more time on creating a more relaxed quality of life for myself and my family. So maybe the dishes will sit in the sink for half the morning while I have a cup of coffee that isn’t cold, it’s OK. Maybe we have cereal for breakfast one day instead of eggs, toast and fruit or pancakes. The kids won’t care and may actually prefer it sometimes! And, we must remember that life will go on if I have to do all the laundry in one day instead of breaking it up over the week. It’s all OK!
It’s OK to be a little selfish and take time for ourselves too. Maybe head to Starbucks on a weekend afternoon while the kids are resting and hubby hangs out. (my fav thing to do!) Maybe get a pedicure or manicure once a month or even just head to the library for a little quiet time with a good book or magazine. Carving out a few minutes a week for ourselves will do a world of good for us all! We end up calm, more patient and better moms.
So, I invite you to join me this year in focusing on your “Quality of Life” instead of “Quantity of Life”. It may be a little hard in the beginning to calm down and let a few things go or to give up a few things, but I think it won’t be long before we’re saying NO a little more and saying YES to ourselves!
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Achieving Timeless Living
December 6, 2009 by Kasey
Filed under Healthy You, Living Life
One of my favorite spiritualist is Deepak Chopra. He always has uplifting advice – no matter the area of your life you need it in. Below is an excerpt from one of his articles that I thought you’d enjoy and find useful – wonderful thoughts to live by.
First Rule: Where the Mind Goes, the Body Must Follow
Almost everyone has heard of the mind-body connection. But they often reduce it to simple notions about positive thinking or “You’re only as old as you think you are.” In reality, everywhere your mind goes, your body must follow.
Second Rule: Memory Freezes Time
Memory is how we hold on to the past. This means that a toxic memory is the same as a toxic experience being repeated over and over. Regret, hostility, anxiety, insecurity all depend upon trying to relive the past and change it. There is no life there, even when you dwell on a happy past. Your body wants to be alive here and now.
Third Rule: Aging Is Rooted in Stuckness
Every experience leaves a residue in your cells. That’s because your body’s version of being happy or sad, angry or loving, agitated or at peace comes down to chemistry. Every cell can clear out old experiences as easily as breathing. If you let the old be breathed out, you will be fresh and open to new experiences, which is a perfect definition of being young. Stuckness brings fatigue, staleness, habit, ritual and the repetition of outworn beliefs. When you get unstuck, life flows like water.
Fourth Rule: A River Never Ages
Flow is why a river never ages. Your body is also a river, constantly changing. The direction of change is up to you. As long as you keep growing, change will move forward. As long as there is forward motion, stagnation is impossible.
Fifth Rule: Beyond Time, the Experience of Youth Can Be Eternal
Ultimately, an ageless body depends on a timeless mind. The mystery of immortality can be solved this very minute if you decide to. All it takes is a willingness to find the part of you that is timeless already.
Deepak Chopra is a world-renowned authority in the field of mind-body healing, a best-selling author, and the founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. Heralded by Time Magazine as the “poet-prophet of alternative medicine,” he is also the host of the popular weekly Wellness Radio program on Sirius/XM Stars.
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Thoughts To Live By
November 5, 2009 by Kasey
Filed under Living Life, My Thoughts
Sometimes I find some great information that I feel I just have to share – and this is one of those times!
It seems we’re all looking for “the answers” to life and how to live a better one. I found this article on Oprah.com and thought you would all be interested in it. Some great thoughts on how to live your best life!
1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what.
2. You define your own life. Don’t let other people write your script.
3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.
4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)
5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.
6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.
7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)
8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.
10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.
11. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn’t lie.
12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.
13. Let passion drive your profession.
14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.
15. Love doesn’t hurt. It feels really good.
16. Every day brings a chance to start over.
17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.
18. Doubt means don’t. Don’t move. Don’t answer. Don’t rush forward.
19. When you don’t know what to do, get still. The answer will come.
20. “Trouble don’t last always.” (A line from a Negro spiritual, which calls to mind another favorite: This, too, shall pass.)
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Why Go Organic?
October 29, 2009 by Kasey
Filed under Going Green, Home & Garden
For Your Health!
Organic production helps protect your health, your family’s health and future generations.
For the Planet!
Organic farming never uses toxic pesticides. This helps keep the air you breath, the water you drink and bathe in, and soil where you grow your veggies clean.
It’s Easy!
Almost every food you eat has an affordable organic alternative. There are many non-food products are also being grown organically and locally as well. Visit your farmers market or shop local to see what your town has to offer.
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Keeping Organized AND Green
September 29, 2009 by Kasey
Filed under Going Green, Home & Garden, Organization
If you’re like me, you have a never ending to-do list that seems to be growing by the minute daily. And if you’re like me, you have it scribbled down on a million pieces of paper around the house, on the fridge, in your purse and on your desk.
What? You don’t? You’re more organized than me? NO way!
Well, for those of you that aren’t already organized, try an electronic to-do list. There’s a million ways to do this too..but a couple of examples would be creating a list in your Word program and adding to it daily or actually using a program such as Google Calendar to organize your life. With Google Calendar you can:
1. Share your schedule
Let your co-workers, family, and friends see your calendar, and view schedules that others have shared with you.
2. Get your calendar on the go
With two-way syncing to your mobile phone’s built-in calendar or a mobile version of Google Calendar that’s made for the small screen, you can access your calendar while you’re away from your desk.
3. Never forget another event again
Customizable reminders help you stay on schedule. You can choose to be notified by email or get a text message sent right to your mobile phone.
4. Send invitations and track RSVPs
Invite other people to events on your calendar. Guests can RSVP to your events by email or via Google Calendar.
5. Sync with your desktop applications
Access your calendar however and whenever you want by syncing events with Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal and Mozilla Sunbird.
6. Work offline
Know where you’re supposed to be even when you don’t have internet access. With offline access, you can view a read-only version of your calendar no matter where you are.
AND best of all…IT’S FREE AND GREEN! By not using a million pieces of paper and printing off your endless lists from your computer, you’re saving paper, energy and ink!
GREAT! I’m able to stay organized and not loose my mind when I can’t find that scrap piece of paper with the all important date and time on it AND I’m saving some green by being green! It’s a win/win!
I’m looking forward to utilizing this service more and keeping my life and my family in order in 1 place! I’ll fill you in on how it’s going down the road.
What do you use to keep your life in order???
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Our 1st Family Fall
September 22, 2009 by Kasey
Filed under Family, Family Time
Fall 2007
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Summer Day
August 17, 2009 by Kasey
Filed under Family, Family Time
I know that this is not Wordless Wednesday. But, I’m wondering…could this photo say “Summer” any better?
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