This is a quote from Sara Avant Stover's book, The Book of She. I have found it invaluable this week. Saying this as an affirmation is truly transformative. Any negative thoughts or attitude that might be less than stellar can absolutely be turned around with a little creative thinking. Sounds like "base metal to gold" to me!
We don't need to know exactly how. All we need to do is hold this intention. Spirit, the unconscious mind, a higher power, (whatever your belief is) takes over and our focus is left on the opportunity for wisdom and love contained in the same circumstance that we could have stewed about for days. WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT? I have to keep it moving in a positive way. There is absolutely no time to waste on things like second guessing, worry, guilt or the like.
I blinked open my eyes to find some baby things missing from the room. Russ must've taken them in the night to sooth a crying baby. The house was quiet. I reached for my phone to see the time - or maybe because the alarm on it went off. Notifications from Facebook and Twitter were the first things I saw. Oh, that's nice - a blog retweet. Then I checked the news to learn that we may still face nuclear war. Great. Then there were a couple of new texts from a conversation I was having the night before. Although the phone was in silent mode, I could see there was an incoming local call. I answered and spoke softly so as not to wake up the baby. I still didn't know the time.
The guy at the car dealership service department apologized for waking me up.
"No, I'm just trying not to wake up the baby."
It turned out that after four new tires, new brakes and a new taillight the cost would be in the neighborhood of twelve hundred dollars. (I had dropped off the car the night before to get an oil change.) I could pick up the car after 1PM. "And the oil change is free because I'm spending so much money." I helped the service guy finish his thought.
"No, but the tire rotation is, since we don't have to still do that," he replied with a chuckle. "That will save twenty-five dollars." How is that saving any... my thought trailed off as I decided to take the fake twenty-five dollar bonus and run.
"Thanks!" I responded as if he were doing me some kind of favor by not charging me for work they weren't actually going to do anyway. #whatishappening ?
Soured, I hung up and replied to the texts from the night before, which were from a rant about how big businesses are eating up small mom and pop stores and THAT'S why we shouldn't buy extra large Christmas gift bags on clearance from the big franchise store (whose name I'm not going to mention here). Isn't it bad enough that the local church has become an antique store? Are we going to shop there too? Maybe the row that I sat in for my grandmother's funeral is having a sale on old rusty trowels. (I continued the rant from the previous night.) #rantlayover. Is that a thing?
I finally realized the time - 8AM. I had just spent twelve hundred dollars and spread a rant to three other people (one in California who would wake up to it) before 8AM. Three other people, in addition to myself, might have a sucky day as a result. At that point I could easily have gone on Facebook and found two hundred more things to complain about. I realized that I'd better get up, go outside and hug a tree to stop the madness (because THAT'S not mad at all). It didn't seem like I could have stopped the flow of that chain of events as they occurred. The car would've still needed those repairs and I would've woken to that reality no matter what. Right? Like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, I tried replaying the whole sequence of events differently. What if...
The phone was in the other room. I woke to the sound of my traditional alarm clock and stayed in bed, silently meditating and centering myself in a place of gratitude (like the book I am currently reading suggests). Just ten minutes of silent gratitude put me in a chipper mood. I happily answered the phone when the car guy called. Grateful that they'd discovered my severe need for brakes and tires, I was glad that the work was being done. I was happy that someone else found some extra large Christmas gift bags on sale and congratulated them on the find. I spread a spirit of love to three other people first thing in the morning and God only knows how that may have affected their day. I smiled all the way to the car dealership where the guy really did give me a free oil change because my energy made him smile too. I felt so good about how the day was going, I stopped to buy a lottery ticket. I might have even won!!!
Yes. I'm buying an alarm clock like the book I'm reading said to do.
This is why the rules for using a Time-Turner are so important. (If you are not a Harry Potter fan, you might not get this reference.) One little change, like using a traditional alarm clock, could alter the whole course of history! I wonder if our world leaders use one. How do I want to change the whole course of history???!!!
I returned to my phone to find a new text. Apparently, the local mom and pop store doesn't sell jumbo Christmas gift bags, so I should "get over it." #TakingResponsibilityForThePathIChose - LOL
Namaste,
T
P.S.
Here's a song for #musicmonday. Why THIS song? Because when we were in church this Sunday, and Zach started getting restless and fidgety, and I had already handed him everything I could think of to keep him busy and finally handed him my phone to keep him occupied for just a couple more minutes while the congregation was finishing up quiet prayer, THIS is the song that he managed to get Siri to play even though my phone was muted and locked AND THEN I couldn't make it shut off. I finally handed it to Russ who eventually silenced it. #goodtimes. Have a great week everyone! xoxo
Last week there was a condescending doctor, a gym alarm and a Bills playoff game.
First of all - I'm fine. The doctor was not my regular one. My own doctor was out on emergency leave when it was time for my follow-up appointment, and I had to see someone else who I found to be rude and dismissive. My inner self was quieted by my need to get through it - and that SUCKS beyond words. I actually stifled my urge to tell her off, then cried about THAT. In hindsight, I am glad that I wasn't reactive though because now I can tell her off calmly and intelligently. I would not have communicated effectively if I had just lashed out in the heat of the moment. When I Googled the subject, several good articles came up about how to best deal with that kind of situation. Apparently, many people (even other physicians) have had to deal with doctors with an attitude. I WILL voice my opinion to the powers that be at that office. Meanwhile, here are some articles on the subject:
At the gym, I was just wondering if I should head home or continue stretching when the siren started going off. It's amazing how many people continued their workout despite the alarm. After gathering my things and heading to the front door, I saw what the problem was...
A burst pipe had created a waterfall blocking the entrance (or exit). The firetruck was on its way and the alarm could not be shut off until they arrived. I wondered what Dave (recently deceased head of personal trainers) would've said about all that. Moments before the burst, I had whispered to him under my breath, "I miss you Dave." #Interesting
I headed home in time to shower, put a pizza in the oven and turn on the Bills game. (What do you want from me??? I'm not IN Buffalo and can't order my favorite pizza and wings - lol.)
Even though we suffered a disappointing loss, the game brought my spirits back up to where they belong. I was texting other Bills fans from coast to coast as the game played out. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat were filled with fellow Bills fans as well. Fun continued as Zachary and I played the role of football fanatics (until he conked out on me), much to the amusement of Russ and others. It was a very engaging game. There's nothing like a sense of unity and community to lift your spirits. Even when we lost - commiseration could easily be found along with humorous anecdotes. #ThanksBuffalo #ThanksBills #Buffalove
This week the plan is to just keep going! I'm heading back to the gym and keeping it moving.
Love...
It's almost midnight! Somebody get this chocolate away from me! #NewYears #PutDownTheChocolate
These were my frantic thoughts as I tried to piece together ideas for the new year. Then I remembered last night. I had insisted on reading a little bit before bed. I had time for only one sentence.
That's it. #KeepItSimple. I'm leaving the idea of resolutions behind this year and going with that simple truth. Live each day the way I want to live my life. Here we go 2018! Let's do this.
Happy New Year everyone. xo
Namaste,
T
Happy New Year Russ! - He's in London with Nile Rodgers & Chic
