Day 66 - Bless your interruptions as an opportunity to take a deep breath and smile.

We live in a world that is constantly on the go twenty-four-seven. I can never seem to get unconnected, something is always happening, something is always interrupting. When I get to my office in the morning, I have a to-do list that is never ending, and every time I check something off the list, five more tasks are added. On top of everything else, I never seem to accomplish as much as I would like to, because every five minutes there’s someone walking into my office asking for something or just wanting to chat.

Today, I made sure to not to get irritated when someone came in to ask me for something; instead I smiled, took a deep breath and delighted in taking a couple minutes away from  my hectic work day.

What we don’t realize is that it is essential to our health and we deserve to stop, relax, breath, and take just 5 minutes each day to get disconnected; when was the last time you took a time-out (other than sleep) away from the chaotic workplace to gain perspective and clear your mind for 5 minutes? It's completely counterintuitive to set aside time not to do work in order to do more work.

I think the nice side-effect of taking the time to breath is that you are able to control your workday rather than letting the workday control you. By taking the 5 minutes it gives you a chance to disconnect and reboot. There will always be urgent issues to keep you busy, but it’s up to you to let those issues take over your life. Today, bless your interruptions as an opportunity to clear your mind, disconnect and reboot to be more productive; I promise it will leave you feeling better and more efficient. ♥

 

Day 65 - Fill the printer with paper so it won't run out on the next person.

Have you ever had one of those days where everything is going wrong; you spill your coffee on yourself on the way out of the house in the morning, you're running late and traffic is bumper to bumper, you're catching every single red light, you get to the office late and to top it off you go to make copies all the way to the other side of the office to find out that there’s no paper in the printer, making you have to turn around and go all the way back to your desk to get the supply key.

Okay, so maybe this doesn't happen all of the time, but truth is it could happen. Besides, it's nice to have a little bit of office etiquette. So today, I filled the printer up with paper so the next person who uses it doesn't have to worry about it. Maybe it won't make a difference in anyone's day, but, what if it does?

Today while making copies at work, be nice and do the same!(;

 

Day 64 - Pay attention.

My office entrance is a glass entrance with black partitions and our company logo on the glass windows, it isn't hard to notice that it’s there, even on the cleanest-no finger prints day (I’ve attached a picture below so you can see for yourself). On a weekly basis, I can't tell you how many people run into the glass because they are either on their phones, not paying attention, or sadly they are not bright enough to realize that all offices have an entrance and are not just alfresco. Sadly we’ve even had vendors who have been working with us for years, and KNOW that there's a glass there, run into it for lack of paying attention.

It’s pretty funny because above our entrance hallway there’s a camera recording everything, so over the years our security staff have collaborated a video of all the people who have ran into the glass. Let's just say the video is fairly long.

In today's society we are generating and encouraging a culture of distraction where we are gradually disconnected from the people and events around us and gradually unable to engage in long-form thinking. If our brains aren't stimulated we feel anxious; in a psychology article that I read, it points out that by constantly being distracted, "we are losing some very important things; we threaten the key ingredients behind creativity and insight by filling our "gap" time with stimulation. And we inhibit real human connection when we prioritize our phones over the people right in front of us".

As today's deed I decided to look at my phone as least as possible and pay attention to the here and now. I must admit, I caught myself picking it up subconsciously throughout the day (even while driving), and had to remind myself to put it down and pay attention.  During a lunch date with my boyfriend, while waiting for our food instead of making conversation I picked up my phone to play a game, while he sat there staring at me. I rapidly realized what I was doing and put my phone away. Although it was challenging, I completed my deed (for the most part).
  What I gained from this deed seems to be a repetitive message that I've been shown in previous deeds: life is too short to not pay attention to the things that matter most. This is summed up by a movie I saw recently with Adam Sandler called Click. The movie trailer never caught my attention when in theaters but it was playing the other day on TV and since there was nothing better to watch I tuned in. To my surprise the moral of the film really hit home and touched my heart.The message of the movie is that there will come a time in life where you've reached your desired goal after years of long, hard work, and when you do you'll ask yourself, this is it? This is what I worked for all of these years? It is not as sweet as I thought it would be.  That’s because happiness does not reside at the end of your race, it is experienced along the way.

The number of friends that you gain, the special moments in life with people who mean the world to you, the laughter, the people whose hearts you touched, the memories – even the ‘bad’ memories, like the day your daughter or son had a science project which exploded in the kitchen, leaving you furious at them and the mess they caused. All of those moments are what make you look back and smile.

Value your time with the people who mean the most, don’t spend it working to be the most successful or on your phone texting, instead make your race worth it and pay attention. I leave you with this movie clip from Click…..♥♥

Day 63 - Make someone laugh.

It's been proven throughout the years that laughter is in fact the best medicine; it triggers healthy physical changes in the body, strengthens your immune system, and boosts your energy. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens up your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

As my deed of the day, instead of making someone close to me laugh, such as friends, co-workers, or family, I decided to make YOU (my readers) laugh; I figured I'd branch out since the people who are close to me are lucky enough to have my humor as part of their day to day life. Lol.
Okay so I'm actually not that funny when I'm put on the spot so I decided to find 15 pictures that are sure to make you laugh, or atleast smile....
     

 

 

If those pictures didn't make you laugh, click here for some health benefits from laughing. So today, share some laughter with someone else, so that you can both live a longer life! ;)

 



Life is better when you're laughing!♥

Day 62 - Make art.

For as long as I could remember I've wanted to take art classes; I adore art, whether I am looking at it, creating it, or admiring it. My motto is that art heals the heart, it can be any form of art, through drawing, painting, sculpting, it doesn’t matter what kind. Art comes from within you, through creativeness; creativity is an innate human trait. There are no rules to art and the truth is, anyone can be an artist in their own unique way.

One of the items on my New Year's Resolution List for 2013 was to initiate art classes; thankfully I have an amazing little sister who encourages me with everything I want to accomplish, so as a Christmas gift she got me art classes.

Months passed by and I always had an excuse of being “to busy” to make time for the classes but when I saw making art as one of my deeds it finally gave me the push I needed. I began taking the classes last month at an art school called Art Atelier and I am thrilled to say that I am one class away from finishing my very own first art piece. Not only do I look forward to art classes but there is not one thing I could say I dislike about the entire experience.

Painting is like healing therapy to me, it gives me a sense of relaxation, clears my mind, and although the class is usually full of people, I find myself lost in my work as if I am the only one in the room.  Every Wednesday evening that I have attended, I leave class craving more and my creativity is at its highest peak.
   

It has been proven by doctors that creating art can alleviate stress by distracting you from your present situation, completely engaging you causing you to think of just your art and nothing more. It puts you in a meditative state, leaving you much less stressed when you’re done. Just the act of having a hobby can make you feel more balanced in your lifestyle; sometimes with all of life’s responsibilities, we forget that we need and deserve ‘down time’ and self care. Taking even a few minutes on a regular basis to devote to a hobby can give you more of what you need.

Today, put yourself first and make it a priority to make art, whether alone or with a loved one. It can be anything for pottery, to drawing, or even writing. Just a couple of minutes of 'me' time can really make a difference! Need some ideas on how to generate art therapy? Click here. :) 

"When we stop fearing failure, we start being artists." ♥

Day 61 - Send an uplifting note to a friend who might need encouragement.

Life is pretty hard as it is, can you imagine a life with no friends? No one to confide in, to give you a shoulder to cry on, or to listen to you when you just want to vent?  I don't know about you, but my friends mean the world to me, and I'd be pretty lost without them.

Friends give you strength in hard times with words of encouragement, and when I read today's deed, I knew right away precisely which friend I wanted to send a little uplift to. This particular friend of mine is going through a very challenging time due to a bad break-up with a ruthless guy that she was dating; he took her through hell and back and once finished broke her heart to pieces. The following is the note I sent to my friend:

Dear Bestie,

 

I wish you could see yourself the way I see you, and I wish you could love yourself the way I love you. And above all, I wish your life everything you deserve because, in my opinion, you deserve the world. Throughout your life people will make you mad, disrespect you, and treat you bad for no reason. Let God deal with the things they do, because hate in your heart will consume you too.

Sometimes God doesn't give you what you think you want, not because you don't deserve it but because you deserve better. You have to be the strong person that I know you are, and remind yourself of that daily, and I promise you that things will be okay. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but one day (hopefully soon), you’ll look back and see that all of this made you stronger. Remember things changed for a reason, you just have to move on and let go.

Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down. And always trust your instincts… Good relationships feel right. They don’t hurt. They’re not painful. And that’s not just with somebody you want to marry, but it’s with the friends that you choose, it’s the people you surround yourself with. Remember, you were fine your entire life without him, and you’ll be even better after him.

I can’t promise to make you feel better, but I do have the arms to give you a hug, ears to listen to whatever you want to talk about, and a hear that’s aching to see you smile again. Whenever you need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to just be there, you can count on me.

love you,

C.

Challenges and difficulties are a part of life and words of encouragement can often help you get out of distress. Friends can give you strength in hard times, act as a ray of hope in you times of gloominess, and they can help you forget your uncertainties even if it’s just for an hour; they can lift you up just by saying a couple of words or taking the time to write you a small note. Words that come from the bottom of the heart can assure your friend that what she/he is thinking as 'the end' is really not an end but a new beginning.

I’m sure you’ve had friends to help you when times get tough, so today make it a point to send uplifting words of encouragement to a friend in need, call them or write them, even if it’s a quick e-mail or a text message. Be the ray of hope for someone today, it will bring you bliss to know you’ve made a friend feel better!♥  

 

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."♥  

Day 60 - Let it go.

For as long as I could remember I've always been pretty easy going, at all times going with the flow; whatever makes other people happy, in turn makes me happy. My motto has always been, it is what it is, and worrying isn't going to change things so just let it be. When I turned 25 years old I even got a tattoo that reads "let it be" on my left foot, as a tribute to my slogan and my favorite band, The Beatles.

But at the end of the day I am only human and even I have trouble letting things go at times. It’s easier said than done and when I've said I've let things go, I've sometimes lied to myself and kept them, hiding them deep down inside of me, allowing them to effect decisions I make in the future. One of the hardest things to do is just let go, we replay mistakes in our heads over and over, allowing feelings of shame and regret to shape our current lives. We cling to memories and the past, and instead of embracing the future we worry about it. We hold on to stress and collect the tension rather than just breathing and letting things go.

It's nice to stop once in a while and remind yourself to take a deep breath and just let it go!! That's when your eyes are opened and you can see what’s in front of you, learning to embrace the present moment rather than to freak out. So today, I did just that... I am extremely into yoga and meditation and remembered one of my yoga instructors telling us about something called Zen Mind which is the art of letting go. The best way to explain it is, when you simply let go, you attain a peace of mind no matter what chaos is going on around you.

I followed these simple steps and in no time I realized what I have been holding onto, one of the main things is wishing things would always meet the expectations I’ve set for myself and for others, holding onto an ideal or outcome. In reality, these expectations I’ve set control things and the way I feel about things and people; just because one person is a certain way it doesn’t mean the next person will be the same way. Today, after realizing my main issue I let it go, and it really felt good. In conclusion there has to be something that you’ve been holding onto, whether its work related, something and/or someone; stop and take the time to click the link above and I promise your eyes will be opened and once you let go you will feel like an entirely new person. By letting go you’ll release pressure, you’ll release agony, and you’ll release worry, leaving you with yourself and the work you need to do.

I leave you with this... there will never be a time when life is simple. There will always be time to practice accepting that. Every moment is a chance to let go and feel peaceful.♥

"If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace." - Ajahn Chah♥