Do you stop to smell the Roses?

What a beautiful Sunday here at the end of September we are having in the Midwest. I am hoping and praying for a wonderful Indian summer this fall. Fall is my favorite with the colors changing, humidity gone, and slowing down of life. It is preparing us for our hibernating time this winter.

School is going well for me and time seems to be flying by. I have registered for my next two courses already. I am enjoying my contented days I am having while they are here. It is natural to have some chaotic days from time to time, but we must stop to smell the roses when it is present in our lives. Do you?

When life seems to slow down and seems to be going well does this inspire to you stop and smell the roses or panic waiting for the other shoe to drop? I think we all have experienced both of these scenarios many times in our lives. Sometimes the ‘slowing’ down of life triggers us to look for the bad and try to head it off at the pass. Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you go looking for trouble you will find it or you will create it?” Doesn’t this saying speak volumes when we apply it to our lives? Do we enjoy a good day when it is here? Does the good day have different faces on it that make you worry? For instance, boredom, worry, fearful of missing something, fearing what is coming next…there can be more. Do you find it hard to be alone with you?

This is where we hear our inner voice loud and clear when life is not trying to drown it out. If you have trouble just sitting in a quiet day, is your inner voice making you uncomfortable? You are not alone if you answered yes to any or all of these questions. This is where journaling with your self-talk workbook can assist you to Stop and smell the Roses!

I hope you will stop and notice when you are having a good day. This is the time for enjoying the hard work of life and time to relax. If you wish for some more peace deep down inside this is where Pocket of Pearls can help you find that strong inner voice that fuels you daily. Next time you are finding a peaceful day, ask yourself how you are going to enjoy it. Life can get crazy in a flash and it will again. This is where one day at a time comes in. In addition, we must Stop to smell the Roses every chance we get. This part is what nourishes our soul.

Have a great Sunday!

Love,

Merna

Surviving vs. Thriving

Hello everyone!

I have been looking forward to posting this week since I missed last week. I am starting to put together a fall and winter schedule for my workshops so I feel charged again! School is going very well and already in my 3 week of this new term. Psychology is my major and it completely fascinates me! It just draws me in; I cannot explain it better than that.

The topic that I wanted to talk about was surviving vs. thriving. What are you living? Surviving is living a day-to-day ‘OK’ existence. Thriving = passion and you know what it feels like in every cell of your body. Everyone experiences tough times in life, sometimes more than others do. However, it is not a competition it is about surviving and thriving within your personal life. After all, you are the one that lives with self 24/7, so you had better be in love with it.

We had a local high school student become injured in the football game a week ago. He has a spinal cord injury and it is frightening. We are fortunate to live so close to the best medical system on this planet – The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn. He was air lifted there the night of the injury and has had two surgeries since.

He has a long road ahead of him, but there are many signs of his strong drive to not only survive, but to thrive again and walk. The community out pour is unreal. A CaringBridge blog was set up for him and has almost 20,000 hits. People from other towns and states that heard of this tragic injury stopped by to send him and his family a note of support during this rough road. We live in the very small town of 2500 people, his parents grew up with my sister, and they remain close.

However, there is a lot to be said for the love within a small community. When tragedies happen, everyone steps up and wants to help. It gives me goose bumps when I think of it. Midwesterner's know how to stick together and hold up the ones in need, without strings! So here’s sending more prayers for him and his family to thrive once again. Believe me they will! It does not mean you won’t stumble and fall, while leaning on others because you will. It is part of the process or journey to get through tough times. Reaching out for help when needed is tough for many, but is necessary when times are tough. Their son sounds relentless in his goals and that is what it takes to thrive. Envisioning your goal and the how’s will show up for you, one day at a time.

Doesn’t it make you sit back and look at your life? What is important? Do we see what is important or do we focus on the outside appearance more than we should? This very instance shows how our soul is what really matters. Living, loving, and thriving are the goals we should have.

I had a life changing health issue in 1995 that left me with some limitations physically, but I am still alive and best yet, thriving once again. The community came together for me after my near tragic experience when a serious infection almost took my life. The doctors at Mayo did not believe I would live, but I did. It changed my life in so many ways. Each of my workbooks will tell you another part of me and how I got through rough times to not only survive, but to thrive again. Many times in my life, I knew I would survive, but little did I know that I would love and thrive again.

I leave you with these thoughts today in hopes of lighting a fire under your butt if you feel stuck in a rut, passionless, and/or dreamless. Starting today, you have the opportunity to flip that switch to change the tracks of your life. It starts with the core of you. Pocket of Pearls will start you on that journey.

Send your prayers to T.O. and his family…. They need all they can get right now and they are working. The power of prayer is incredible… I am living proof of that. It is the only reason I am here….and my stubbornness… :)

Have a faaaantastic weekend!

Merna