All of us are subject to change. It's one of the laws of nature. Some change we drive...some change drives us. I find it difficult to deal with change I didn't initiate. But, much of the time that unsought change benefits me as much or more than change I bring into my life.
How a person deals with change can say a lot about them. Most days I'm afraid my dealings with change probably don't have very nice things to say about me. Change is just one of those stressors in life we have little control over. I'm not telling you to "embrace change"...not being of a hugger and all. But, learn to be patient with yourself and realize this just might not be the time to fight.
We've all heard how to deal with stress. I need to hear it as much as anyone, so I'm going to tell you again.
- Breathe
- Exercise - Especially when you don't feel like it.
- Eat right - Whatever that might mean for you. For me, it means no wheat, very little sugar and carbs, and plenty of protein and good fats.
- Get an appropriate amount of sleep - Too much is just as bad as too little.
- Find things or people or places that bring joy and happiness into your life.
- And, finally, learn to love yourself, accept yourself, and strive for reasonable expectations in your self-growth.
So, it this post about change or stress? For me this year, they've pretty much been one and the same. I'm thinking a few of you might be able to relate.
I'm grateful for where I am, but look forward to moving on...even if that means more change and in the process more stress!
I'm afraid I may have turned into one of those people...yes that kind...the kind that dresses their dog up. In my defense, it isn't about fashion, it's about her being 10lbs and not having a lot of hair. She gets cold. And, she loves her jackets! Okay, now that that's out in the open...we had a great day yesterday.
If you're like me, you've been having a little difficulty with the change of seasons. I love the leaves, but the cold and damp is an adjustment. In order to deal with this, it's best to get out and enjoy our state. So, Andrew and I took Bailey to Opal Creek. It's on both of our Top 5 Places in Oregon lists and we love it up there. Bailey thought it was pretty great too! The quality of the photos below are not so great...it was drizzling and I didn't want to use my good camera so we used our cell phones.
As we go into the wet season, I hope you too can get out and enjoy our state. Just get some warm clothes and rain gear. You'll be fine!
Looking at ways to simplify my life has been a very important part of my journey to health. Typically, we might look at getting rid of clutter, making wise money management decisions, reducing activities, etc. But sometimes it can be difficult to make a decision on what would simplify our lives. There is a great way to look at this...and I didn't think it up. I read about it in a free e-book by Leo Babauta at Zen Habits.
It goes something along the lines of, "What are four to five essentials in your life?" Once you have these essentials, you can begin to prioritize activities, objects, etc. If at any point you are doing something that doesn't fit into one of your essentials, you have an opportunity to re-vist your essentials and evaluate whether you need to re-think that activity or change your essentials. I first made my list of essentials over a year ago, and so far, I haven't changed my essentials...I have, however, changed my activities! Listed below are my four essentials...what are yours?
Fresh and Feisty's Four Essentials:
- My health
- My husband
- Photography
- Meaningful contact with friends and family
