"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!"
Barbara Johnson
I read that unfiinished tasks tend to cause more stress than projects we haven't started. This made so much sense that I decided to finish all of the unfinished tasks around my house, one at a time. I started with the unfinished bottle of wine in my refrigerator. I feel much better already!
Yesterday a friend told me that her Christmas tree is decorated, her Christmas cards have been sent, most of the shopping is done and the gifts are wrapped. Since I have barely had time to buy my cards, for just a moment I really felt inept. My oldest sister is a perfectionist so it surprised me when she said that she doesn't worry too much about the holidays being picture perfect anymore. She said that "The imperfections of the day is what makes it special."
I have to agree. A perfect memory is created by an unique experience causing that particular window of time to stand out from the rest. My best memories are of times when things were not as organized or didn't go as planned.
I have to agree. A perfect memory is created by an unique experience causing that particular window of time to stand out from the rest. My best memories are of times when things were not as organized or didn't go as planned.
One of my favorite memories is a trip to Sedona to see the Christmas lights at Poco Diablo Resort. We met my sister and brother in law, my neice,her husband, and their children at our favorite restaurant for dinner. My brother in law has a big heart but he is a 'take charge kind of guy' ...even when he should let someone else take charge. After dinner, we walked down the hill to the resort. Since it was cold, my neice and her husband decided to load the children into their Ford Explorer and drive them down the hill. It was very busy and when my brother in law spotted an empty parking space being vacated near the entrance, he ran over, stood in the space, and refused to allow anyone else to park there. When he saw the Ford Explorer pull into the parking lot he waived his arms signalling dramatically for the vehicle to pull into the space. Then he ran back and forth to stop all other cars while directing the Ford Explorer into the tight parking spot. Once he was satisfied that the car was parked he gave a big thumbs up and turned to us and said,"Now THAT is how it is done." About this time my niece and her family came walking from the other side of the parking lot (where they had to park because someone was stopping all of the traffic in that parking aisle) as a complete stranger and his family stepped out the the Ford Explorer and said "Gee, Thanks Mister. That was so nice of you!" The look on my brother in law's face was priceless!
"If we treat every problem as though it were a life or death decision, we will face death many times."
Barbara Johnson
Feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't finish everything I want to do is pointless. I have household tasks that need to be done but I am grateful that I have a house. My job is demanding but I am grateful that I have a job. There are presents to buy and limited time to shop but I am so grateful that I have special people in my life to buy presents for and money to purchse them.
About fifteen years ago I heard a motivational speaker talk about stress. He said that "A lump in your oatmeal is an inconvenience. A lump in your breast is a problem. Unfortunately, many people are unable to distinguish the difference and react to each one in the same way."
When our focus is on what we don't have, we fail to appreciate our blessings. Abraham Lincoln said "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Life will never go as planned, it is all about living and loving well. The decorations are merely a disposable detail. My difficult schedule is an inconvenience, not a problem. Christmas is not about the Christmas trees, the decorations, or even the gifts. Christmas is about the people in our lives and about loving others. My wish is that this holiday season will be filled with wonderful surprises and that I can focus on my blessings and the memories to be made.
"Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape."
Unknown
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