It’s more about managing your attention than managing your time…….

The new year is just the right time to pay attention to what you think about and where your focus rests.  You know you are on the right path when what you are doing feels too good to be true.

Your present moment is so much, the minutes and hours pass so quickly. When you are following that route of doing what you enjoy, savoring all the good things, being with supportive people, your body and mind work so well and you feel your best.

A new year is just the time to clean out closets, cupboards, friendship and activities. What feels like the “best you”?  Taking walks, holding hands, creating something that is new, listening to favorite music — the list is endless.

To get to that point, we need to follow Marie Kondo’s advice about simplifying.  If it doesn’t nourish and fill up your spirit, this is the time to “let it go.”  Experiment: If you let go of something, and a week goes by and you don’t miss it, you don’t need it anymore.

Simplify—let go—simplify—let go—simplify—let go.

When someone tells you it can’t be done, it’s more a sign of their limitations, not yours……

IT’S “MY” 30 SECONDS

My friend Peter Alsop, a tender caregiver, taught me to put my hand on my chest 3 times a day, take a deep breath and say – “it’s my 30 seconds” and breathe in the message and exhale slowly.

Yesterday was a harried day for me, and in the midst, I lost my favorite and cherished Jackie O sunglasses. I have treasured them for years.  I was deservedly fraught and several friends and I scoured offices, cars, and driveways to no avail.  About 20 minutes later, riding home, I put my hand on my chest to breathe and to center myself…..and there they were. The bow was neatly tucked into my sweater.

No one looking had seen them. We were all so busy with trying to solve the problem, we missed the obvious.  Stress does reduce awareness and we all learned just how distracting stress can be.

“Calmness is the cradle of power.” ~Josiah Gilbert Holland

BROKEN CRAYONS STILL COLOR

Think of your “in person” connections and your social media personal interactions of choice.  It behooves each of us to ask who and how many people do we let into our daily lives.

No one is an island and no one has enough time.  As I value each article of clothing, each paper I hold and save and each tangible object I save, I also weigh and value different relationships.

My wellness mentor reminds me that I can’t safely absorb all the friendships and connections that are in life – how do I filter and choose?  It is important to my health (spiritually, mentally, and emotionally).  I try to fill up on sunshine, good music, good radio, veggies, and joyful and real friendships. We can feel broken, but meaningful relationships help us feel more together.

BE EXTREMELY SELECTIVE ABOUT WHAT YOU ALLOW INTO YOUR ENVIRONMENT…

“Your central nervous system was never meant to process all the bad news from around the world — set to dramatic music on the evening news.  Being choosy about what you let into your life is a skill that’s acquired over time.”