Morning's Light

Leo of Zen Habits has written a great posting on living in the moment called "A Simple Guide to Being Present for the Overworked and Overwhelmed".

I left a long comment there but realized it should be here instead!

"I agree with you about not agonizing over the past or worrying (more than a few seconds) about the future.

I used to be pretty shy and hesitant, and if I’d done or said something embarrassing, I’d relive the moment, over and over…..and would sometimes remember it at 2 AM, blush and throw my covers over my head to hide from it all. Then it occurred to me, yes, I had an embarrassing moment, but the cashier who saw me trip and knock over a pile of boxes in the store is not staying awake at 2 AM, thinking about that customer who tripped and fell at the store that day. It made me smile and also eased the embarrassment. Was a turning point for me.

I also used to experience a lot of anxiety about the future. Always had something I was worried about and was at a loss if I wasn’t worried. Then I read somewhere about how the body reacts to anxiety as if an emergency really was occurring – and produces adrenaline – but since there is no emergency, the adrenaline isn’t needed but its effects on the body are not good.

I began to realize that worrying about everything that could happen doesn’t help me….and that I need to wait until a real emergency occurs and then trust that I’m strong enough to make the right decision at the right time.

This has helped me in my family as well. For instance, my mom lives in a retirement community and has had my brother and his wife and young children staying there for a month during a transition in their lives. My mom is quite worried about what the neighbors will think, and she’s experiencing a lot of stress about it. I asked her if there is a real emergency … “Have the neighbors knocked on your door, asking what the situation is with your family and why people under the age of 55 are living in this community?” She realized that there was no critical situation at the moment (thus no need to worry) and that she’d be able to handle it gracefully if a confrontation did occur. Plus… people will always think something. Life is too short to worry about what people may or may not be thinking.

Leo, I really appreciate this posting and the reminders to live in the moment. Not just reminders, but actual steps I can take. Thank you!"

~ Sunny

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }

Cloneburgers won’t come with warnings, originally uploaded by Solitaire Miles.

“I’m a happy Wisconsin cow but tomorrow may not be so happy. A snowstorm is on its way and by tomorrow afternoon, there will be 14 inches of snow. Ohhhh wait, with that much snow, I can create dozens of snow-cow-angels. woo hoo!! BRING IT ON!!”

On Friday night, as the four kids in Carol & Kent’s household + their daughter’s guest would take control of my camera and take dozens of photos and movie clips, the camera was often put in front of my face….. they discovered a previously unrealized quirk of mine – that I say "hey, how’s it goin’" to random things as a way to simultaneously recognize and dismiss the item.

• During a conversation with Carol, one of the kids would put the camera in my face.  Without breaking off the conversation with Carol, I’d glance at the camera, say "how’s it goin’" and go back to the conversation.
• One of the two dogs would step on my foot, and I’d glance over and say "how’s it goin’" then go back to whatever I was doing.
• I was running errands on Saturday and a vehicle got too close to my car..and my response was a quick "hey, how’s it goin’" before returning my attention to the road.
• Saturday morning, I stumble into the bathroom to brush my teeth and attempt to wake up, and I catch a glimpse of myself  and mutter "how’s it goin’" before I walk away from the mirror while brushing my teeth.

Yes, I walk around my apartment while brushing my teeth because I don’t want to stand and stare at my reflection.  Apart from leaving a trail of toothpaste drool in my wake, it turns out there’s a term for this:  Toothbrush Wanderer.   I like that.  It sounds better than "Avoiding the Mirror Because Who Wants to Stare at Herself Foaming at the Mouth for the 90 Seconds It Takes to Brush Her Teeth Girl".

I am a toothbrush wanderer.

I AM a toothbrush wanderer!

I am a TOOTHBRUSH wanderer!!

I am a toothbrush WANDERER!!!

It is "Crepe Day" according to Beatrice Peltre of la tartine gourmande, so that is what I’m having for breakfast! My dad’s family is Swedish, so he’d make Swedish pancakes for the family on special mornings.  Thus I am thrilled that there’s an official day to consume crepes as they’re quite tasty and it brings back great memories!