Posts made in November, 2009

Grateful, thankful, very much abliged

Posted by admin on Nov 18, 2009 in happiness | 2 comments

I simply love autumn. It kicks off with tailgate parties and homecoming buzz. Then carries on to Halloween costumes. A splash of birthday in the middle, then followed up by Thanksgiving. And as we all know, giving thanks is my little secret to having peace. Since I’m leaving to Prague this weekend, I wanted to get a jump on things and list all most of the things I’m grateful for.

• All the amazing success I enjoyed this past year. But more so to all of you for helping me get there.
• The incredible weather this November. Keep the sunny days coming. As a farmer’s daughter, I know each hour is much appreciated.
• My good health and the health of my family and friends. Thank you for my running, yoga and mediation addictions.
• Food and my stomach and a roof over my head. And to Houndstooth for making it so smashing. You girls are magic.
• All the travels we enjoyed this year. They have been few but absolutely precious. Bring on Prague baby!
• The overwhelming flood of opportunity. This next year may be my most successful yet. (I plan to say that every year, by the way)
• My friends old and new. They’ve been my crutch and my inspiration. I can’t believe the incredible people who come into my life.
• My husband’s unending support. Don’t plan to get sappy here, but I have to say that guy has some incredible patience.
• The opportunity to work from home. It was a rocky start finding my routine, but now I’m in my groove making it happen.
• Clean air. Clean water.
• Finding a great stylist who’s affordable, always has time, and gives me an amazing do in 15 minutes.
• Starting my first garden this year. A little too much kale, but hey, it’s good for the innards.
• Getting to an age where I really know what I want. Now if I can just find the voice to say it.
• Everyone who found or kept employment this year.
• The people who dedicate their lives to peace, helping others, and our environment.

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” – Meister Eckhart

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are. Peace.

Secret to Treating Sleep Problems

Posted by admin on Nov 10, 2009 in health | 1 comment

It was 2:00am when my brother rang me to tell me Dad passed away. I was already half-awake — I just zombie walked a trip to the loo. Colin answered the phone and when he said it was my brother, my first thought was that they had their baby a few weeks early. But the look on his face when he handed me the phone quickly told me otherwise.

I more or less had sleep problems since then. Sometimes they would go away, but for the most part I would wake up at 2:00am on the dot. I tried all sorts of things. We got a new bed, no luck. I quit caffeine which seemed to help some. I began to wear eye blinds and ear plugs. I kept a Gratitude Journal. That helped.

A friend of mine who has also been battling sleep problems recently posted on Facebook that her journaling has cured her for three days straight. Every night or morning, whichever you prefer, you write down everything that riddles you in the night. And go deep to the route of the cause. Why is it bothering you? Is there something deeper? Get it all out and on paper.

I haven’t tried the journaling yet because miraculously these last few weeks my sleep has been better than ever. By 9pm I can’t keep my eyes open any longer and I’m zonked out with lucid filled dreams until 7am. A solid ten hours. I even ditched the ear plugs. Part of me doesn’t like admitting this because it’s sort of up there with people who brag about eating anything they want and not gaining an ounce.

I have my recent job change to thank. I started working from home a few weeks ago. I have a lovely office with big windows overlooking our street below. I get to see suburbia life at it’s fullest – delivery trucks, lawn services, dog walkers. But most of all I get daylight. Something I didn’t have a lick of for years in cublicle-land. It’s amazing how much my body responds to natural sunlight.

My 2:00am What-if’s may return and if they do, I have a pen and notebook waiting to fight them off! I leave you now with a poem that would rumble through my head during those early waking hours.

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I’m dumb in school?
Whatif they’ve closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there’s poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don’t grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won’t bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don’t grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!