Friday, July 27, 2012

Live and Learn

 When we were at our absolute worst and Avi was originally in the hospital, life was so out of control and unstable. We didn't know if we were coming or going. I remember the strangest thing happened, we were driving, and the clouds had never looked so puffy and white, the sky - so blue, the trees quite so green. I could hear the birds chirping...my senses so heightened. For the life of me, I couldn't understand. I have always taken notice of nature, the mountains, the moon, the stars, the wind, the lake, animals, the world around me, but at such a time, shouldn't everything have seemed dead

I was grasping, grasping to whatever beauty I could. And I still do to this day. I think it's about taking notice in whatever simple, everyday things you find interesting or intriguing. Things that captivate your soul. Things that, when you see them, stir your spirit and make you feel alive. Whatever these things are, that make you feel at peace and bring you a sense of calm, I say...do it, see it, or be it!

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When things are good, and we are having an amazing time, I try to be fully mindful in those moments. Like a bloodthirsty mosquito, I suck every ounce of our time and bottle it up. I make sure to save it all up, and take it all out again to help carry me through the not so good times. 

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Be present with yourself and others. If you're there, try and be fully there.

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Life is too short to let people continuously hurt you. For some strange reason, family seems to think they have a free ride on this one? So decide if those certain people are hurting you more than helping, and make a decision accordingly. If they are leaning far more on the hurting side, maybe one day they can learn to treat you respectfully and re-enter your life again. If not, they don't deserve to be a part of your life anyway.

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On any given day, think about the energy you have, as it changes daily. Try to visit sad, trying or difficult decisions in times when your spirits are higher. Try not to spend too much energy in the future, or on things you can't change or have no control over.

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Always remember ~ what works, and is good for you, is not necessarily good for everyone.

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This accident has truly opened our family's eyes to the pain of so many in our community, and around the world. Everyone, to some degree, is touched by hurt of some sort whether it be an accident, illness, death, infidelity, infertility, unemployment, deployment, mental illness, rape, divorce, and much, much, more. We all wander this earth daily - some scars are in plain sight, and some are hidden deep within. Either way - it's important to slow down and be kinder than necessary.

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In that very same vein, but on the antithesis, in regard to these various battles we all fight - they are never a good enough reason to treat others horribly, hatefully, or with rudeness and disrespect (that is unless someone deserves it, or has it coming ; ). No one needs or deserves that in their lives, whether while roaming around in public, or within their own family.

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Take risks, they have a way of making you feel most alive.

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Are your end of life affairs in order? Are your wishes known?

You like how this one was after the one before?

There are no coincidences in this life ; )

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You are what you say you are. Listen carefully to your inner and outer voices, and words. Check the broken records you have on repeat every once in a while. Are they still accurate? Do they need to be re-evaluated? Maybe, just maybe, you are missing out on something you might now like, because you're telling yourself you don't like it. 

I'm famous for previously doing that ; )

Yep, I'll admit it, I'm a recovering broken record!

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If you're in a predicament, or a place you're currently not too wild about...always remember ~
This too shall pass! It always does. It's truly a beautiful saying, one of my personal favorites : )

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Be as honest with yourself as possible. The only person your hurting by not, is yourself.

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Objectively evaluate yourself from time to time, make positive changes accordingly.

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You can't take it with you, so you may as well enjoy it.

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Don't wait until tomorrow, do it today!
Plan and book that trip.
Take a day off work for no reason.
Buy that gift you've always wanted to buy him.
Take your kids to wherever it is you want to take them.
Gather the family, make the time capsule, and bury it.
Get the shoes you've been eyeballing the last 4 times at the mall, will it matter in 2 years? NO!
Don't put it off, adopt a dog.
Just do it.
Do it all.
Now.

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Now. Now. Now. 
As that is the only moment we truly have.

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Someone, somewhere, always has it worse than you, so as bad as you think you have it - always be thankful for your own personal journey.
You are blessed.

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Laugh. 
Always laugh. 
Be silly. 
Never take yourself too serious. 
For this is what has gotten us through best of all. 

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Enjoy every single moment of your life and every single person in your life, hold them close to you and your heart, because in the blink of an eye, it can all be over. Never hesitate to tell them how much you love them and how much they mean to you!

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What are your best life lessons?


5 comments:

  1. My Mum taught me two very important lessons when I was a young teenager. I didn't fully get them at the time, but as you live and learn it makes sense. This is what she told me;
    1. To never regret anything, because you can't change the past.
    2. Nobody proimsed you an easy ride in life.
    Two very simple lessons that have helped immensely, I'll never forget it.

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  2. superb post...I wholeheartedly agree with the family-oriented one. It is incredibly hard to limit a family member's access to your life (emotionally hard) but sometimes very necessary. We have and are doing this. It hurts a lot. Even though I am not the one who is causing the need for the separation...

    Life Lesson? Keep an axe in your pocket because there might be a mountain that needs worked through that you did not even see coming.

    Luv ya,
    Andrea

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  3. Great post - I struggle with and ponder many of the same things.

    My best life lesson?
    1. Life is now.

    I used to watch the Sunday services replayed on TV from a church in New Orleans. Sometimes during the sermon the pastor would look at his watch and say "What time is it?" then in unison the congregation would say "now". Then if he didn't think they said it loud enough he'd look at his watch again and say "What time is it?" then they'd yell "NOW". I don't know why but that has stuck with me.

    2. There is very little in my life that I can control.

    3. Keep it real with those I can trust and love me. Buried feelings turn toxic eventually, let the poison out when I can.

    4. Don't use drugstore boxed hair color. Go to a professional!

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  4. Good post. :) let's see...never trust someone who lies to you, never lie to someone who trusts you. Worrying will not change the future but will rob you of the present. We have more options then we think we do.
    Best to you & your family.

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  5. Yesterday is a memory.....Tomorrow is a mystery
    LIVE IN THE NOW

    the GOLDEN RULE.....do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

    if you can't say something nice - don't say anything at all

    LIVING is LEARNING....when you stop learning you are no longer alive

    ALMOST only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades

    the only two things you can count on in life is DEATH & TAXES ....beyond that the world is your oyster explore it....live it.....love it.

    friends are families of our choosing -- CHOOSE WISELY

    ReplyDelete