Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (Simple Way #3)

**************Everything within the quotation marks is from the book pictured here.

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"Simple way #3: Let Go of the Idea that Gentle, Relaxed People Can't be Superachievers.

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One of the major reasons so many of us remain hurried, frightened, and competitive, and continue to live life as if it were one giant emergency, is our fear that if we were to become more peaceful and loving, we would suddenly stop achieving our goals. We would become lazy and apathetic.

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You can put this fear to rest by realizing that the opposite is actually true. Fearful, frantic thinking takes an enormous amount of energy and drains the creativity and motivation from our lives. When you are fearful or frantic, you literally immobilize yourself from your greatest potential, not to mention enjoyment. Any success that you do have is despite your fear, not because of it.

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I have had the good fortune to surround myself with some very relaxed, peaceful, and loving people. Some of these people are best-selling authors, loving parents, counselors, computer experts, and chief executive officers. All of them are fulfilled in what they do and are very proficient at their given skills.

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I have learned the important lesson: When you have what you want (inner peace), you are less distracted by your wants, needs, desires, and concerns. It's thus easier to concentrate, focus, achieve your goals, and to give back to others."

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Shaddy speaks: For me NOT to be hurried, fearful, competitive, frantic (all of these lurking stealthily under my calm demeanor) is nearly unimaginable. Whenever I catch myself entangled in these emotions, I try to calm myself. Often, the peace remains with me for maybe a minute or two before I grip up again.

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Being uptight is natural for me. I'm always looking at the clock, defying time to advance. Why is that? Because I feel compelled to be doing something all of the time.

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I think my tendency is genetic. I think I could change into a more relaxed person, if I really wanted to. I know that I should slow down for health related reasons, but, I'm so used to the feeling of being energized by rushing that I'm somewhat addicted to it.

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How about you? Are you naturally hyped up or mellow?

Caution: Extremely Boring

**************I don't know what's gotten into me lately, but I have this urge to post something to my blog nearly every day. The problem is I don't have anything of value to post.

I'm stubborn by nature so here I am with no ideas, only the need to show up. I'm going to get up and go do something else for a little while and see if an idea comes to me.
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I'm back. How about a sketch of a typical weekday in my life? Just say "yes" or "no." Of course, you're saying "no" but I'm going to pretend you said "yes."

7:00AM After arguing with myself for at least half an hour, I drag myself out of bed.

I turn on the radio in the bathroom and hop in the shower.

I wish I didn't have to go to work.

I put on some makeup and spend as little time on my hair as possible.

I dress in clothes I picked out the night before.

I drink a large glass of water with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.

I pack a thermos of coffee from a pot Lon made and a jug of water in my work tote bag.

7:52A I pick up my tote bag and hop in the truck.

I wish I didn't have to go to work.

8:00A I arrive at work.

I pour myself a cup of coffee.

I look at the clock, wishing it said 1:00PM, time for my one-hour break.

I tend to my dental office manager responsibilities.

I graze throughout the day on food stashed in one of my desk drawers.

I wish I didn't have to work.

I reach for a second Kashi Trail Mix bar but then remember I want to get skinny.

Whenever I can, I check my blog and read my fellow bloggers' posts.

1:00P I leave the office for my midday break.

I run errands or go to the library (5 minutes away) to read.

2:00P Back to work.

I wish I didn't have to work.

I look at the clock every fifteen minutes, wishing it said 5:00PM.

I take the office deposit to the bank.

I peek at my blog at every opportunity.

I smile and try to be pleasant as patients come and go.

I'm less patient with certain patients than I used to be.
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5:00P I pick up my tote bag and head for the door.
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I'm smiling and happy with no effort.
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5:10 I pour myself a glass of red wine for medicinal purposes of course.
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Lon and I fix and eat supper.
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I pick out my clothes for the next day.
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I spend time on my laptop.

My resistance is down this late in the day, so I sneak a snack.
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I put my feet up and enjoy reading a book.
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10:00 Off to bed I go.

I frequently wake up Lon with my snoring.

Thanks for sharing my day with me. If you are still here to read this last line, you're a die-hard fan and I appreciate that more than you know.

Treating My Tastebuds

Lon told me this morning that he probably won't be home for supper this evening so I picked up a dinner-to-go for myself at Atlanta Bread during my lunch break. I ordered half a Salsa Fresca Salmon Salad (grilled wild Alaskan salmon filet on romaine and field greens with fire-roasted black bean and corn salsa and pineapple-mango vinaigrette) and half a Veggie Sandwich (lettuce, tomato, provolone, cucumber, red onion and dill sauce on nine grain bread). Does that sound good or what!

Thus, as I write this while at work (trust me, all of my work is done for the day), my dinner is waiting for me in a brown paper bag on the backseat of my truck. When I arrive at home after work, I'll belly up to our pub table and relish my ready-to-eat meal. I'm expecting both the salad and sandwich to be delicious and oh-so nutritious to boot.

It's 4:15, so I've less than an hour to go before I scoot out the door from work. In five minutes, I'll be home and tending to my growling stomach. If I can control my appetite, I'll snap a picture or two of what will soon disappear.

You're probably wondering why I think this is blog-worthy. Well, it's like this. Lon's tastebuds and mine sing to the tune of differing foods. He wouldn't enjoy this particularmy meal so it's a treat for me to do my own thing. His schedule is mostly unpredictable, so I won't be surprised if he comes waltzing in the door just as I take my first bite! If he does, I'm prepared to simply smile sweetly and say, "So sorry, Charlie."

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News Flash: It's 6:15 and my plate is clean. To my great delight, I wasn't walked in on while I devoured my tasty salad and yummy sandwich. I'd like to eat Atlanta Bread's cuisine regularly.

Come On Down

Other than being a non-demanding month after the madness of November and December and also being my birthday month, January is the pits. Here in Wisconsin, the weather can get you down. The sun packs her bags and leaves for weeks at a time. Everywhere I look, the snow has lost its bright white color and its sparkle and has deteriorated to a dingy layer soiled with dirt and grime with wide stretches of dead grass joining in the dismal scene.

Now that we're both down in the pits, how do we get out?

Help! Help!

An Easy Way to "Read"

*************I've been listening to the audio version of Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence. During my twenty minute drives to and from NorthPointe four times a week, I'm making good use of my otherwise dull driving time.

The Beloit Public Library has a huge selection of audio books. I'm looking forward to experiencing a goodly number of them this year while I'm en route to NorthPointe and wherever else I drive. With so many wonderful audio books sitting on the library shelves just waiting for listeners, I'm thankful for this golden opportunity to take advantage of them.

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Do you listen to audio books? Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Age of Innocence is an excellent book and it's audio version is read extremely well by Dick Hill.

Birthdays Are A Laugh!

After a certain age, like around 39, birthdays are much easier to cope with if taken with several strong doses of humor. If we're to age gracefully, we absolutely MUST make it a laughing matter.

There's something else I'd like to make perfectly clear. I may be aging, but I don't have old-age wrinkles, most certainly not. They're good old-fashioned laugh lines.

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I got a kick out of these birthday cards that I received this year. I hope you do too.

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(Are you a Jane Austen fan? If so, check out my previous blog post).

Attention Jane Austen Fans

*************PBS is featuring a Masterpiece Classic all-new Jane Austen miniseries. The matchmaking begins with "Emma" to be shown on Jan. 24th, Jan. 31st and Feb. 7th at 9/8c; "Northanger Abbey" on Feb. 14th at 9/8c; and "Persuasion" on Feb. 21st at 9/8c.

I learned of this miniseries when I passed the information desk at the library yesterday. I helped myself to one of a large stack of bookmarks available for library customers promoting these upcoming presentations.

I will definitely be tuning in to PBS to enjoy seeing these books written by Jane Austen brought to life. How about you?

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(Interested in Jane Austen's book, "Pride and Prejudice"? If so, see my previous blog post).