I’m going to start by saying that I’m a bit scattered in my thoughts this week. 2022 has had an emotional start for many close to me and it got me thinking about life and what is important. With that, I am telling you to use your good china every day!
Stop saving things for a “special occasion”
How many times have you either said or heard the words “I’m saving it for a special occasion”? It seems that we hear, too often, that someone has suddenly gotten ill or passed away unexpectedly. I’m here to tell you that EVERY DAY is a special occasion. Every day that you open your eyes in the morning and take a breath is a special occasion! I don’t want to sound morbid but the truth is we don’t know how much time we have on this planet, there is no clock displayed over our heads to let us know how much longer we have, we need to treat each and every day as a gift and use “the good china” because today is a special occasion.
Prioritize people not things
I am a big believer in investing in memories, not things. The time we spend with each other is another special occasion. The dusting can wait, organizing your closet can wait. If you are invited to spend time with a friend or with family, put the other things aside and enjoy the time you spend with the people in your life. Take a moment to write a card to someone you haven’t been in touch with in a while, or better yet, pick up the phone and say hello. Go on that family vacation you’ve always wanted to go on, stop saying “someday I want to…”. Today is someday.
Out with the negative and in with the positive
We all have things in our lives that we have to deal with even though they are not pleasant. When faced with a choice, ask yourself what will make you happy. While there is always more that you can do, take a moment to ensure it is something you want to do, something that will bring you joy. It’s okay to say no to doing something that does not bring you joy, it’s okay to say no to something that takes you away from loved ones, it’s okay to be a bit selfish with your time. In the end, the more you do that makes you happy the better you will feel and you are likely to have less stress in your life. We are overworked, over scheduled, and often under happy.
Stop saying “I’ll start tomorrow”
It wouldn’t be my health and wellness newsletter if I didn’t mention exercising and making healthy choices in the kitchen. Have you started exercising? Are you eating healthier? What are you waiting for? If you are waiting for the “right time” the right time is NOW. As we age our bodies naturally lose muscle and if we don’t continue to move our joints and muscles it will cause us to slow down and we won’t be able to do the things that bring us joy. Remember Newton’s first law of Motion: an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion. By keeping yourself moving and using some resistance while exercising you can potentially slow down the effects of aging. Remember, every day is a special occasion. It’s time to take care of yourself now so you can continue to do things that bring you joy.
Make the most of each and every day you are given, and cherish the memories you make. Be healthy BEFORE you NEED to be healthy so you can have more tomorrows with the ones you love.