One of the magical things about decluttering is that it forces you to ask a wonderful question:
What is important to me in my life?
As you tackle a pile of clothes, a cluttered countertop, a shelf overflowing with books, there’s no way to get rid of clutter without answering that question.
I have come to enjoy wine and craft cocktails, and we love the social aspect of our neighborhood bars, where we know people.
But it’s time to cut down on booze to try to get my blood pressure back where it belongs.
I love salt. Given the choice between chocolate and French fries, I’ll have fries in my mouth when I answer. I have suggested that a salt lick on a necklace, like the candy necklaces of my childhood, would be an excellent invention.
But higher blood pressure points to the need to step away from the shaker.
In a few areas, it’s either-or — I love clothes and jewelry like Debbie and I take pride in my career like my mom — but I find the blends even more interesting. Like my mom, I value punctuality and find it rude when people are late, but like my stepmom, I get that life’s messy and some rules are meant to be broken.
Imagine a coach talking to a losing team in the locker room at halftime. Is it more motivating if he says, “You’re a bunch of no-talent losers and it’s no wonder you’re getting killed out there!” or “I know you can win this, so let’s turn it around and show them what you’re made of!”
We’ve taken extended trips to New Orleans and San Francisco. We also lived in New York for a month before ultimately moving.
Because so many people have asked how we’re able to pick up and live elsewhere for a few weeks, I’m starting work on an e-book answering that question.
I’ve had two recent moments when inspiring ideas surprised me.
First, during a reiki session, I saw colors, then the interior design of an e-book I want to write.
Then while watching opera, the concept “elasticity of joy” popped into my head.
John and I spent part of our autumn vacation giving retirement a test drive.
Vacation is typically synonymous with the “not working” part of retiring, so what was noteworthy was staying in a Santa Fe retirement community with our neighbor, Charles.
In the final chapter of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra suggests asking yourself:
1. If money was of no concern, what would I do?
2. How am I best suited to serve humanity?
I would rather have the kind of home where people have a good time, without fear of ruining overly precious belongings because gravity can be a challenge and we all have accidents, than to protect purchases in their pristine condition.
Inside Out and Mama Gena gave me timely reminders that the whole range of human emotions is valid. Even at holiday time.
Deepak Chopra talks about the value of flexibility in the sixth spiritual law, detachment.
“This doesn’t mean you give up your intention to create your desire, you don’t give up the intention and you don’t give up the desire, you give up your attachment to the result.”
Once I stopped coloring my hair, I began to understand I was defying the cultural expectation that we not age, like Peter Pan, and that challenging social norms is unnerving to some.
“People don’t learn from experiences, they learn from the reflection on their experiences.”
Recently when I was meditating with my eyes closed in a dark room, I saw a white light that got brighter and brighter. Eventually it felt like I was staring at the sun.
Looking at this make-believe light prompted an insight: So many people describe seeing a bright white light when they’re dying because it’s the first time they stopped to notice it. That light is always there, trying to glow into our lives, but we’re too busy with our distractions and pursuits to notice.
“Attention energizes and intention transforms,” Deepak Chopra says in this chapter about intention and desire. “Whatever you put your attention on will grow stronger in your life. Whatever you take your attention away from will whither, disintegrate and disappear.”
According to Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, “The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”
After hosting a goal-setting session for about a dozen women, with career coach Lauree Ostrofsky facilitating, my heart feels full recalling the enthusiastic support these ladies gave each other all day.
When you’re in sync with the power of the universe, you can achieve your goals with surprising ease.
Nan Sanders Pokerwinski weighs the winter options: Stay in and make progress on projects she’s been itching to get into or go enjoy activities with friends?
Deepak Chopra tells us that everything that is happening in this moment is the result of the choices we’ve made in the past.
Deepak Chopra says giving and receiving are part of the same action. If you want to receive more, you have to give more.
I used to think, as many people do, that if we’re unhappy with ourselves, we’ll be driven to get better. And if we were all of a sudden content with ourselves, we’d stop doing anything.
I no longer believe this.
Seven Spiritual Laws has been such a touchstone for me that I’m going to recap each of these laws over the coming weeks. The first law is pure potentiality.
How can you prioritize making and maintaining friendships? Is there something you’re doing that you could ditch to make room for friendships, or could you make better use of downtime? Can you combine socializing with something else that’s already on your calendar?
