Words to Live By

"Routine is progression's arch enemy."

-Jay McCauley, 01/31/2010

Happy to be...

I've really been trying to prioritize my time lately, hence my lack of blogging over the last week. Over the past 6 months impermanence has really sunk in with me. Life is so uncertain. Lately I've been focusing on spending more time with friends and loved ones, less time online, growing my mind by reading more books, focusing on my fitness level, and simply having a quiet mind. Sometimes it's nice to just be...

Are you listening?

I once heard someone say that one of the best ways to show respect to others is to listen with your full attention. There are many different types of listeners: some who listen with their full attention, some listen without interrupting but while trying to think of what to say next, some who interrupt someone who is talking with their opinions about what the person is saying, some who are selective listeners (only hearing what they want to hear or care about), and some who don't listen at all.

To be a good listener, give the person who is talking to you your full attention. It's okay to relate to people and talk about yourselves, too. This is how conversations are made, of course. But try not to make everything that the person is saying all about you. For instance, if someone tells you, "I got a new dog," show your excitement for that person's situation and truly listen to what they are saying, before you immediately start talking about your dog, why you don't like a certain kind of dog, what you think about their situation, etc.

It's especially important to be a good listener when a friend is going through a hard time or confiding in you. You could potentially push friends away if you are constantly interrupting or making the situation all about yourself when someone is talking to you. After all, we have two ears and one mouth for a reason, right?

Words to Live By

"It's possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is, while a man with two watches is never quite sure."
-Lee Segall

America is a great country. The land of opportunity; a wealthy, privalaged nation. It's easy to get caught up in the consumerism mind-set that many Americans have. I find myself browsing online shopping sites, toying with the idea of buying home decor items, and coveting a fancy new moisture-wicking yoga shirt that I can't afford in the first place. Why do we really need it all? It's not to say that we don't need new clothes every now and again to replace worn ones, or that we can't treat ourselves to something we want after working hard for the money we have, or that our houses should be plain and ugly. But do we really need all the STUFF? Really?

I have so much gratitude in my heart for the "things" in my life. I have everything I need to survive: clothes, food, water, shelter, medicine. Anything above and beyond that are "things" that I don't need to justify a happy life. Yes, I have a monster television, a nice bed, pretty candle decorations and such around my house, one too many pairs of my favorite Gap jeans. And I don't feel guilty for having them. But over the last several months, I have been trying to whittle down the "junk" and just appreciate what I do have without adding more to it or feeling frustrated by not being able to afford to buy more things that I didn't really need in the first place.

If you know me, you may or may not know that my "little" brother is in the ARMY, currently serving overseas with fellow American heroes. He is an inspiration to me every single day, and I couldn't be prouder of him. One day last year, I found myself jabbering about something that I was thinking of buying, and not in a malicious or hurtful way he said, "Everything I have in the world right now is in the trunk of my car." We started talking about it, and he said how refreshing it was to not have to deal with... STUFF! He's happy with what he has, and it's all he needs for the situation he's in right now. But I so understand what he meant. As long as we are healthy, have food, shelter, and medicine, what else to we really need?

Words to Live By

"If you are going through hell, keep going."
-Winston Churchill

We all go through hard times, have bad days, and feel stuck in a bad situation. Try to stay focused on the fact that everything in life is impermanent, including life itself. Don't get stuck in a negative rut. Hone in on the positive things in each moment, and always keep moving forward.