You are richer than you think

Why do we have a tendency to complain about the negative issues in our lives rather than using that energy to focus on the positive? Sometimes, it seems to me, that we are the cause of our own unhappiness.

We have to remember, that everything we want in life, is not a need, but more a want, a desire and while it is wonderful to get what we want, it is not the end all and be all of our lives, if we don’t.

I met up with a friend over coffee recently and listened patiently while she lamented about everything that was wrong with her life.

She hated her job, she felt unappreciated at home, she felt fat and ugly and she wished she had more money to fulfill her desires.

I looked at her in disbelief and simply said:

“You are richer than you think!”

“Haven’t you heard a word I just said?”

“Oh I heard every word it’s just that I don’t understand what you are talking about!”

Her shocked expression was priceless and taking advantage of her silence I continued,

“Have you ever stopped and counted all the things that are good in your life?”

“Nothing is!”

Ignoring her comment, I continued, “you have a job, yes, you don’t like it, but it helps pays the bills, until you find something better. You have a family, children who are in school and doing well, a roof over your head, a warm bed at night, food to eat, good health, friends and a reasonable social life – does that not count for anything?”

“Well, I guess so, but most people have that too,” she jumped in.

“Don’t take these things for granted or compare your life to others. In fact, if you look around you, there are many who don’t even have half of what you have, while there are others, who have more than you do, but focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have!

Many of us are like my friend. Our wants are more than our needs and while there is nothing wrong with wanting and wishing for more, let it not be at the cost of appreciating what we already have.

Just because you don’t see the forest for the trees, does not mean it doesn’t exist. It does, but we are too blinded to see it.

We all have so much to be grateful for, with or without the rose-tinted glasses and yes, we are all richer than we think!

Running out of excuses….

My mirror is far from being my best friend these days. While I don’t expect to have an hour glass figure (although that would be ideal), who am I kidding. Seriously though, it drives me crazy when the bulges stare back at me, a clear indication that healthy eating is not part of my lifestyle anymore and has long left the building!

So what’s my excuse?  There are several, infact.

 “I am exhausted when I get back from work,”, “I have to cook and have no time or ‘I just don’t feel like it.”

While the excuses are genuine, they are rather lame and I berate myself many a time too, with endless conversations rattling through my head.

“Listen Missy, that butt of yours is not pretty, you need to work it.”

“I know, I know, but wait…it’s not all that bad….”

“Well, there is nothing good about it either.”

“Hmm…crunches tomorrow, for sure….and just to show how serious I am…I will make it 200 crunches.”

Tomorrow never comes, no wait, there is always tomorrow, but then promises are meant to be broken, so I procrastinate until I reach frustration point again and all hell breaks loose.

It brings out the crazy side of me, as I watch every morsel I put into my mouth, I exercise till my body begs for mercy and I am on a roll.

Ofcourse the first couple of days are sheer torture, as my body is sore and probably in a state of shock after the onslaught, until slowly but surely, I am not huffing and puffing, I have more stamina and I feel so energized, I cant believe it!

Victory is bitter sweet, as my clothes fit better, people notice the changes and that makes it all worthwhile, but the urge to indulge, lurks dangerously close.

Once again, the conversations in my head are going a mile a minute and driving me crazy.

“I am craving chocolate cake”

“I really shouldn’t, after all the hard work…

“But I deserve a treat.

“Well…your butt finally looks decent…...”

Decent? Well then….

That’s when temptation overrides will power and it wins over all logic. I reach out for the slice of chocolate cake, almost tasting its richness, even before I’ve put it in my mouth and realise how bland life can be, without some sweetness in it.

Overall though, I feel wonderful although I am still prone to giving in to indulgence now and again. But I would like to think that I am more in control and balance it out, which means if I overdo the calorie intake, I make sure I burn it.

There I times though I avoid eating the calorie laden delights, because it is not worth having to work so hard afterwards, to ensure it doesn’t find permanent refuge on my body!

For now though, let’s just take one day at a time.

Is age just a number?

It happens to all of us now and again. We forget to get a job done, misplace keys or an important document and can’t remember where we last kept it.

I have, in the last couple of weeks been guilty of such intricacies and to add insult to injury, my husband jokingly commented that it was a sign of growing old.

That to me is a joke in bad taste and he should just count his lucky stars that he is still in one piece and breathing.

On the flipside, year after year, age catches up with all of us. It is all very well to say that age is but a number and you are as young or as old as you feel, but seriously who are we kidding.

True, you can act young, wear fancy clothes, resort to endless Botox sessions to hide the wrinkles and cover fine lines with clever make-up. How natural would that look? While you may fool yourself into looking young, is the body just as willing? After all, while you shouldn’t neglect yourself, you don’t need to go overboard either!

Try all you want, you can’t fight the course of nature. While the vitamin intake, the exercise routine and the conscious food choices will definitely go a long way in keeping you healthy, yet as you grow older, the changes in your body and your mind are inevitable.

For one, your metabolism slows down, your days of wining, dining and partying till the wee hours and the running around you managed 10 years ago without falling apart, is now history. For some, their reflexes slow down, they tire easily, they may not be as alert as they were, but there is nothing wrong with that.

The bottom line is that trying to fight Time is a losing battle. Instead, work with it and accept the changes graciously, because every age has its own beauty and elegance.

How do you want to be remembered?

Many people I know fear the thought of dying, while for others it is more about having to face the pain of losing a loved one.

A friend of mine has included in her Will, that she wants no tears or speeches at her funeral. She wants people wearing bright colors, to dance to loud joyous music, which she hopes to hear, from wherever she is.

In essence, she wants it to be an unforgettable party, with food and drinks galore, as a celebration of her life and the person she was, because that is the kind of person she is.

She loves life, despite the upheavals and the endless challenges that it throws her way and her unwavering Faith helps her maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity.

She is one of the happiest people I know, who simply does the best she can and then leaves everything in God's Hands.

Her philosophy is simple: When I go Home to my Maker, isn’t that reason to celebrate?

So ….. how would you want to be remembered?