Enjoying Everyday Life – Page 3

The Power Of Wow! Be Amazed Every Day!

The Power Of Wow! Be Amazed Every Day!

The Easter season and the beauty of spring seems to beg for us to truly be amazed by all that this wonderful world has to offer. One of the last pieces of advice my dad gave me before he left this mortal life was to always look around me and find something to be in awe of each day…the power of wow, he liked to call it.

The Power of Wow! Be Amazed Every Day

As grown-ups, we may not experience the innocent delight and awe of a child discovering nature for the first time, but we can certainly open up our hearts and be filled with the wonder and happiness that can be experienced when we take the opportunity to be amazed by the incredible gifts that are ours to enjoy–simply because of our existence here on earth!

The Power Of Wow! Be Amazed Everyday!

“Give each day the chance to become the most beautiful of your life!” Mark Twain

Being More Mindful!

In trying harder to live each day with a more mindful approach, I’m reminded of a neat plaque that hung in the play area of a pediatric unit where I used to work:

“Be sure to explore the world with a fresh curiosity!”

Would you be surprised to learn that amazement is an instant stress reliever? Dr. Rick Hanson of Psychology Today, even goes so far as to say that, “being amazed brings you into an enlightened relationship with the inherent mysteries and astounding bounties of the world you live in.” We can often become preoccupied with our daily obligations, but I’ve found that the chance to be amazed is more likely to happen when I remember to allow myself the luxury of being wowed by the neat surprises that each day has to offer…when I do this–I feel energized and more grateful!

The Power Of Wow! Be amazed Every Day!

Today Is A Wonderful Gift!

I know that when I live more present-minded, I’m less likely to get stuck in my head–instead, I tend to focus more on savoring life and the people and things that make each day a wonderful gift. Michael Kernis, a psychology professor at the University of Georgia, asserts that “when people are more mindful, they’re more likely to experience themselves as part of a greater good; it heightens their instincts and they are able to let go and focus more on the things that matter most.” Living more mindfully doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn from the past and the life lessons that have made us stronger and helped shape who we are…I also believe in setting goals and having strategies in place to help us plan for the future so we can take advantage of every opportunity to build a more meaningful life.

Learn from the past, plan for the future but live for today!

“The past is behind us, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here. Live it!” Thomas S. Monson

A Few Things Thant Amaze Me!

I’m amazed…when I see the world through the beautiful eyes of my grandchildren; it gives me hope in the future of this sometimes crazy world!

Seeing the world through a child's eyes!

“There’s a certain joy and wonder everywhere about you, when you see the world through a child’s eyes.” Katrina Mayer

I’m amazed…by the arrival of each season–but spring is my favorite!

Be amazed!

“Spring brings out our optimism!” Susan Bissonette

I’m amazed…by the talent and passion of people who take pride in their craft!

Be amazed!

“A good chef is like a sorceress who serves up magic and happiness!” Elsa Schiaparelli

(If possible, take the opportunity to sit where the chef’s prepare your food at your favorite restaurant…and be amazed! My husband and I like to do this at The Copper Onion in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.)

I’m amazed…and my spirits are lifted by a beautiful sunset when I leave work after a long, busy shift at the hospital!

Be amazed!

“At the end of the day, before you close your eyes…be content with what you’ve done and proud of who you are.” Tribute Journal

Mostly I’m amazed…at God’s love and His kind hand in my life!

Have a beautiful life.

“When you rush through life…it becomes a race, but when you cherish each moment…it becomes a beautiful journey!” Apoovre Debey

Please share how you stay amazed with the world around you?

–Love, Mary

Lessons Learned!

Lessons Learned!

As I get another year older…I’m so grateful that my parents were such good examples of teaching me how to love life in all its various stages.

Life Lessons Learned! Embrace the current season of your life quote.

We’ve all heard the saying, “with age comes wisdom” –however, I suppose that we have to be willing to learn in order to gain that wisdom!

Being An Avid Learner!

Celebrating another birthday seems like as good a time as any to reflect on a few of the life lessons I’ve learned over the years…although I hope to be an avid learner in the school of life, so to speak, for many years to come!

• Small daily habits are important. As a nurse, I often see people who don’t feel well because they haven’t taken very good care of themselves. Sure, we all get sick once in a while, but if there is one life lesson I’ve learned that seems to compromise the outcome of other great lessons to be learned in this life, it’s taking our health for granted. It’s never too late to make it a daily habit to look forward to each new day, pray, exercise, eat fresh food, brush our teeth and be more aware of all the little things that can help inspire us to live better! Life Lessons Learned. Aristotle quote. • Be stronger than yesterday. My parents grew up in what has been coined as “the greatest generation”—having persevered during the tumultuous times marked by the historic economic downfall of the stock market in the 1930’s, followed by World War II. At every turn in their lives, they taught me that personal duty, integrity and faith should be the defining characteristics in how I face challenges in my life. My mom always had a quiet dignity about her, but she was fierce in teaching her children that every day was a good day to be stronger and make a difference!

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• Change is inevitable. When we hear this cliché, it seems to imply something bad…but if there’s one life lesson that is a persistent teacher, it’s that life is change! Change can become one of our greatest life lessons and allows for the most personal growth if we allow ourselves the permission to step outside our comfort zone and learn from it. As I’ve embraced change and impermanence in my life, surprisingly I have found more inner peace and contentment. In fact, on those occasions when it seems my life has hit a plateau, so to speak, whether it’s in my relationships, my job, my health…I try to change things up a bit to keep things fresh and even a little unpredictable.

Life Lessons Learned! Change is inevitable.

• Deliberately choose the people you spend the most time with. If we spend time with people who bring out our best personality traits, but at the same time challenge our fears and insecurities, chances are we’ll become the best version of ourselves. Sometimes people come into our lives at a crucial time because something in us wants to learn–and they too want to learn from us…and a lovely friendship is formed. I’m so grateful for all the incredible people in my life who love me unconditionally and teach me wonderful life lessons through their examples so that I can continue to cultivate my true potential!

Life Lessons Learned! Surround ourself with good people!

• Trust your heart. I have found that if we stay true to ourselves, our hearts will never guide us wrong. Throughout my life, I’ve often felt the pull between what other people think I should do (or what the accepted standard is) and what my heart discreetly and sincerely tries to tell me is right. The world likes to bombard us with big promises, glorified acclamations and even false adulation, resulting in our egos getting in the way of what we know, deep down, is in our best interest. Call it intuition or a small inner voice, it is essential for us to take a step back from our busy lives once in awhile, so we can honor our true feelings and trust that our hearts will help us make the decisions that will bring us genuine and lasting happiness. Like anything else, this takes time and practice, but the reward for doing so will ultimately be what defines our personal legacy!

Life Lesson Learned! Trust your heart.

And finally, a few other important lessons I’m always trying to learn better…

Life Lessons Learned!

I’d love to know what life lesson or advice has helped you most in your life?

–Mary

My Funny Valentine!

My Funny Valentine!

I think we’ve all had those moments when we get lost in a romantic best seller or a sweet love story that unfolds in the latest “chic flick” …you know, the ones, where responsibilities are thrown to the wind, and spontaneous adventures, beautiful flowers and whispered sweet nothings abound! Then all too quickly, reality comes back into focus and we return to our daily routines where nothing it seems, is ever very glamorous and the sometimes quirky, less amorous ways that our partners show they love us don’t quite measure up to our romantic expectations. That being said…I’ve decided that the month dedicated to celebrating love seemed like a good time for being more appreciative of the “real” romance and often unconventional ways of my loving husband…my fun and funny Valentine!

My Funny Valentine!

“Real love is when reality is better than your dreams!” Tribute Journal

The Fun Love Of My Funny Valentine!

♥ My funny Valentine does housework!

Forget rose petals scattered all over our bed or a love note written on a steamy mirror…more often than not, one of the ways my husband shows me he loves me is by cranking up his favorite country music and helping me make our house a clean and comfortable home…and as an added bonus, he makes it all so darn much fun. In my opinion, there’s nothing quite so wonderful (and sexy) as a man who shares the household chores! It’s the kind and helpful gestures of our partners that truly shows their sincere devotion and appreciation of the relationships we share with them!

My Funny Valentine!

“The key to a happy marriage…is to work hard to make it happen!” Kelly Hoppen

♥ My funny Valentine is my biggest cheerleader! (Minus the pom poms.)

My husband believes in me! He is my biggest cheerleader, not in a rah-rah, showy fashion where he lavishes me with all the desires of my heart, but in the ways of a man who can put his ego in check and selflessly offer quiet support that tells me he has my back and believes that I can accomplish anything I set my mind on doing. When I’m busy fulfilling an obligation or working on a project, he’s happy to help out by working his magic with his power tools, running errands or simply bringing me a cold diet coke or a quick bite to eat. During those times when I overcommit and spread myself a bit to thin, so to speak, this dear man has learned to lovingly offer pep talks and humor to rally my spirits and help me set realistic boundaries for my time and energy. That, my friends, is true love!

My Funny Valentine!

“Motivate and support your partner. You are both a work in progress…so grow and build together.” LiveLifeHappy.com

♥ My funny Valentine doesn’t text!

Yes, my husband has a cell phone with all the bells and whistles, and believe me he couldn’t live without it! With a career as a financial consultant, he is constantly getting updates on the stock market and the state of the economy so he can be informed and call his clients when necessary…but if I need to get in touch with him, my texts usually just go the way of any other data debris sent out into the universe! My “old-school” sweetheart recently told me that texting seemed like such a sad alternative to actually hearing my voice and having a real conversation. (Awww!) I have to admit, you can cover a lot more ground in a short phone call–and a few sweet nothings can be shared, as well! Our high-tech habits may not always be the best choice when it comes to building our relationships!

My Funny Valentine! “One of the most important things about communication in marriage…is hearing what isn’t being said!” Peter Drucker

♥ My funny Valentine wears rose-colored glasses!

It’s easy to become disenchanted with our partners as the evolution of marriage takes place…what once seemed like effortless passion is replaced with the reality of jobs, bills and kids. Some things your spouse does that once seemed so charming can become an irritating annoyance…am I right? Well, lucky for me, my husband dedicated himself long ago to this wild and crazy journey we embarked on, by always seeing the positive aspects of being together and embracing the changes that have taken place over time in our marriage. I think we’ve both learned through the years, that love is a special gift that grows only when we give it to one another unconditionally! It’s wonderful to have someone by our sides who looks at us and truly believes that we have gotten better as time goes on! John Lubbock quote. In all likelihood, I probably won’t be sitting down to a romantic, candlelit dinner with soft music playing in the background come Valentine’s Day, but it’s sure to be a fun and festive celebration with my funny Valentine, all the same!

My Funny Valentine!

“My funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine, you make me smile with all my heart…!” from the lyrics to My Funny Valentine by Lorenz Hart

Also…since we’ll be celebrating another year of “wedded bliss” next week, I just wanted to give a shout out to this guy and thank him for the delightful life we have together!

The New York City Marathon! www.mytributejournal.com