Chillax!

Why are we always in such a hurry?  What does it really benefit us?  We need to learn to slooooowwww down and chillax a bit. I personally learned that there are a whole lot more benefits to that.  

I am married to my complete opposite. My husband goes by the philosophy that if you are not early, you're late.  I tend to wait til the last minute for anything, thinking I am utilizing every minute up until the time to leave but always seem to run behind and have to play catch up.   I have always felt bad because it seems that I am constantly telling my kids, "Hurry up we're late."   I try to catch myself but am not always successful.

One day I was near tears because I had waited too long before taking the kids to their sports practice. On the way out the door I remembered I had forgotten to make our lunches so ran back in and was frantically doing that. My youngest son calmly came up to me and said, "You're a good mom."  That was all I needed to help me breathe that day.  I realized that I wasn't invisible and he acknowledged the things I was doing. We were late but we got there safely. My boys are usually who have to pay for my lateness. They would have to pay for my lateness with pushups at their karate class. I felt terrible.  

I then went to a women's retreat and the speaker said we can be addicted to many things.  We can even be addicted to hurriedness. That's where I was at!  I decided to begin a self implemented hurriedness recovery program. 

It worked!!  I started making sure that first thing in the morning all of my stuff was prepared and ready for me to walk out the door when the time came. This meant that I was able to leave even on schedule and not have to run back for ten forgotten items.   I have always had to make lists or nothing would get done.   All of a sudden I realized I was not having to depend on my list.   I was able to think clearer.  It was amazing! I was calmer inside. In fact I calmly got inside my car one day and easily organized my things. My youngest asked me, "How ya feelin' Mama?"

"I am mellow like jallelo," I said softly. "I am really loving this new thing I'm doing. I think I'm cured." 

So there really are benefits to slowing down. It will help your relationships, your schedule and your sanity. Enjoy your life , don't hurry through it!

I have something to say

I am really enjoying doing this blog. It gives me a chance to play around with different attitudes and a variety of topics. I have had a hard time getting the hang of some social media sites.  I love Facebook and can jot some things down although I know if it gets too long people won't read it. I have managed, however, to keep most things short and to the point.

Twitter is a ridiculous option for me; 140 characters including spaces?! Are they kidding me? I am a writer. I can't limit anything to 140 characters. I have had to use it because one person I kept in contact with was only on Twitter. But when I would have something to say to her, I would have to use up three personal tweets to get the full message to her! 

There are days that I don't have time to sit down and write in any new project I am doing (because once I get going, there is no stopping me and then I am there for three hours or more). So blogging has been the perfect little daily exercise for my mind and writing. It makes me feel that I still had some 'me time' getting to do something I love and that I had an accomplished day.

So there, my day is complete. Hope your day was too!

Where is my Ginkgo Biloba?

I call baloney on the article that told me that doing crossword puzzles would improve my memory since it is a mind-exercising activity.   I have invested much money into the games magazines, doing word searches, crosswords, pencil pointers (my favorite).  I look ridiculous at night because instead of using a reading lamp, I attach a headlamp to my head so that I can do my puzzles til all hours of the night without waking my husband.   My children have mocked my silly appearance, but I am exercising my brain and it is worth looking a little funny if it means my memory will be spot on.

My mom used to tease me for always having a crossword book in my hands. I said, "Mock away, but when I'm old and snuggled into my nice warm bed, don't come crying to me when you are out wandering the streets not being able to remember where your house is because you never exercised your brain."

Well it hasn't worked at all! My husband knows that when I leave the house to go to town that I will come back into the house no less than three times to retrieve things I forgot.  Routine has me coming back once for my phone, once for my purse, once for keys and then extra times if I am to bring other things to town with me, like my children.  No, actually, it is my children whose memories I borrow.   Also, they have learned to try to ask me before we walk out the door, "Mom, do you have your phone? Keys? Purse?"  My husband used to laugh at me out loud. Now he just smiles and doesn't say a word.

There are many other things I am beginning to forget. I think many times I am just afraid I will forget so I will repeat myself. Yesterday, I asked my son if he had his cell phone. My husband said, "Do you realize that you have asked that same thing three times now?"  I get so frustrated with myself.

The one thing that drives me insane is that I lose things constantly. I could be sitting in the chair with a pen in my hand, and before I know it I have lost the pen. My husband refuses to even loan me his pens anymore.  In fact, I've taken so many of his pens and then lost them that every holiday I get him a new pack of pens.

Stealing pens has proved to be embarrassing for me at one point.  I was at the church with one of the girls from youth group and she picked up a pen off the pastor's desk and said, "Well, this is interesting.  On the side of this pen it says 'This pen has been stolen from A Plus Awards'." Busted. A stolen pen on the pastor's desk. I started laughing and said, "I probably stole it when I went in and asked for a donation for the Relay for Life!"  Oh brother.  

So, I completely disagree with the statement that crosswords improve your memory.  I will continue to do them because I enjoy them but I will not become dependent on them.  Utilize this information and hide your pens when I come near.  Have a great week!