INSPIRATIONS: STOP DOING – START BEING
If you’re like most women, your to-do list should be written on a roll of paper towels so there’s enough room for everything you try to do every day. But no matter how many things you check off the list, some of the most important things – being kinder, being braver, being more creative – can be overlooked. Notice that word: Being. Maybe what you need is a list to help you be who you want to be, both for yourself and others.
From A to Z, resolve that from now on you will be…
Appreciative. Send a thank you card to someone you appreciate having in your life, from family members to the beautician who understands your cowlick. Thanking someone every day will help you focus on just how much you have to appreciate.
Brave. Name your biggest fear. Is it public speaking? Having a baby? Take one small step toward doing the thing you fear. Sign up for Toastmasters International just to watch, baby-sit for a friend. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face.”
Creative. Any place that makes you say “ooh” and “aah” – an art museum, the ballet – is a good place to get a creativity makeover. And if you feel inspired to try your hand at something creative right after your visit, go for it!
Delightful. Compliment all the people with whom you interact today. It doesn’t matter whether you praise their wardrobe or the excellent job they did parallel parking. Everyone enjoys a sincere compliment.
Exuberant. Buy a few lighthearted rubber stamps you can use on envelopes you send out. My collection includes one that says, “Good friends are God’s way of apologizing for relatives.” People look forward to getting mail from me just to see what I’ve stamped on the envelope.
Forgiving. Forgive one person for something he or she did to you in the past. You’ll feel a whole lot better. Why? Because forgiveness is about changing your heart, not his. For info on International Forgiveness Day visit www.forgivenessday.org.
Grateful. Have a gratitude contest. Give family members a pen and piece of paper, and challenge them to write down the things for which they’re grateful. The one with the most items gets a box of thank you cards to thank everyone on her list.
Humane. When you go shopping this week, buy only those products that have not been tested on animals. To find out which products are compassionate, check out the web site www.navs.org.
Informed. Subscribe to a magazine or newsletter that educates about issues you don’t see in your local paper. Examples: The Globalist, www.theglobalist.com; Utne magazine, www.utne.com.
Joyful. Go for a bike ride. From kids playing in the park to neighbors tending their flowers – there’s no end to the joy you’ll find as you pedal.
Kind. Bring a sandwich and cold drink to someone standing on the side of the road with a sign asking for help.
Loving. Create a surprise care package for someone you love that will delight all five senses. Include a scented candle, favorite CD, piece of chocolate and a colorful marble. Wrap them all in a velvet pouch.
Mirthful. Wear a witty button today. It’s like wearing your heart on your sleeve. People are sure to respond to it!
Natural. Be yourself. Stop trying to impress your friends by convincing them that you have it all together all of the time. (Believe me, they know better!)
Optimistic. Write down the best thing that happened to you today in bright marker and stick it on your refrigerator to remind you that things do go right.
Peaceful. Tune out violent television programs for a week. Spend the extra time checking out organizations committed to peace, such as Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org, Stop the Violence, www.stoptheviolence-ca.org.
Quiet. Move out of the fast lane. Slow dance with your partner, then fast dance with him or her. Which was more fun?
Rewarded. Make a list of the things you’ve already accomplished in life. Anything that has given you a feeling of contentment and pride, no matter how small, should go on the list. Now post it where you’ll see it every day.
Selfless. Give someone credit for what you helped do. We often point the finger of blame, but rarely give away credit. If you planted most of the garden, but your child helped, let her claim the project as her own.
Tolerant. Listen to a talk-radio program that looks at issues from a perspective different from yours. See if there aren’t some points you actually agree with. After all, life is more gray than black and white.
Unselfish. Rewrite your will to include charitable giving. If you don’t have a will, now’s the time to write one. When your will reflects your life’s passions, you’ll find that the process of putting it together actually makes you feel more alive.
Vigorous. There’s power in feeling that your voice counts. Leave a brief thought or concern on President Bush’s official comment line: 202.456.1111.
Wild. Do something completely out of the ordinary. It will rev you up – guaranteed!
Xuberant. Make a list of special dates worth remembering and celebrating, like the day your partner proposed. Display the list where you’ll both see it.
Young. Invite friends to a sleepover, just like you did when you were a kid. What better way to stay young at heart?
Zealous. Lift someone up today, either emotionally or physically. Bring balloons to a friend in the hospital, praise a co-worker for a job well done, give a child a boost so she can see up high. By focusing on lifting someone else up, you lift yourself up as well.
Printed by permission of Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant, author and comic. Please check out her web site www.accidentalcomic.com.
If you’re like most women, your to-do list should be written on a roll of paper towels so there’s enough room for everything you try to do every day. But no matter how many things you check off the list, some of the most important things – being kinder, being braver, being more creative – can be overlooked. Notice that word: Being. Maybe what you need is a list to help you be who you want to be, both for yourself and others.
From A to Z, resolve that from now on you will be…
Appreciative. Send a thank you card to someone you appreciate having in your life, from family members to the beautician who understands your cowlick. Thanking someone every day will help you focus on just how much you have to appreciate.
Brave. Name your biggest fear. Is it public speaking? Having a baby? Take one small step toward doing the thing you fear. Sign up for Toastmasters International just to watch, baby-sit for a friend. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face.”
Creative. Any place that makes you say “ooh” and “aah” – an art museum, the ballet – is a good place to get a creativity makeover. And if you feel inspired to try your hand at something creative right after your visit, go for it!
Delightful. Compliment all the people with whom you interact today. It doesn’t matter whether you praise their wardrobe or the excellent job they did parallel parking. Everyone enjoys a sincere compliment.
Exuberant. Buy a few lighthearted rubber stamps you can use on envelopes you send out. My collection includes one that says, “Good friends are God’s way of apologizing for relatives.” People look forward to getting mail from me just to see what I’ve stamped on the envelope.
Forgiving. Forgive one person for something he or she did to you in the past. You’ll feel a whole lot better. Why? Because forgiveness is about changing your heart, not his. For info on International Forgiveness Day visit www.forgivenessday.org.
Grateful. Have a gratitude contest. Give family members a pen and piece of paper, and challenge them to write down the things for which they’re grateful. The one with the most items gets a box of thank you cards to thank everyone on her list.
Humane. When you go shopping this week, buy only those products that have not been tested on animals. To find out which products are compassionate, check out the web site www.navs.org.
Informed. Subscribe to a magazine or newsletter that educates about issues you don’t see in your local paper. Examples: The Globalist, www.theglobalist.com; Utne magazine, www.utne.com.
Joyful. Go for a bike ride. From kids playing in the park to neighbors tending their flowers – there’s no end to the joy you’ll find as you pedal.
Kind. Bring a sandwich and cold drink to someone standing on the side of the road with a sign asking for help.
Loving. Create a surprise care package for someone you love that will delight all five senses. Include a scented candle, favorite CD, piece of chocolate and a colorful marble. Wrap them all in a velvet pouch.
Mirthful. Wear a witty button today. It’s like wearing your heart on your sleeve. People are sure to respond to it!
Natural. Be yourself. Stop trying to impress your friends by convincing them that you have it all together all of the time. (Believe me, they know better!)
Optimistic. Write down the best thing that happened to you today in bright marker and stick it on your refrigerator to remind you that things do go right.
Peaceful. Tune out violent television programs for a week. Spend the extra time checking out organizations committed to peace, such as Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org, Stop the Violence, www.stoptheviolence-ca.org.
Quiet. Move out of the fast lane. Slow dance with your partner, then fast dance with him or her. Which was more fun?
Rewarded. Make a list of the things you’ve already accomplished in life. Anything that has given you a feeling of contentment and pride, no matter how small, should go on the list. Now post it where you’ll see it every day.
Selfless. Give someone credit for what you helped do. We often point the finger of blame, but rarely give away credit. If you planted most of the garden, but your child helped, let her claim the project as her own.
Tolerant. Listen to a talk-radio program that looks at issues from a perspective different from yours. See if there aren’t some points you actually agree with. After all, life is more gray than black and white.
Unselfish. Rewrite your will to include charitable giving. If you don’t have a will, now’s the time to write one. When your will reflects your life’s passions, you’ll find that the process of putting it together actually makes you feel more alive.
Vigorous. There’s power in feeling that your voice counts. Leave a brief thought or concern on President Bush’s official comment line: 202.456.1111.
Wild. Do something completely out of the ordinary. It will rev you up – guaranteed!
Xuberant. Make a list of special dates worth remembering and celebrating, like the day your partner proposed. Display the list where you’ll both see it.
Young. Invite friends to a sleepover, just like you did when you were a kid. What better way to stay young at heart?
Zealous. Lift someone up today, either emotionally or physically. Bring balloons to a friend in the hospital, praise a co-worker for a job well done, give a child a boost so she can see up high. By focusing on lifting someone else up, you lift yourself up as well.
Printed by permission of Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant, author and comic. Please check out her web site www.accidentalcomic.com.
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