Patience Is A Skill

Have you ever noticed those moments when you know your patience is being tested. You know what I mean, you're in a rush, and the cashier is moving in what seems like slow motion. Maybe behind a customer who has endless questions..then your mind starts to wonder about the scenarios of you being late. Or you are stuck in traffic..which we all know how frustrating that is. Especially when you are already running behind. In case you have yet realize, time does not stop. Although we wish it would at times. It doesn't. So no matter how frustrated you get waiting in line or stuck behind a bumper to bumper rush hour. You can't do anything about it. You are stuck in that moment, so why get so mad and angry that you stress yourself. That is only hurting yourself. It is true that patience is NOT a inherited trait, it is a skill that has to be learned.

I like to think that I am a patient person. It was something that I had to learn though. I had to learn a lot of patience when it came to watching kids. I have been babysitting for years now, and not trying to brag but I'm pretty much a pro baby-sitter. (flips hair off shoulder.) I just have watched many different kinds of kids. I have watched kids that are super easy and are well-behaved to children where they don't listen and are just difficult to watch--I get all kids are different and parents have their own way of parenting, which I totally respect. I have dealt with many temper tantrums in stores on walks in the neighborhood or just in the house. I don't even have my own kids yet and I have done it all. (: From when you are chasing the kids around to put them in time-out, to trying to soothe the crying toddler who misses their mom or scrapes their knee. Don't think those super easy and well-behaved kids don't test my patience either. If we are coloring, and you see them color outside the lines..ohhh that is when my slight OCD comes in. Or when the kid is really quiet and doesn't hardly talk or show expression. What am I supposed to do now? Thankfully the kids usually have other sibling who will help me out. 

Back to the point of this post: having the skill of patience is really nice because you go from that helpless rage of impatience to sense of personal space. Really! Just read on...the first thing is you have to stop. Stop thinking about how you shouldn't be in this situation-you are. The next thing is to take a long deep breath..Inhale and exhale slowly. Relax you shoulders and your jaw too. Now go into you mind and figure out when you know you are impatient. Tightness, tense, short breaths etc. Focus on them and touch them with you mind. Sorry I do yoga. HA. You soon start to feel your muscles relax. It takes time, you are not going to become instantly patient after one time. But once you do, you are thankful for the fact that we live in world where you can call someone and let them know you will be late. And you can work out make-up times and such. You look at little things surrounding you. It is all going to be okay in the end. It is not the end of the world. 

Not to say that I don't get impatient. I do. Like when I order something online. Why do I have to wait 3-5 business days? No. I expect it on my doorstep two hours later(; In all seriousness there are certain things that end up me not having the patience for it. It really just depends on the day and what it is. But with this learned skill, I am able to control it.

Goodnight!

-H

Let Go Of That Grudge

Those that are happy know what they have to do to maintain that happiness and positive mind. One of the ways, which I feel like who ever you talk to will say is that saying we all know and heard before 'Forgive and Forget'  basically don't hold a grudge. It is actually pretty easy to get in the habit of holding a grudge on someone. I mean when someone does us wrong even if it was not their intention, we feel hurt and angry. That eventually escalates to us not being able to let go of what they did. 

With holding that grudge comes an increase in stress and anxiety. Which both will get in the way of you feeling free. Basically by you holding a grudge on someone that is giving them a power over you. Then it becomes where every little thing that they do annoys you, even if it has nothing to do with you. This is causing you to have a negative way of thinking. You can't do this to every single person that you come across that you feel hurt by. You will end up alone. Forgive and forget...

Okay maybe you shouldn't completely follow the Forgive and Forget way of thinking. At least, not to every situation. Yes, we all deserve second chances, so you can forgive. It may not and probably won't be easy. But you got to do it to fully move on. Now for the Forget part...you see I believe that you should learn from this experience and apply it to your future somehow. In a positive way of course. You don't have to think about it every day. But remember what it felt like to hold that grudge whenever you feel it coming on...then just take a deep breath and let it go. You all know what I mean, pick and choose your battles!! 

By not holding a grudge you will have a clear conscious mind that you can fill with positivity. Who doesn't want that? 

Wish you all happiness!
-H

Own It!!

Everyone is good at something, whether it be a talent or an ability. But we all have those moments of self doubt where we just don't have the confidence to let it shine through or put ourselves out there to be praised. Have you ever felt like you are really good at something and loving it then someone comes and "rains on your parade". That is where the self doubt comes from, worrying about what people think about you. You have to own what you do and who you are!! I'm serious. 

Look, you can't please everyone, you are going to have 'haters' or just people that don't like what you do. If you are able to look past all those people and really listen to those who care and love you for you and what you do, you will be able to build the confidence to put yourself out there for others to see. You have to be your own advocate. Have faith in your abilities. 

When you are starting out and you're trying to get something going it is all YOU. We don't all have agents that gets our name out there. Nope, just you.  If someone sees how excited you are about what you are talking about they get interested. They want to know more and they want to follow your journey. If this is something that you love and want to do, you have to approach it with positivity and confidence. Own it. That is what this is all about, owning it. 

So straighten up, shoulders back and keep your head held high. You.Got.This. 

Finding Balance!

I'm sure many of you agree that it is difficult to find balance in your life when there is so much going on. Whether it be school, work, kids whatever it is. It is not easy. You may have even thought there just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done that needs to be done. Which is where stress enters your life. You become so overwhelmed with everything happening that you don't know what to do next. We all have felt it before. 

With stress, you often forget to have the "me" time that we all need and deserve. You don't even think about setting time aside for your self and your soul.  Set your own time do anything that can bring you back to what is important to you, what your focus is. There are many different things that you can do:

• Yoga
• Self-Help Books
• Spiritual Readings
• Walking
• Keeping a journal 

The next step to finding balance is to prioritize. Take the most important things first then go to the next few things. If you find yourself at the bottom of the list with no time, you gotta cut them out.You control the list. Remember you allowed all those things into your life. Otherwise you are going to do too much and you will find yourself off balance/not centered. I recommend doing one of the things I listed above in the morning, before your day starts. That way you already have a great start to the day, it is out of the way, and you FEEL GOOD!

"you can do anything, but not everything"

Just Get Up and Do It!

We all have those lazy days. Not to be confused with those relaxing days. There is a difference in my books!  I'm talking about you laying on the couch all day eating junk food. Not moving. Believe me, I have had them too. When I realize that I just spent the entire day doing nothing but being lazy, I actually feel sick to my stomach. I will never get that day back. It was wasted. 

What I am starting to do is this: If I ever have one of those lazy days, I immediately get up and go for a walk or clean a room in the house. I do anything I can, just to get something done. Even if it is a little as doing the dishes or folding laundry--my favorite! That way, you can say you did do something:) You don't have to go into cleaning mode, or whatever. Just do at least one simple task. 

Now getting the motivation to exercise. When you are beginning to have a work out plan, the first few days to the first two weeks, are really hard. Just because your body is not used to it. Which is often why people will have a good work out the first day, but then they are sore and give up. But what you have to do is push through it, then each day it will get easier and easier. I promise that you you won't regret getting up and being active. You don't have to go extreme. That is too much work.:p but you can start off basic: walking/jogging/push-ups etc.

Find what work for you, don't compare your abilities to someone else's. Who cares what they can do, that is their life, not yours.There are things you can't do that they can do, but at the same time, you are capable of doing things that they can't. 

 

"A year from now, you'll wish you'd started today."

First Pool Day!

Yes! The weather is finally now starting to heat up enough where we can go to the pool. I don't care much for actual swimming part, if I am placed poolside with some sunglasses on, a cold drink(water:)), and the sun's warmth on my skin, I am happy! It is crazy to think that it is almost June!! 2013 is going by so fast.

I went to the local community pool yesterday with a few family members. It was a beautiful day! I would go to this pool almost every single day during the summer when I was a kid. I haven't been here in year!! I have so many memories of spending days here from the routine of going to the snack shop and getting Cow Tales and an ICEE. To sitting at those round tables playing Barbies.

The picture above, is what I took while I was at the pool. I really like how they kept the same setup. That slide you see, where the cute little girl in the yellow bathing suit is heading towards. Yeah, I would go down that exact slide at least five 15 times in a row. That was MY slide(; Surprising, this pool doesn't really get crowed. It is kind of low key. Which I really enjoy. It is a safe, family-friendly place to spend those summer days and Nights too! They have night swimming!! Say whaaat?