Today, do this...

February 15, 2014

Today, do this…

Today it’s weekend. We are all going in different directions to accomplish everything on our list or on our minds. Mindless to other people’s lives for a short time, only mindful of ours. It will all get done (or it won’t), but there’s many things that we can accomplish meanwhile. Jodi Foster once said during an interview that her mother told her to “always be kind” in life. Out of so many quotes and suggestions and advice over my years, that one always stays with me. I think it’s because it’s so easy to do. And to remember. If we wanted to define it in more words, the only ones I would use to further enhance it would be to say, “always help.” Help others, help the world, help yourself. That says so much in so little. Less is always more with me. Unless it has to do with kindness and helping. Then more is so much more.

So when you go out today, take your recyclable bags to the grocery store or even department stores and convenience stores and farmer’s markets. If you don’t have any, buy them today and use them. If you see someone in the grocery store parking lot finishing up with a cart, take it over for yourself and bring it into the store. If you see an upfront parking space and someone else is vying for the same one, pass it by and park elsewhere. Thirty more steps are good for you. You’ll be helping yourself and another at the same time.

When your child wants to show you something before you jump out of the car for yet another errand, stop and turn around and let them show you, instead of on the run. It’s a simple moment in time and I promise it won’t be wasted. Before you choose a gift for yet another birthday party, ask yourself if it is a gift that will make them feel good. Does it smell good (candles, flowers), taste good (their favorite food), sound good (music) or make good (crafts, something pretty to look at)? Make it “feel” good.

Another thing to do today is to think positively throughout your day. I love being a preschool teacher. I couldn’t list all the reasons here. But a habit you create within yourself while teaching children is to always be looking for the good. The positive actions, the kind behaviors and the kind words. You compliment them all day long on the good things you see them doing. When I leave school, I’m still doing it subconsciously and consciously. I drive away looking for blessings. The clear sky yesterday. The trees reaching into it. So when you have an opportunity to complain about the long lines or the crowded roads, look around while standing there and look for your blessings. Your cart full of blessings. Your healthy legs to stand. The fact that you are driving a car and not waiting at one of the bus stops. The laughter and silliness of your children while they pass the time. And always be that mom that not only tells her daughter to “always be kind,” but be the one that shows her how to do it.

The blessings travel right along with us all day long. See that and be that. All day long.  ~~Katherine A. Rayne~~  

www.backtobeingawoman.com 

Being Fit Begins You

Being Fit Begins You

Ready? I dread vacations. I always enjoy them once I'm there, but it’s the preparations that deter me from smiling for the days leading up to them. The planning stages. Don’t forget to put the mail on hold. Call the vet to schedule the boarding of Fluffy (that really IS his name but not what we call him). Stop the newspaper delivery. All laundry must first be done before packing begins. Dreadful. Then, I have to fly. In the SKY. Ugh.

The path to being healthier feels the same way. Meal planning, grocery list, grocery shopping. Join (and pay for) the gym or start the planning of workouts. I don’t know what half of those exercises are that I find on lists of suggestions. Even the diagrams are confusing to me. Does my knee go forward or stay under my shoulder? How far down should I crouch? WHERE does my arm go? So let’s not bother with the latest diet trend or exercise machine. Let’s use our heads. Make a list of your favorite foods including fruits and vegetables. A long list. Now cross off anything that won’t make you healthier than what you are right now. By now, there’s a few million of us that know what’s healthy for our bodies and what’s not, without the help of a magazine article. Then serve your vegetable portions larger and the other items (proteins and carb items) as smaller portions. Another way? Keep eating what you already eat, but put only half of what you would normally eat on your plate. And eat no later than 7pm. That’s a hard one for me, too. Make sure you have something in the kitchen to reach for instead of food after 7pm. A deck of cards, a journal, the needle and thread for those five shirts sitting in the laundry room, nail polish remover and polish, a sketching pad and pencils. Even that smartphone or iPad. (Cheetos would leave orange grease on your device, afterall.)

Exercise. Ick. Unless you are in the habit of it. If you are in the habit of it, it’s no longer ick. I swear. I’m not very good at working out at home. The laundry is always calling out my name or the thirty thousand other odd jobs awaiting my attention, so I’m very easily distracted. But how much time do we spend in front of the TV? Especially at night. Pajamas on? Perfect. When the commercials come on, pick an exercise. Any exercise. Your choice…first thing that comes to mind. And do it until the commercial ends. If you feel embarrassed doing it in front of family, make them do it with you. Take turns picking out the exercise for each commercial. Going for broke? Do the exercises during the SHOW instead of the commercials. Either way, make sure you’re going to be sore within the next 48 hours. Then you’ll know it’s worth it. You can make those things in the mirror that you don't like disappear. Make this a continued pattern. Not a chore for a week or two. You might even surprise yourself and turn off the TV some nights and get your music going. Don’t worry about how many repetitions for each exercise. Repeat the exercise until the commercial (or song) ends.

I’m not worried about how much you weigh. It’s about feeling better. Feeling better physically. Feeling better about daily choices. Feeling better about what you had for dinner. Feeling better about walking away from the bakery in the grocery store. Doing those little things that give you an emotional moment that says, how proud am I?! Over and over again. Begin You. Because if you’re too busy thinking about those things that you see in the mirror that you don’t like, you’re taking away from the thoughts that you could be having, such as I wonder what’s on TV tonight?  

~~ Katherine

(No, I'm not a health specialist. You know the drill. I have to suggest you talk to your doctor before starting any health regimen. Smile.) To view my webpage and a link for my book on Amazon.com, click: http://www.backtobeingawoman.com/

Appreciation - Find it Here!

~~  Seven Days, on Purpose  ~~

I LOVE Friday's. My favorite part has to be not having to set my alarm when I go to sleep that night. TOnight. (insert smiley face HERE.) So...Happy Friday, no matter what day you read this. I decided to make my first blog about appreciation. There is so much we expect from the world, but we seem to expect so much more from ourselves. If we were to imagine extending our arms outward, we could fill up the empty space in front of us easily with our abundance. The fact that you can read my blog with healthy eyes, a computer or smartphone and an education all prove to be blessings. These items are not needs, or something everyone has. We could also fill the space with clean water, enough clothes and shoes (to dress a small city’s population, in my case), possibly a car to get us to where we want to go, some of us have healthy children, our good friends and family and lots and lots of food in the fridge and pantry. And let’s not forget the countless phone calls from mom.

As women, we have SO much work to do. So many things need our attention on a daily basis. We all know how many times we go to bed thinking about the things that we didn't finish or what we could have done better. But it’s important to remember and focus on the things that we did finish and did get right. 

I recently attended a worship service (something I don’t do enough). The lesson began as a reminder to be appreciative. There are seven days in a week, on purpose. The six days allow us to work and move forward and prosper and accomplish. The seventh day? It’s time to stop to breathe it all in. And then blow it all out. Even if you are working that day. The day allows us the time to think about all that we have done during the past week. What we have learned from it, and then the ability to wipe the slate clean. Forget and put aside the things that didn’t get done. The people we didn’t visit. The forgotten errands. Even if it was a hard week, we can find something good. Appreciate that you were able to get through it and that you’re still here to celebrate it. Use it to rest and mentally prepare for the next week.

My day of thanks is Sunday, but you can make it any day you choose. Just make sure that you have an ending and starting point somewhere in your week. Don't wait for special occasions to feel special. As Hallmark says, Life is a Special Occasion!

Thank you for coming by… I appreciate it.    ~~ Katherine

You can find Katherine's website, Back To Being A Woman here: Visit Back To Being A Woman   Or find her books published on Amazon.com, Back To Being A Woman (Without Changing The Man) by clicking on:   Ebook   or  Paperback