Greetings from Old Lyme, Connecticut!

Expand your horizons…enjoy a different state!

In many religions, Sunday us considered a day of rest but is rarely observed these days.   Stores are open and technology keeps us “wired.”  Why not cut your technology use by half today and read an actual book or have an actual conversation with someone you would usually text or email?  Connection, through old fashioned means, can do wonders for the soul and you just might make someone’s day.

Enjoy, live & love,
Michelle

In many religions, Sunday us considered a day of rest but is rarely observed these days.   Stores are open and technology keeps us “wired.”  Why not cut your technology use by half today and read an actual book or have an actual conversation with someone you would usually text or email?  Connection, through old fashioned means, can do wonders for the soul and you just might make someone’s day.

Enjoy, live & love,
Michelle

Seriously, what is mindfulness?  The term is so overused these days that I think the true meaning gets lost.  In truth, the meaning of mindfulness is different for everyone.  Yes, the universal meaning is living and being present in the moment, not worrying about the future or re-living the past.  But, what does that mean?

To me, it is simply stopping what you are doing and looking around.  Ask yourself, “how do I know I’m here?”  My therapist asked me this question when I first started working with her and I tried so hard to come up with a profound answer but the answer is easy.

Right now, I know I’m here because I can feel my feet on the carpeted floor, the chair supporting my butt, my fingers on the keyboard and the light coming in through the sliding glass door.  It’s really as simple as that!  Look around and notice what you see.  The best thing about asking this question is that I’ve never ever answered it with a heavy heart, worry or anything but peace.  I’ve always enjoyed my surroundings and every worry or fear just faded into nothing.  Try it, I think you’ll like it.

What’s your definition of mindfulness?  Head to the comments and let us know!

P.S.  The above photo was taken by one of my favorite people – she knows who she is!

When we reflect on our life as we’re about to leave this world, will we think of the weight we needed to lose or the years we wasted wishing for the perfect weight or body with fondness or will we think of the way we loved and were loved and how we made a positive difference in the lives of others?

When the question is posed this way, it seems a little silly to invest so much energy worrying about the last 5, 10, 15, 50 or 100 pounds we may need to lose when there are so many more important things in life on which to focus.  When it comes down to it, does the weight really warrant as much time and energy as we put into it or does living a better life trump that?

I have evolved to a place in my treatment where I am exploring Buddhist principles and I have a wonderful therapist who is helping me in this quest.  Seriously, she is amazing.  She shared a passage from the Buddha that encourages free thinking and, in a society that favors conformity, I found it to be quite liberating.  The passage is on the long side so I will share a portion of it each Sunday until it is finished.  My intention is to bring about awareness of our core beliefs, how we came to believe them and examine if they still ring true for us.  Here we go….

“Do not believe a thing simply because it has been said.”

This resonates with me because I have heard from so many that “I am not my weight” and “weight doesn’t define you.” Just because this has been said to me doesn’t mean I believed it then or now.  I realized I have to find my own way to achieve stronger self-esteem and that requires more than words from another.