Thursday, February 4, 2016

7 Steps To a More Beautiful Life

1.
Love all life. 
Cherish every single life, no exceptions.
Love people without judgment. Love the poor, love the rich, love the unkind and the kind. Love.
Love the trees...love the flowers...see the worth in animals. 
Watch the bumble bees and be grateful for their hard work...if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have apple blossoms or sticky sweet honey. Spring would be empty and lifeless if it wasn't for their diligence.  Listen to the bird's sweet, haunting calls to each other. Remember that God sees the sparrow and takes notice of them and cares for them - live this way. Life is a gift. 
Love all life.


2.
See Art Intentionally.
When you look at the sky don't just see blue. See an ocean. See depth. Notice the shadows of the clouds. See color. Look at a tree and pretend you are taking a mental picture of it ... frame the branches. Seeing art nurtures gratitude and makes us more aware of perception. Seeing art can help you grow. Seeing art can make one flexible.


3.
Do it Today.
There are a lot of things in my life I want to try. Yes...not everything can be done today. If I wanted to skydive...I couldn't just call a taxi and have them tote me off to some field where an airplane and instructor would be waiting. Maybe I can't actually jump today, but I can plan the jump. I can prepare for the jump. Maybe I can't take a painting class today but I can still paint. Will it be perfect and will I know what I'm doing? Probably not. But I can try. I can't play a piano today because I don't own one, but I can start teaching myself to read music...I can watch tutorials online. I can listen to beautiful pieces on the radio. Maybe you can't leave the kids and go for a long jog ... can you dance in the living room with them and get your heart rate up? Do it today. Don't wait. 


4.
Say Thank You.
When something good comes your way, have gratitude. If you happen to be driving down the road and you see an accident in the other lane, thank God that you are okay (maybe say a prayer for the ones involved.) If your electricity bill is lower this month...say thank you. Any good thing that comes in life...whether it be a warm meal or a great deal on something you've been wanting ... say thank you. This simple act will instill gratitude and will change your thinking ... things that you use to take for granted will become gifts. 
Everyone likes presents ... why not give them to yourself everyday?


5.
Start rituals.
Light candles...have a favorite scent. I love to put lavender in my diffuser at night. Zen Radio is my favorite station on Pandora - as soon as I push play I start to feel calm. Wash your face in the evenings ... take care of your skin. Take time to really care for your teeth ...actually floss. Establishing rituals helps you to take better care of yourself and yours...it signals the brain that you belong. Rituals bring structure. In a busy world, structure in our homes is essential.


6.
Appreciate Simple
Rice and beans, cucumbers with a little dill, slices of tomato sprinkled with salt. Simple. Your body understands simple ... it loves to know what it's dealing with. When you eat an apple your cells clap and cheer because they know exactly where to send those nutrients. When you squeeze some fresh lemon into water or grate some ginger into a tea you reap the benefits not only from the complex SIMPLE nutrients but also from the natural oils. Using ingredients that take no prep except maybe to peel or to slice frees you up to do other things, it costs less money generally speaking, and it instills in you gratitude for the things that were made perfectly by the Creator. 


7.
Love You.
Maybe those two words bother you...maybe you find them selfish. I know, I know "but we are suppose to focus on others, not ourselves. We are to live selflessly." Yes and yes again. However, you will never be able to love others if you can't love yourself. If you are critical of you, you will naturally be critical of others. If you see your flaws, you will see all of theirs. 
For me, looking in the mirror and loving what I see is a challenge. Looking inside and loving what is represented in my soul can be a challenge. But when I really stop and dissect who I am as a person...I'm kind, I'm nurturing ... I can be funny. I have strong legs and freckles on my shoulders. Today I found a freckle in my eye...right below my iris and I felt special, different. There are things about me that are lovable, that are valuable. 
 There are always things you can love about yourself. If it's a foreign concept for you ... start by saying things like "thank you for my eyes that can see " and "I have strong arms that can carry my sweet baby" or "my hair shines in the sun." Start noticing simple things about yourself...then be thankful for them and start loving them. Love yourself as the One that made you does. 


“whatever you do
be gentle with yourself.
you don’t just live
in this world
or your home
or your skin.
you also live
in someone’s eyes.” 
― Sanober Khan

8 comments:

  1. You love the Wailin' Jennies! Yes! They are awesome! :)

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    1. LOVE them. My favorite station on Pandora...always makes me want to bake or craft or just sit and stare out the window.

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  2. This is the perfect list. It seems we tend to go day to day without remembering to stop and really appreciate all we have and all the beauty around us.
    Lovely blog post, Alyssa.

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    1. I think after I wrote this I though of about 4 more things that beautify life ... but I definitely think gratitude is the biggest. It's hard to be stagnant or bitter when you see everything as a blessing.

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  3. This is such a beautiful post. The world, our lives and even the simplest things are full of blessings.

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    1. ecspecially when we look for them ... live life with open eyes :)

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    2. ecspecially when we look for them ... live life with open eyes :)

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