Everyday Inspiration

I feel very fortunate to have parents who have a good sense of humor.  Beyond that, I don't remember a gathering of family and friends (on either side of my family) that was not encapsulated in joy and laughter.  Although being happy is essentially a right, happiness is not necessarily automatic.  Once, as a teenager, after asking my mother why she watched cartoons every morning instead of the news, she explained that her job was full of stress and that pressure to do or be of think - in accordance with mandates that someone else prescribes is everywhere outside of the doors to our home.  She said for her  that watching the news every morning (as opposed to evening) was like inviting all that stuff into her consciousness and allowing it to set the framework for her day.

I've learned for myself that the images, sounds, conversations . . . that I've allowed to be part of my daily life (not always consciously) have also had either a positive or negative impact on me.  For example, I used to watch "COPS" every time it came on T.V..  I truly enjoy Action Adventure films - so I also watched a lot of shoot em up movies too.  Over time - I noticed that I had become a paranoid person.   One day I sat myself down and purposely tried to understand what changes  had taken place in my life that had made me change so drastically.  It occurred to me that the only significant change was my TV viewing habits.  To test my theory I stopped watching TV cold turkey ( with the exception of carefully scrutinized programs for my kids) .  Within a few weeks the paranoia had left; it vanished like it was never there. 

During that time I started reading books again.  Like my mother, I found a dose of daily happiness first through the Daily Word, followed by a host of daily inspirational books and calendars.  I've discovered that having a joy anchor that you can refer to or embrace at least once a day is a vital component of my overall sense of well being.  I finally came to the conscious realization of this yesterday evening after a tense moment.

I logged onto facebook and went straight to the "lotus" page.  After reading a few entries; I felt better.  Then I was enlightened.  Whenever I'm feeling less than optimal for me - I look for for something to inspire me.  Sometimes I call a friend (on occasion a friend has made it worse.) I may sew something, listen to music, read - anything that will give me a change of mind so that the answer to my current challenge can surface (another technique I learned from my mother). 

People have called me:  "happy-go-lucky", silly, crazy, funny....   Countless people have asked me why / how are you always happy.  Now you know the answer - I don't take life too seriously.   Allow me to leave you with this:  My maternal Grandfather fully persuaded me that the answer to everything that concerns us is in us.  The secret, he maintained, is for you to get to know yourself and to learn how to listen to yourself. 

Just do it, because you don't need anyone in the world more than you need yourself.  Get to know you.  Embrace you.  Become fully you.  Watch magic begin to happen in and through for the benefit of you, your family,  and ever widening spheres of influence.

Believe!

Andrea 

.