DISCLAIMER:

live with physical challenges.
I am NOT a DOCTOR!!! I don't even play one on TV!!! It is my goal to live a more healthy lifestyle. Living well and being happy is what this blog is all about.

"Nothing,' wrote Tolstoy, 'can make our life, or the lives of other people, more
beautiful than perpetual kindness."

- Gretchen Rubin




I write about my own experiences and what works (or does not) for me. Nothing I write is to be taken as medical advice.

Only your health care provider, personal physician,Disclaimer:
I am not a doctor - I don't even play one on TV! This
or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs.








Monday, March 11, 2013

Keep Searching for Passion and Purpose

 
Today I'd like to ask you a very simple question.  What about your life makes you truly happy?  Is there one activity that you would not want to trade for anything in the world?  What do you do that completes you as a person?  Where does your deep down passion lie?

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
- Confucius


Unfortunately, we all don't get to do a job we were absolutely "made" for.  Many of us just go through the motions and make do with what we are handed.  We see our job as something that takes precious time away from the life we wished we could be out living.  I've been there, and I'm sure many of you have too.  But you rationalize to yourself - "It's a living" - meaning, you get a paycheck.  Deep down you wonder most of the time if it's really worth the hassle, because it's a job you hate!  You begin to feel physically ill on Sunday afternoon just thinking about tomorrow being Monday again.  It's horrible!

 
The term "making a living" should mean that we enjoy what we do at least a little bit since most of our precious time is spent at a job.  Time we do not get back!  Otherwise one can hardly call it making a living.  If you are in constant turmoil and dragging yourself in to the office to punch a clock, chances are you are not in that happy place.  I was absolutely miserable in my job for ten years.  It showed on the outside - I ate everything in sight because I was so stressed and unhappy.  Frankly, I didn't ever quite get the hang of what they wanted me to do!  I basically "faked it" for ten years.  That is an awful feeling! 



So, there I was, 80 pounds heavier and my health quickly declining.  It finally dawned on me that I was not happy and the money was not worth losing myself and becoming chronically ill.  Actually, I had already lost most of what made me...  me.  My self-esteem was in the ditch and my health was not good at all.  I hated my job and I hated my life and I ultimately hated myself for letting the cycle of abuse continue for so long. 

I learned one thing for darn skippy certain.  I no longer try to guess what others expect of me.  I have learned to stand up for myself - even to superiors.  I have learned to speak up and let bosses know if I don't understand what is expected of me!  It was such an expensive lesson - but I did finally learn it.

Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.  It is not enough to just say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. "My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is
T-I-M-E.  ― Rick Warren

Rick Warren wrote a book a few years back entitled, "The Purpose Driven Life:  What On Earth Am I Here For?" which addresses this very subject.  It's about how you can do your best work in life if you do something you enjoy and are good at and how it is possible to contribute and still keep your self-respect and happiness intact.  The theory is that everyone is called to do something.  We are not all called to do the same thing.  If we all did what we are best suited to do, how much better would it be for all of us?  It makes perfect sense to me!  

It took me ten long years to come to the conclusion that the paycheck was just not worth it.  Money really does not buy happiness.    

I've tried a few things since I have had more time than money.  I have not had one single regret about quitting that dead-end job.  In the last 8 years I have enjoyed every single day of freedom.  Once in a while I have a real moment of bliss.  A moment when I take a deep breath and think, "I have never been happier.  I have time now to do anything I want.  I can play music, or write in my blog, or try out a new alkaline recipe or go for a nice leisurely walk with my husband.  This is what life is really supposed to be.  I'm really happy now."  I'm not materially wealthy, but I am so very fortunate to have all the time I want to do whatever my heart desires! 

Only when I made the decision to let go of the stresses and worries of that job was I able to embrace the peace and tranquility of being a retired homemaker.  I'm having a blast!  With committment to an alkaline lifestyle I've lost 80 pounds and keep dropping weight.  I call it my "work weight" - the weight of all the years of stress I carried around at my job - it is gone!  

I challenge you to look around at your situation.  Are you making a living - or is the living you are trying to make killing you?  I understand that some folks can't afford to just up and quit a job - even if it's something they hate doing.  But I challenge you to just look at your life and maybe do a little bit of tweaking to make it better for yourself - if you can.  Do what you need to do to make your job something you actually enjoy doing.  You spend a large amount of time at your place of employment - try to be happy there.  Your health will thank you.

Can you relate to any of these situations???  Ah...  I hated office work!!!

http://youtu.be/SLyu43JmlWA

http://youtu.be/l1CjvMTHbKc


I'm honored to share this poem from my friend Lucinda Berry Hill, author of the devotional book, "Coffee With Jesus".


Finding Joy in the Journey

Today I'll step forward,
Accept all the struggles,
Bear all the burdens and pain,
Fight through the obstacles,
Stand firm in the battles,
To bring all glory to His name.

There's no need in Heaven
To bring God the glory.
His glory it will be known.
I need to do that
Here in this lifetime
Before God carries me home,
To love Him, to serve Him,
To lead others to Him,
That is what gives my life worth.
I'll find joy in the journey
By bringing God glory
In the time I have left on this earth.


 



Woo-hoo!!!  Today is WORSHIP OF TOOLS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Must be a guy thing.  Yeah.  Well, be careful with those tools, fellas - k???



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