Windridge Reflections

What Happens When Life Zigs…and You Zag? What do you do when you have “one of those days?” You know the kind, we all have them. You feel yucky, drained, with no motivation and all your prior enthusiasm, brilliant ideas, etc., have vanished into thin air and you are reduced to hoping you can put one foot in front of the other until it’s time to go to bed. And then the prayer is that blessed sleep will provide a reprieve from the constant feelings of failure and opportunities lost or wasted away. I recently had “one of those days.” What I’ve learned over time is when they hit, if I step back and do as little as I possible, you know get the main things done, but don’t take on the big things, I will come out of the “funk” much quicker. I liken it to falling off a horse; if you roll with the fall (downward spiral) instead of fighting or bracing yourself against it, you’ll hit the ground with less force and thus be able to pick yourself up more quickly—as in tomorrow. Her...

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. William Allen White Every once in a while someone will comment to me on how wonderful my life must be and I have to admit, yes, I love everything I’m doing now, and that said, I appreciate all that has gone before.... Now in saying this, make no mistake, I have had my share of heartaches and I, like everyone else, have a long list of worries, wishes, sorrows, hurts, regrets, aches and pains. Life is what it is and I’m convinced that there is no way around those sometimes nagging worries or real/unreal fears we all experience. I remember years ago going through an incredibly difficult time. For some reason (um–stress) I landed flat-on-my-back in bed for three weeks, and then spent at least two years struggling to even go to the grocery store by myself. This inability to get out and about was irrational, frustrating, and scary as I had absolutely no idea what was “wrong” with me. During th...

I was actually pretty proud of myself this morning… Walk completed Starbucks latte purchased All the monthly income and expense data entered into Excel by 8:30 a.m.; not bad for a Monday morning. Suddenly, and God as my witness I don’t know how, my Starbucks latte tipped over and instead of simply dripping out the little sippy hole (which would have been wonderful), the entire single/grande/vanilla latte flowed, yes, that is what it did—flowed—all over my desk! Okay, there are a couple of options here: scream, cuss, cry, rant and rave, I could have even “blamed” someone, except I work by myself, or remain somewhat composed and get something / anything to stop the increasing flow of coffee—quickly! In my many years on this earth, I’ve learned that typically the best course of action is to remain composed and move quickly. And so, hand towel, paper towels, and wet paper towels were my arsenal to mop up the mess quickly and silently (followed by lemon scented Pledge to help cut the c...

Fog can distort and hide the most familiar and obvious. When our vision is clouded and we can't make out which way to turn, we must rely on our heart's anchor….. When it's all been said and done There is just one thing that matters Did I do my best to live for truth? Did I live my life for you? When it's all been said and done All my treasures will mean nothing Only what I have done For love's rewards Will stand the test of time (* Jim Cowan) Trust that the sky will clear and once again your vision will become clear…. (photos taken on my morning walk - via iPhone and Cannon Elph)

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the one who will win." Roger Bannister (British athlete, first person in the world to run a mile in under 4 minutes) At my oldest daughter's wedding, the Pastor spoke of starting power and staying power . • Starting power is the newness, the excitement, the hopes, the anticipation of what is to come. • Staying power is the continual effort, the realization that relationships unfold over time and require diligent care and commitment to succeed. Are you in need of starting power or staying power ? At present I'm learning about staying power —"once the effort gets painful"—and as a former runner I know if I endure, I will reach my goal and claim the prize!

"Every day poise is acquired or lost before we leave our homes." Sarah Ban Breathnach From time to time all of us suffer from stress - below are suggestions for coping; Cultivate gratitude. Set aside an hour a day for solitude. (I have mine first thing in the morning) Begin your day with prayer, meditation or quiet reflection; and end it the same way. Keep it simple. Don't over-schedule - learn to say "no". Always carry with you something interesting to read. Move - walk, run, dance; use your body! Eat only when hungry. Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal. Laugh! Don't answer the telephone, iPhone, Blackberry during dinner - and NO texting! Avoid negative people. Nurture friendships. Change your perspective: Problems = Challenges to overcome. Savor beauty. Cherish your dreams. Express love everyday. Breathe -