So I am writing this one. It’s not the other one. Make sense? I thought if I switched gears that it would help. It does.

Consider my gears switched.

I thought if I would smile I would feel better. I smiled and you know what? I feel better.

I thought if I would change my thoughts I might change my world! But I couldn’t make myself think a better thought. So I stopped thinking thoughts and typed some words that bring feelings of happiness.

Family
Love
Kisses
Hugs
Babies
Joy
Ferns
Roses
Daisies
Daffodils
Smiles
Laughter
Sunny Days
Rainy Days
Playgrounds
Sleep
Homemade Soup
Fruit Loops
Books
Big overstuffed chairs

Rainbows. And Color. Color makes me happy.

I could go on for days. It works though. I feel better.

Life is magically delicous.

My mind and soul are detoxing. At first I didn’t know exactly what had hit me. Slowly its beginning to dawn on me what’s going on. At least I have a good idea about what is happening here. But I don’t understand it all.

I don’t understand what God is trying to tell me. That’s a lie. I DO understand bits and pieces. And it is so painful.

So very painful.

I am looking for a spiritual retreat near my home so that I can get away and detox on my own because I think in this process I may very well drive crazy the ones I love the most.

I didn’t know this would be so brutal.

I thought because in some areas of my life I’d been to hell and back, that I would breeze through this mind/soul decluttering journey I’ve embarked upon.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. I thought I’d risen above it. I thought I was stronger than this. But it is shattering me.

I am full of drama. So unlike me. I hate drama. With a passion I hate drama.

Last night I thought I might be having a nervous breakdown of some sort. It is a breakdown alright. A breakdown of beliefs that no longer serve me. A breakdown of memories that are stored away and the cause of actions that are foreign to me and the way I live my life now. Memories that voice themselves in fear, depression, jealousy, delusional accusations, terror, anger. I could go on but I’m sure you get my drift. Words come out of my mouth and I don’t know where they’ve come from. Sometimes in the middle of a sentence I realize I have no idea what I’m talking about or why I’m talking. I say things I don’t mean.

I’ll be glad when this is over.

I’m eager to get it over with. I’m eager for sunny days.

Reading back over this I realize how melodramatic this all sounds.

I almost hit delete. But confession is good for the soul.

Here’s the poem:

The Poet with His Face in His Hands

You want to cry aloud for your
mistakes. But to tell the truth the world
doesn’t need anymore of that sound.

So if you’re going to do it and can’t
stop yourself, if your pretty mouth can’t
hold it in, at least go by yourself across

the forty fields and the forty dark inclines
of rocks and water to the place where
the falls are flinging out their white sheets

like crazy, and there is a cave behind all that
jubilation and water fun and you can
stand there, under it, and roar all you

want and nothing will be disturbed; you can
drip with despair all afternoon and still,
on a green branch, its wings just lightly touched

by the passing foil of the water, the thrush,
puffing out its spotted breast, will sing
of the perfect, stone-hard beauty of everything.

~ Mary Oliver ~

There it was in black and white “You want to cry aloud for your
mistakes. But to tell the truth the world doesn’t need anymore of that sound.”

And as the poem went on I understood. I need to shut up crying and whining about the past. The world doesn’t need to hear it anymore. And by the time I get under the cave to roar all I want…I’ve passed through forty fields and forty dark inclines of rocks and water, falls flinging out their white sheets like crazy, jubilation and water fun. Who would want to cry and whine and roar after going through all that? I see the beautiful fields and dark inclines of rocks and water. I feel the spray from the white billowing falls. I hear the jubilation and sounds of laughter from the water fun. Then I hear the thrush singing of the beauty of it all. Forget going under the cave and crying, I’m having too much fun here.

Life is meant to be lived out in the open. That’s where the sunshine is. Out in the open fields and inclines of rocks and water. Playing in the falls, listening to the beautiful song of the thrush. Not under the cave where you can scream and wail about all your mistakes and past sins. Getting right smack dab in the middle of life is what it’s all about. That is where the sunny days are.

So…Plan A derailed.

Back to the drawing board.

Number one thing that needs to be done in my life: I need to change. I need to empty out a lot of old stuff so there’s room for love and joy and laughter and all the good stuff in life. I’ve carried all this old baggage around way too long, and it’s not serving me anymore. Hasn’t been serving me for years.

I just don’t want to obligate myself to change. Thus, I’ve put it off. And really that’s okay because I do accept me just like I am. But, as with everyone, there are areas in my life that could use some polishing. Some spit shining. Maybe even a total overhaul. A complete remodel.

I want sunny days in my life. I want the dark clouds gone. Good and gone.

So I’m putting myself out there.

On the line.

In the line of fire.

Throw stones if you will but I’d rather have some friends to join me. I’m going to have to take this one single day at a time. Some days it will probably be one hour at a time. Maybe even one minute at a time. Some days I may fail. And if I do it will be okay. I’ll pick myself up and keep going, maybe having to start over, maybe picking up where I left off. But no matter what…I have to keep moving.

But I will be easy on myself.

Because when it’s all said and done, I’m all that I’ve got. Just me and me. We’re a team.

Even if no one else ever really sees this blog, if no one ever pays attention, I will see it. And I will know I have done what I needed to do to get to where I’m supposed to be.

Now, how to do it. And what areas will be changing? The first area is easy to see but not easy to take care of because it consists of the dreaded “letting go”.

I will declutter. Make space. Lots of space. Big space. Clean space.

In my home and in my mind. My whole life needs to be decluttered.

This may take some time but I have kinda sorta been doing it already. Half-assed doing it. Time to get serious.

I’m getting out the big guns.

Join me if you dare. We may have to get down and dirty but will come out in the end smelling like a rose.

Stay tuned.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

—Max Ehrmann. 1927

The Things We Do For Love ~

Too many broken hearts have fallen in the river
Too many lonely souls have drifted out to sea,
You lay your bets and then you pay the price
That The things we do for love, the things we do for love.

Communication is the problem to the answer
You’ve got her number and your hand is on the phone
The weathers turned, and all the lines are down
The things we do for love, the things we do for love.

Like walking in the rain and the snow
When there’s nowhere to go
And you’re feelin’ like a part of you is dying
And you’re looking for the answer in her eyes.
You think you’re gonna break up
Then she says she wants to make up.

Ooh you made me love you (you made me love you)
Ooh you’ve got a way (you’ve got a way)
Ooh you had me crawling up the wall. oooooo
Ahhhhhhh

[SOLO]

The things we do for love, the things we do for love.

Like walking in the rain and the snow
When there’s nowhere to go
And you’re feelin’ like a part of you is dying
And you’re looking for the answer in her eyes.
You think you’re gonna break up
Then she says she wants to make up.

Ooh you made me love you (you made me love you)
Ooh you’ve got a way (you’ve got a way)
Ooh you had me crawling up the wall. 0Ooooo

A compromise would surely help the situation
Agree to disagree but disagree to part
When after all it’s just a compromise of
The things we do for love, the things we do for love
The things we do for love, the things we do for love
The things we do for love, the things we do for love
The things we do for love, the things we do for love

By 10cc

1. Be generous with your smiles.
2. Commit daily acts of kindness.
3. Respect the Earth.
4. Walk in a forest.
5. Plant a tree.
6. Contemplate a mountain.
7. Don’t pollute.
8. Live simply.
9. Skip a meal each week, and send $5.00 to an organization helping the hungry.
10. Erase a border in your mind.
11. Teach peace to children.
12. Read Chief Seattle’s Letter to the President.
13. Be honest.
14. Demand honesty from your government.
15. Think about consequences.
16. Commit yourself to nonviolence.
17. Support nonviolent solutions to global problems.
18. Speak up for a healthy planet.
19. Demand reductions in military expenditures.
20. Be fair.
21. Pledge allegiance to the Earth and to its varied life forms.
22. Think for yourself.
23. Ask questions.
24. Recognize your unique potential.
25. Join an organization working for peace.
26. Be less materialistic.
27. Be more loving.
28. Support an Arms Trade Code of Conduct.
29. Oppose all weapons of mass destruction.
30. Sign the Abolition 2000 International Petition.
31. Work for an international ban on land mines.
32. Use your special talents for a more harmonious world.
33. Listen to your heart.
34. Help the poor.
35. Fight against militarism.
36. Study the lives of peace heroes.
37. Help create a community peace park or garden.
38. Commemorate the International Day of Peace in your community (the third Tuesday in September).
39. Help strengthen the United Nations.
40. Support the creation of an International Criminal Court to hold individual leaders accountable for crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.
41. Read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and demand that your government live by it.
42. Be aware of the rights of future generations. Sign the Cousteau Society Bill of Rights for Future Generations.
43. Make decisions as though all life truly matters. It does!
44. Join an action alert network.
45. Make your voice heard by speaking out for peace.
46. Laugh more.
47. Play with a child.
48. Support health, education and the arts over more weapons.
49. Help educate the next generation to be compassionate and responsible.
50. Accept personal responsibility for creating a better world.
51. Sing.
52. Write a poem.
53. Organize a church service on the theme of peace.
54. Learn about another culture.
55. Help someone.
56. Support the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
57. Climb a mountain.
58. Clear your mind.
59. Breathe deeply.
60. Sip tea.
61. Express your views to government officials.
62. Fight for the environment.
63. Celebrate Earth Day.
64. Think like an astronaut, recognizing that we have only one Earth.
65. Be constructive.
66. Ring a bell for peace.
67. Plant seeds of peace.
68. Work in a garden.
69. Change a potential enemy into a friend.
70. Watch the movie Amazing Grace and Chuck.
71. Share.
72. Be more peaceful.
73. Send a note of appreciation.
74. Tell your friends how much they matter.
75. Say “I love you” more.
76. Don’t tolerate prejudice.
77. Demand more from your elected officials.
78. Walk by the ocean, a river, or a lake.
79. Recognize that all humans have the right to life.
80. Respect the dignity of each person.
81. Be a leader in the struggle for human decency.
82. Watch the movie The King of Hearts.
83. Send sunflowers to world leaders, and call for a world free of nuclear weapons.
84. Oppose technologies that harm the environment.
85. Lose an argument to a loved one.
86. Read Hiroshima by John Hersey.
87. Walk softly on the Earth.
88. Appreciate the power of the sun.
89. Speak out for global disarmament.
90. Support a stronger world order.
91. Teach non-violence by example.
92. Remember that “No man is an Island.”
93. Spend time in nature.
94. Boycott war toys.
95. Be thankful for the miracle of life.
96. Read All Quiet on the Western Front or A Time to Love and a Time to Die by Erich Maria Remarque.
97. Remind your leaders that peace matters.
98. Oppose violence in television programming for children.
99. Listen to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.
100. Celebrate peace.

by David Krieger

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less
food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk,
smile.

Personality:
11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t overdo. Keep your limits…
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with
His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present
happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate
others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and
fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will
last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of
6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your
friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Please share this with everyone you care about.

~ Author Unknown

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Record your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement “My purpose is to____ today.”

5. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did before.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, Negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the Curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. Burn the candles, use the nice bed sheets, Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. So stop complaining about the weather, the job, the rents etc etc

31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

32. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

34. The best is yet to come.

35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36. Do the right thing!

37. Call your family often.

38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: “I am thankful for ___.” Today I accomplished ____.

39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

~ Author Unknown

How did you feel after you finished those tasks? I’ll bet you felt a rush of adrenaline and a true sense of accomplishment.

You walked away from the job feeling more positive about yourself and the rest of the day. Just as a plunger unclogs your sink, cleaning out your physical clutter unclogs you.

When our physical surroundings are cluttered, we feel clogged and uncomfortable both in our physical space and in our consciousness. Our energy is blocked. Our creativity is squelched.

Action Step #1:

Roll up your sleeves and start reducing the physical clutter.

If you’re like most people, you have clutter in your home or apartment, and you have clutter in your work space. Let’s start with your living area. Give away the things you’re not using. Consider whether a family member, friend or charity could use each item.

Here is my rule to keep clutter in check: if I am going to take IN an item, then an existing item must go OUT. At work, clean up your desk area. Keep on the desk surface only what is absolutely necessary for day to day work. File it or discard the rest.

If you have trouble tackling this task, hire a professional organizer who will help you reduce clutter and set up systems to deal with papers and other items.

You don’t have to become a neat freak. It’s about making a significant dent in the clutter that is clogging you! Note: putting your existing clutter in neat piles doesn’t count. Our mission is to reduce the clutter.

Action Step #2:

Forgive those who you feel have wronged you.

Physical clutter is not the only the thing that can clog our system. We remain emotionally and spiritually clogged when we hang on to grudges, resentments and other negative emotions.

Are you holding any resentment toward anyone right now? If so, your emotional and spiritual system is clogged. You’re devoting energy to that resentment, which “steals” energy you could be applying to more productive things.

You’re probably saying, “But you don’t know what this person did to me!” That’s true, I don’t know. What I do know is that your resentment or grudge is doing YOU no good at all. Why hang on to something that makes you feel angry and miserable?

If you think your grudge is too hard to give up, consider what happened to Victoria Ruvolo in November, 2004. She was driving her car on Long Island in New York. A 17-year old teenager in another car flung a 20 pound frozen turkey out of the rear window and into the path of oncoming traffic.

The turkey smashed the windshield of Victoria’s car, with a force that bent her steering wheel and shattered every bone in her face. Surgeons had to rebuild her face with metal plates and screws.

In August of 2005, the teenager pled guilty to second degree assault. Victoria Ruvolo was in the courtroom that day. She had asked the District Attorney to recommend a lenient sentence for the young man. As a result, he received a sentence of only six months in jail.

As the young man walked out of the courtroom, she embraced him and comforted him while he was sobbing. She forgave him for a senseless act that almost took her life and which had inflicted devastating injuries.

By forgiving the young man, Victoria Ruvolo got unclogged. She recognized that bitterness would only hurt her as she tried to get on with her life. Her act of forgiveness also helped to unclog the young man’s life.

It may be possible to understand how Victoria forgave the teenager since he didn’t intend to cause severe harm to her. His conduct was reckless, but he didn’t set out to hurt anyone. But what about a case where the harm is intentionally inflicted?

New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald faced this situation in July of 1986. While on patrol in Central Park, the then-29-year-old detective stopped some teenagers to question them. While he was speaking to them, one youngster (15-years-old) took out a gun and shot Steven McDonald in the head and neck.

In the hospital, McDonald learned that he would be paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life. He needs a machine to breathe.

At the time of the incident, McDonald had been married only eight months and his wife was three months pregnant. He was in the hospital for 18 months. After being released from the hospital, McDonald forgave the young man who shot him.

McDonald said he needed to do that to free himself from anger and resentment. Simply put, he needed to get unclogged and to move forward on a mission to change people’s hearts.

Steven McDonald speaks in schools about forgiveness and nonviolent conflict resolution. The chances are that whatever happened to you is nowhere near as serious as what happened to Steven McDonald.

If he was able to forgive a person who shot him and paralyzed him for life, can you forgive those who have inflicted some type of emotional or physical pain on you?

Remember, you’re doing this to unclog yourself, so it doesn’t matter if the other person accepts your forgiveness or even knows about it. For that matter, the other person could be dead. Forgive the other person and free yourself.

Think about family members, friends, colleagues or co- workers. What resentments are you holding onto? These include the major resentments as well as the petty ones.

Give up the bitterness and get on with your life. This is not always easy and there is no formula that applies to everyone. Make the important decision to release your negative emotions.

As you reduce physical clutter and forgive those you resent, you’ll gain a host of benefits. You’ll feel more comfortable in your physical surroundings. Your health will improve. You’ll feel less stress. You’ll see new opportunities. Your whole life will open up in ways you never imagined.

– Jeff Keller

(c) Attitude is Everything, Inc.
___________
Jeff Keller is a motivational speaker and author of the book, Attitude is Everything. He’s also released a fabulous audio program called “Success from Soup to Nuts” at http://www.getmotivation.com/qk.cgi/successtonuts-jk — For more information about his motivational presentations and resources, go to http://www.attitudeiseverything.com