Take Two Of These And Call Me In The Morning...

As children and young adults we take for granted our health and the health of our loved ones. We think we are invincible and jump out of trees, recklessly speed with our friends in tow, drink too much, and avoid going to the doctor. We are young and don't have any aches or pains.

Then one day life sneaks up on you. You can't stay out as late as you used to and your body gets tired more easily. Your friends start to lose their parents. Your parent is diagnosed with cancer, treatable, thank God. Your friend is diagnosed with a brain tumor, not treatable...and your life flashes before your eyes.

Everyone has a different story of how they came to realize health is the most precious gift we are given. Unfortunately it usually involves them losing someone or fighting their own health crisis. Fancy cars, big homes, vacations, none of it matters unless you and those you love are healthy. It's cliché but its reality, and until you have to face reality, you may not understand it.

I don't think we should walk around in a constant state of "living like we were dying"- remember, everything in moderation- we need to be responsible and go to work, clean our house, meet our obligations. But I do think that everyday we should take a minute and focus on our breath, our beating heart and clean lungs, thank God for them, and pray to God for those that are without. But before the grace of God there go I.

Stress Less!

Stress has seemed to invade my life. I have prided myself on good work/life balance and leaving issues where they belong, not carrying them over. With getting ready to move, planning Audrey's second birthday, busy season at work, and life in general, I am not balancing so well.

My eye is twitching almost everyday. I am not taking the time to center myself in God and prayer. I am neglecting my writing and running, hobbies that I derive great pleasure from. I am taking for granted my blessings. I have lost focus on Mike and our marriage.

I need to turn this 'stress' around and it is easier to do then you or I would like to think. Today's society is so caught up in being busy that people receive praise for being pulled in too many directions. We don't want to limit our activities and level of stress because we don't want to be viewed as lazy or underachieving, so when someone asks us how we are we reply "Oh, I am so busy!! I have so much going on with work and Katie has dance and Billy has softball, and we are doubled book with parties this weekend." Well, I want to turnaround the stress and craziness, and it's all in how I actually perceive my life.

Yes, I am moving and have a full work and personal schedule..but aren't all of those things blessings? We are moving into a beautiful home, we have careers that support our way of living and we are surrounded by family and friends. This is not stress, this is a full and blessed life.

So next time someone asks me how I am, instead of explaining on how hectic and demanding my life is , I am going to respond that I am happy and grateful for everything I have.