Squirrel Hill

 Grief, Loss, Musing on Death  Comments Off on Squirrel Hill
Nov 022018
 

Last Saturday morning, on October 27, 2018, I shockingly read an email of a breaking tragedy unfolding at the Tree of Life.  Some recessed part of my brain recognized the name.  It was immediately familiar.  Reading further, my memory was confirmed when it was mentioned that it was in Squirrel Hill, my former home during college.  Then I looked up the building and it was very familiar visually, from thirty years ago, having gone by it numerous times for four years while living less than a mile away in the neighborhood.  I then tried to process my shock.

I imagine some of my neighbors from then may have been in the building Saturday morning.  I feel the need to honor my former beloved home and neighbors in the wake of the gruesome tragedy.  I hope that by sharing my grief, sadness, and memories of this vibrant area that I’m proud was my home, I may process through my bereavement.  My heart breaks for the peaceful, loving community there.  I have fond memories of the area.

I lived in Squirrel Hill as I attended the University of Pittsburgh from 1987 as an 18 year-old to 1990.  After graduating from U-Pitt in 1990, I built a house at 1646 Pinehurst Court in the Franklin Park area of Pittsburgh.  I can’t believe I remember the address.  It was built about the same time my current home in Denver was.  I then lived in a high-rise apartment in the Green Tree area of Pittsburgh until 1992, when I moved to Chicago following a divorce to start a new life.

The horrific event has taken me back to my life in Pittsburgh and at the University of Pittsburgh.  At U-Pitt, I spent most of my time in the Cathedral of Learning for my English Writing degree, as most of the English classes were located there.  I left for nearby buildings to complete my psychology degree and Asian studies certificate.  I developed a love of photography when I took courses with Pittsburgh Filmmakers.  I learned black and white photography which included developing my images in a dark room.  I also developed a love for video production through Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

I obtained a coveted paid public relations internship with Ketchum Public Relations and then a marketing internship, working with the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).  My internship supervisor stated I had the most marketable resume.

Squirrel Hill was my first home as an adult.  Remarkably, I still remember the address of the tri-level I lived in: 5832 Beacon Street in Squirrel Hill.  My wonderful landlords in Squirrel Hill who lived below me were Jewish.  I sometimes had dinner with them.  I was in a Jewish sorority at U-Pitt (Sigma Delta Tau), and was fine with others assuming I was Jewish.  On behalf of the sorority, I competed in a Greek Goddess competition, placing as a runner-up.

Murray Avenue is the main street off of Beacon Street.  I caught a bus near the intersection of Beacon and Murray to go to U-Pitt.  Murray Avenue is a bustling street where I walked to purchase freshly-baked bagels, do my laundry and purchase groceries at the nearby Giant Eagle grocery store.

I got to know the business owners on Murray Avenue well as a customer and also to sell advertisements to them for The Pitt News, where I was also a staff writer.  I was awarded “Most Persistent Account Executive” for transforming the least lucrative advertising territory of Squirrel Hill to most lucrative, over Oakland, where U-Pitt is located.  This was on my resume for a long time.  I had taken on the undesired territory as a challenge.  There must be roots in this experience and eventually getting and MBA in Market Strategy.  Fellow Pitt News Account Executives asked for my “strategy,” which I think was my caring relationships and connections with many business owners of Squirrel Hill, who were also friends and neighbors.  Some may have been in the building this past Saturday.

When I drove to Pittsburgh from Charlotte, NC in 1987, I was stunned by its beauty.  My first view was at night, coming out of Fort Pitt Tunnel to be struck by a lit-up downtown Pittsburgh, flanked by rivers and bridges.  The city claims to have the most bridges in the world, with 446.  I loved the ethnic diversity and attending the annual International Festival.  Many weekends, I went to the Strip District for groceries and ate great food at Station Square.

I didn’t personally know the neighbors who passed, but we shared the same space, possibly the same businesses, university, and likely passed each other.  We may have connections I’m not aware of.  Maybe they were my teachers in college or their children were my classmates.  There were likely many connections to Squirrel Hill.

I have had problems to contend with these days.  But this tragic event put things in perspective. I’m alive.  I may have time that those who passed do not.

Farewell, My Friend Leo

 Finding Meaning, Loss, Outlook, Relationships  Comments Off on Farewell, My Friend Leo
Nov 032017
 

878F1AD1-F2F1-488C-846F-3D8006FC1A1E.jpegDear Leo,

I’ve been stunned since yesterday, seeing the message associated with a LinkedIn invite.  I had been ignoring the invite from the woman for possibly weeks, thinking it was another work-related association I would get to later.  But then yesterday, I inadvertently saw the message on the invite that I didn’t know was there, with her stating she was your wife and that you had passed.  My heart stopped, as I immediately accepted the invite and responded back to her, beginning with “oh my God..”

I was further shocked learning the details of your passing, that you had six to seven months since learning about your advanced cancer diagnoses in March and then leaving us last month.  I can’t imagine what you went through during this time.

I stared at your LinkedIn picture with trimmed, tidy hair and background profile, feeling strange at the same time, knowing your professional profile was still there, but you were not.  Your impressive professional history was detailed, some of which you shared and intersected with mine.

You were devoted to our aerospace company and its Deep Impact program with a deadline in space in the next five years that could not be changed.  What a stressful deadline, that required you to work non-stop without sleep often.  The mission was a success, with the expense of your marriage, which ended.

I told your wife you had been like my smarter older brother, detailed the profound impact you had made on my life and how happy you seemed when I ran into you the past decade, after marrying her.  You appeared happy, adjusted and grounded, and that’s how I knew you had made a good choice in a mate.  You were focused on your lovely step daughter and I was touched to see the nurturing, fatherly Leo.

Your life clearly suited you and you seemed at peace.  I got the impression that you had evolved from what seemed to be your unrewarding rescue missions prior, which I have also been trying to move on from and let go of.

I will never forget the dark, curly, unruly-haired Cuban head I saw next to my cube that I got accustomed to seeing.  I wondered if the hair was perhaps unruly to match the focused engineer you were, like a mad scientist stereotype.

You were always there, as a workaholic, married first to our demanding company.  You were even there one Labor Day weekend, September of 2002, when you bravely shared your thoughts on my dysfunctional marriage, spurring me on to make the changes I needed to make.  You were courageous and caring enough to point out the inevitable course of action I needed to take, but didn’t feel strong enough to undertake.  You offered me that strength through your wisdom.

As a result, my life eventually turned big corners as I divorced.  You even provided pragmatic help that my family did not by lending me money during a financially difficult time as I made changes to transition to my new life.  I wouldn’t even know how to begin to thank you for this.

If I didn’t go to work then, I can’t imagine my life now.  Along with the loss of you from the world is a piece of me.  You were a part and witness to a significant, transformative time period of my life that you were instrumental in.  You showed me that someone can be an atheist and yet still be the most value-driven, caring person I’ve ever met.

You also divorced and struggled with missing your former partner.  I told you that “sometimes, it’s better to miss someone than to be with them.”  You mulled this over, said you liked it and that it helped you. Leo, I want you to know this quote doesn’t apply to you.  It breaks my heart we can’t have any more wise conversations because it would be better to be around you having deep, enlightening conversations than to miss you.

While drinking hot sake on a cold night, we provided each other with support following our divorces.  I have thought of you every time I’ve had hot sake since.  We never did get around to seeing Woody Allen movies together as we discussed, so now I must.  As you suggested, I will read (again?) Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which I believe is somewhere in my home.

Rest in peace, my friend, workaholic former colleague, mentor and adviser.  Wherever you are, dude, I just hope there is a lot of hair gel.  Just sayin.’

Soulitude

 Finding balance, Finding Meaning, Finding Purpose, Outlook, Personal Growth, Simplicity, Spirituality, Thoughts  Comments Off on Soulitude
Nov 252016
 

I long for soulitude,

to rest, breathe…
calm my mind, body and soul.

I seek soulitude,
to fully hear silence,
to see details
I never noticed.

Soulitude allows me to feel
expanded, enriched and newer,
a renewed version
I’ve never felt before.

With soulitude, I hear
like I’ve never heard before.

I hear and feel
every chord, every note
of every song…

I hear music that
gives me goosebumps…
and compels my spirit
to sing…

Soulitude increases and enhances
my vision,
to fully see
all that I did not,
could not, would not,
see…

I want to see
every hue of
every color
and every combination…
a kaleidoscope
of shifting,
evolving colors…

My spirit has been starved…
and hungers for healing

that begins with
being fed by
quiet, gentle,
soulitude.

All is Well

 Finding Meaning, Gratitude, Musing on Death, Musings, Outlook, Philosophy, Spirituality  Comments Off on All is Well
Nov 072016
 

In my calmest and most clarified moments, I see…that all is well.  Regardless of the choices made and paths taken, in the end, no matter what, all will be well.  As we near our end, there is not much that will matter or concern us.  We must let go of all there was and choose peace with all there is and is not.  What other options would we choose?  Would we consider ending our lives in anger, regret, remorse, or grief?

None of us were given manuals on how to live our lives.  Day by day, we try to learn about ourselves and how to care for and honor ourselves.  How can we make a judgment call of what is good or bad for someone?  We do not know all there is about life.  We do not know from that which we came and we do not know where we will go.  All we have is the time allowed and the paths in front of us.  We determine the paths chosen and how gracefully we can walk on them.

All we can do is just be.  Be in the moment fully.  That is all we have at any given moment. We can not judge these moments.  They just are.  Each moment is a gift to be mindful of, respect, and cherish.  Our moments savored are nourishing rain drops for our soul.  Our enriched soul can then come forth to awaken, be seen, heard, and honored.  Awakened souls united can enrich the world.

We can not decide or determine how long we are here or have others in our life or in this world.  What are they trying to teach us about ourselves?  What do we learn, understand, respect and honor about ourselves through our relationships?  They are there for us to find ourselves.  Others must be allowed to find their own paths towards the directions they seek.  Their paths and journeys belong to them.  We can not trespass on their paths, but patiently and respectfully hope to be invited to share their journeys as we allow them the privilege to share in ours.

Most of life is beyond our control.  We must simply be and feel all that we are and can become.  Being open to our heart, intuition and soul can allow us to accept, acknowledge and allow all there is…to meet, recognize and embrace our authentic self.  In the end, it is our true self we will be with.

Encouragement from Raleigh to Aurora

 Attitude, Causes, Finding balance, Finding Meaning, Finding Purpose, Gratitude, Musing on Death, Philosophy  Comments Off on Encouragement from Raleigh to Aurora
Aug 082012
 

As an employee of the city of Aurora in CO, my husband has come across lots of words of sympathy and encouragement from around the world.  Following is an encouraging letter from the city of Raleigh to the city of Aurora following the recent shooting.

Subject: Words of Encouragement from Raleigh, NC

 

Yesterday afternoon I attended a matinee viewing of The Dark Knight Rises, the final movie in the Batman trilogy; the unfortunate setting for the tragic act of violence during the movie’s midnight premier in your city, Aurora, Colorado. I, like so many others, have been following the unfolding of the theatre shooting and have felt a pull of singularity similar to the immediate reaction of patriotism that followed in the wake of 9/11. Sharing in the horror and impact of the intent and actions of one man I became immediately aware of my own fleeting life upon entering my local theatre. As the previews began my eyes searched for the emergency exits, and I took particular notice of every person who entered the room (all ten of them at that early time of day). During the first few minutes of the movie a rattling of gunfire on the screen made me alert and agitated, echoing the tragic testimonies shared of an audience who quickly diverted their attention from fantasy to reality in an effort to save and protect loved ones and themselves. I thought to myself, should I have come? But as the plot continued I became enraptured by the villainous mind of Bain, the sheer hopelessness of Gotham City, and the contemplative genius of Bob Kane on the relationship between good and evil in our worlds: fiction and reality alike.  As the credits rolled up from the bottom of the screen at the conclusion of the movie, I sat recovering from being emotionally invested in the outcome of the plot and reflecting upon the men and women who are struggling to find solace and understanding in the aftermath of the Aurora tragedy. The truth is the movie made me think only of Aurora.  The character Bruce Wayne repeatedly remarks on his identity being only a suit that anyone can wear. In an epic moment of dialogue during the plot the audience is reminded that a hero can be found in a single moment,  “A hero can be anyone, even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know the world hasn’t ended (Bruce Wayne as Batman).” Although it is tempting to idolize the fictional Batman as the ultimate hero, there is a resounding distinction between the heroes of fiction and the heroes of our reality. The men, women and children who are picking up the aftermath of the Aurora tragedy are the heroes of our present day. Aurora has a nation of support surrounding them, cheering “rise!” as we watch a community climb out of the darkness of such tragedy. Aurora, I stand with a nation that is shouting cheers full of hope for you, that this tragedy will make you stronger as you search for answers, struggle with prayers, and learn the art of survival that follows great loss. Jonathan Blunk, Alexander Boik, Jesse Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica Ghawi, John Larimer, Matt MacQuinn, Micayla Medek, Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Sullivan, Alexander C. Teves, and Rebecca Wingo are names engraved on my heart.

I could not help but to think of Aurora and the victims of that horrible night, and know that an entire nation is doing the same, as these words are echoed in theatres across the world, “I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, that I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” Aurora, this is a moment for heroes, and we are all looking at you: a beautiful city, a brilliant people, a community that will rise from this abyss.

 

Sincerely,

Raleigh, NC.

Sad day for CO

 Finding Meaning, Gratitude, Loss, Outlook, Philosophy, Spirituality, Thoughts  1 Response »
Jul 202012
 

I along with fellow Colorado residents woke up this morning to the sad news of another shooting.  I’m sure many that are at least as old as me were transported to that day when there was breaking news of Columbine.  My now 14 year-old teen was an infant as I, a new mom then, was trying to reconcile the world my child was born into…He of course does not remember that day as he connects with fellow teens on what has occurred today.  I wonder what they are saying and how they comfort one another with their limited time on this planet.  I’m not certain how the rest of us console one another.

I don’t know what experience in this world teaches us about these events.  It is particularly hard to hear and understand when the victims are children.  In this case, even a three-month old.  Spiritually and as a mom, this is particularly difficult.  I’m sure all moms would want to hug and hold this child’s mom along with the moms of the other children, such as a six year-old and fourteen year-old (that could have been my teen).  One victim had survived a previous shooting.  She had a strange feeling and had walked out of a mall just before the shooting.

A common difficult feeling most of us feel during times like these is that of helplessness.  In this case, it occurred at midnight, when most of us were sleeping.  It was the first thing I heard about when barely awake, before my first cup of coffee.  But life had to go on, we had to get ready for work and get our daughter ready for daycare.  As the day wore on, we learned more.  The children that lost lives, from 3 months to 14 years.  My child’s beloved daycare teacher’s husband was there, covering a teen boy with his body to shield him.  A City of Aurora employee, my spouse can see the theater from his building at the Aurora Municipal Center.  This tragedy will impact him and his colleagues even more.  I imagine there would be permanent changes to their work culture and how they view their jobs and city.

It is strange to think I was just at the Aurora Municipal Center the previous weekend with our daughter to attend the city’s kid festival, “Kidspree,”  where my husband was volunteering.  There was a huge turn-out from Aurora and the focus was on innocence and fun for the kids.  Some Aurora police officers were there, on their bikes, with not much to do but enjoy the event.  Kids were on the karaoke machine back to back, belting out songs including those from Adele.

One of the thoughts that comes next for most us is regarding what, if anything, we can do.  From a big picture, it is challenging.  How can such a tragedy be prevented?  Are the violent movies to blame?  Is there inadequate or not enough mental health services?  How and why did this student get to this stage?  Is this another case of a “lost” boy as mentioned during Columbine?  Are we not taking adequate care of some of our boys so they can grow up to be caring and responsible members of society?  These are tough, complicated questions with probable tough, complicated answers.  At the same time, such questions and others should be asked and answers should be sought, however complicated they may be.

In the meantime, there are pragmatic, immediate actions that can be done to help if desired.  The American Red Cross Mile High Chapter is seeking donations to help the families displaced or hurt by this violence.  The Bonfils Blood Center is requesting donations of O-Negative and A-Negative blood to help them restore their bank following the numerous surgeries related to injuries sustained during the shooting.

This tragedy reminds us to hold our loved ones close, count our blessings, and to be appreciative of our fragile time here.

Overcoming Obstacles

 Finding balance, Goals, Outlook, Personal Growth, Philosophy, Spirituality  Comments Off on Overcoming Obstacles
Aug 102011
 

The topic of overcoming obstacles has been fascinating to me. How are some people able to come out of challenging situations negatively impacted while others thrive in their lives?

There have been various accounts of people getting caught in a similar difficult situation, but who came out of the experience feeling different – with some less negatively affected than others.  This could have been based on how they perceived their situation and whether they acted to overcome their circumstances and potential negative effect versus becoming passive.

What situations have you felt you’ve overcome well?  Are there tools that you developed that you rely on as a result to continue to overcome difficulties?

I’ve blogged about similar topics along with writing articles for magazines.  I’ve gotten to the point where I wanted to challenge myself with a bigger piece of work.  I’m now polishing up my first (hopefully) ebook entitled:  “In Search of Ganesha, the God of Overcoming Obstacles.”

Look for it within a week!  In it, I share my own experiences on this topic, my reflections, lessons I’ve learned (and still learning), along with tools I’ve found useful that I try to utilize.

Update 8/11/11:  Here is the link to purchase the ebook:  http://uploadnsell.com/buy/k3bEbI

Farewell My Dear Princess Pooja

 Finding balance, Loss, Musing on Death, Personal Growth, Relationships, Spirituality  Comments Off on Farewell My Dear Princess Pooja
Jun 062011
 

Pooja

My Dearest Pooja,

it feels challenging to even accept that I’m writing to you in the universe as of 6/3/11, rather than find you in my home, to tell you directly how much you have meant to me.  The words have been forming, and they feel inadequate.

  • You have been my anchor for 15 years.
  • You have been part of the definition of my existence.
  • My daily script included you.
  • We have been extremely loyal to each other and have been there together during ups and downs.  I nursed you through a life-threatening dog attack, hip surgery and various life changes, as you nursed me by being my constant, loving companion, though bossy and ornery at times, just as I was.

Dear Pooja, how do I continue my loyalty to you now?  How do I continue to take care of you now?  This phase doesn’t fit in the script of my life and function with you.  Where do I go from here?

I am not and was not ready for the story of you and me to end.  Maybe you knew that and you left me on a Friday when my husband could help that weekend with my daughter so I could grieve and also leaving after my son was out of school, as he will be there tomorrow when my husband goes back to work.  He is also spared having to face school during this time of healing.

I can not be mad at you because that would make me not loyal and devoted to you.  But I have felt mad at something for taking you away from me in a way that I can’t even get you back.  There is not a chance of reunion in this lifetime for me and when you got lost and I found you at the shelter.

Your passing does not have a solution like your previous wounds; I can not fix it, and I am not in control.  That must be part of the loyal, parental anger I feel.  I would not desert you and I would find you to the end of the Earth, as I know you would do for me.  But you are not on this Earth now and I have been paralyzed and lost with grief and shock.  Now what?  How do I march forward without you by my side?

You have been the security blanket I’ve unknowingly had for 15 years.  All was well at a basic, constant level when you were in the picture.  You helped me feel secure, grounded, centered, and loved.  It is hard to look at any space in my home and notice that you are not in it.  With you in my life, the days seemed sunnier, the flowers felt prettier, and smelled nicer.  I cared more about having my plants grow and enjoying the warmer weather with you.  I enjoyed the breeze through you, watching you sniff it, basking in the sun and environment around you in our back yard, just within the past week.  How do I experience and enjoy life without you?

Your deteriorating health sent me to tears, as I was forced to consider the inevitable with your age.  Reading about potential help with your ailments (that I was aware of) gave me hope, which I held to as you went to see the vet this Friday, 6/3.  I assumed you would come home that night with medication to fix things, and I would continue my regimen of caring for you and the rest of my kids.  I was not prepared to consider you may not come home.  Now I try to conjure up every moment of that day, as it ended up being my last with you.  Had I known it would be, would it be easier?  Or is it like children getting a vaccination shot, when you may not want them to know the exact moment and be distracted, to lessen the pain and fear of anticipation?

Your loyalty extended to my children, whom you watched enter the world, grow, and love you.  You chose to sleep near me at the end of the day, every single day, even when your back legs were failing you recently, and you would push your body up to your spot in my room and life.  When we limited how much you pushed your body by restricting you and you stopped protesting with your barks; I was filled with sadness, knowing your were resigning to a new phase.  This was not the Pooja I knew, and I was scared.

I am so sorry for being so bad at letting you go, and if that caused you further suffering and a heavier burden.  I’m sorry for my selfishness in thinking there would not ever be a good time for you to go.  You ended up looking after me even in your passing by ensuring I was with the support I needed.

As much as I hurt in losing you, I will never regret the love you brought in my life and that of my family the past 15 years, which will always be a part of me.  You have blessed me and my family immeasurably.  Thank you, Pooja, you are a “prayer” answered, as your name means.  I pray that I will see you someday, in your peak physical form, flying through the air to catch a frisbee and chasing tennis balls.

Tennis balls will remind me of you along with everything else.  For now, just waking up, breathing and looking at anything reminds me of you.  My heart aches and feels empty at the same time.  I don’t want to be disloyal by not thinking about you and letting you go in anyway feels disloyal.  Giving up your body felt disloyal.  I will never be able to feel your soft ears that felt like the plant lamb’s ear in my yard.

Two weekends ago, I was noticing your triangular ears perked up as you were lounging next to my husband in the park.  You did not look aged.  You were beautiful, majestic, serene, and proud.  Looking into your eyes felt like I was looking at an old soul and that you could see my soul.  I am grateful for choosing to look into those eyes as you passed from this world.  And then I looked at the dreaded sight of your body not going up and down with breath.  You were still.  Your eyes and gaze remained the same.

Pooja, I will love you forever.  You are a part of me and my family and always will be.  I will be honoring you every time I love and nurture my family that I will always be loyal to, as you have been.  Rest in peace, my Princess Pooja and now my angel.

Pooja, Colin, and Bhalloo 1/18/10

 

 

The Butterfly Experiment

 Goals, Outlook, Philosophy, Spirituality  Comments Off on The Butterfly Experiment
May 022011
 

At the Butterfly Pavillion in Denver

I’m on day 1 of an interesting experiment that I have not done exactly right and have already seen the desired result.  The experiment is about manifestation and personal transformation.

The process utilizes the spiritual laws of attraction.  This is about the idea that what you focus on expands or comes to you.  This means that if you focus on gratitude for that which you already have, it should expand.  Unfortunately, it also means that if you focus on something you’re unhappy about, that too will expand.

One of the “tricks” of manifestation is that if you are hoping for more of something like money, you can’t curse the lack of it in your life at the same time that you desire more.  So, in the spirit of fun and spiritual adventure, I decided to try this experiment in manifestation and the laws of attraction.  The premise is that by focusing on something tangible and simple like butterflies, you should be able to bring them into your life in some form, even if it’s a mention in a song or an image on a card.

So day 1 of the experiment called for 5-15 minutes of meditation (I did about 1 minute) and 17 seconds of visualizing butterflies (although I didn’t time it, I believe I managed this).  I planned on doing more of the meditation tonight.  Motherhood beckoned and I had a mom’s group at my Unitarian church to get to.  At the mom’s group, the preschool coordinator was asked to describe what the preschool kids would be doing today.  She held up a butterfly made with tissues and a clothespin (gasp!) and proceeded to describe how the kids would be making this butterfly craft.

I thought of what a psychic had told me years ago when I was a single mom to a boy – that I was an old soul, had the gift of manifestation which I should explore, and that he saw a girl in my future.  Now that I have a 2 year-old daughter, I wondered if the butterfly craft was affirming his manifestation reading about me.  It’s too soon to tell, but I am intrigued and will continue with the experiment to see if I manifest more butterflies and then perhaps to other agendas (like that million dollars, which my husband fully supports trying to manifest).

 

Source:  The Butterfly Experiment

Managing Stress

 Attitude, Finding balance, Gratitude, Happiness, Humor, Outlook, Philosophy, Self-Care  1 Response »
Apr 242011
 

Think about a relaxing waterfall.

Are you highly stressed or anxious?  Stress can wreak havoc on our health in many ways.  Here are some ways to manage it:

Keep Perspective

It is important to keep perspective.  When you feel up, keep notes.  When you feel down, take notes.  When you are down, read these notes to see how you got through it, and more importantly, that you did get through it.

When you are up, enjoy it, and know that you may go down…Don’t take life too seriously!  Remember that the only thing that remains constant is change, “this too shall pass.”

    Laugh

    Maintain a sense of humor and try to find something funny in everyday life.  Be around people that make you laugh.  Watch shows that make you laugh.  Find as many ways as possible  to laugh as much as you can daily.

    Journal

    Work through issues by writing down what is blocking you from the direction you want to go.  Is it you or external events?  What is going well?  What are you grateful for?  Make a list of what you want in all areas of your life.  Diagram the different areas – mental, physical, emotional, spiritual.  Fill in the boxes with what is working.  Which block seems more empty?  That area needs attention.

      Develop a support system

      Ensure you have adequate support to help you when times are tough.  Be comfortable with utilizing professional support including life coaches in addition to friends.  Even pets can be a source of comfort.

       

       

       

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