tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post4195940399916875131..comments2019-11-25T02:10:38.559-05:00Comments on Creative Muse Journal: Are You Too Attached?Donna B. Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18095949613831165406noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-78244307964628416722010-02-09T05:07:51.541-05:002010-02-09T05:07:51.541-05:00Tom, thank you for stopping by. I hope you'll ...Tom, thank you for stopping by. I hope you'll visit again, soon.<br /><br />Barbara, thank you for your comments. I have a dog and two cats, and they teach me so much. We lost our male cat, Dickens, to cancer last August, and just adopted a 3-year-old female, Micau. Since our other female cat, Meisha is nearly 13, and my dog Mindy is 11, we are rediscovering how much fun it is to watch a young cat (she acts more like a kitten) play and explore her new world with eyes full of wonder and curiosity. All three of them bring so much joy and love into our lives every day!<br /><br />Gluten-free foods have, indeed, come a long way. When I was first diagnosed twenty years ago, the boxes tasted better than some of the products they contained! Now, my adult children have begun buying some of the products because they like the taste and texture.<br /><br />We have had several special needs animal companions over the years including a cat with severe asthma and one with chronic urinary tract disease; a Border Collie that went blind at age 2 and lived to be 12; Meisha, who had two homes before we adopted her, went through two life-threatening illnesses, and took two years of patience and love before she came out of her shell. Now, she's also going blind, but is Queen of the Castle and very confident. Mindy was shot in the foot when she was a puppy, and it was never properly treated, so it is crooked and arthritic, but she doesn't let it stop her. We adopted her 5 years ago when she was 6 years old, and I trained her to be my service dog. You can read a bit about her in the notes on my Facebook page, "Mindy the Weather Dog."Donna B. Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095949613831165406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-10634307341582878972010-02-07T14:54:56.888-05:002010-02-07T14:54:56.888-05:00I LOVED this post, Donna! I am a big follower of ...I LOVED this post, Donna! I am a big follower of Cheryl Richardson also and find so much help in her words, as well as her weekly radio show. I can appreciate letting go of the outcome, as I think many of us can get so caught up in that... and then we get frustrated. Being aware and returning to "letting go" has helped me tremendously. Having radio shows like Cheryl's and reminders from posts like yours helps us feel so not alone in our quests on our journeys.<br /><br />I really try to live in the moment too-- my dogs teach me that each and every day and I'm so grateful for that.<br /><br />Excellent post! Good luck with your new way of life and eating... btw they make tons of really good gluten free products these days, so you won't feel so deprived of your carbs (pasta, etc.) My system can not handle regular pasta anymore, but gluten free is a God-send.<br /><br />Barbara Techel<br />Award winning author of the Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Book Series<br />My passion is bringing a positive face and voice to animals with disabilities<br />Frankie is Official Mascot for National Disabled Pets Day and<br />Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame Companion Dog<br />http://www.joyfulpaws.com<br />http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.comBarbara Techelhttp://www.joyfulpaws.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-17464891027978571782010-02-06T18:39:07.291-05:002010-02-06T18:39:07.291-05:00So true.tvSo true.tvTom Vancelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00235504822060557139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-15333456695513053332010-01-28T03:01:44.178-05:002010-01-28T03:01:44.178-05:00When I had my follow up visit with the doctor this...When I had my follow up visit with the doctor this week, I shared with her how frustrating it is when I eat the right things and still don't lose weight. She told me not to focus on weight loss, but on eating a healthy diet. I realized that it takes a long time to lose weight in a healthy manner, but I can achieve a goal of eating a healthy diet every day--no waiting involved. So, I'm trying to shift my focus.<br /><br />Have you considered how you could use the process of losing weight and obtaining the certifications to learn patience? You're already a step ahead because you've identified the problems--you're putting too much pressure on yourself, and you need to release your attachment to the end result (losing weight, passing the certification tests). Ask yourself, for example, "What can I do to decrease the stress? How can I get my mind to relax so it can absorb the material I'm studying?"<br /><br />Here are some things you might try:<br /><br />1. When you're studying and feel stressed, like you can't concentrate, take a break. Go into another room so you physically remove yourself from the source of the stress for 10-15 minutes. Sit or lie down, close your eyes and do some relaxation breathing, listen to some peaceful music, or a combination of these. Shift your focus from the problem to something pleasant and relaxing.<br /><br />2. Try some affirmations such as: I welcome the challenge of learning new things. I focus on the present material before me, instead of on the future tests. The tests are a measure of what I learn, not a measure of my self-worth. I take care of myself so that I can do my best, and trust in a positive outcome. I practice patience by focusing on the present moment, and not on the future.<br /><br />If a friend came to you with the same concerns, what would you say to her? Listen to what your heart says and apply it to yourself. Try focusing on enjoying the process instead of the desired end result. Let us know how you're doing along the way.Donna B. Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095949613831165406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-90582850038050643702010-01-26T22:00:01.288-05:002010-01-26T22:00:01.288-05:00Boy can I relate to this. I have been struggling ...Boy can I relate to this. I have been struggling to "lose weight" for years. Every year, I put it back on my New Year's resolutions. I've kind of taken a similar approach this year - focus on trying to get in more activity and focus on eating less volume but more fruits and veggies. I've done pretty well with volume control so far (except for the last 2 weeks in which we traveled both weekends), and we've definitely had more fruits and veggies than usual!<br /><br />My goals that I am putting pressure on myself for are obtaining the 2 certifications. I keep thinking about taking the certification tests and worrying about those without first even finishing the studying for it. I'm putting so much focus on the end result that it's making it more difficult for me to actually read and absorb the study material. For me, everything goes back to patience. I want the certification now! I want the promotion now! I want the weight loss now! If I just learned a little patience, I would be much less stressed and much more relaxed while trying to achieve that end result.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06862729986305498296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-76874000215464427072010-01-24T17:43:37.549-05:002010-01-24T17:43:37.549-05:00Thanks for the kind words. So many of the things w...Thanks for the kind words. So many of the things we struggle with are the same things that others struggle with, too. Fear of success can be just as debilitating as the fear of failure because it involves the unknown. We become comfortable with our habits, even those that aren't good for us--the devil you know vs the devil you don't, as the saying goes-- that we're afraid to let go. But in order to make room for new and better things, we have to be willing to take that step.<br /><br />Achieving a goal doesn't leave a void, it fills one. After you reach a goal, enjoy the sense of accomplishment and celebrate that you now have an opportunity to pursue a new one. It is also empowering, because if you can achieve one goal, you can achieve another.<br /><br />Think about the things you'd like to do, places you'd like to go; but also, think about living in the moment. One very worthwhile goal is to accept yourself and enjoy your life right now, in this moment. It's the little moments--time spent with family and friends, enjoying a sunset or a cup of hot chocolate, savoring the smell of homemade bread, that we often overlook when we're focused on the long-term goals. Yet, it's all those little moments that make up a life. Another worthwhile goal is to commit to taking care of yourself, making sure you take time for you.<br /><br />I hope you'll enjoy Cheryl's website. Her FB and Twitter posts are very encouraging, too.Donna B. Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095949613831165406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-74420323120184793482010-01-24T14:42:36.618-05:002010-01-24T14:42:36.618-05:00Well, as always you are an amazing writer and you ...Well, as always you are an amazing writer and you may have just given me an ahh-huh moment! Especially on the weight loss issue. I've been at this fight for so long I think my problem is I'm not sure what to fill my life/worry up with IF I should ever reach my goal. So, for me, getting to the goal isn't only just hard, but scary because without this long standing goal in my life - what am I going to do next? Very deep...will have to go check out that website, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-848277824637509848.post-7487993618822303382010-01-23T18:23:49.367-05:002010-01-23T18:23:49.367-05:00This week's gratitude log:
1/15--Glad we coul...This week's gratitude log:<br /><br />1/15--Glad we could schedule Mindy's 6-month checkup with our excellent vet.<br />1/16--Glad I took another look at my blood work and was relieved to discover that all but four items were normal. I'd initially misread the "key" and thought the check marks meant abnormal.<br />1/17--Thankful for a day of rest, and that my daughter and son-in-law made it safely home from NJ.<br />1/18--Grateful for those who share their positive thoughts that encourage me along the way.<br />1/19--Thankful for authors who write spell-binding novels I just can't put down--even when I should be sleeping.<br />1/20--I'm glad I decluttered today, even though I didn't feel like it; and for how energized I felt afterward.<br />1/21--I'm grateful for those who share their comments on this blog, and that Mindy had lost another 2 lb. when we went to her vet checkup.Donna B. Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18095949613831165406noreply@blogger.com