The Quality of Life - guest post by Randall Friesen

Randall Friesen

          Each New Year I choose a quality that will be the focus of my life for the next twelve months. I write the quality down on a few index cards and place them in some strategic places—next to my bed, on the refrigerator, in the money section of my wallet. Then I make it a point to apply this quality to every aspect of my life as much as I can throughout the year.

          Last year I chose zest. During the year, I approached every activity in my life with a sense of zeal and enthusiasm, even when the task was onerous, such as filling out my taxes or sitting in a traffic jam. It wasn't always easy; I often forgot and had to “remember to remember.” But now, at the end of a year in which I brought a zesty attitude to everything I did, I find that the quality of zest has become an integrated part of my personality. I have become naturally zesty, even when I don’t consciously choose to be. Now, it is simply who I am.

Habits Make the Person

          To a great extent, who we are can be attributed to our habits. The good news is that we aren’t stuck with them. We can break or make habits as we wish. It does, though, take concentrated attention and consistent practice.

          Choosing a quality you want as part of your life at the beginning of a new year, and consciously applying that quality over the course of twelve months, is a sure way to create a habit that becomes a permanent part of your life.

Loving More

True Gift

          All year long I focus on the happiness and abundance in my life. Every morning and every evening I silently acknowledge all the peace and joy and fulfillment I have created.

          During the holidays I’m particularly reminded that I choose to spend my time and resources on that which brings contentment to me and people who interact with me.  It’s not only about being a happy senior citizen or financially solvent or living in a place of beauty and nature. It’s about connecting with others, striving to always grow and expand, letting go of judgments, and it's about incorporating forgiveness regardless of where I am and what I’m doing.

The light in your eyes

11 Holiday Myths to Rethink

          It's easy during this time of year to turn traditions and ways of doing things in the past into ruts that no longer serve us. Here are 11 holiday myths that you might want to rethink:

          1. Being with family is a must during the holidays.

          2. Buying ‘the perfect gift’ is required.

          3. You’ll upset your hosts if you
               don’t imbibe at their parties.

          4. You’re really a slouch unless you
                craft a gift or make some food
                gifts,                       

         5. You’re not a spiritually contributing member of your
              community unless you work in a soup kitchen, visit
              seniors in convalescent homes or volunteer to carol…with
              anyone, anywhere.

         6. You have to be the one who drives all over to visit family
               and extended family.

         7. Being alone is a no-no.

         8. Complaining about the cost of gifts, the commercialization
              of the holidays, the bad weather or how much weight 
              you’ve gained is required daily.

        9. If I don't do it, it won't get done, and it must get done.

      10. You are responsible for making others happy at this time of
              year.

      11. You can start to take better care of yourself right after the
             holidays. (don't wait, start now)

     The real message here is to do what works for you. Look at what you've always done and see if it still creates a warm glow of joy within you.

You might also enjoy:  Celebrate What? A Gift for You at Christmas
Contact Antonia at antoniasseniormoments@hotmail.com or
  Antonia's Senior Moments on Facebook

Should You or Shouldn’t You?

          “Should” is one word I think should be eliminated from our vocabulary. Oops, guess that isn't so easy to do! Every time I hear it, I cringe. My experience has been that “should” is usually accompanied by some standard established by “them,” you know, those faceless people who we allow to run our lives.

Where did 'should' come from?

          What is this ‘should’ and where did it come from? My guess is it came right from our childhoods, both at home and in school. And didn’t we do just a dandy job of incorporating it into our adult lives? Don’t we so effortlessly go about setting myriad standards based on these “shoulds”?

          “Should” is the simple past tense of the word “shall” but do these two words seem as far apart to you as they do to me? I “shall” do something sounds so purposeful and elegant while “should” sounds slightly angry and parental.

STOP!
          I’m here today to say “No more!” It’s time to let go of

Antonia's List

          Over the weekend I went to the mall … to visit with Santa and let him know what I wanted for Christmas. I waited in line with all the other excited children – and a few not so excited ones. When it got to be my turn, I gingerly climbed up into his lap, and you know that took some doing! But I got there and smiled brightly into his sparking light blue eyes.

          Then I began to tell him exactly what I hoped he’d bring me this Christmas. You might guess I asked for world peace and an end to hunger and strife everywhere, plus I asked for a termination to debilitating diseases and poverty. Indeed I joyously requested these good things for the world, but my "want" list was long and very personal. It was mostly about me.

I asked for:

     - Patience:  the thing I lack the most and need unequivocally 
     - The ability to forgive unconditionally, without consideration 
          for the magnitude of the wrong
     - Loyalty to my friends so they know they can always
          count on me
     - The vulnerability to show my transparent, genuine and
          sincere side without worrying about how I'm coming
          across
     - Loving kindness for all living things
     - An abundant generosity for random acts of kindness 
          as well as giving for the more visible needs
     - Loving friends who accept me as I am, foibles and all
     - And, finally, that which I continuously seek:  self-love 
          and respect for all my imperfect perfection.

          My list is not small, as you can see. What is your list? And how will you be your own Santa?

Contact Antonia at antoniasseniormoments@hotmail.com or
  Antonia's Senior Moments on Facebook