Th'Muse

Ever feel like, no matter how long you work to conquer something; no matter how many times you have lost ten lbs; or gotten ahead in the fast lane; or eliminated that nasty habit; you look out at the road ahead and find you weigh the same thing you did a year ago; you are right behind that stupid over-jacked truck; and here you are again indulging in your favourite sin.  No?  Great!  (now tell me how. . . ) Unfortunately, like the figure eight train track, retracing the same path again and again, I often feel that way.  I get all fired up and I make amazingly (or so I think) simplified and obtainable goals, I make a plan, I even work my plan and have great success!  Then, one stormy night months later, I take stock and find out that I'm right back at square one.  (I'm mixing metaphors aren't I?)  So, I decided that there has to be a reason for it.  There has to be some amazingly simple principle that I am  completely  missing and I'l...

So, the data is in, and for those of us who already LOVE dark chocolate, it is a boon.  "The sweet stuff might lower our stress hormones."  Might?  Ok, I can attest, it does.  Those who actually eat a little bit (stressing the LITTLE in the bit part) of dark (again, note the DARK) chocolate every day for two weeks showed the most improvement in stress levels.  Why am I spending the time and attention to this little detail in my sliver of cyber-society?  Sure, I love dark chocolate, but some folks don't.  The point then for me, was not just that this little treat can lower stress levels, but on a larger scale, anything that you do for yourself, indulge in just a little, can have the same affect.  However, the caution remains that a 'little' goes a long way.  Few of us berate ourselves for a tiny bit of pleasure.  It is when we over-indulge, over-do, over-spend, that we look back with remorse.  Those of us who never take the time to...

"My business is not ot remake myself, But make the absolute bet of what God made." ~ Robert Browning  As I have struggled with challenges, insecurities and darkness, I've learned one very important thing. Light and darkness can not exist in the same place at the same time.  A very helpful mental tool that has done wonders for me, is the thought of a switch.  I marvel at electricity.  I don't understand it fully, but I respect it and know how much it infuses my day.  Thus it is not a far stretch for me to visualize in dazzling detail, the concept of a switch turning on, or off. . . something.  When I have those pesky pessimistic thoughts, I can pause, mentally 'turn off the switch' and miraculously the thoughts fade away as if they were now literally 'in the dark'.  I have also been able to 'turn on the switch' mentally of energy, a good habit, or more optimistic thoughts. Sara BanBreathnach says " The authentic self is the soul mad...

"You look great in that. . . but. . . " "I loved it, but. . . " "Well, I thought it was successful, but. . ."  "I love you but. . . " How do each of these make you feel?   If you are like me, you cringe every time you hear that 'but'.  Beware of the buts.  They are the place where the previous positive (usually) comment gets diminished and often discarded entirely.  Even when used in the reverse, the positive comment is weakened by the 'but'. "It could use some polishing, but. . ." "If you worked harder you could improve, but. . . " "I didn't like dinner much, but. . ." While this makes for a better feeling, how about replacing the buts in your life with 'and'?  This does the job of allowing the positive comment to remain on its own and refuse to be diminished by the next statement. "You look great in that. . . and. . . " "I loved it, and. . . " ...