“Is your life starting to feel like a circus?” For as many times as I have said, “not my circus, not my monkeys,” somedays, it sure feels like I am the ringleader of the big top. Chaos is never the goal, but it is inevitable at times. It is okay. The circus is only in town for a few days. Whatever is your circus will pass in time. “Don’t panic . . .” Panic makes everything worse. Nothing good comes from panicking. You need a clear mind to problem solve. Just think. “Today’s a new day!” A clean slate is given each day. Use that to your advantage, and do something good with the possibilities of today. “Get dressed first thing. (Sweatpants are bad for morale. Put on something nice!)” I love a good pajama day, but I know those days are going to produce absolutely zero progress. The days when I get the most done are the ones when I take the time to get dressed, do my hair, and put on some makeup. Now, I love sweatpants as much as I love a pajama day, but getting dressed up does boost productivity and confidence. “Have some pancakes.” Breakfast was not my thing when I was little. As I have gotten older, I have grown to recognize its importance. While a bagel or Special K is my go-to breakfast, I argue that pancakes are better suited for brinner (breakfast for dinner), but who am I to go against The Little Golden Books? “Get some exercise every day.” This is easier said than done. Nonetheless, it is the effort that counts. Take the stairs. Park away from the door. Walk around the neighborhood. A gym membership is not a prerequisite for exercising. “Frolic.” Be playful. Do not worry about what others may think. Be free. Have fun. “Daydream.” I am a firm believer in daydreaming. There are no rules. It is just you and your mind. Let them take you anywhere. I do, and I enjoy every minute of my daydreams. I never regret the time I let my mind wander and my heart dream. “Go on a joyride!” Life is too short to stay inside all the time and always take the same way. Go out, make memories, and laugh along the way. It makes the journey that much more enjoyable. “Stargaze . . .” Living in the country, as I do, offers the perfect backdrop to stare off into space and create a continuation of my daydreams. I like to connect the starts in a life-size version of connecting the dots. “Stroll.” Go to the park. Enjoy nature all around you. Whenever I need to escape and recharge, taking a walk outside is the best medicine. Hearing the birds chirp and feeling the gentle breeze blow takes me to a serene place and reminds me to breathe in the fresh air. “Bird-watch.” This is something I do not often do. I did more of this while I was abroad. Birds have a funny way about them. You will not regret the time watching them, and for an added bonus, throw some bread crumbs for your own enjoyment. “Treat yourself.” Whether it is ice cream or a European vacation, go for it. You will be happy you did. “The simplest things are often the most fun!” Sometimes, all it takes is a simple smile or some free time to make a person happy. It does not take much to make me happy. “So go on a picnic . . .” Pack some food, grab your friends, and share stories in good company. “and make music a part of your life.” Not a day goes by without me singing in the shower or pretending to be a star singing in the car. Yes, I can see other drivers staring. No, I do not care. I continue as if I am next American Idol, or whatever other gimmicky talent show fits your fancy. “Be a hugger.” Show someone you care. Be a comfort to them. A hug will never be forgotten. “Kiss.” Butterfly or Eskimo, they all matter. A kiss goodnight is a must. “Turn off the TV from time to time . . .” The quietness does a person a great deal of good. Turn off the distractions and step away from the screen. “and crack open a book!” A book takes you to far-away places. The journeys are endless. Once you set foot in the pages of a book, you will find it hard to put it down. Books open portals, and your never-ending adventure is waiting. Chase it. “Use your imagination.” Follow it to the depths of your dreams. I have even surprised myself some days with some of the ideas I come up with. There is never a dull moment, or any such thing as a bad idea. “Look up . . .” The sky is the limit. Do not accept anything less. “and savor the seasons as they roll around.” With each season, a new season of life comes. Grow with the seasons, and learn all of life’s lessons. “Stay curious.” My personal favorite lesson from what The Little Golden Books has to offer is this one for obvious reasons. There will never be a time that I will not stop searching for more of life’s answers and uncover discoveries. They say curiosity killed the cat, but to me, curiosity never kills; it only grows. “Take in some culture once in a while.” Being cultured is one of the best character traits a person can have. Experience something new. Go to a place you have never been before and immerse yourself in new cultures. It was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. “Learn something new!” You are never too old to continue learning. Better yet, never stop learning. “Dare to explore. What’s out there for you.” There is going to be something worth searching for in life. Be brave to search for it. Think of it as self-exploration. “Express yourself.” Do what you love. Some people find love with art and building. My love lies in words and writing. Expression gives me an identity. “Try a new look!” It is fun to play dress up. Go out of comfort zones and buy something you normally would not. I find that some of those buys have turned out to be my favorites. “Be unique.” No one else is like me, and no one else is like you. We owe it to ourselves to be the best we can be for ourselves and forget about conformity. “Just don’t go overboard.” Be you. Do not try to entirely recreate yourself. Perfection will never be attained, so do not try to be; you will lose sight of who you truly are if you aim for perfection. “Start planning that dream trip!” I feel like I have already been on two dream trips, but that is not stopping me from planning another. Go where ever. The world is a big place, and there is so much to see. “Soon you’ll be on your way.” Do not let anything stand in your way. It was so freeing when I boarded a plane to see the world. It was an experience I will never forget. “Be open to making new friends . . .” Some of my best friends are ones I never expected to meet in life. My friends are the best I could have ever dreamed for. I have found my person, my squad, my ride or die. “even if you’re very, very shy.” I have never been known to be shy, so I do not have much experience in this department. But, break free from your shell and meet new people, despite your tendency to be shy. “Keep in touch.” A busy life means everyday interactions with friends are not always feasible. A simple text to say, “I am thinking about you,” makes the time spent apart seem shorter. Never neglect friends. Relationships like these matter. “Hang out.” When it does work out, go and spend the day together. My go-to friend date is to get sushi or pizza followed by frozen yogurt and a movie. Make time. Make memories. “Steer clear of shady characters.” Be careful who you call a friend. Remember, friendship is a two-way street. “Be discriminating.” Never towards people, but in your decisions. Think long and hard about the places you go, the things you buy, and the thoughts you have. “Choose your companions wisely.” Who you choose to be around says a lot about you. Be careful who you surround yourself with. “Break bread together every day.” Be thankful for the blessings of every day. Share with those around you and give to those who are hungry. “Don’t forget your antioxidants!” A well-balanced diet is what we should strive for, but I will be the first to admit, I can still work on making it better. Get your fruits and vegetables. The more colorful the plate full of food is, the better it is for you. “Go ahead and make a big deal over your birthday.” It only comes once a year. Blow out your candles and eat your cake too. Life is too short to count the calories. Throw a party and celebrate you! “Dress up and go dancing . . .” Prom night (all three times) brought out the dancing machines. Getting all fancy and spending a night dancing was a huge highlight and night I always looked forward to. “any kind of dancing!” Dancing does not have to be confined to prom night. Just turn on some music and show off some moves. Heck, Just Dance will even provide the moves, so jump in the line, and dance like no one is watching. “Make something from nothing.” 4-H taught me to look at nothing and try to make something appear. It sure put my creativity to the test. Go to the craft store; be thrifty about it. You may surprise yourself and put Pinterest to shame. “Sing even if you can’t hold a tune.” My unfortunate lack of singing ability has never stopped me from belting a song out there. The privacy of my car makes everything alright, and no one has to suffer through my pitchy tunes. “Learn to cook . . .” The Food Network and Pinterest have nothing on me. Cooking is a good skill to have, and if you love food as much as I do, you will need to know how to cook. “and clean!” My mom will argue that I could use some practice in this area of life, but I have the basics down. Just do not look too closely at my room. “Make a budget—and stick to it!” Your older self will thank your younger self for making a budget sooner rather than later. Be sure to stash away money for the rainy-day activity fund. “Have you had a checkup lately?” No one likes going to the doctor, but it is a must. Health is important; stay on top of it. Weren’t you going to learn how to swim?” I am not the best swimmer in the world, but I can manage. Floating and sunning is more my speed. Do not be a fish out of water. “Always keep a medical kit handy.” My friends joke that I am the mom of the group, and if I earn that title by having Band-Aids in my first, then so be it. Always be prepared, Boy Scout’s honor. “Cultivate contentment.” Be happy with where you are in life. Take time to enjoy the moment and not worry about the moments to come until they arrive. “Take a mental health day now and then.” I can find myself drowning in homework, and even when I probably should not, I walk away from it all to have a day to myself. Nothing makes me happier than going to get my nails done and coming home to watch a marathon or taking a nap. Give your brain a break. “Give in to a good cry. You’ll feel better afterward!” I love a good cry. It is the best stress reliever, and I feel so good after I let it all out. I may let it build up, but after a while, I have to cry it out. Once I cry about whatever is bothering me, I feel like a new person. Try it; you may be onto a new stress relief technique. “Get plenty of sleep, too.” You do not have to tell me twice. This is something I am good at. I can sleep anywhere, anytime. Going to sleep means going to my happy place. “Go fly a kite . . .” Take your cue from Mary Poppins. Release your inner kid. You will be happy you did. “but remember to stop and smell the strawberries.” The Poky Little Puppy has the right idea. Whether it is a strawberry or a flower, take the time to enjoy the smell. “Be a romantic.” Never feel obligated to wait for a knight in shining armor, but if that is how your happily ever after turns out, embrace it. Remain independent, but enjoy the company of a forever friend. “Don’t forget to enjoy your wedding.” I am still years away from my wedding day, but I can guarantee I will enjoy every minute. Every little girl dreams of that day to come, and I am no different, but until that day comes (long down the road), I will have to be content with watching Say Yes to the Dress and planning my special day on my Pinterest board. “Let your children know you love them.” I never had to worry about wondering if there was enough love to go around. My parents said I love you to me every day, and they still remind me of their never-fading love. “I love you bunches and bunches,” they would say. And I would and will forever respond, “bananas and grapes, I love you too.” “Work hard.” Build your career. Follow your passions and fulfill your dreams. “Play hard.” It cannot be all work and no play. Enjoy life and seek the fun in all you do. “But not too hard.” Remember to always return to the commitments you made and follow through with your word. “Do no harm.” The golden rule will get you far in life. Be kind to others. “Be proud of your country.” The U S of A is the greatest country on earth, and I would not trade it for anything else. We are able to be the land of free because of the sacrifices the brave made for us. Take time to thank a soldier, and proudly fly the flag of stars and stripes. “Don’t let the parade pass you by!” Join in on the celebration. Get to toe-tapping as the marching band passes by, and wave to the parade’s grand marshal. “Think big!” Think outside of the box. Use your brain to its fullest extent. The brain is a magical place that makes your ideas possible. “Toot your own horn!” But only from time to time. Stay humble, but it never hurts to share an accomplishment with the world. Hard work goes a long way. “Harvest.” Learn to grown your own food, and gather your crops too. I spent many summers canning and freezing our harvest from the garden. It is a good skill to have. “Give thanks.” In all things. It is as simple as that. Be thankful. “Believe in Santa Claus . . .” Even if it only lasts for a short time, keep the magic alive and listen for the bells. “love at first sight . . .” This is still a mysterious thing for me, but if you have been lucky enough to experience this, then good for you. Follow your heart. Believe in love. “and that your ship will come in. As long as you do, your life is bound to be Golden!” My dad always said he is waiting for the ship to come up the creek. Keep the dreams of your heart alive, and know that the outcomes of life will be however they are meant to be. Everything happens for a reason, and I believe in the golden days of life. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2017
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