Reflections on what 2018 taught me

About Staying Strong: while I lean towards improving overall bodily strength in the new year, 2018 was mostly about building inner strength. Inner strength will help get you through tough times and give you the courage to move forward. That, plus a good glass of wine and a hearty laugh. Speaking of;

My witty friend Michael has this to say about humour: humour is like a tickle with a pitchfork. The purpose of using humour is about expressing aggression, fear, taboo desires and life’s absurdities in an engaging and entertaining way.

About Feeling it Fully – the good, the bad and the ugly. Learning to embrace it all whatever that may be. Staying open. Learning to accept whatever life throws my way has been a happy, hurtful, grateful, sad, sometimes infuriating, overall empowering learning experience.

I like this excerpt from Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change by Pema Chödrön:

You build inner strength through embracing the totality of your experience, both the delightful parts and the difficult parts. Embracing the totality of your experience is one definition of having loving-kindness for yourself.

About Relationships: when you spend more time analyzing a relationship than enjoying it – something is wrong. But you know what? – maybe we should try to analyze what’s wrong. Because maybe we can resolve it; or not! If it’s worthwhile it will be resolved. In the meantime….respect is essential and enjoyment is key. As Oscar Wilde once said:

Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary.

About Good Girlfriends: always keep your girlfriends close – they are a gift. They’re the ones who know you, know what’s good for you and how to make you laugh. A good friend will always stab you in the front. ― Oscar Wilde

About Dogs. No matter what, they never change. They love you for all that you are and all you’re not. I aspire to be the person my dogs think I am.

About Life: it’s pretty simple actually….if you keep it simple. Confucius said: Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.

About making a leap: