I stopped by my market today. I checked my grocery list on my iPhone, grabbed hold of a small shopping cart, and headed in. Ten items in my basket, I qualified for the express line. It wasn’t open and all the self-checkout stations were full. Hold on, a regular check out lane was open and empty. I was quickly checked out and on my way home with my groceries. I felt good. Sometimes it’s the small things like getting in the right line, making all the traffic lights on the way to work or home, seeing your child beaming when he/she comes home with a good test score. Enjoy these moments, they’re all feel good moments.
life
Thinking Out Loud ~ Discover the Gifts
Saint-Exupéry writes that the Little Prince is telling the author he is leaving and will return to his planet. The Little Prince tries to console the author.
“At night, you will look at the stars. . . . My star will be one of the stars for you so, you will love to look at all stars. They will all be your friends. And then I will make you a gift . . . You will have stars like no one else has.”
“What do you mean?”
“At night when you look at the sky, as I will live in one of them, then it will be for you as if all stars were laughing. You will have stars that know how to laugh. . . . And when you will be consoled you’ll be glad to have known me. You’ll be my friend forever. You will want to laugh with me. And, sometimes, you will open your window to have fun and your friends will be amazed to see you laughing at the sky.”
Note: We feel a deep sadness when someone we love is about to leave us ,whether it’s moving a long distance away or they are nearing death. The author felt this sadness when the Little Prince was about to leave him. The author knew he had been tamed making the Little Prince’s leaving more difficult. When someone we love leaves us they leave us a gift just as the Little Prince left the gift of laughing to the author. It took me a while to discover the gifts my wife left me when she died, but I discovered them and they were given to me in abundance.
Thinking Out Loud ~ The Heart Sees What the Eyes Cannot See
Saint-Exupéry writes how the Little Prince and he travel through the desert looking for water. After a long and exhausting search, they find a well.
“Listen,” said the little Prince, “we awake this well and it sings. . . .”
I lifted the bucket to his lips. He drank, with eyes closed. It was sweet like a party. This water was something more than food. It was borne of the walk under the stars, the song of the pulley, the effort of my arms. It was good for the heart, as a gift. . . .
“Men in your planet,” said the little Prince, “cultivate 5000 roses in the same garden and they do not find what they are looking for . . . But the eyes are blind. They must look for it with the heart.”
Note: How much we take for granted as if we are entitled to it. Take, for example, the gift of the night sky. How often do we look up to the night sky and gaze at the stars with a sense of wonder and a grateful heart? How often do we contemplate the person we are in love with and are filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this person who unconditionally loves us? When we discard our sense of entitlement and begin to look at everything as a gift we are filled with awe and our heart overflows with gratitude.
Feel Good Tip ~ Calming Your Mind with Calming Colors
Some Colors that can Calm the Mind
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Blue -Associated with calm, serenity, and trust, blue can create a calming atmosphere. Cool blue hues, such as light sky blue or deep navy, can help you relax.
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Green – Green light has shown potential calming effects outside of lab settings, including in hospitals.
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Gray – Cool gray tones can create an elegant, calm vibe.
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Lavender – This versatile color can be paired with other hues, such as soft grays, muted blues, and earthy greens, to create a tranquil environment.
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Violet– Associated with wisdom, peace, and strength, violet is said to bring balance and a sense of inner peace.
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Beige – A neutral beige on the warmer side of the spectrum can be immediately calming.
Other colors that can calm the mind include:Sky blue, Sage gray, Blush, Pale yellow, Classic white, Gentle green, Buff, Deep blue
Source: Google’s Generative AI
Thinking Out Loud ~ Bloom Where You’re Planted
Saint-Exupéry writes in The Little Prince of the Little Prince meeting a switchman in a railroad yard. The Little Prince is curious about the trains arriving and leaving.
“They are in a hurry,” said the little Prince. “What are they looking for?”
“The locomotive man ignores himself,” said the switchman .
Then in the opposite direction, a second flashing light rumbled.
“Are they already coming back?” asked the little prince.
“They are not the same,” said the switchman. “This is an interchange.”
“Weren’t they happy where they were?”
“We are never happy where we are ,”said the switchman.
Note: This morning I was speaking to a person who was unhappy with their life. This person said they had no choice but to continue living their unhappy life. They were place bound and job bound. I suggested there were other options, but this person was blind to any other options other than her unhappiness. Where we are is where we are. In the moment that’s the only place we have to be. It may not be what we want but it is where we are. We have a choice of making our situation work for us or fighting against it. When we fight against it we expend needless energy we could to create a happier life.
Feel Good Tip ~ Watch Out for the Drama Filled Folks
Don’t Let the Soap Opera Draw You In
Do you know anyone whose life is always filled with drama? I know several. These folks will unload their troubles and walk away temporarily relieved while we are left standing what hit us. Sometimes we can’t avoid drama filled people, It’s best to try to minimize the time we spend with them, they will wear us out. Look for people overflowing with a sense of joy of life. They leave us feeling good and wanting more. It’s an easy choice and happiness and peace of mind depend on making the right choice.
Thinking Out Loud ~ Knowing Who We Are and Where We Are Going
Saint-Exupéry writes in The Little Prince of the Little Prince visits planet Earth. He finds himself in the desert.
“The little Prince crossed the desert and met only one flower. A flower with three petals, a flower of nothing.“Good morning,” said the little Prince.
“Good morning,” said the flower.
“Where are people?” The little Prince asked politely.
The flower, one day, saw a caravan passing.
“People? There are, I think, six or seven. I saw them some years ago. But we never know where to find them. They move with the wind. They have no roots, it bothers them a lot…”
NOTE: We all come from someplace. We all have a mother and father and a place of birth. Having a sense of roots and place gives us a foundation on which we can build. They are a source of strength in times of trial. When we have a sense of roots and place, we know who we are and where we are going. I heard a radio host on a gardening show in Texas say, “Give your children a nest and wings.” When we have a sense of roots and a foundation we soar.
Inspiring Quote for Today ~ You’ll Know What’s Good
“Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive.”
Hafez
