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When is the last time you created something?
It might not be your thing to bust out the glue sticks and scissors and get into some arts and crafts but along the lines of wellness it's very important to create and allow yourself time to be creative. I get lost in the store all the time, wandering up and down aisles just daydreaming, it doesn't even matter what store it is I am really not biased. My Pinterest is titled "living life one pin at a time". I have legitimately only accomplished a dozen or so things on my Pinterest boards but I am actively working on them one at a time. You don't have to be a chef or an interior decorator to actually enjoy creating something...you could seriously put pictures in a book, or clean a section of your house and organize yourself, you might even be digitally inclined to make something along the lines of 3D animation or be a routine blogger, or maybe you like to decorate for the holidays. Whatever it is that makes you get lost wandering for hours is where you will find your passion. I challenge you this week to purposely spend time saturated in doing something that makes you dream during the day! If you need inspiration and you sincerely don't know where to begin, go take a walk in AC Moore. You will be exposed to so many hobbies there that you are bound to find something that reminds you how to have fun with a project again and get creative. It's so good for your soul to make things. Homework Assignment: step 1: get creative step 2: post your creative adventures and #aspirewellnessnow You don't need to workout all the time and be fit to get well. Sometimes the most healthy looking people in the room are struggling for balance and fun in their lives...everyone can feel well through creativity so lets see your examples this week! -Eileen I was at a music concert this weekend. Well, I was actually at 2. One on Friday night and one on Sunday night. I really love music. At least the music I like to listen to. J I really enjoy a good beat and I can appreciate the skill it takes to play music. I started playing flute when I was in fourth grade. But beyond the music I listen to, are the lyrics I hear.
There are a great many songs that I could listen to over and over again. And sometimes I’m really struck when a song resonates with me. Or a particular lyric in a song. I do sometimes think it’s funny when I have been singing a song for a while and finally the meaning of the lyric makes sense to me. Perhaps it’s related to the spot in my life I’m currently living and has new meaning to me. This happened the other night at the concert. Standing on the lawn at the venue, I’m listening to Daughtry sing a great song. “Life After You”. There was a certain part of the song that when I heard it that night, I had that sentimental feeling and I just heard it in a different way. The lyrics were: “All that I’m after is a life full of laughter, as long as I’m laughing with you. And I think that all that still matters is love ever after. After the life we’ve been through.” I’ve heard this song and sang this song a lot of times, but that night, I was meant to hear it differently. I would say that since I’ve opened up Aspire Wellness, I’ve spent a lot of time at work and getting things ready at work, and developing projects. I haven’t spent as much time at home and therefore, I haven’t spent as much time with my husband. And even though I will see him when I get home at night, I miss spending time with him the way we used to. I think when I heard those lyrics that night, I thought about missing him, as it was just me and my best friend at the concert. But it made me remember what’s important about our relationship too. I like to think I’m funny and I love to hear him laugh. I sometimes get the feeling that we’re “all business”. Talking about the bills and work to be done, what our schedules are like the next day, who is going to let the dog out tomorrow, while we have the time to talk to each other. We get so caught up in the ins and outs of everyday life and caught up in the chores, that we don’t always leave a bunch of time for fun. At the concert that night, it made me feel…almost sad. Like I had “forgotten” about the things or people in my life that really matter. Honestly, the chores, like washing the dishes, will be there later. But this opportunity to enjoy a life full of laughter might not always be there. Or maybe not with the people I cherish. I’m realizing that my life needs more balance and I need to work harder to achieve that balance. I’m betting that I’m not the only person who gets caught up in the daily things in life we try to accomplish. It sometimes feels like a race to try to get everything crossed off your list. And then what? You’re free? Or perhaps you add more to your to do list. It’s ok to take the time to inject some love and laughter into your day. It might not take more than a minute to appreciate whatever it is that makes you laugh. So that’s what I did last night. Took those couple seconds to be silly with my husband to make him chuckle. It’s great to see him smile. We’ve had quite the interesting life together. And there have been a lot of health concerns, so hearing him laugh and him knowing I love him really is priceless. Balance is a hard thing to keep in check. At least for me. I think it’s easy to become engrossed in work and the daily responsibilities. I don’t want that to be my pattern. So maybe I can let those lyrics run through my head often to remind me of the balance I need. “All that I’m after is a life full of laughter, as long as I’m laughing with you. And I think that all that still matters is love ever after. After the life we’ve been through.” -- Daughtry ~L It’s odd how this life works. People come, people go. Some stay longer than others. Some leave a profound impact on your life. Others you’d swat away like a fly on a hot July afternoon. Sometimes the imprint someone leaves on your life is positive, sometimes it’s not.
I’m one to believe that every person comes into your life for one reason or another. Perhaps not to be long lasting or life shattering in their presence, but yet always a reason for your paths to cross. Every meeting is an experience, something to learn from, and something to value. I found out last night that my first high school coach passed away the other day. I read the facebook post in shock, tearing up at the news. As I mentioned…. It’s interesting how this life works. I lost touch with Coach years ago. In fact, he was only my coach for one softball season. One. In my whole young adult career of playing the game, one season is a blip on the map. But, not this one. I was a freshman in high school. I was “pretty good” at the game. I mean, who’s really good in middle school anyway?? I knew I loved to play, and that was enough for me to work hard. But, freshman year forever changed more than just my ability to play the game. I was changed forever. I knew nothing about high school ball. The season began, and all players of all levels practiced together for the first week of the season. I went to a very small school, and assumed, like all freshman, I’d make JV, play for a year or two, then eventually earn a seat on the Varsity bench. I showed up every day and I practiced. I learned a lot in that first week. Techniques I never knew. Skills that started to click. It was fun! But, I was one in the crowd, taking it all in. I will never forget the last practice of that week. Coach pulled me aside before announcing line ups. He told me there was a spot open on the Varity team. Short stop. And the job was all mine. I was blown away. For those of you that don’t follow baseball, short stop is a big deal in the infield. On our team, the short stop “ran” the game. Always had to know the ball count, always had to announce where the next plays were to be made, had to cover second and third, was the one that had to have a loud mouth and communicate encouragement, feedback, moves. The job was all mine. As a freshman. To say I felt intimidated was an understatement. I was one of two freshman to make the cut. The other was my best bud, a very talented pitcher. I felt I brought much less to the plate than she did (no pun intended). I just worked the infield! I loved every second of my freshman year softball season. I learned so much about the game… but, more so, I learned so much about myself. You see, Coach just had a way of getting it out of you. He would push and push and shove and get emotional and push some more. People used to say he was crazy, and he probably was. Throwing his arms around, yelling at third base, lecturing the team about getting it together. But, in hindsight, the criticizers are always the people afraid of working hard to see what could come out the other end if they did. He forced me out of my comfort zone, I think for the first time in my life. He expected more from me. Always more. And he wasn’t afraid to demand it. He coached with passion, with enthusiasm, with such a love for his players and the game. He had goals – State Championship. Keep your eye on the prize. Work, hard, earn your spot, then work harder to keep your spot. Somedays I hated him. Really hated him. Who was this crazy guy and why was I jumping through hoops for him?? To this day, I’m honestly not sure. I honestly don’t know what separated him from any other coach or teacher, but he got to “me.” Down to the core, he lit me up, drove me to the edge just to show me that it wasn’t the edge at all. Showed me that hard work does, in fact, lead to results. I learned I could dig deep, and just when I felt like I was tapped out, there was more to uncover. I owe a lot to you, Coach. As a freshman in high school, you unleashed a beast inside of me that has yet to be stopped. You were the one that told me I could do anything. Anything. Just do it. Right now. If you’re going to talk the talk, walk the walk. Play the part. Do the work. Results will follow. And they do. I only got to play for Coach for one season, then I moved and changed schools. But, it was one hell of a year. We made States. I played every game. I was named a top all-state shortstop in New Jersey. I was the MVP of the year. I was humbled by the experience. If only all young people got to experience the likes of Coach, I imagine the world would be a very different place. In just one short season, just a few months out of my whole life, changed how I approach the world. Rest in peace, my friend. I hope you know just how many lives you’ve touched, and how yours seemed to end too soon. Till I see you on the other side, I’m going to keep crashing through walls, just like you taught me. You made me a better person – a person that lives passionately. Thank you for showing me who I really am. - Cheryl |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
April 2019
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