March 20, 2006
March 20, 2006 Issue #25
Welcome to the newsletter where playing more and stressing less is taken seriously. It's written with the intention to support you in living a life with more passion and play and less worry and work.
IN THIS ISSUE...
A Positive Perspective
The Daily Om & Seabiscuit
Only 3 weeks to register for the Spring Beach Retreat. The deadline is April 10th!
Giggles & Guffaws
Ways to Play Today:
Blowing Bubbles
Shout Happy Birthday
Something to Ponder:
To Be or Not To Be Positive
"I am a lucky man."
~Christopher Reeve
My Playground
The article, the message, the thing to make you go hmmm...
~A Positive Perspective~
I think it's in our nature to want and need validation from others. Most of us probably wouldn't mind a bit if we received more compliments on a regular basis. For example, I love listening to what others think about what I write. I especially love it when people praise me, but I also appreciate it when constructive criticism is given because that's when I tend to take a closer look at what I've written and see how my words have impacted another. Every once in awhile, a person's feedback catches me off guard and it takes awhile to let it sink in. It's one part allowing it in and another part trying to figure out what to do with it. A brief conversation I had a couple weeks ago with a friend got me thinking about what I wanted to write in this month's newsletter. That chat and what's taken place in the last few days of my life have helped me become clear on how I feel and what I want to say.
It wasn't the first time I'd heard someone say to me with some disdain in their voice, "You’re always so positive."
For most of my life, I've been a pretty optimistic and upbeat person. There have certainly been moments in thirty-seven years of living when I wasn't so perky and positive. I'm glad I decided to let the grumpy gal go because I'm sure my life wouldn't be anything like it is now had I allowed that domineering diva to take over. But I digress...because this article isn't about that conversation I had two weeks ago and it certainly isn't about me.
My girlfriend, Layne and I met each other fourteen years ago. Even though I don't remember the exact moment we met, I knew she was a firecracker. She had spunk. She had spark. And she had a mouth like a native New-Yorker. There was something else I recognized, but couldn't quite name until a few years ago. She has pure perseverance. No matter what life has thrown at her, this woman has steadfast determination like no other I've seen. And to top it all off, her outlook has never been negative despite the hard times she's been through.
My friend, Layne & I enjoying a lovely Martha's Vineyard Day.
To put it mildly, Layne's medical history is impressive. At age 36, she's dealt with more challenges to her health than most of us would or could handle in our lifetimes. Through every ordeal, she has maintained a positive outlook that at times has left me wondering how in the world she stays so optimistic when her circumstances have been downright dreary. I believe Layne's positive personality has certainly helped her body heal when it's been in a vulnerable position, but I also believe she's chosen to be positive no matter what because she knows that's the best way to live life. That is something she's not only taught me over the years, but to countless others.
So you may be wondering how does someone become more cheerful and develop a positive approach to life? I have a few suggestions and have asked Layne to contribute a couple as well.
5 Ways to Say "Yea" Instead of "Nay"
1) Think of being reborn as a blank slate every day.
A negative event that has transpired in your past or a less than enthusiastic attitude you've had do not dictate what will happen or who you'll be in the future. Every 24 hours, you get a new opportunity to decide how you want to fill up your slate. Fill it up with what you want and how you want to be.
2) Put yourself in someone else's shoes.
Try witnessing another person's pain without being able to do anything about it and see what kind of outlook you'll adopt immediately. Don't wait until life throws you for a loop or a tragedy strikes to let life teach you one of its most important lessons: Be happy.
3) Surround yourself with people who are more positive than you.
It's a fact. Positive people are contagious and you'll just have to trust me when I say that this is the kind of infection you want to have for a lifetime. There's a good chance you might find yourself feeling uncomfortable, irritated or perhaps even jealous when you first start hanging out with souls who smile all the time. This is perfectly normal and it's to be expected. If your tendency has been to think more negatively, it might take awhile for this new attitude of yours to become a permanent way of being.
4) See your glass as half-full.
Choosing to see the good in everything is quite a monumental task. Even the events we might normally think of as negative (such as the death of a loved one) have their hidden layers of goodness. Challenge yourself to see something you've seen many times before in a whole new light. Perhaps Marcel Proust said it best, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
5) Do something positive for another.
This suggestion is strongly recommended whenever you feel that pessimistic punk rearing its ugly head. It's highly likely those negative thoughts of yours will turn around after doing something positive for someone else. It can be as simple as holding the door for someone at the grocery store or it can be as big as giving a large sum of money to a charity. Whatever positive thing you do, don't make it a one-time thing. Make it a habit.
I'm such a strong advocate for being positive because whenever I tried on a more negative approach, I quickly discovered not only did I feel like crap, it made my life horribly un-fun. I also suspect it made the people around me wonder what kind of foreign life-form had temporarily taken up residence inside me. Will your life change as a result of having a positive outlook? Absolutely. Is it possible to sustain this kind of perspective for a lifetime? Heck yeah, but it takes both practice and patience. Every time you make an effort to give up more of your grump, you'll begin to notice subtle shifts not only in yourself, but in others. Remember to pass any and all of that positive energy forward.
Check it Out
Personal Recommendations for books, music, websites and all resources fun!
Seabiscuit - The Movie
In the spirit of all things positive, I felt I needed to recommend this movie. I saw it for the first time a couple weeks ago and even though I didn't think it was a brilliant flick, there were enough good things about it to make mention of it. Based on a true-life tale, "Seabiscuit" is a sweet story about a horse who wouldn't quit and the people who never gave up on him. Despite a less than ideal upbringing and a temperament that his trainers doubted could be tamed, Seabiscuit went on to become a notable race horse and the crowd's favorite to win. I don't want to tell you what happens in the middle or at the end of the movie, but I will tell you plenty of clapping and cheering went on as I watched the film. There were even a few tears that fell and heck, this is coming from someone who doesn't even really like horses. Watch "Seabiscuit" and you'll add a few positive attitude points to your day.
The Daily Om
A friend of mine has been sending me this inspirational goodie for awhile now and I'm shaking my head that I haven't passed it along to you yet. This website has a short daily nugget of wisdom designed to inspire and help you live a happy and healthy life. Subscribe to the Daily Om and you'll get a positive and powerful reminder everyday during the week. Check out their daily horoscopes as well. They're quite uplifting and they'll give you a better perspective than your average newspaper or fortune cookie would.
What's Up at Playful Spirit?
I am sooo excited to share this bit of news with all of you, "Lighten Up" subscribers. A few weeks ago, I was selected as a writer for the next edition of the "Best Places Northwest" guidebook. This is a well-known publication that provides the inside scoop to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia venues you don't want to miss when visiting those areas. My first official travel writing gig has me gallivanting around the southwest part of Washington state reviewing restaurants, hotel accommodations and other fun places. Even though I'm thrilled to think about what doors may open for me by having this writing project on my resume, what's had me smiling from ear to ear are the stories I've heard during my travels. The meals I've eaten and the lodgings I've slept in have been lovely, but it's the people I've met along the way who have given me the most joy. They, like you, inspire me to write. I'm also inspired by the Women's Spring Retreat in Cannon Beach that's happening April 21-23. If you want to be a part of a relaxing, rejuvenating and fun weekend, don't wait or be late and miss out on this one because the next retreat I'm planning won't happen until this fall. Ya' better call or email me soon if you want to join in the fun.
Giggles & Guffaws
An amusing story, joke, anecdote or picture to tickle your funnybone
Ways to Play Today
Why not...discover how big a bubble you can blow?
Simple instructions for big bubble-blowing: Buy a pack of your favorite bubble gum. (Hubba Bubba and Bubblicious brands are what I recommend.) One at a time, put each piece in your mouth and chew. And chew and chew. Perhaps you'll be tempted to put the whole pack in at once, but I would warn you against doing that. Serious gum-chewing can result in serious injuries if you're not careful. Experiencing lock-jaw just as you're about to blow your record-setting bubble would be quite disappointing. Protect those mouth muscles of yours by taking it slow. With head tilted up towards the sky, carefully blow air into that gummy masterpiece of yours. Watch in amazement as it grows and grows until the inevitable happens...POP!!! A few other tips before you let that big bubble blow: Remember to pull your hair back. Don't blow bubbles on a windy day. And last, but not least, make sure there's at least one person watching you partake in this child-like caper. You'll definitely want someone nearby if you need assistance pulling all that sticky stuff off your head.
Why not...shout the "Happy Birthday" song instead of sing it?
A rather strange tradition was created by my family a few years back that still makes us laugh every time it happens. Maybe it developed due to the fact that none of us could carry a tune. Maybe it started as a joke and then we couldn't seem to get over the punch-line. Or maybe we were just weird country-folk and came up with this stunt to entertain ourselves because there wasn't much else to do. Anyhoo...the crescendo celebration goes something like this: The first line begins as a soft lullaby. The second line increases in volume to a normal human being's rendition of the song. The third line is now a few decibels below annoying. And last but not least, the fourth line is as obnoxious and loud as a heavy metal band playing a concert in your living room. It'll be a hit in the privacy of your own home, but it's even better in a public place. Take one look at people's expressions and you'll realize you've just started a tradition of your own.
Something to Ponder
Questions designed to stimulate your thinking AND encourage you to take action towards what you want.
What gets in the way of you having a more optimistic outlook?
How would your life change if you were more positive?
Care to share what these questions stir up in you? Need some support around how to adopt a more positive approach to living your life?
Send me an e-mail.
I welcome your thoughts and will respond to all e-mails received.
If you want to find out more about the work I do as a facilitator, writer and coach check out Playful Spirit Make sure you come back and visit every so often as you never know what kind of resources and fun stuff I'll be playing around with and adding to the website.
Thanks for reading this issue of Lighten Up! If you enjoyed it, please pass it along to your friends, your family, your co-workers...You get the idea. Until next month, consider what changes you want to make in your life and think about who you'll become as a result of making those changes. Be well, be happy and play more.
See you on April 17th!
Lisa
~Playful Spirit's mission is to empower women to acknowledge and express their unique gifts in the world. We help people rediscover their passion, purpose & sense of play.~
lisa@playful-spirit.com www.playful-spirit.com