The great list

I make lists of my goals, things I want to accomplish and items I feel obligated to do. My list is called my MASTER TASK LIST. Sounds quite impressive doesn't it? MASTER TASK LIST must be very important and worthy of a special name. But it isn't really. It is just a list of things I don't want to forget, things I should do-or think I should do and things I have full intention of procrastinating about and never doing.

When I think of my MASTER TASK LIST I feel guilty and behind. It's not that I don't get a lot accomplished in the course of a year. It's just that this important list is always there reminding me I am not done. It tells me I am behind and will never catch up-not a good feeling.

This year I'm going to try something a little differernt. I'm going to rename my list. What do you think of "Really good, Don't forget and Procrastination list". That has a nice ring don't you think?

I now realized this list is just a list. I have many great qualities and one of them is procrastinating. I'm not doing to defind myself. I just thought you should know.

MY MASTER TASK LIST is kind of like all the stuff I collect over a year. I gather material/ideas/research. I devour some and file others for a later time- a time that rarely comes. I am curous and overzellous in my enthusiasm. If you put this quality in a MASTER TASK LIST you will have a long list.

This year, the the first items on my list will not cause my stomach to do twists but my heart to do a leap of joy. Next, on my list will be valuable items I don't want to forget. Like calling my grandparents, changing the fire alarm batteries or going for ice cream. Finally, I'll write my procrastination list. I now know this is not my most important list, it is just a list I created to help me along my year. a place to put things I don't want to forget.

I'm I rationalizing,? Could be, I'm also very good at that.

Happy New year,
Denise

Top 10 New Year Resolutions with a Twist

It's the time of year to set our new years resolutions. Here are a few ideas for a different twist on the tradition of resolutions.

1- Get abbs of steel- by having at least one good belly laugh per day
2- Become a master of procrastination- 10,000 hours are all you need - you might be close
3- Tap a nap a week- Our cat loves to nap- she is happy and well rested
4- Practice listening- Our dogs are great listeners-its really nice to be listened to
5- Spend $20/week on whatever your heart desires-( as long as it only cost 20.00)
6- Learn to enjoy everything you do- or just stop doing it until you figure out how to enjoy
7- Go outside and get the stink blown off everyday
8- Make a wish a day- wish for anything you want and then just smile, relax and say thanks
9- Pretend. When in doubt or unsure learn to pretend as if
10- Find a new love a month. Not spouses! I'm talking foods, activities, books, friends

There is no need to end the year filled with regret. I say end the year well rested, with a smile on your face, happily enjoying your life and family.

Wishing you a most happy, healthy and prosperous new year!
Denise

A little slice of heaven

It's early on Christmas Eve morning. The house is still asleep and I'm wide awake. This is the first year I am completely loving the dark and quiet mornings. I used to hate the darkness and for some reason I'm growing to love this time of year. It's supposte to be a time of reflection, of rest and of rejuvenation. A gift to us all. A chance to take a deep breath and relax a bit.

I know during the holiday season this may not be how we actually feel. It's more like rushed, behind and longing. I feel those same things and yet the mornings are so quiet, so peaceful so calm. Each morning I wake up and go sit at the little coffee table my grandpa made for me years ago. I sit on the floor overlooking our back yard. Here I can see the sky and the silhouette of the trees. I sit and I write with paper and pen. The pets usually come around so I can rub their ears while I'm sitting. There are no electronics on, no music, no anything. My only light is a little salt lamp. It is a little slice of heaven.

Who knows where the rest of the day will take me. I still have presents to wrap, work to be done and places to go. This is one time residue is good. The residue left over from this quiet time seems to stay with me most of the days. It make this dark season so beautiful and my to do list a little less heavy.

Merry Christmas to all,
Denise

The expectations of a procrastinator

It is good to be good at something! I am a good procrastinator. Maybe that's how we all feel toward the end of the year. Looking back we see all the goals, the ideas, the resolutions quickly running out of time. It's easy to judge ourselves this time of year. Not only are we running out of time of our years expectation but we are also smack in the middle of the holiday with the biggest expectations- Christmas.

We all want to have happy homes, where everyone is loved, where we are wildly prosperous and never forget someones birthday. Oh no we are perfect. Well, perfect doesn't really exist- it is only in poems, Christmas specials and displayed carefully by advertisers. And so with the end of the year upon us and the holiday of expectations in full bloom it is no wonder we start to judge ourselves.

This is the season to love each other. It's really as simple as that. While we are at it maybe it -is a good time to love ourselves. Stop-just for a minute: take a deep breath, now relax your shoulders and let them fall. Smile as if you just noticed the crazy whirlwind you found yourself in and take another breath. This time breathe a little deeper, relax a little more and smile with your eyes as well as your cheeks.

Yes, I am a good procrastinator- I will admit that all day long. And no I'm not perfect- no one ever is. For the rest of this year I will try to remember that and maybe instead of thinking of everything I didn't do this year or season, maybe I should make a list of all the great things I did do, all the amazing things that did happened and let that be perfect.

Merry Christmas,
Denise

Dandelion: Friend or Foe???

For my birthday my mom sent me a book: A Handbook of Native American Herbs byAlma R Hutchens. I was flipping through and landed on the dandelion apparently also known as taraxacum officinale, blow ball, cankerwort, bon's tooth and wild endive.

The health benefits of this little weed are incredible. I just keep running into how great this little weed/herb is. Alma Hutchen's goes on to further impress me with the value of the dandelion. Did you know the green leaves of the dandelion contain 7,000 units of vitamin A per ounce? Lettuce contains 1,200 units per ounce and even the highly recognized carrot is weak in comparison coming in at only 1,275 units per ounce.

"Herbalists use dandelion more generally than any other herb, as it combines well with other herbal preparations for the liver and is mild, wholesome and safe. It's prolonged use can only be beneficial in all rheumatic complaints. The natural nutritive salt in dandelion is twenty eight parts sodium; this type of organic sodium purifies the blood and destroys the acids therein".

The book goes on to tout lots more benefits but that isn't really the point of this blog. I got to giggling about our society. We are surrounded by perhaps one of the most beneficial herbs known and yet we spend most of the time trying to wipe it out. We spray our yards with herbicides. The herbicides get washed into our sound and streams. The herbicides get tracked into our homes. We take pills to cure many ails, some of which do more damage than the original illness.

All the while this little herb is patiently sitting outside waiting for us to let it help us be healthy. My own yard has many dandelions, perhaps too many. I just can't put herbicides on my yard. I pull each one by hand with my dandelion puller. The other day my grandma asked me why I didn't just spray and be done with it. The fact is, I haven't the heart to kill something of such benefit while poisoning my home.

Wishing you a happy and healthy home,
Denise

Asking a different question

As I'm waiting for my newsletter to print, I thought I would check in with a question for you: How have you been creative today?

My sister wrote me an e-mail today posing that question. It makes you think doesn't it? This week she had met one of her husband's mentors and former teachers. A lady named Una who my sister said is probably in her 70's' but has more spunk and energy than most people in their 20's. Apparently instead of asking "how are you today?", she asks "how have you been creative today?"

Our creativity is a gift we all have. Learning to use that gift is priceless.

So how have you been creative today?
I decided to write,
Denise