Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Mistakes

There is no such thing as making a mistake, 
as long as you learn from it…
Instead of beating yourself up over it, 
figure out what you did wrong, 
and make sure it doesn’t 
happen again in the future.   
– Lynda Steele

Monday, 28 November 2011

Rich

It's being alive that makes you rich. 
- Mike Dooley

Friday, 25 November 2011

Moment

You can get through anything life hands you
if you stay put in the day you are in 
and don’t jump ahead.   
– Regina Brett

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Fear

Set aside a certain number of days, 
during which you shall be content
with the scantiest and cheapest fare, 
with course and rough dress, 
saying to yourself the while: 
“Is this the condition that I feared?” 
  - Seneca

Monday, 21 November 2011

One must separate from anything that 
forces one to repeat No again and again.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Friday, 18 November 2011

November 18, 2011 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer 


   Of late, it seems that many people I talk to are in situations that they don't want to be in, yet they won't do anything about it because "you can't say no."

   Actually, you CAN say no.  I know that you are all capable of saying no because it is one the first words we all learnt, and we had fully mastered by the time we turned three years old!

   Also, we all have at least one individual in our lives that we say no to on a fairly regular basis.  Who is that for you?  Have you ever thought about why you can say no to that person, or persons, with such ease and not to others?

   One reason, is because you can be real and honest with them.  Think about that for a moment.  Shouldn’t we be real with everyone we encounter in our lives?  Whether a loved one, or a stranger, we should be able to stand up for ourselves whenever, and however, we best need to in the various situations we find ourselves in.

   We all need to say no more often, but for the right reasons - because your life and health will be better when you do.  Every thought we think, every reaction we experience, is reflected in our bodies.  If you are saying yes when you don’t want to, you are unduly stressing your body.  Do that too many times, and your body will shut down on you.

  As individuals within a society, we've also forgotten how to say no and have lost control over many areas of our lives.  Truthfully, how many of us really need the latest and greatest and biggest new product as soon as it hits the market?  How many of us really need to live beyond our means?  Saying no via our spending habits is a more effective “protest” than the current “Occupy” movements going on in various communities.

   Now, whether the person you are saying no to respects your no or not, is a completely different story.  And if they don't respect your no, perhaps they need to hear the word more often?
   
Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LBzKmRes0ZI2PTk6B2l5TP-iI1bo-Tn3/view?usp=sharing
To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Allow


[Allow yourself] to be exactly 
where you are and as you are, 
and the world to be exactly as it is 
in this moment, as well.   
– Jon Kabat-Zinn

Monday, 14 November 2011

Mind


Sometimes, if conditions are such
that we feel free from the 
pressures of life and things 
don’t feel like they are 
heating us up to the point of boiling, 
or freezing us to the point of rigidity,
the mind can be quite spacious, 
like a gas, expanding infinitely 
and subsuming whatever occurs within it, 
or like water, flowing freely, 
unimpeded over and around boulders
and other obstacles in our path. 
– Jon Kabat-Zinn

Friday, 11 November 2011

Remember

It is important to remember...
however it is more important 
to learn from our memories.
- Beth Richardson

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Practice


Every time we get angry,
we get better at being angry 
and reinforce the anger habit…
Every time we become self-absorbed, 
we get better at becoming self-absorbed…
Every time we get anxious, 
we get better at being anxious.   
Practice does make perfect. 
– Jon Kabat-Zinn

Monday, 7 November 2011

Door


Every moment we are arriving 
at our own door.   
Every moment we could open it.  
 – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Friday, 4 November 2011

November 4, 2011 Chautauqua



From the Editor's Computer 


   One day I chanced to catch part of an interview on the radio.  A doctor, whose name I didn’t catch, was sharing the story about a certain patient who visited his clinic.  As part of her treatment for her overeating disorder, the doctor told this lady to post her exact weight, which was well over 200 pounds, on a 3 x 5 index card by her computer at work.  The point was that the card would serve as a visual reminder for her to aid her in curtailing her uncontrollable snacking habits.  The lady refused to do such a thing as she would be mortified if anyone knew how much she weighed.  The doctor pointed out to her that everyone in her workplace already knew that she was over 200 pounds!

   Whatever we think we are hiding from the people around us, we aren’t really.  Whether it is:
·          differing opinions/beliefs/likes/dislikes
·          lifestyle choices
·          various habits
·          our weight
·          our spending
·          relationships
·          compulsive activities, or 
·          addictive behaviours
in reality you aren’t really hiding anything from anyone. 

   Even more damaging are the habits and behaviours (see list above) that you hide from yourself (deny).  These definitely are not hidden from other people.  Deep down you know you are engaging in those behaviours, whether you want to consciously admit it or not, and ultimately your body’s response will betray you in the form of nagging symptoms and illnesses, from the seemingly insignificant to terminal.

   When all your energy and effort goes into hiding what you are doing or thinking, you aren’t left with much energy to live your life to the fullest.  You have no time or energy to make healthy choices or engage in life-enriching relationships.  Life is a lot easier, and more enjoyable, when you stop hiding and put your energy into really living.  
 
Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1coroqcCCH2ZI3bx1UmnhHZzhan10OOfH/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Present


We take care of the future best 
by taking care of the present now.   
– Jon Kabat-Zinn

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