FILLING MY DAYS WITH PURPOSE-BUT WHAT IS PURPOSE?

 Purpose is a funny word. Some people may think their lives have purpose and another person would look at them and not agree.

We are all making judgements of each other.

So what is purpose to one person may not to another.

For me my purpose is finding purpose in each day. Lately organizing some genealogical stuff fills some purpose.

Cleaning up messy areas of the garden.

Assessing what needs to be fixed in the house.

Reading more. Making meaningful appointments.

But for me my job, caring and being with Adolph gave me more purpose.

So all my interests and hobbies are some purpose but not big ones.

What gives you purpose in your life?

#purposeinlife#whatgivesyoupurpose#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FIVE THINGS TO DO EVERY DAY

Life can get away from us. So setting some simple daily goals is a good idea.

1. Get a good night's sleep. Wake up and stretch. Greet the day with joy and say I want to do......... today! Say a little thank you prayer to God for having another day.

2. A good breakfast. Your coffee. Your tea. Your favourite beverage. Put some fuel in your body for energy. Take your vitamins. Take your medications.

3. Read. The paper. The Internet. A book. Do the Sudoku. Do the crossword. Read your bills. Learn a new word every day. If talented with another language, learn another word in that language. I keep a running list of new words not only in English but French, Spanish and Italian. Even on my facebook, I have friends that speak and write Italian and French. A good way to tease the brain and learn. No not fluent but keep plugging away at languages.

4. Get washed. Get dressed. Do your hair. If female, some make up. If male, shave or trim your beard. Do the nails. Wear pretty or handsome clothes that flatter your skin tone. Feel good about how you look. Check your posture and stand and sit up straight. No leaning forward, hunched. Put your head back.

5. Do at least one kind thing every day. No matter how small. Think kind. Be kind. Avoid unkind people if they affect your mood. Walk with a brisk step, greet people with kindness. Be the kind of person you want to see in the world. Start with kindness to yourself. Your partner/spouse. Your family/friends. Colleagues. Strangers.

By doing just these five things, you might venture to more activites in your day. Life starts with having a purpose every day. What is your purpose? Look around you and what do you find?

DO WE NEED MORE THAN A HEALTHY BREAKFAST TO START OUR DAY?

We are told a breakfast gives us a healthy start to the day. We need the food to give us energy. But are there other things that we need. Can starting with a prayer of thanks be mindful? Can conversing positively with a loved one give a sense of belonging? With little children around there are often hugs and kisses- giving us the much needed touch factor. Adults all need some touch too. Look at the elderly in care centers and visiting pets that allow touch. The start of a day brings a renewed sense of another day to live on this earth. I have a bathroom that faces east and the sunrises are beautiful. Often I find myself there giving a prayer of thanks and think about the day ahead. Are there routines you have to help you get your day started with good energy? Of course that first jolt of caffeine helps. Adolph usually brings me a coffee most days. It is a sweet gesture of caring that warms my heart! Is there a purpose to your day? I find I need a purpose- work, play, routines, hobbies- whatever it will be! Why do I want to get up in the morning? It does not have to be over the top events. Just good ordinary living with the people I love! Can I in my ordinary day help others to find a purpose too! Oh yes-trying to post something on my blog every day even if it is not extraordinary gives me some purpose. It keeps me disciplined to write. To find something to write about in a creative way. To find opportunities to take photos. Can reaching out to others that may be going through a difficult time give purpose too. Another day-another chance to be!    

WHY DO WE IDOLIZE THE RICH?

On my walk to work yesterday, I was thinking about the number of times in a day the people I work around discuss money, how much money someone has, the  house, the car and the feeling if you make a lot of money you are successful! Money and things! Yes, if you do not make lots of money no matter what you do-well you really are not very successful.  It definitely does help not to worry how the bills will be paid. Is a person's worth the size of the wallet and all the money? Does everyone that lives in the big houses have lots of money? A celebrity with all the trimmings often get more goodies for nothing because of the fame! How much is enough money? So why are there many people who are not rich nor make elaborate incomes just enjoying life. A smaller house, a garden, love of family and social activities that bring joy but not in any ritzy place. Why do some people just love living despite the fact there is no wealth? Some days-well I look around and feel happy, content! Don't get me wrong-I have bills to pay and do not have the funds I hoped I would have at this age. But for some reason I just plod along and enjoy life! My purple/white irises called me to photograph them. A spontaneous hug from one of my grandsons brought joy! Celebrating my granddaughter's birthday was fun! She enjoyed the new book about horses! Sure I would love to win the lottery, have one of my projects make money and have more things like a cottage but for some reason my life still has lots of meaning, joy, love and purpose that with or without those things I carry on! I did find myself discussing one of my projects with a fellow Social Worker yesterday and after the discussion, I thought to myself- hey I have passion about that project! It was not about money but about completing the project-just because, regardless of how successful it would be! Talking to her reminded me that not everyone is obsessed with money! Perhaps I need to surround myself with more people that have a passion about something and are not judging everyone about the size of paycheque they make! So why do we idolize the rich, the athlete, the celebrity? Do you have the answer?

DO YOU LIVE A FRUITFUL LIFE?

Is your life full of activities that bring meaning to you? Is there variety? Do you muddle through your day or do you have a purpose to it? Do you wake up with joy or is it a drag? Do you go to sleep at night wondering what's it all about? Like the movie- What's it all about Alfie? If you were to arrange a fruit platter showing your life, what would it look like?