GOSH DARN IT!!!!

I'm finding it so hard to find something possitive on this board lately! Yes, it's the holiday season. It's a stressful time of year, but c'mon, people! Can we put just a tiny effort in putting aside our problems and misery for a bit?

I'm taking the liberty of copying something from Sky's chat last Monday in hopes that some of us will give it a try and not be so miserable. I've put it into practice and it's working for me! I know it can do the same for you.

"_Sky: Feelings cause behavior.
Thoughts cause feelings.
When we assess a situation based upon our previous beliefs, then our behavior might not be what we ultimately wish. We need to be <font color="#880000">mindful</font> of each situation as though it is new
and work from those thoughts, creating new, good ones. Learning to be <font color="#880000">mindful</font> is a process."

Sky goes on to say that we need to start with little things for short periods of time...

Gift wrapping is a chore for me but this year, I've practiced what Sky said and I concentrate on the gift and who it's for. I look at the wrapping paper and think how pretty it is. I'm careful of how much tape I use thinking of how I would feel if someone does a shoddy job on MY gifts. I want to be proud of the wrapping job I do.

That's one example. Baking is another. When I start mixing and adding ingredients, I think of how good each ingredient is on it's own, I marvel at the way the mixer does its job and I even sample the mixture. On and on...

Before I know it, time has passed and it's been enjoyable. Things haven't been a chore at all! I know we can all find something small to begin with to start practicing being <font color="#880000">mindful</font>!

How about we try it... just one thing for tonight... then again something else tomorrow. We owe it to ourselves to find SOME joy or happiness during this season that is supposed to be a happy one. We can do it! If *I* can... so can YOU!

Peace and joy to everyone that reads this.

((((((((((((SeptemberMorn)))))))))))))))
I completely and 100% agree with what you said.

's to all

maybe a smiley icon would be a good start yay

I have but one thing to say:

i love Eectric Light Orchestra....!!!!

Mr Blue Sky...Mr Blu e Sky.......

Rockin' and a groovin' here... even if it's my wheelchair!

Perna, ... and so does the Electric Light Orchestra!

Hey, Jacq! Thanks for the hug and the agreement! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

... pats self on the back for doing something good! ...

Jinny, I think you can do better than two tiny, itsy bitsy smilies!

SeptemberMorn... I was thinking, ummmmm , it would be a positive if i could talk you into puppy sitting a sweet, cute, lil, 9 lb puppy for about a week or two.. I even taught him to "sit" today. So he is smart and would be tons of fun for ya..

Morn >>> E L O <<< eeeerrrrr aaaaa mmmmm yea help radio out with little bundle of ( joy ) teething puppy........ hehe.

OH ... was that the LOL you were looking for ? LOL

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ummm... yeah, it would be a very possitive thing if you managed to talk me into babysitting him. But I gotta warn you, I DO believe in whacking puppies that bite! It would be with a rolled up newspaper, mind you, but I'm not into pain AT ALL! Getting back a non biting puppy would also be a possitive thing for you, just don't know how that puppy would feel about it. LOL

He's doing what comes naturally to him. That's how he would be playing with his litter mates. He just has to learn that you're Alpha and it's not allowed.

I can see your point, but I do not come from the cognitive point of view that thoughts cause feelings. I have found myself in this holiday season going through a nearly unbearable depressive episode that started two months prior. I wish that enjoying the holidays tasks were as simple as being mindful; however, I don't have that type of focus due to my depression. I am going back to NY for the holidays and I will do my best to have a good time, as I will surround myself with family, and believe that feelings are shaped by experiences.

LOL oo geee wmdwright... You told! Sept was not to know sweet pup is teething and a relative of the Tasmanian Devil.. Now she won't ever babysit for me...

I do have to let you know sweet pup bites a lot less since the vet told me to keep his harness on for a week. He is a much better puppy now. AND well, since I taught him to sit, he gets a treat, and would you believe he has been coming to me and sitting all day. So you see, he really is a sweet lil thing...

Am sure he'd love to visit with ya.. I promise to not move out of town when ya bring him back...

Oh I forgot to mention that lil pup took a 'sneak bite" and I started barking and growling at him. He just sat there looking at me. I am sure, or I hope I didn't traumatize the little fellow. He stopped biting right away..

I live with depression myself so I know that you can change your thoughts. Nobody ever said it was easy... but anything in life worth having is worth the hard work to get.

Feelings just are, they are neither right nor wrong and I know for a fact that many of them are induced by our thoughts. We can change our thoughts, as in the examples above. We can even take an experience and see it from a different perspective (our thoughts) and derive good from them, sometimes even happiness.

Nah, "W" didn't give anything away. I had already read that your pup is a biter.

okay most of us are looking at it as " stressed" I'm going to turn it around a all I see is "dessert" yummy
Merry Christmas everyone

September, i agree with you, mindfulness is a good posession to have...

for radioflyer and idk, just to put this out there...

wrote this about 20 years ago, deep in my confused depression state...

If one is to believe
he must give effort to chance
Experience then...

Memory, the teacher
becomes the believer...

for what its worth..

Sawry >>> So I should not talk about the move ? Glad Pup is being all so great now . hehe. Naw good thing you have him on treat world as good behavior enforcement. Wow you will have the only 50 lb. Pug LOL.

I'm not just looking for "LOLs". I'm looking to lift some spirits if I can. There's enough misery in this world without wallowing and/or focusing on our own all the time! We have the resources, literally, in our own hands to put it aside for a while.

omg, a 50 lb pug...although I did not give him a treat every time he sat without being told to sit, I must admit I told him to "sit" a lot. and well I paid in the long run because the treats gave him the runs..

What move? You mean the neighbors are moving? Sure you can tell Sept all about it..

BTW, did you know dogs do not like to be squirted with water? Vet told me to squirt him when he bites my toes. He grabbed my toes and I grabbed the squirt bottle and we went to battle. And I am now alpha of my own toes. I said go ahead bite my toes again. Guess what? He decided he did not want anything to do with my toes..wipes brow....yahoo I won.. lolllllllllll

wow.. that is pretty good. Lots of wisdom there....I like it lotsss..

Actually, it is an eye opener too. Made me think of how much I "have NOT believed" and how sad that can be...

thanks radio... i like your Keller quote quite a bit i think i got mixed up and it was pinksoil that mentioned experience being her teacher, but ive enjoyed your pug story and glad you got something from it... Merry Christmas