Day 53. Clean Out Your "Friendship Box"

Day 53

I have always referred to reassesssing friendships as "cleaning out your friendship box." I like to think of it as an actual act where you physically have to remove the negative from your life. If you find yourself constantly carrying the weight of a friend of yours and their burden has started to impact your life in a negative way, it's time to make a change. If you feel that you are being used and you do not have a give and take relationship with your friend, it is likely time to move on. Trust your gut. If you feel anxious or you dread the phone call or email from a particular person, start distancing yourself and change the course of that friendship. Good friends are there for each other in good times and bad and there will always be times when you are giving more of yourself to a friend in need. It's when the friend is starting to drain you and becomes a constant taker, that it is time to cut the ties.

Don't beat yourself up for cutting toxic relationships out of your life. Friendships are definitely about quality over quantity and this applies more and more as we get older. Put yourself and your needs first for a change. Go through your friendship box and weed out anyone who is taking more from you than you can afford to give. Honor your friends who lift you and enhance your life and simply let the others go.

Day 52. Buy A Gift For Your Future

Years ago I lived in an apartment that was barely big enough to have a few visitors over let alone to entertain in. I had dreamed of hosting holidays and occasions and even though I knew I would have to wait until I had more space, I started collecting accessories to use when the time was right.

This past weekend I hosted a large family brunch and decided to put pre-made basic coffee out in addition to the flavored Keurig option. I found two perfect coffee urns in my cupboard and I was excited to use them for the first time. During the brunch my Gram asked where I got such perfect carafes and I told her that I had bought them more than 12 years ago in hopes of someday having a use for them.

Sometimes you have to believe in your future dreams so much that you start making them reality before they are actually ready to come true. Buy yourself a small token for your future. A little something that symbolizes a goal. When it does become reality you will be excited both because you get to use your trinket and because you will get to reflect on just how far you have come.

Day 51 Don't Stand On Ceremony

Day 51

There are times in life when we let our expectations of what others should do, say or feel, dictate how we start to feel about them when they don't conform to our vision. If you wait around for someone to call or for opportunity to knock on your door, you will very likely be disappointed more often than not. If you want to talk to someone or see them it is your job to reach out to them not wait around for them to come to you. The same goes for new experiences, new jobs and all new adventures. You have to go after things even if you had it set in your mind that they would come to you. Stop standing on ceremony and get out there and be the one to make the first move. This is how you make yourself happy and start your life moving in the direction you want it to go in.

Day 50 Avoid Morning Confrontation

Day 50
I remember the day I didn't clean my room before school and my mom was so upset with me. She was a little angry and I went to school feeling bad and down. The feeling lasted throughout the day and when I got home I told her she had to wait until after school to confront me from then on. 25 years later I shared the same opinion with my sister when she was upset with her son one morning. It isn't always easy and you don't always have control over it, but it is very important to try your hardest to avoid morning confrontations. Even if it means that you send an email later in the day expressing your feelings or you write it down to remind yourself to address it later that night, do your very best to keep morning interactions light and positive. Set the tone for your whole day by steering clear of heavy morning discussions.



Day 49 Find A Ray Of Light In Tragedy Or Saddness

Day 49

This one I know is not as easy to do but for many can help a bit with the process. After the saddness and grief have set in for a while and you feel ready to look up, find a bit of light or create a brightside somehow. If a loved one has passed, consider making an event or a fund in their name to celebrate their life and your love for them. If tragedy has struck near you but isn't affecting you directly, reach out and do your best to lift those who need your support. Bring sweets, stay positive and try to find one good thing to focus on. It may be nice to find a project to pursue that will help memorialize the person or situation and will help keep the loved ones busy and preoccupied. Tragedy of any kind is so hard to handle but if we can look for the ray of light it can be just a touch easier. Join with others and find light.

 

Day 48 Beware of Virtual Tone

Day 48

How many times have you gotten a text page or email that has upset you or made you angry? As we know there is no audible tone in virtual messaging so quite often a light hearted or simple statement, is interpreted as a harsh or hurtful one. The worst part about this is that in most cases the sender of the message really has no idea how their note was received.

Text and email are wonderful and convenient options but they do have a way of causing stress because written/typed words can be easily misunderstood. Save important conversations for actual phone calls or in person meetings.

Misunderstandings and hard feelings can be easily avoided by simply reserving virtual messaging for quick notes and light communication.

Day 47 Believe In Dream Momentum

Day 47

Did you ever notice that once you achieve a goal that you had been working toward for ages, similar opportunites seem to come along even though you are already satisfied with the result you have achieved? The universe, your higher power or whatever you believe in, is always listening and working toward helping you achieve your ultimate goal.

I call it dream momentum because little bits of hope and accomplishment start to appear while you are on your way to your ultimate mission. There isn't an abrupt stop that happens once you achieve your dream because the wheels are already spinning.Even if you have met the partner of your dreams and are madly in love, you may find that you meet someone nice right after. Someone who you may have agreed to go on a date with if you hadn't just found this person of your dreams.

This is dream momentum. Even if your dreams are not landing in your lap in one swoop, they are unfolding bit by bit and will eventually turn into your perfect wish come true. The wheels go into motion as soon as you declare your mission and they continue until you are satisfied as long as you stick with it and keep your desires clear.

Everything you wish for is heading in your direction so welcome it and get ready for it because what you want will be yours. Perhaps even in more ways than you originally expected. Dream it, declare it, have it.