Health and Lifestyle
Efficiency & Contentment
Do you find great pride in your work when you pay attention to details? I consider the work I do as being important to others. It means that I have to be prepared to tune in to each person and tune out from what I am otherwise doing. I like to think about what handouts they might need, and put them into their file ahead of time. What do I need to read or prepare to discuss with them?
My husband is very methodical. When he does something, he does it well. He will take the whole bed apart each morning to make sure it is put together just right. I always say I don’t have time for doing that, but I must say the extra time with details leaves the bed and the whole room looking nice.
I like to have the shades in the house all at the same height, so I automatically do that. The reality is that we can do things well and with precision if we hold to a routine filled with good small habits. Some people say that if it takes less than a minute to do, do it! Put the nail file away. Wipe down the kitchen counter and throw the dish in the dishwasher. Wipe the handles of the refrigerator. Rinse out the dogs bowl. Wipe down the bathroom bowl sink with paper toweling. Just do it and there isn’t a major cleaning needed later. I totally subscribe to this approach at home and also at the office.
Time is not a monster rushing after us, but for some reason I think the clock has become our enemy. Today I consciously did not put my watch on. I will get things done in spite of it. So why the concern? Well I rush to eat. I grab quick foods. Instead, I am practicing to schedule in time to eat, and to do the relevant things. Everything else can be eaten by the “monster rushing behind”. He’ll eventually find someone else to charge after!
I refer you to the following site* to help remind all of us the importance and relevance of learning good habits. Good habits flow from childhood into adulthood. As adults we still need to improve ourselves in many ways. Practice makes perfect is a well known idiom and as an adult we all need to use it too. Watching an old-timer cook or garden is such a joy, because they have repeatedly made that dish or grown those flowers season after season. It shouldn’t surprise us when we see a master in any area of life be successful, because they have been practicing and refining their skills.
Perfection in the Patterns We Create!
I heard Gretchen Rubin discussing with **Michael Hyatt earlier this week about how she avoids sugar. She does it so naturally that there is a split minute decision to avoiding it. When we are confirmed and practice something regularly, it is not a big deal. Our smallest choices make the bigger ones easier. She also suggested that we reinforce things naturally. If I buy myself fresh foods and fancy containers for them, I am reinforcing the decision to eat in a more healthfully conscious way. Soon I am not running to the cookie cabinet, but to the fresh fruit drawer.
I have always said that one doesn’t need to stay in bed in the morning and keep hitting the shut off button on the clock. Just get up and get going. Have your plans laid out the night before along with your clothes. In the winter time, I load my car with my needs for the day the night before. I will even put my fruit in the car knowing it will stay chilled. I think that is one of the reasons why I eat better and feel better in the cooler weather.
Enjoy your week and the Mini Miracles that will pop up for you!
Mother Teresa Set the Bar High
Yes, Mother Teresa did set the bar high for us, but please read to the end of this blog. You aren’t off the hook yet!
I have had a few mini miracles pop up today. You couldn’t see them, but I know they made my day not only worthwhile, but happier. **A friend who was in town a few weeks ago had stopped into my office for a visit. We had a nice conversation over a glass of ice water and just caught up. I realized how many things we were experiencing in life were similar in regards to health, business, and family. What a nice break in my day!
Today she called me from Mississippi where she was on a business trip with her husband. She will be accompanying him on many in the next few weeks. I think it might be an opportunity for us to share some time via the phone together. I plan to call her and hopefully surprise her. Linda is a Health and Wellness Coach from Florida. Check out her site as I listed in below. I think she has such a refreshing view of eating. 
She mentioned having just read my book and shared some feedback. I was thrilled that she took time to read it. I hope others do too. While I hope none of you experience what the book is about, I do know that life throws things at us that we’d rather avoid. Perhaps reading about this story will present some insight for you.
A few minutes later my son came in for a visit to drop something off. Although it was his day off of work, he was running errands and heading off to get the children after school. Our short conversation made my day more complete. It always does a mom good to see her adult kids, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
Next I ran into Subway for a late sandwich. One of the young people working there has been sharing some of her personal concerns. What a joy to see her and listen to her. I hope that maybe I can fill a need for her in some way. I think one of the mini miracles is how God connects us to one another.
You know this week Mother Teresa is being honored as a “Saint”. She certainly did wonderful things to help the poor. *I heard on the radio earlier this week that we should all live our “Calcutta”. What a marvelous thought!!! We aren’t Mother Teresa and we aren’t given the same tasks to perform. We can however, do our best, wherever we are located. Your Calcutta could be in the backyard watching small children and protecting them from bees. Your Calcutta could be at a business meeting and going out of your way for an injured worker. Your Calcutta could be driving behind a slow driver and being patient. In other words, our location can give us an opportunity to be giving and servicing one another.
Let us all “delight in living” by being the Best Version of Ourselves!
*SiriusXM.com Channel 129
Hoarding What?
Books, pictures, and linens call my name. I just love reading and find an attraction to books. Real books that one can hold and reread. I gave away several thousand books in the last few years. I finally realized they weren’t helping me any longer and they weren’t being checked out so it was time to pass them on while they were in good shape.
My grandmother, mother, and mother-in-law were all crocheters. As a result I love and appreciate the beauty and effort of lovely creations. They tell a story of the history of life and also the nostalgic feelings from my past. Many evenings of watching them create these pieces are etched in my memory.
I too have come to love the hobby, but prefer to crochet toys, ornaments, and blankets. And then because we were all seamstresses, I came naturally to love fabrics, doilies, and linens of all types.
Slowly I am passing them on to those who really appreciate them. I don’t want to see them in a garage sale. Two years ago I went down to an open house sale of a couple that had died. The house which had been a beautiful home for them was in shambles. Piles of beautiful statues and expensive plates were lined up like an old dimestore counter. I thought the lady who was a Domestic Genus was probably turning over in her grave knowing how her beautiful home was a mess.
As I walked into the basement, I could see piles of things were stacked without care. Toys from 50 years ago were dusty, but in their original boxes. Drawers of linens and sets of matching crocheted doilies were pushed into containers. I grabbed a stack to save them, because I knew the lady and valued all her work. I am so glad I did. They were sold at a token of their worth. It broke my heart.
I am by far the furthest person from hoarding. I am forever giving things away, but I also believe in caring for what I have. How about you? Are there people who you want to give things to, but fear they will see it as junk? Now is the time to part with the things you want to share so they go to the people who can enjoy them now.
When I saw the photos of the recent flooding in New Orleans and the devastation of lives and buildings in Italy, I began to think. In Italy, where the areas were centuries old and the homes originally built years ago, there was a loss of property and of course, so many lives. We really need to evaluate. Do you share the things you own? Do you show appreciation more the people in your life?
Liking yourself and loving life sound so easy, but it takes effort to be our best and recognize all the gifts we have been given. May today be a day of self appreciation for all that your do! And thank others around you as well!
The Morning Rush
How is morning for you? Are you a morning person? This was taken a few years ago when I had classes downtown. I really love the Loop. I don’t appreciate getting up early, but once I am down town, it is wonderfully uplifting. Do you go into Chicago regularly and if so do you find the ride downtown calming? Do you drive in and have to buck the traffic? And look at th
My mornings are pretty scheduled with appointments or meetings. I have cut back on the later, because of taking myself off of committees. Learning to prioritize has helped me make life more doable. What thing are you doing for yourself to ease up on responsibilities.
Usually getting myself up and moving also means caring for the dog and her needs. If you have a dog, you understand. Then I am out to Mass, the office, or catching up. Today my schedule included the bank since someone had tried to hack into my business account. I find it all so annoying to deal with those sort of things. I also had the computers checked for viruses and worms. So my apologies for getting this out late today. Usually I get my blogs outlined and ready for the week on Saturdays, but being computer less was hard.
When are you most productive and does your eating influence your day? With everyone addressing diets and eating correctly, I wonder if what you eat does matter? Please let me know. Especially those who stay up late like I do. Often I wonder if I should be eating some protein later in the day.
Have a super week and GREAT MORNINGS!
School Days …
I love to learn. What about you? What was or is your favorite way to learn? Are you continuing your education? I loved school and going meant I could to be with others my own age on a daily basis.
I was creative and learned through the mediums of art, reading books, and dance. I learn by doing things firsthand. That is why interacting with others and traveling is so great for me. If you are an auditory learner, you learned by hearing recordings and what people say or read to you. If you were a visual learner, you had to see pictures, numbers, and content before your eyes. As parents and teachers, we need to recognize how we and our children learn and present materials in that format. Although ADHD may be a valid diagnosis for some children, often finding out how they learn can help them focus and be more centered.
Children are so free spirited and somewhere along the aging path we lose our zest. So this week I am looking more at life through the eyes of children. I really love to mentor and want to do more of this–call it counseling or coaching; it has value for all ages.
Do children inspire you? I have found my energy from being with them and watching them bloom. Kids are starting school now throughout our area and most start out with enthusiasm. The first for weeks are hard for the teachers. There is learning all the students. It requires figuring out what will work with this particular students. Gathering all the books and resources needed also require time.
Yesterday I went into Target. Have you been to one of these big box stores lately? Do you find the thrill of just seeing all the new products? The school supplies are everywhere. Bedding and dorm supplies for the teens heading to College. Pencils, book bags, and colored pens for the younger set. I found myself right in the middle of it all. Yes, I bought some mechanical pencils. Just love pencils for notes and sketching.
The selection in Fall is over the top for options. Are you a seasonal shopper? How does that help you? I actually bought some XL Twin sheets last week because they are more available at this time of year. Cute prints, with pocketed fitted sheets, and matching quilts lined the shelves 2 weeks ago. Today they were gone.
I also ended up at Walmart for notebooks for organizing the office. There I met and talked with a mom (who was probably near 50). She wanted to know what and were a memory stick was to be found. It is hard when the many generations are involved. I was able to help her, because I am still pretty involved with using the computer. She was overwhelmed with the cost of everything.
After many years of being a student and then teaching, I find myself longing to buy books and relish in this time of the year. I have so many things I like to do that I have my days planned out and full. I actually take many classes and topics for both counseling and the virtual world in process right now. Do you? I know that many of you are teachers, counselors, and parents.
I love the fall. It is the best time of the year for me. It is when I thrive on doing the things I love to do. I feel my best physically, love to exercise in the cooler weather, and I’m able to focus my best. Is this a good time for you? Are you an allergy sufferer, who feels better with the change of seasons? Do enjoy these later days of August. Delight in Living everyday! Blessings
Adapting to Issues
A few months ago my son-in-law had problems with the car he was driving from a suburb into the city. It had to be towed in for repeated repairs before the issue was fixed. He could not miss work on those days. There was no public transportation that took him to his destination. His oldest daughter offered her car and in turn had to find a way to get to her college classes and meet obligations she had scheduled. Another time my daughter chimed in to help lending him her car. It meant the whole family was shifting to resolve the situation.
Most problems take creative thinking to resolve and this was one of them. When we have financial problems, it is commonly said that we borrow from “Peter to pay Paul”. When we are ill, we cancel plans until we feel well again. Life calls us to be flexible and adapt.
We learn to adapt when the coffee pot breaks, the air conditioner stops sending cold air throughout the house, or the patient forgets to show up. Sometimes these things curtail our expectations for the day, but then offers something better. We get a better appliance, find a short in the electrical system that potentially saves our home, or frees us up to do paperwork. Good things, more than less, will lead to improvements. It is a matter of teaching ourselves to look for these highlighted moments. These are the mini miracles I speak of on a daily basis.
Our minds are wonderful. They let us do more than we know. I have been watching the Olympians in Rio. Their muscles are well trained and their routines are so entrenched that even with injuries they keep going to offer great performances for themselves and their team. I love that spirit of doing for ourselves and for those around us.
People don’t always live or die after an accident. Life isn’t black or white. Sometimes broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and/or heart complications leave people in limbo temporarily or forever. Day-to-day healing and changes in health teach us that we need to be flexible. It isn’t easy. Often the benefits of being patient pay royally in dividends. We make better decisions for healthcare when we take the time to get multiple opinions. Time helps in healing everything, from broken bones to broken relationships. Time and creative solutions bring us full circle and teaches us to share openly so others can be helped.
In a culture where instant gratification is rampant, we want instant results and assurance that things will be perfect again. It only contributes to this black or white mentality. We all need to slow down and make good choices. Our health improves when we eat slowly and when we balance our lifestyles. Our friendships change when we allow others to be themselves. If I have learned anything it is that we cannot control the decisions others make. We need to be wise and recognize what we can control.
People want their financial issues cured now. They want new jobs immediately. Jobs come and go and sometimes it takes a few changes to find just the right one. Finding the right one that pays well and works for you may not be available on your time table. Embrace your day and it will bring you a harvest of goodness.
What things are you being called to have patience about? Are you ready to take the good with the bad? Who do you need to reach out to today? Are you starting slowly with that new exercise program?
Staying on track is a good goal; just like keeping our cars working well! We take things one day at a time and “show up”! Highways and opportunities close and open. What goals are you working towards today? this week? next month? or in the next year?
Blessings as your forge ahead! Find your mini miracle today! Maybe it is realizing that all solutions are temporary just as all problems are as well?
All Things Fresh & Wonderful
We all tend to like new things. Whether it is a new pair of shoes or a new purse new things can bring us great joy and maybe even a feeling of accomplishment. Isn’t it good to feel you have earned something?
Well as I have gotten older I am even more excited about new things. They don’t have to be big things, it’s the little things that count. I just ordered a new keyboard cover for at work. I like them because hair, crumbs or whatever may be around does not damage the keys. Plus things stay
nicer looking. This is my older cover and getting worn out and baggy! So my big thrill this week is waiting for the new ones (yes, I ordered a couple to save on postage).
What is new at your house? Did you just return from the store with milk and bread? Isn’t it nice to be able to get the basics?
Have you been entertained by the television? Are you a radio fan? Do you enjoy podcasts? (We have them here each week).
Maybe it is a time of quiet when the kids are out of the house for camp or a mission trip? Maybe it is a chance to sit outside and absorb a little sunshine with a glass of iced
This is my older cover and getting worn out and baggy!
tea? Do you enjoy a good book? Take time to relish in the land of words and imagination.
But new doesn’t begin or end with material things. The most important things we can do for ourselves and for others is to stay current. It means learning new things, propelling yourself and others into a forward momentum that keeps us alert and able to give to one another. Exercising, working, and involvement in our communities brings out the best in us and in others. Let’s do it. Learn a language. Study a new field. Try something new. Get involved in a hobby with friends or family.
Liking yourself means being good to yourself. It has taken me a long time to realize that when I am happy and feeling accomplished, it flows onto others. Someone recently labeled me as a Catalyst. I was so pleased to think I could have that effect on someone. That is what I have always wanted to do; that is be a motivation for people.
So if I can be of service to you and provide coaching or counseling care, contact me at linda@lindagullo.com
Today’s goal is to make All Things Fresh & Wonderful! Find the Mini Miracles that were sprinkled around you today and have a wonderful one.
A Bucket, A Broom, and A Mop?
Oh yes. 
All three tools are helpful. They serve a purpose. They are tools for cleaning and something we all should learn to use. I couldn’t help but think on this bright morning of the many unnecessary things we own.
I walk through our house and see a collection for the Vietnam Veterans of America that I have been putting aside. I give to many of the agencies around; it helps them and it helps me to be thankful for all the things I do have.
I was listening Pat Flynn on a Podcast. He was interviewing Dana, who has a Website that supports wives, mothers, and entrepreneurs. She had a marvelous and up-to-date way of looking at life. You can check Dana out at the Boss Mom Podcast or Pat at The Smart Passive Income Podcast.
This was my take away from the Podcast. As women, we do not have to be split into categories that compete against one another. We are not moms who have family vs. work vs. whatever other titles we carry. We do not have to have separate buckets for each role we play. Instead, we have one bucket that keeps us busy. It is filled with our roles as mothers, workers, and/or any other roles we take on. We can be effective and shift from one role to another as so many women do. We have been told that we can’t do it all. In fact, we have been doing it “all” for years.
I can speak for myself. I am a wife, a mom, an entrepreneur, and take care of all things. I was in the Jeep dealer today with a flat tire and had to shift my schedule to take care of things. Which reminds me that I have to play secretary and schedule an appointment for my spouse with the foot doctor. Life continues on with some roles taking more time than other roles. I run a busy office filled with online and in house clients.
Women are multi-taskers by nature. I recognized this years ago when I would be doing a load of laundry, cleaning the kitchen, chasing toddlers around, and helping my parents with their needs. It all got done well and timely. I think I lived the one bucket method for years and today it was labeled for me.
I loved that “bucket concept” so I took a picture to expand on it. We learn how to navigate doing many things. We can be good with many different roles and succeed well in them. How true! Sometimes our buckets include a church festival, a spouses needs, or attending band concerts. Things shift and periodically our bucket is empty; at least for a few minuets.
To the men in my audience, I am sure you are doing a terrific job too. Husbands and Dads are also learning to multi task well in this generation. They drive kids to appointments, shift their schedules to be at their children’s events and work. We all need to shift priorities as we move forward.
To go one step further, sometimes the mop, bucket, and brooms are stored away. They aren’t always full or needed. We can deal with one thing at a time. We can learn to rely on one another, technology, communities, and teams to help us. We don’t have to keep our buckets filled or overflowing all the time. We all need to take time for ourselves when possible. You deserve it! Time to just sit and read a book or enjoy some music or take a short walk. Be good to yourself! I think it will flow onto those around you to do the same.
Mini Miracles are with you today and everyday!
Confused?
Have you ever read something and didn’t comprehend it?
Or tried to learn something new and it just didn’t make sense?
Have you tried to make decisions and felt total confusion?
I hate to admit that I have experienced confusion on more than one occasion. It is a frustrating experience when one is really attempting to understand. We look for confirmation and to other people for validation.
So why is it that we have comprehension and memory issues? When it comes to classroom or training situations, it may be because we are not paying attention. It may be that we have many other things distracting us. Or it can simply be we don’t know how to express ourselves or understand the language. The terminology can be over our head. During these times, it is nice to have trustworthy people around us.
Years ago my husband was in a serious accident. He lost his memory due to a brain trauma. It would take him weeks and months to put things into order. Some of his memory was permanently removed.
While he was trying to reclaim his ability to understand circumstances, I seemed to find my own memory was lacking. I remember trying to teach a class 10 weeks following the event. I had known the information inside and out without thinking about it twice, but I couldn’t remember it without reading it before I taught. Things I knew well took a leave of absence. I became vigilant about taking notes, keeping good lesson plans, and following a calendar.
It’s a blur. Just so unfocused!
Thank goodness my situation was temporary and everything returned quickly once I was engaged in the classroom setting. Routine brought me back into line quickly. I believe the episode was so stressful that priorities took all my attention. Lots of responsibility had landed on top of me. I literally felt crushed. My shoulders ached from the weight of carrying it all. I began to carry less and tried not to lug backs of books and papers over them. My adrenalin was turned on for 2 years. When I went to the doctor saying I was totally fatigued, I was told my adrenalin had turned off.
We know how fog affects us. Things are unclear and every sense seems to go into emergency mode. The distance we can see is limited and murky. When I have driven in fog, I will open the window in hope that my hearing will help. I try to be more careful and drive more carefully.
So too when we are trying to get through a crisis our minds are overworked and overwhelmed. This is often the case during times of grieving when one is just emotionally charged and sad. While one tries to comprehend a lost of a person, a job, or health, everything else gets foggy. Things are unclear.
Sometimes we need more information to help us clarify. Facts can help clear things up for us enough for us to make good decisions. People can help us who know us well, but we need to be open to the help.
Help others in need who are grieving or having lots on their plates. Be the memory for them when things and situations are confusing them. Let’s all help one another. Peace and Blessings for the Day. You might be the Mini Miracle to help make someone’s day a bit clearer!
Don’t Go Back! The Path to Success
Are you always trying to learn something new. Just how do you do that? Do you find great mentors? Go to U-Tube? Take a course at the local college? Listen to success stories? Maybe you do all of these.
For me, I have been fortunate to have some really good mentors along the way. One man I knew was a Psychologist and Professor. I knew him outside of his role and on a more day-to-day means, because I worked with him. He was kind, well read, and thoughtful. He was prophetic in many ways and helped me see into the future of possibilities. He helped me like myself and believe that all things were possible. He read scripture and acted in accordance with it. He was always available to help people and followed through we his promises.
One of the lessons he reinforced for me was “to never go back or return to what has or hasn’t worked.” Don’t go back to jobs. Things change, people change, and times change. Don’t try to recapture the good old times, because they just won’t be the same. Going back isn’t how we remember things. I had learned that one time and his words rang true.
Years before my husband and I lived in Rochester, New York. We were young and freshly married. We had different professions and knew others in the same job market. We used to go to 3 different restaurants frequently. One was a high end hotel where the dinners and ambiance was awesome. We enjoyed our romantic dinners there. 2ndly, there was a popular chain of restaurants where we dined during the week and enjoyed the time together. These places were clean, had great steaks and sandwiches that were economically friendly. 3rdly, there was a local bar and grill with great food, where we’d enjoy a drink in the evening with a side dish.
Fast forward years later, when we returned on a business trip. The town had changed considerably; industry in that area had changed too. The chain of restaurants that featured steak dinners was long gone. We didn’t have time for the Bar and Grill. We headed to our favorite Hotel of Glitz and Glimmer, where we had enjoyed music and dinners by candlelight. It had mirrors, and patterned carpets. Glamour in styling on the walls and tabletops. We just couldn’t wait.
It wasn’t there. We just looked at one another. It was a vacant area with concrete and weeds all around. What happened to it? Did we imagine the whole thing? We couldn’t find a parking lot? Nothing to mark the spot! Sadness in our expressions, a few words, and disappointment. We asked about it.
It had moved due to a fire. Now we find its replacement still with a version of the same name. It is in a mall; no ambiance. Just a cheap and lifeless restaurant with a few menu items. One Grecian Urn stood at the doorway. It was awful, not clean, and certainly not good food.
That taught me to never go back. Enjoy today. Seek new things. Share with other people the positive things. Look for good mentors and don’t let go back dampen wonderful images in your mind.
So I share this advice to you today, don’t go back. Start fresh. Validate the past for what it provided, especially if it was good. Move ahead to new visions and the possibility of new life.
Delight in Living and find the Mini Miracles around you.