How to: Lifting My Spirits.

Hey there.

It’s me! Do you still remember me? Yeah, I used to write here daily. Those times are O-V-E-R; at least for now. My main address is the University library. You can find me on the third floor buried under a pile of books and papers. Okay, I stop complaining. Sometimes one has to be careful what “one” wishes or asks for, right? And every experience can be a positive one if we just choose to see it that way. 

I just rode my bicycle home from class and I had to put my scarf and jacket on. This little evening summer-warmness is definitely gone and during the day it happens more often these days that this weird cold just touches my bare shoulders to just remind me to put my cardigan back on. Fall is here and I am excited to experience it in Canada with all its beauty. I want to be healthy and sane so here are a couple of tips how I uplift my spirits throughout tough times, papers, assignments, oral presentations and life. 

Meditation. 

I have spoken to a friend in class recently about staying sane throughout all this studying and she told me that she has a routine in the morning that she sticks to and it works for her. She gets up, meditates and has chocolate and an expresso after breakfast just because why would you want to wait to treat yourself to something special in the afternoon. Good point I think. Most important for me is this quiet time to mediate for 10 minutes in the morning. Every morning. A bit of Yoga stretching on my mat that I placed next to my bed so I can just fall onto it. Perfect. Let’s start the day right. I also love to say

Thank you. I am awake. I have one more day of experiencing this awesomeness called LIFE on this planet. I am grateful for this and don’t think about having to get up early as a burden. I don’t take it for granted that I can breath this air, get up without pain and do all these amazing things all day long. After my son and I have breakfast I put him in the stroller and we walk to daycare/University during the week. We actually walk through a park, pass a playground and are in nature. We look at all these leaves and how they change color daily. We talk and tell each other stories. Spending as much time as possible in nature is very important to me. Eating heathy and drinking a lot of water also helps me. I make sure to drink at least 8 – 10 glasses of water a day! 

I try to stop, reflect and accept what is going on right her and now and what drives me crazy. The moments when Petit Joel makes me upset, I step back, take a deep breath and think about what it really is that makes HIM upset. The same goes for me. Usually, when I just FEEL, I know what is wrong and I feel better shortly after. It is usually not the “red light” and that I cannot drive that makes me mad. Think about it!

I also think about what I really want. Some thing I cannot control; for example how someone else acts. I stopped focusing on all the things that could go wrong and instead I pay more attention to what is and could go right in my life. Being negative all the time takes so much energy out of me and I need it to survive the 3rd floor in the library. Also, negativity does not get me anywhere. Does it get YOU anywhere? It does not give me control over any situation, but rather less peace in these moments when I need it. 

You know what also lifted my sprits? When I make someone else happy. The other day, there was a woman at Starbucks in front of me and she ordered a coffee and a croissant. When she approached the register, she realized that she forgot her wallet. She emptied her entire bag and was devastated. My- whole- life- is- in- that- wallet- kind of situation. I paid for her coffee and croissant and she was so happy. I hope she found her wallet. [Also, how my friend Judith made me happy when she bought me a Grande Latte twice before class on a Friday morning. [8:35 am!!] One last thing that lifts my spirits: The fact and realization that nothing is forever or permanent. Imagine how boring life would be. Not this feeling, not this moment, not this life  stays the same – change is inevitable. So I try to live in the HERE and NOW. 

Have a good day!