SMART Living 365.com--Ideas to create a more happy, peaceful and rewarding life--365!

Three Things Keeping Us Sane & Healthy During COVID

This last week Thom and I were talking about how fortunate we have been to stay healthy and sane during the last seven months of the pandemic. But it hasn’t been entirely by luck. Of course we have practiced the basics that we’ve all heard over and over. But there are also a few other actions we think have tipped the scales in our favor. Today we want to share three of the ideas that we believe are a bit different, but important. And we also experimented by making the video a bit more active. We hope you enjoy it and invite you to offer anything you feel has helped you to get through these times (with your sanity and good health intact) in the comments below.

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Do No Harm But Take No Shit

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

La Rogativa in San Juan Puerto Rico honoring the women who saved the town from invasion.

My father was a loving and kind man. He was also very opinionated, loud and overbearing when it came to talking about politics, religion or just about any subject he disagreed with. I can still picture my mom and my three sisters sitting silently at the dining table most nights as Dad pontificated on the topic du jour. Mom typically busied herself putting dinner on the table or quietly sat and self-medicated with a cocktail and a cigarette. Occasionally, my older sister Ann attempted to jump into the fray but was instantly shut down. Not only did she never get her point across, such attempts usually ended in tears. True to my nature, I seldom went toe-to-toe with Dad because I wanted us all to be happy. Most of all I wanted to be seen as the good girl, the good daughter. Fast forward 60 years. [Read more…]

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Are You A Stretcher Or A Chaser?

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Meaningful, Rightsized, SMART Book Reviews

As you may have noticed I spend a lot of time looking for ways to improve myself and my world. From there, one of the joys of doing this blog is to share what I’ve learned with others. So this week in a podcast by Brene Brown I was introduced to a man named Scott Sonenshein who gave me new ways to think about a couple of topics I write about quite often. His book, Stretch—Unlock the Power of Less and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagine describes people as either stretchers or chasers. And while the title might sound like a business or motivational book, it essentially offers several good ideas about how each of us can increase our wellbeing, peace of mind and creativity. Today I am sharing four ways each of us can stretch ourselves toward greater fulfillment. [Read more…]

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Never Give Up Striving To Be True To Yourself

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

The first time I read this statement by e.e. cummings it resonated with me. Not because I think of myself as a rebel that wants to do whatever she wants whenever she wants to (we’ve all seen disastrous examples of that lately haven’t we?) Instead what it means to me is that it is necessary to resist all the exterior forces that are bound and determined to make us into compliant and numb individuals. While I do believe we are all connected, I don’t believe we are all the same. To be honest, I think we are all here to express and experience our own unique nature. So yeah, this quote speaks to me and is something I need to read over and over again.

And in case you want more full inspiration, here’s more from his A Poet’s Advice To Students:

[Read more…]

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Who Says You Can’t Buy Happiness?

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Meaningful, Thankful

Just over a month ago Thom and I bought ourselves two electric bikes. For several years we talked about doing it, but I kept saying no. I knew the minute I got on one, I would love it. Instead we regularly rode our 7-speed beach cruisers frequently until finally I asked myself, “What am I waiting for?” Thom needed no encouragement—in fact, he had been researching peddle-assist e-bikes for months. He knew what kind would best suit us, which bikes offered the best value for the money, and where to buy them. All it took was the decision to do it. As predicted, the minute I got on the bike and cruised around the parking lot at the bike store, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Ever since, after dozens of rides, I’m the first to admit that yes, sometimes money can buy happiness. Of course, as the saying goes, you need to know where to shop. And definitely you need to know what to buy! [Read more…]

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Today Is A Good Day To Live

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Thankful

Is today a good day for you to live? I’m sure most of you have heard the saying, “Today is a good day to die.” But what about living? Are you putting off living until the COVID-19 pandemic is resolved or there is a vaccine? Are you refusing to make the most of your life until the election has come and gone? Is there any excuse you/me/we continue to use to keep us from making today a good day to live? I don’t know about you but the more I am reminded that I only have so much time left on this planet, the more I value my life. I don’t want to reach my final days saying that I wasted 2020 (or any particular day) for any reason. Regardless of our circumstances, we each have the ability to shift our mindset and create days filled with things that matter to us. Join Thom and me on the SMART Living 365 Vlog as we discuss this topic and encourage ourselves and you, to make this a good day to live.

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Walking The Fine Line Between Nasty And Nice

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Meaningful

Last week a blogger friend posted an article about how the communication in our country has become very contemptuous. I agree. Anyone who has been on social media or watched any news has seen some very angry rhetoric thrown around—especially at anyone who doesn’t agree with them. While I’ve overreacted to a few things myself, I do work hard not to slide down that rabbit hole as much as possible. It’s one thing to state the facts and another to state your fear, anger and frustration. But the more I considered the idea, the more I questioned whether it is always necessary to stay “nice” rather than get a little nasty now and then. Is there ever a time it is called for, and if yes, do we give ourselves permission to go there when necessary? [Read more…]

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Un-caging Our Inner Cheetah

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Meaningful

During the entire month of August, I took a sabbatical. I nearly just wrote that I took a much “needed” sabbatical. But that wouldn’t have been true. I didn’t need one, I wanted one. And that level of honesty became much more important to me after I read the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle. For the most part during the last month I only read light fiction as a treat to myself. However, when I was able to grab a free copy of Untamed through my library, I jumped on it. It was just what I needed to dig deep and give myself permission to take my writing to another level. What’s that you might ask? I now hope to un-tame and un-cage my inner cheetah and let her roam wherever she wants to go. And hopefully my actions and my thoughts will encourage the same in you. [Read more…]

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Three Reasons Why It Might Be Time To Downshift

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

Before getting my first Driver’s License, my father insisted I learn to drive by using a stick-shift. I drove that type of car for years and grew to appreciate the gears and how they work—including the downshift. So although the vast majority of cars now automatically shift for us, the downshift is still very much a part of the engine. As it turns out, I think the human body also has such a gear. That’s partially why I decided to use the next month (August) as a time to downshift from this blog. No I’m not shutting it down, but I am going to pause for 30 days and sink into a more mindful, aware and slower version of my life. After contemplating this idea for several weeks, I am hoping that my downshift will generate three important benefits. And in case anyone wants to join me in their own downshift, I’ve listed three good reasons it makes sense. [Read more…]

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Refuse To Be Indifferent About What Really Matters

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware, Meaningful, Sustainable

During the last few months I think the majority of us have been focused on COVID-19 and staying healthy, safe and sane. But if you’re paying any attention you know there is a lot more change going on in the world than just the virus. Some of the events and certain people you might agree with—and others you might not. Let’s just acknowledge that neutrality is impossible. We are either part of the solution—or part of the problem. And while it wouldn’t be SMART to attempt to suggest what any of you should think, it doesn’t hurt to remind each of us that, “If we don’t stand for something, we’ll fall for anything.”

Our age doesn’t matter. If we are alive we still have a part to play. If we are choosing to sit things out or not get involved when obvious and repeated injustice occurs, then we are supporting those who perpetuate it. Let’s never pretend that our silence or inaction doesn’t matter. It does. It’s time to be honest with ourselves and pick the side that best aligns with our highest values and then do whatever we can to bring about the kind of world we want to live in. It really is up to us.

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