Aware Archives — SMART Living 365

Talking Travel With Intentional Travelers

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Some people probably don’t realize one of the gifts of blogging is the people you will meet on the journey. That’s why when one of those “gifts” sent me an email a few weeks ago telling me they would be in town this week, I responded immediately. Yes we could figure out how to do a physically distant “safe” lunch—but I had a condition. Would they also do a live interview with Thom and me? Of course doing a live interview outdoors is tricky enough. Then throw in the restrictions of a pandemic, other people, and swarms of gardeners and you never know what you will end up creating. However, when you are willing to take a chance with your blog, your vlog and life itself, great things can and do happen. Thanks to Michelle and Jedd Chang from IntentionalTravelers.com for a great interview. And a special thanks to Thom for managing to film and edit another complicated Vlog for us all despite the challenges!

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Uncovering The Mystery Of Why You Are Here

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

Do you ever spend any time wondering why it is that you were born? I mean besides the obvious that your parents got together one time and got lucky? And I’m not really talking about spending a great deal of time and energy on the question, I’m instead questioning the thought behind the thought that might occasionally pop in your head. Things like have you ever wondered, is this all there is? Or what about considering that surely life is about more than just growing up, getting a job, paying bills, procreating and then hopefully retiring with enough money to enjoy some free time before we die?

Well this week I rediscovered an author I have enjoyed in the past named Martha Beck and she has a lot to say about following our life’s purpose. But she isn’t really talking about “what do you want to be when you grow up”—any more than she’s talking about “what do you want to do when you retire?” Instead she is talking about finding and then following your ongoing life path, regardless of your age.

[Read more…]

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My Top Ten Favorite Podcasts for a SMART Life

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

A couple of weeks ago in a Vlog I shared how important walking is to my physical and mental health. When I consciously quit smoking nearly thirty-five years ago, walking was the replacement and ever since I’ve been getting up and walking every morning. I can’t even conceive of how I would have gotten through 2020 without that activity. And yes, having a walking buddy like Kloe my dog to join me is encouraging. But someone asked me how I can walk the exact same route each and every day—isn’t it boring!?! The answer to that is I have been saved by podcasts. In this post I decided it might be good to share some of my favorites with you in case you too would like some free inspiration, new and intriguing conversation ideas, and if you’re a writer a wealth of topics to explore. [Read more…]

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The Ultimate Freedom

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

I am putting up this post to send you on Wednesday, the day after the election. That’s because Thom and I are heading out of town for a few days in honor of his birthday. I think everyone is well aware that there is a lot of uncertainty happening here in the U.S. about the election right now and who knows where it will lead. It’s not clear who won, who lost and how that transition will take place. Whenever I find myself in a circumstance that is out of my control, I am reminded of the amazing Victor Frankl who in the midst of a Nazi Concentration Camp where people were being brutalized and murdered all around him he could still hold on to this freedom. No matter what the outcome of our current election, or other circumstances in our lives, we would be SMART to remind ourselves this on a regular basis.

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Resisting Conformity And Being True To Ourselves

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

A few weeks ago I posted a quote by e.e. cummings that said, “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you like everyone else is to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” That quote continues to speak deeply to me. It is based upon my own desire to be true to myself even though I really want to be accepted and yes, loved, by everyone else. And I’m guessing that many of us are feeling that contradiction in these times—whether that be related to politics, COVID, systemic racism, income equality, or others. Fortunately, one of the answers to that predicament came to me this week around the topic of conformity. When is conformity a good thing, and when is conformity a jail cell that we are in without remembering the door isn’t even locked? When does conformity keep us safe, and when is it holding us back? [Read more…]

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Three Things Keeping Us Sane & Healthy During COVID

By Kathy Gottberg
Filed under: Aware

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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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