It has been quite some time since I posted a “10 Things” list. My friend passed away in February and I just haven’t been able to write much since then. 2019 has been a challenging year for us. You can only witness a little slice of a persons life online and I like to keep things upbeat. I am not one to post every tidbit, even though some might think I do. We recently went on a trip to Italy for my cousins wedding and I personally had some serious revelations. They say that traveling that can change your life. I have always believed that to be true, but this time I felt the change in many ways. So, today I’d like share some words of wisdom that I acquired from the many family members I visited with during this stay.
Words Of Wisdom
10. Exercise every day, even if you don’t feel like it. ( It will keep you fit both mentally and physically. It’s about discipline.)
9. Always take the stairs if it’s 10 floors or under. ( Exercise can take many different forms. Plus this is a great way to get your steps in!)
8. Don’t wait to live a happy life – do what you need to do to live it now. ( Tough one right? Or is it? Think about enjoying what you have and not seeking happiness in things. Improve on what it is, instead of asking for more. Live in this moment.)
7. Everyone gets old. You just need to stay positive, stay active, and move on. ( Mourning your youth is a waste of time. You just need to adjust and live in the body that you are in now. )
6. Eat only what you need. ( As you get older and possibly become less active, less calories are needed to keep your body fueled. This can help you live longer.) (Disclosure: this is a tidbit passed on to me by my cousin 70 and his mom 97. FYI: I am not a nutritionist and neither are they.)
5. Organic is best. Grow your own if you can. (It doesn’t matter how little space you have. Eat what is in season and what is grown closest to your home.)
4. Don’t eat food that’s not good just to eat. (Demand quality over convenience. Fresh never frozen)
3. Eat outside every chance you get. (Especially if you don’t get a chance to be outdoors all day. Fresh air is a natural stress reliever. I even went to Kohl’s and bought two new tablecloths to dress up my table outside. It is amazes me that something so simple can make a meal paradise.)
2. Food should be prepared with high quality ingredients and with love and care. ( preparing food can be meditative. It should be see as an honor and not a chore.)
1. Learn to let it go. (Don’t waste your time being angry at people or judging them. Let it go. You will live longer and be happier. Life is too short to be angry.)
Yes, I mention food a lot here, but it is one of the essentials of life. How can you have a good life if the essentials aren’t taken care of?
I have a friend that always likes to go on about how she isn’t a good cook. Then it hit me while I was away….
My cousin asked me if I baked cakes like my sister. I answered, “No, I’m not a very good baker.” He laughed and said, “Of course you are, you just don’t like it.” Ummm, and that statement would be true! It’s true that I don’t like to bake. I love to cook, but I’m not a fan of the huge chance for error that can occur when you bake. It is precise. I like to mix it up and not perfectly measure. So, if you aren’t a good cook maybe you just don’t like it and that’s okay.
I was at a conference with Martha Stewart a few years ago and she was asked a question. “Is there anything that you are NOT good at? “ She responded, “Sure, anything that I haven’t tried.”