20 Things To Keep In Mind
Posted: February 22, 2011 at 12:02 pmOver the past few days I have done a lot of reflecting on things. I definitely focused on a few things that I hope to never forget in my life. I guess you could call these my personal mission statement. 20 things (in no particular order) in living my life to the fullest.
1. Eat what you love. We should not fear food! Life is too short to waste it eating things you believe you should and not that you desire. Try a variety to find what you enjoy and work towards a balance of healthy food you love and those treats you adore.
2. Believe you matter. Trust that you have a purpose and can have an impact in this world. Trust that others love you more than you can fathom. You have importance and much to offer. Believe in yourself.
3. Do it for your health. Treat your body with respect so it can care for you as well as possible. We too often take our health for granted. When you’re getting in that run or taking that Bodypump class – remember your health. That’s why you should do it.
4. Don’t take the little moments for granted. Reading stories with your daughter. Watching a favorite TV show. Feeling sunshine on your skin. Thinking about one little joy each day brings the moment, and therefore life, from ordinary to wondrous.
5. Pursue a passion. Find something you feel called to do and compelled to follow. Don’t hesitate to go after it and thrive in every bit of joy it brings you. Just be careful the passion doesn’t end up consuming you and act as a detriment to other areas of your life.
6. Reflect often. Whether you want to call it prayer, meditation, or whatever…take time each day to reflect on life, its blessings, and ways you can improve the quality of it.
7. Make time for relationships. People matter! Don’t let chances to connect with those you care for pass by. Try to take a few moments each day to call or email at least one special person in your life.
8. Never fully grow up. We all have obligations to handle. Yet, that shouldn’t mean we can’t hold on to childlike joys either. Smile. Laugh. Color. Play. Get excited over the simplest of things. Don’t stress. Have fun every day.
9. Your perspective can change much, but worrying can change nothing. No matter what life throws at us, we can always choose the approach we take. Hope and a dose of positivity go a long way. Worry just holds us back.
10. Prioritize. Consider what you really have to get done and the things that matter most. Do those first. All the other little things – like laundry or dishes – will get done, but aren’t worth the stress if it takes longer than planned.
11. Get outdoors. You can’t deny that there is something so rejuvenating in heading outside. Do it often.
12. Take a vacation. The memories made on vacations will forever remain cherished in your heart. Don’t allow yourself to become too busy for the occasional vacation. If you can’t travel – at least take a vacation from stress with something like a massage or even a visit to your favorite bookstore. Naps make great vacations too.
13. Don’t judge others. What a waste of energy. Who are you to say whether or not a person is right, wrong, good enough? Love everyone. We all deserve that action. All!
14. Stand up for your beliefs. If something matters to you, don’t feel ashamed or hide behind others or a false image. Own your beliefs. It garners respect.
15. Never stop learning. The world holds so much mystery and wonder. We can never reach perfection or know it all. Knowledge inspires growth. Growth is a beautiful and exciting thing Seek it with a continued quest for knowledge.
16. Don’t waste time with guilt. If something in the past upsets you, you cannot change it. Simply apply what you learned to the future. Moving forward is all we can do at any moment. Life is a never ending possibility. Don’t let guilt allow life to pass you by.
17. Forgive. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. It is the most freeing action you can take.
18. You can’t be good at everything. And that’s alright. We all have gifts unique to each of us. Take pride in those and use those to your full potential. I almost let the fear of not being good at running hold me back from discovering a new fitness love.
19. The world needs random acts of kindness. No matter how many times you make a small gesture for someone else, it never gets old. You will undoubtedly feel better and brighten someone else’s day in the process. Imagine the impact that could have if we all focused on contributing random acts of kindness to others each day.
20. Be yourself. Nobody can compare to you. So stop comparing yourself to others and love yourself for who you are. Then you have room for all the other things on this list.
Question of the Day – Which of these messages meant the most to you?
I LOVE all of these things, and I’m not sure I can pick just one favourite! I’d say be yourself and never stop learning are 2 that stick out most to me though. This is a really inspiring post Tina! 🙂
Today? The vacation one!!!! I’m so ready to move on from the miscarriage (follow up tomorrow..praying for the go ahead to start trying again) & with that will come our 1 year anniversary trip!!!!
I love them all though & it’s just all a grand reminder that we are to live life..not just be spectators!!!!
I’ll be praying for you just like I have been. Hope its good news. 🙂
I love this list Tina! My favorite one is “13. Don’t judge others. What a waste of energy.” Ain’t that the truth!?
Love these!! My biggest struggle is worrying. And it is so frustrating, because I KNOW I have no control over the things I am worrying about, and I KNOW my perspective is my control, but I still have trouble letting go and letting God.
Worry has always been one of my biggest struggles too. It’s a daily lesson for me.
right now, NUMBER NINE is huge with me (I wrote a post about it yesterday!) because I’m facing a couple big challenges. it is something I hope I always keep in mind, but especially now.
I love this whole list – they are all true and wonderful… I may print this to be able to look at every day 🙂 thank you, Tina!!
Hi … found you via Twitter.
Love this list … so many important things on it.
I kinda have a mental list of ideas/concepts I value, but not sure if I ever wrote them down, so thanks for the inspiration, I might aim to do that one of these days.
Its amazing how many come out once you get started. Writing them out was a great reminder to me too.
Glad you found me! Hope to keep connecting. 🙂
Pursue a Passion & Make Time for Relationships. I needed to hear this, Tina. Thank you!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this list. I think I’m going to print it out and put it on my fridge. The husband could use a reminder on a few of these too.
No. 12 is really timely for me. I’m feeling all sorts of guilty because we just booked a long weekend next month and a week in June and my company is such a small, not always stable company. And I’ve been dreading telling my boss — even though he’s very cool and understanding.
As much as I adore vacations, I’m not very good at cutting ties, albeit temporarily.
But you’re right — my family and our memories need to take priority sometimes. Thanks for the encouragement!
I hope you have a fabulous time on those trips! You deserve them! 🙂
Fantastic post. I’m excited to bookmark this and refer back to it as needed. I especially love “Believe you matter.” Oftentimes we are so hard on ourselves and put ourselves down instead of making ourselves #1 and remembering that we are important. Thank you for sharing these lovely insights.
Gosh! I don’t think I can just pick one! They were all so wonderful! I think right now I’m working on not judging anyone. I truly want to not judge someone if they make an unhealthy meal choice!
Thanks for this post!
I love this list! It is so up-lifting! My favorite is “Your perspective can change much, but worrying can change nothing.” Very true!
Believing I matter and pursuing a passion – both of these speak to me on so many levels. I’m struggling to believe I matter/make a difference in my new job (not really sure why, yet) even though I know I am. I have a hard time believing that. And pursuing a passion? I do that through my blog but part of me deep down wishes I could make fitness my job, not just my passion. I just don’t know where to go to get there or if I can get there. You’ve given me lots to think about as usual, my friend!
what a great list. your perspective and spirit are so encouraging to your readers!
Great post. Certainly reminds us of the bigger picture as we get absorbed in stuff that feels all-consuming (work and dissertation for me).
Oh dear I’m totally tearing up…you have no idea how much I needed to read this today! The biggest one for me in the moment is “know that you matter” – so easyto forget and believe the lies sometimes!
You better know that I love you and you matter to me. Muah!
I 100% agree on not taking little moments for granted. You never know when they might be gone.
Love this Tina!!!!
I think what resonated most with me was…
Offering compassion to others with random acts of kindness. As humans we need love, compassion and kindness- it is up to EACH of us to offer that every day.
Do it for health. Food, exercise, movement, choices, sleep- do it for your health because health allows us to lead the life we so desperately want and desire.
Wishing you many good thoughts today.
These are awesome!!!
The most that I really NEED to follow is not to worry! And another one I struggle with is stand up for my beliefs!! I have an opinion too! But all of them I relate to and somehow make a mental note to live by!!
What an awesome list! I am completely with you on not taking moments for granted and making time for relationships.
tina–i love this. beautiful!
I agree with all 20! I so wish we lived closer to each other so I could soak up even more of you in person. (Did that sound creepy? I’m sorry. But I pretty much meant it.)
I love this. I think all of these things are so important to remember.
Not taking the little things for granted is a big one for me. Its so easy to do, and I need to make a point of appreciating everything.
This is an amazing list! I feel all of them. Honestly, I have gone through the list a couple of times and really I can’t choose just a couple. I really feel like they are all so equally important!
I hope you are doing well today! I got Tony to go for a walk with me this morning and it felt amazing. Enjoy the afternoon Tina!
Great list! Just what I needed this morning. The first one “eat what you love. We should not fear food! Life is too short to waste it eating things you believe you should and not that you desire. Try a variety to find what you enjoy and work towards a balance of healthy food you love and those treats you adore.” That’s what I decided to do last night. I need a healthier relationship with food. I eat well, but when I treat myself–I treat well. I guess I have an “all or nothing” mentality and it shouldn’t be that way. I’m going to watch portions, get a good mix of fruits and vegs with each meal, exercise and treat to satisfy when necessary and not feel bad about it. Well said, Tina!
I love that you saved “Be yourself” for last. I think it packs the most punch and reallly sticks in your mind. Thanks for the reminder!
Amen to all that! The one that stands out the most is to not take the little moments for granted.
LOVE THIS!!! On so many levels. All of them really resonated with me, but the one about guilt most because I have grappled with it lately, in terms of where I am now, versus where I was a couple years ago, and being very happy and just wanting that for my friends and bloggy friends that aren’t in a good place. It’s hard to share my happiness knowing that others are struggling. That balance is difficult.
I loved this list! It was just what I needed to read today, since I feel super busy & stressed with exams. Thanks for the uplifting message!
Loved, Loved, Loved this post!! All GREAT reminders!!
8, 13, and 20!! Great post friend! Definitely wonderful points to think about and act on!
ALL of them were spot on. The guilt one hit home for me the most….
I needed to hear #2! Sometimes I catch myself worrying so much about what I think I can’t do, that I forget to focus on the gifts I have to offer 🙂
Your posts ALWAYS come at the best times for me.. bookmarking this one! I love your insight in everything!
Hey,
I have been following your amazing blog for quite some time now, but never had the courage to comment.
But this post is by far one of my favourites!
Your list says it all. It’s the little things in life that make it more precious!
All the best wishes from far away Germany!
Thank you!!! This is one of those little things that just made my day. Hope you have a good one as well. 🙂
This was a great post! My favorite one was #2….Believe You Matter. But I liked all of them…I could apply each one to my life. Thanks for another fantastic and uplifting post. 🙂
And you DO matter. You do! Love you!
Every single one of those rings so very true to me! I think #1 stands out the most. In a dieting culture so many foods are deemed forbidden and the lack of that item may cause a sense of restriction, but also it carves out a little piece of joy in that day. Of course balance those luscious items with some healthier items, but still… enjoy!
And not just with food either. Always on the treadmill, but you really want to try that Zumba class – try it!
This is wonderful – thank you!
This was so great, thanks so much Tina! I really need to keep #16 in mind. Like, really.
What a powerful list! I love so many of them. Pursue your passion, never stop learning and be yourself.
I’m big on “following your gut.” It typically never lies.
Love this so much Tina!!
I love them ALL… but I think #1 sticks out the most. As a competitor I know how it can be “normal” to eat the same foods day in day out even if you’re isck of them, hate them or just dont LIKE them. When I started this journey I swore that would never be me, i eat what I love… but still love what I do. 🙂
I really like the “you can’t be good at everything” and “follow your gut” mantra.
my gut has never steered me wrong, and as a perfectionist, I have a really hard time relaxing and remembering that I can’t be awesome at everything!
The one that hits me most is the one about passion because I have long thought I am missing that. Thanks to Oprah, years ago, bringing this to my attention. And, I wonder if that passion is what I am looking for when I eat instead. Wish I knew what my passion could be:(
I love all of these things! The ones that stuck out to me most were- Eat What You Love, Forgive, and Pursue a Passion. Eat What You Love and Forgive go hand in hand because I definitely spent too long fearing food and have only recently began forgiving myself for feeling that way. For so long I was blaming myself and getting angry, but I am learning to realize that it was a difficult time in my life, but I am stronger because of it.
As for pursue a passion, I am studying musical theatre, which is a passion of mine, but I now have a new passion-health and nutrition. I no longer want to pursue music professionally, but rather want to pursue a career in nutrition. For the past few months I’ve struggled accepting this because I thought that maybe it was the wrong decision but I now know in my heart that pursuing nutrition after I graduate with my bachelors in music (got to finish the degree!), is what I am meant to do. It just took me a little while to figure it out. 😉
Such an awesome list! I love number 17. Being able to forgive myself and realize I don’t have to be perfect was probably the first step to any sort of healing for me. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
My little personal vacation was a 45 minute nap today. And I don’t feel guilty about it at all. 🙂 Your entire list is fantastic, but #7 speaks to me the most. What is life without the relationships we maintain with our family and friends?
#20 is my favorite! Thanks girl!
Love this list. # 4 meant the most to me. I am always busy and on the go, and I love being able to still enjoy the little moments 🙂
gosh, they all hit home to me today! I think 4, 5, 14, 17 are what I am focusing on more this year! Such inspiration Tina. thanks!
Absolutely beautiful 🙂 Thank you for sharing!