Lots of rest really does wonders on recovering from illness. I took it easy yesterday while Peter worked from home to help with the kids. I don’t quite know what hit me, but I’m happy to report it seems to have only lasted 24 hours. I think having my appetite back excites me the most. I could only stomach the following yesterday during the day:

A Yogurt Bowl

2 Dippy Eggs, English Muffin, Grapes

Banana Soft Serve with a Drizzle of White Chocolate Peanut Butter

All delicious, but not quite the norm for how much I typically eat in a day. Luckily, once dinner rolled around I had worked up the desire for food again. We had quite the delicious meal planned and I was thrilled to partake!

We, and by “we” I mean “Peter”, grilled up some of our cow share steaks and I whipped up a delicious salad combo on the side. My all-time favorite salads include nuts, fruit, cheese, and a light dressing. Avocado doesn’t hurt either. This salad had it all.

Romaine, red onion, cucumber, strawberries, avocado, goat cheese, walnuts, and this homemade lemon vinaigrette Andrea shared last week on her blog. With such nice, warm temperatures outside it felt like fine summer dining. Sunshine always helps cure the “sickies” as we call them around here. <--- Life with kids, I tell ya.

I hope I continue feeling better and better as the day goes on. I’m still going to take it easy today to make sure of that. I plan on spending lunch with a friend, doing some blog reading during my usual afternoon time slot, and figuring out what to pick for my next 4all by jofit outfit. We get to choose our outfits this time. Help me pick! Which top and bottom would you pick from the London and New Orleans lines? Hint hint – let me know because another giveaway could be coming your way soon. 😉

• What time do you usually do your blog reading?
• What items would you choose from the new 4all designs?

Every day upon arising, we begin a journey led by one choice after another. Those choices add up to the sum total of our lives and whether or not we can claim to live in joy. What is that I hear you saying? Oh…you think that’s ridiculous and that we can’t control everything. You know what I say? You’re right. We can’t control everything. We can, however, control our perspective.

As I discussed before, sometimes we choose to put more emphasis on our body at the expense of fully experiencing the world around us with pleasure. We determine whether or not we live in that manner. In the same fashion, we choose whether or not to succumb to other forces in this world hoping to weaken us. That choice lies in the perspective we adopt.

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When a pair of pants fit too tight, you act out your choice whether you demean yourself the entire day with negativity or actively seek out ways to care for your health. When an insecure friend wants to tap into your insecurities with snide comments, you choose whether or not to listen (or stay friends for that matter). When a challenge arises, such as a lost job or illness/injury or broken heart, you can choose to continue living with the belief it will make you stronger or grab a shovel to dig yourself a hole of regret and self-pity.

Our perspectives don’t always have to shine with rainbows and glitter. No shame should occur in feeling pain, hurt, anger, sadness, etc in particular situations. We’re human and those emotions should not be glossed over or ignored.Sometimes we need such feelings to cloak us like a heavy garment and really feel them before moving on with our lives. Nevertheless, we still control those feelings and keep the perspective in tact.

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All of the above relates to self-love because part of loving ourselves comes in providing the best life possible. That life consists of seeing the glimmers of hope in dark places, the pain of others in their attempts to cause pain, the waste of time in fretting over matters we won’t remember in a few months, and the ongoing list of similar situations. The authority to provide a “best life” comes in a little package called perspective. It’s your choice whether or not to open that gift.

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How do you witness the power of perspective in your life? Do you currently face something where your perspective could make a difference?

Quote to Reflect On
Be careful how you interpret the world:  It is like that.  ~Erich Heller
We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.  ~Anaïs Nin