Posts

A Thanksgiving To Remember

/in , , , /by

A Thanksgiving To Remember

Remembering Your Departed Loved Ones

As we enter this day of Thanksgiving and we count our blessings,  there may be people who have passed on from our lives that we deeply miss.  Although we may feel sad, we can still honor them with the same joy of Thanksgiving as if they are still here.Here is an excerpt from James Van Praagh’s article – Remembering Your Departed Loved Ones During The Holidays that you may find helpful:

When you are enjoying an almost perfect holiday event this season and think to yourself “I wish Dad was here to enjoy this” comfort yourself with the knowledge that he is closer than you think!
*    Acknowledge those who have passed in a special way – display a favorite holiday photo of that person, make their favorite recipe, or use a serving piece that belonged to them during the meal. You can even set them a place at the table- any small gesture that brings them closer will be appreciated!
*    Encourage family members to share a memory. Pick a time where everyone can share a memory or story about the person who has passed. Let the dead know that they are loved and remembered.
*    Be open to signs. Be open to subtle scents, sounds, and thoughts that signal the presence of your loved ones – and respond to them, “hi mom!” so Spirit knows you are aware of them.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY MOTHER
MARGARET “PEGGY” DONNELLY GIORDANO
Mommy -

Are You A Lover Of What Is?

/in , , /by

Can I share my latest read with you?  It makes such complete sense to me that I felt compelled to tell you about it.

Loving What Is
This is an excerpt from Byron Katie’s Book – Loving What Is:

“I am a lover of what is, not because I’m a spiritual person, but because it hurts me when I argue with reality.  We can know that reality is good just as it is, because when we argue with it, we experience tension and frustration.  We don’t feel natural or balanced.  When we stop opposing reality, action becomes simple, fluid, kind, and fearless.”
My Dear Friends…
Doesn’t this free you up?  Doesn’t it give you permission to say, “Ah, yes, it is all OK – I am not going to argue with “what is.”  I can accept it and then take the steps that are necessary with ease.
Living an untruth is always stressful.   So many times haven’t we denied or tried to control our reality instead of just accepting it.  And how has that worked out?  Usually it becomes at some point very painful.
The process of Life Recovery is just like that…loving it all…loving every broken piece of it and then some.
Maybe it’s your career, relationship, environment, finances or health that’s causing you anxiety, frustration and confusion.  But if, just if, we take this approach of Loving What Is, doesn’t it feel gentler and more peaceful? Doesn’t clarity begin to focus in? Then inspiration possibly?
If you are struggling and would like to learn how to overcome your challenges and recover, I would love to share with you all the valuable tools that help me.
In Healing,
Patricia
xoxo

Thankful Traditions For The Holidays

/in , , , , /by

Tips to Balance Your Life and be Thankful for this Holiday

The word tradition comes from the Latin word – traditio – which means “to teach.”  Holiday Traditions are about handing down something we believe in from generation to generation.   Traditions are so important because it is a way we can express to our loved ones how much they mean to us. Think of it as having a built in ritual or routine we can rely on that allows us to bond with our families. At the end of the day, we can always say we are thankful – but having traditions around the holidays is a way to make us feel special and create memories that are priceless.

Here are 3 traditions that can help you create memories:

  1.  Round Robin

Everyone holds hands around the dinner table and each person takes a turn to express their feelings and give thanks.

  1.  The White Envelope

You can decorate your tree or simply give out a white envelope that encloses something you know that person would like, i.e., gift certificate, tickets to a show, etc.  A budget is predetermined and everyone is equal in spending amount.

  1.  Grab Bag

Establish a budget for your gift, then set a time prior to holidays to select who you will be purchasing for or everyone sets the amount of spending ahead of time and you do a pot luck grab bag.  Either way it’s fun!

With all the festivities and planning ahead, it’s not unusual around the holiday season to feel overwhelmed or stressed about all the things that need to get done.    Here are a few tips to help keep you balanced and mindful.

Establish Routines

The key to keeping your life simple is to create simple routines.  How you start your day sets the tone for the rest of your day.  Try to prepare the night before.

Make A Most Important Task List (MIT)

Set just 3 very important things you want to accomplish each day. Don’t start with a long list of things you probably won’t get done by the end of the day. A simple list of 3 things, ones that would make you feel like you accomplished something.

 Leave Space Around Things In Your Day

Whether they are appointments, or things you need to do, don’t stack them back-to-back. Leave a little space between things you need to do, so you will have room for contingencies, and you’ll go through your day much more relaxed.

Go For Quality, Not Quantity

Try not to have a ton of stuff in your life … instead, have just a few possessions, but ones that you really love, and that will last for a long time.

Simplify Your Wardrobe

Is your closet bursting full? Are your drawers so stuffed they don’t close? Simplify your wardrobe by getting rid of anything you no longer wear. Try creating a minimal wardrobe by focusing on simple styles and a few solid colors that all match each other.

Find Inner Simplicity

This could be time praying or communing with God, or time spent meditating or journaling or time spent in nature. However you do it, working on your inner self is worth the time.

Always Ask Yourself 

Will this balance and simplify my life?  If the answer is no, reconsider.

 

Traditions To Be Thankful For – Watch on Lifetime Television

/in , /by

* Patricia Diesel,Life Coach and Organizing Expert discusses Traditions to be Thankful For… – Fri, Nov 12, Lifetime Television at 7:00-8 AM EST. & PST., 6:00-7AM CST.

Mother’s Day…What Do Mom’s Really Want?

/in /by

Beyond the gifts, the brunches or fancy dinners, Mom’s truly long for something else.

It doesn’t cost anything in terms of money but it’s value is richer than anything you can buy.

It’s simple and pure and it comes from the heart…

A kind word, a gentle touch, a joyful smile and quality time with their family. 

Body Doubling

/in , , , , /by

Body DoublingWhile sitting opposite from one another during our scheduled work session, a relatively seasoned client of mine looked directly at me and said “I think I like it better when I write in my own personal handwriting rather than you printing out labels for me.”

“OK” I said. “May I ask why?”

“I think I find it too impersonal and sterile. I find myself feeling more drawn to the files and want to pick them up when I see my own signature rather than unfamiliar printing.”

Since we already established a relationship with one another, I felt comfortable enough to ask her if there was anything else she wanted to let me know.

“Well, as a matter of fact,” she said, “I think I would really like it if I could try working for a while just on my own, while you sit there. Is that alright with you?”

I smiled back at her and said “Of course. Take your time and let’s see how it goes.” We agreed that we would try this for one hour without talking unless she needed my input.

As I sat there, I started to imagine what it would be like for me to have my assistant just sit in my office while I worked. But that image didn’t last long for me. Unlike my client, I am an active participant when it comes to my work and like to engage and interact with my staff and also require and enjoy their input and feedback.

So, I started to question in my mind what was really going on for my client. Was she beginning to feel more secure in her own sense of style and wanted to try it out while I was present or was it something more profound than this?

Fifty minutes into the hour, she asked if I would like a cup of tea. Sure I said, that sounds good right about now.

We took about a 15-minute break and sat outside on her deck. We talked about the weather, her new landscaping of shrubberies and a little about family.

As we walked back into her office, I asked her if she ever heard of the term “Body Doubling.” Her eyes widened and she just about whispered, “No, what is that?”

Well, I began; I believe that is what we are doing right now.

Having a person who is present and acting like and anchor, not an active assistant, allows the other person to stay focused and ignore distractions. I asked her if she agreed that was what we were doing.

“Absolutely,” she said. “Having you here somehow gives me permission to finish what needs to be done, and I don’t feel the urge to walk away.”

She wanted to know if the practice was common or highly unusual.

I explained that it depended-sometimes it is woven into the organizing practice quite naturally and in other circumstances it is introduced right away. One thing that is certain is that body doubling is highly effective and actually mirrors what organizing looks like.

With this new-found understanding, it made it easier for my client to accept that her initial request was in essence a particular organizing practice. Body doubling offers alternative solutions for people to succeed in their organizing endeavors, when they recognize they are challenged with distraction.

It was safe to say, my client and I worked silently for the next hour and a half and when I left, she felt empowered and satisfied with her accomplishments.

-Patricia Diesel
Keep It Simple Now