SOLUTIONS FOR ENJOYING THE SUMMER
Are you thinking, “Summer is officially here and I will not put on a bathing suit and go to the beach this year.” Welcome to the human race! Most of us with weight issues have this thought and blame ourselves for not losing the weight over the winter so we could wear a bathing suit this summer.
Having this thought is living in the problem instead of the solution. You might be thinking there is NO solution to this problem. Let’s spend some time brainstorming ways of enjoying this summer and the beach.
1. Buy a bathing suit that feels comfortable and a pretty cover-up to go over the bathing suit.
2. Start today taking a small step to change your eating behavior. What small step can you take? An example: just for today light a candle and have a cup of tea or coffee instead of grabbing something from the refrigerator. Tomorrow repeat the same lovely experience.
3. Go to the beach early in the morning when it is less crowded. Early in the morning, I love having a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper on the beach.
4. Take a walk on the beach at sundown.
5. Sit in your backyard sun bathing using a heavy sun blocker.
6. Take a long walk early in the morning; this is my favorite time of day.
7. Schedule time with a good friend to have lunch in an outside café.
8. Invite family and friends over for a picnic and invite everyone to bring a healthy dish. An example: Salad, vegetable sticks with flavored yogurt for dipping, grilled skinless chicken, baked potatoes, fruit and other low calorie dishes. Please let me know what dishes you served at the picnic.
9. Take your children or grandchildren, or nieces or nephews to a water park.
10. Set-up a birdbath and watch the birds and squirrels take a bath.
I would love to hear your ideas for living in the solution for enjoying this summer and spending time on the beach.
TWO HORSES
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.
Good friends are like this … You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours. “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”
Name of Author was not included in email and I do not in anyway take credit for writing the story.
I received this inspirational story in an email and thought it would be a beautiful story to post on my blog, unfortunately I do not know who wrote this moving story.
Everytime I read this short story, I have tears in my eyes. It is so beautiful how one horse has no expectations for the other horse and just helps him. I was thinking this morning before getting out of bed how I sometimes have such expectations for others and when they don’t meet my standards I get very angry. Thinking who am I to have such expectations for others not only hurts me and the other person it also kills our relationship.
Tools for Today
• Today my intention is to love everyone for who they are and when I have a negative thought about someone to STOP and think of two things I love about them.
• Apologize to my husband for my expectations and let him know how much I appreciate him.
• Call a friend and let them know how thankful I am for their friendship.
What tools do you use, I would love to know.
