Almost February 29th – Leap Day!  An “extra” 24 hours – what are we going to do with it?  Let’s take advantage of this time to put more balance in our lives – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually,  and relationally.  Plan a brisk walk around your neighborhood or nearby park with a friend enjoying the “nearly spring” weather.  Walk and Talk! (Physical & Relational)  Is there someone you have been meaning to contact for awhile?  DO IT!  By phone, text, e-mail or snail mail.    I keep a file of “pretty cards” on hand – for spur of the moment sending~ It will brighten your day and theirs.

In one of my prior newsletters, I had challenged each of us to “How to be Happier in the next 30 days!”.  It is just four simple steps and leap day sounds like a great day to start!

• Step one:  Make a list of all those in your life who you could say thank you to (big and small connections).  Think of past and present connections including neighbors, family, friends and teachers.
• Step two: Choose 4 people each day and send them your simple, but meaningful, thank you by card, e-mail, or text.
• Step three:  Continue each day picking and sending the thank you messages for 30 days.
• Step four:  Make a new list, if necessary, and keep speaking gratitude.  You will feel happier and so will a whole lot of other people.

Remember even a few minutes focusing on and expressing gratitude can change your attitude and energy for the day.

Leap Day and this “extra” 24 hours only come every four years.  Use this opportunity to honor the mind/body/spirit connection so vital to a human’s life.   The rewards and benefits to our emotional life are amazing!

Would love to hear from you about how or what you did?  Please post here or send me an e-mail.

Happy Leap Day!

Warmly,

Sherry 

Since it is Valentine’s Day Eve, I decided to write about relationships – with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.  Relationships are one of the five areas needing our attention “to create a balanced life.”  This “Fable of the Porcupine” came to mind.  It so captures the necessity of human contact and interaction.  (Even  though it is about animals!)

Some years ago I heard the Fable of the Porcupine and it has always stuck with me.  It was a very cold winter and many animals died due to the harsh conditions.  The porcupines chose to huddle together against the cold.  Together they provided each other shelter and protection but their infamous quills would wound each other as they crowded together for warmth.  So after some time the porcupines started to no longer be together.  They stayed away from each other to protect themselves from each other’s sharp quills.  In time they began to die, alone and cold.  These porcupines faced a choice to either accept the quills of their fellow porcupines or be alone and suffer an even worse fate.  Ultimately they chose to accept the quills and come back together.  They learned to deal with the prickly, sharp quills of their fellow porcupines and the little wounds.  They also received the warmth, shelter and protection they needed to survive the harsh conditions of that winter.  By coming together, even with the discomfort, they survived.

What can you and I learn from this fable?  Our companions, those closest to us and those we love have imperfections, much like the quills of the porcupine.  The most successful relationships are when each person learns to live and accept the imperfections of others and look for the good qualities, the warmth, people bring to relationships.   Although we may be different from porcupines, we human need each other to survive.

During February (especially on the 14th) let’s reach out to our circle of relationships – recognize their contribution to our lives and contact them in person, by phone, text or Skype and thank them for the part they play in “balancing” our lives in a positive way.  Stop by a neighbor’s just to say hi, wave across the street to a mom coming home from work, give the postman a smile as he delivers the mail, or thank the checker at the grocery store.  How about sharing a warm loaf of bread with the family down the street?  Give an acquaintance a call to invite them to a play, bowling or hike you both would enjoy!  Share a kind word or  …. Surprise someone with a handwritten card or note in their “old fashioned mailbox.”  We certainly have gotten away from those friendly personal contacts with instant messaging, texting and e-mailing.  Your friends or family will feel some extra love and thoughtfulness from you.   Never know – might start a “new” trend!!

To strengthening your relationship life!  Happy Red Day!

Smiles and warm wishes!

Sherry