Saturday, September 26, 2009

More Inspiration

I updated my list of inspiring blogs in my sidebar. They are all worth visiting, often.

I keep finding new blogs to follow and new inspiration in the ones I already follow. Since I am still internalizing a lot of the things I have been learning, I'd like to take the opportunity to write about other people instead of myself.

First, I'd like to note Dani at positively present for her 14 reasons to fall in love with fall. Summer used to be my favorite season. Fall has surpassed it with flying colors (ha!) now that I know what fall can truly be. I didn't grow up with real fall and now that I experience the things Dani writes about, I join her in her enthusiasm and passion for the sense of change, the colors in the leaves, and the sounds and smells that come with autumn.

I enjoyed watching the video that Tess posted on The Bold Life under Rapping Southwest Flight Attendant. It's wonderful to witness people doing something out of the ordinary, which takes courage, and having it turn out so well that it lifts people's moods. I admire the attendant in the video for finding a way to make something very mundane exciting and new instead.

I recently discovered Urban Monk and I am really looking forward to reading and implementing the articles about Finding a Purpose and Passion in Life.

Now that I have laid out some of the changes I want to make in my life, I am happy to be reminded by Leo at Zen Habits that I should take things slowly. His post, entitled The Slow Secret: How to Make Lasting Changes in Your Life, outlines the wonderful benefits of slowing down. I have a feeling that this will help me in my goal to be in the present more often, too.

Mommy Mystic's post called LOVE- The Story of a Life, of Any Life brought me to tears with her words. Her story about her friend Matt who died at a young age is a poignant example of the way each of us can have an impact on the world by simply living our lives with love. The power of her words reminds me that even the little things matter and gives me the strength to keep going each day even if I don't accompish anything particularly noteworthy in the short-term.

I really enjoyed reading Ian's post on Quantum Learning called A world of deals and exchanges. His suggestion to try to make eye contact with people you encounter is something that I have tried to do before and it is truly surprising how difficult it can be, and how wonderful it is when you do manage to lock eyes with a stranger for a second. Our assumptions definitely get in the way of having happy exchanges with people as we maneuver through life. What can we do to act with a little more faith in humanity without feeling betrayed or endangered if our faith is returned with distrust? Maybe our positive actions will catch on.

The new blog that really jumped out for me in my exploring yesterday is Lisis' Quest For Balance. I would like to highlight three of her posts here. First, her post on Depression: The Long, Dark Road gave me some insight into what depression was/is like for her to deal with, and had me wondering what it feels like for Donald. I think he's mostly past his depression now, yet it's still good to understand what he was going through, especially if he encounters it again.

I think anyone having a bad day (or worse) can implement the suggestion to "focus on the centerline" and keep going a little longer. I'm using this idea now to get through the next couple weeks of waiting to hear news on Donald's current job prospect. Getting closer somehow makes it even harder.

Lisis also posted The Basic Needs: Just Be. This is a wonderful piece because it reminds her readers to simplify all the way back to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It has definitely helped me to focus on the basics before getting caught up with the more complex things. Amazingly, meeting basic needs often simplifies the more complicated things or shows us that those things aren't really necessary.

The final post from Lisis that caught my attention is Adventure: How to Get From Fear to Faith. I was hesitant as I started to read this post, mostly because faith means different things to different people and I wasn't sure that she would share my sense of it. I absolutely love what she writes, that "what you believe is not as important as that you believe in something." She goes on to show how this can relate to everyone, no matter their religious or spiritual level of being. I will be doing my best to implement this idea. It will help me be in the present, let go of control, be less anxious, and trust that everything will work out.

Thanks for reading! I hope you visit and enjoy each of these blogs. I'd love to hear about the ones that have impacted you and how you have implemented what you read to make a difference in your life. Thank you to each of these bloggers for contributing in such a valuable way to the blogging community!

11 comments:

  1. I follow most of the blogs you mentioned - each one is precious! I've only been in the blogsphere since January but it has been fabulous to "meet" the people I have and share things. There is so much to learn, each blogger puts a different spin on things, some personal, some not, but I love them all! This has been one of the most enriching experiences of my 60 plus years! And I'm glad you are here as well! It's a wonderful place!

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  2. Daphne,

    I follow and read most of the blogs you mentioned (two I'm checking out because of YOU!)

    I'm proud of you...you have taken something from each and every blogger you mention and examined how it plays out in your own life.

    You are on an amazing journey that will be filled with wonder and awe.

    How we all have so much to learn...FROM EACH OTHER!

    Blessings,
    Peggy

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  3. suZen - I'm so glad you have discovered these blogs too! It is amazing how wonderful the blogsphere can be. Thanks for stopping by!

    Peggy - I hope you enjoy the new and the old. Thank you so much for saying that you are proud of me. That means a LOT! I'm looking forward to seeing where this journey takes me and I am excited to share and learn. Thank you!

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  4. Hi, Daphne! I just found you from your comments over at Q4B, so I'm getting caught up on your story. But I can see right away that you and your husband are on quite a journey... much like ours. It's a journey that requires us to find a way to live with uncertainty, and with emotions that will be all over the place for quite a while. It's not easy, but I believe we will come out of it stronger on the other side.

    Like I said in the Fear to Faith post... find what YOU believe in, what brings you comfort, what you know you can count on. My husband and I have different levels of faith and are at different points on our spiritual path, but I tell him the same thing: Find something YOU can rely on and trust in that.

    The tricky part is letting go of our illusion of control, and learnning to trust that things will work out if you just let them. You can worry and panic, or you can enjoy the ride... it is your choice.

    Easier said than done, I know (believe me, I know).. but just keep reminding yourself. Focus on that centerline and keep on going. You're doing a GREAT job!!! :)

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  5. What a wonderful list of blogs and posts. I liked how you wrote about what you enjoy reading there and what you learned. Very nice.

    I even discovered a blog I have not heard of before and that is a nice gift.

    Thank you, enjoyed reading

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  6. Lisis - What wonderful words! I appreciate so much that you're going back and catching up. I'm so happy to find people experiencing similar things and I look forward to reading more about your journey as well. It really is about letting go of control and taking responsibility for our choices - it's all choice. Thank you so much for the encouragement and support.

    Patricia - Thank you so much for stopping by and for your compliments. I hope you enjoy the blog you discovered. I'm glad my comments about the blogs were helpful. I look forward to reading more from you!

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  7. Those are all awesome, awesome blogs. I've been to all but one, and love each of them for different reasons. Your generous heart and mind will be returned to you tenfold.

    Shine on, Daphne! It's a pleasure to see your radiant light!

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  8. Megan - Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy those blogs too. Your words are so kind, thank you, thank you! I am so happily overwhelmed with the positive energy I get from my readers.

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  9. Yay! I can't wait to check these out! Love new reading!
    Mindy
    www.thesuburbanlife.com

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  10. Hi Daphne,

    What an awesome list of blogs. I read most of them and you're right. Their posts are fabulous. How kind of you to showcase the work of others.

    BTW: Thank you for including my blog in your blogroll. I truly appreciate it.

    Happy Blogging!

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  11. Mindy - I'm glad you're excited! Let me know what you think and if you come across others I might enjoy.

    Barbara - I'm so glad you have found these blogs to be wonderful too. There is no point in me rehashing what other people have said so beautifully. I get so much strength from other people's experiences and perseverence. Thank you for sharing yours.

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I welcome and appreciate your comments!