Saying goodbye to 2017 is like saying goodbye to a relationship I’ve outgrown. I learned a lot. There were very good times and some tough times. Now it is time to turn the page.
I believe one purpose in life is to personally grow. With each year, hopefully we reach goals, jump unexpected hurdles, discover new aspects of ourselves, come closer to God, and understand more about what is important to us and why we’re here. That was 2017 for me. My mother passed away this year. We were not close, but I was involved in her care at the end and helped make decisions for her comfort and to support her wishes. I feel grateful to have specifically (with my sister and brother) helped support her final wishes of spending her last days in her home and helping her pass with dignity and in peace. This year I traveled, had great times with friends and family, built my business, and pushed myself to be more honest about who I am with myself and with others. I am more honest now about my personal and professional experiences of abuse. I feel grateful to others who really put themselves out there, to the Silence Breakers and the #MeToo movement for being role models for speaking out and being honest. For my business I expanded my coaching practice to offer more support to my clients in a variety of convenient ways. I also offered online support groups. And (drumroll, please!) I started my book which I plan to release early next year. I am SO excited about that. My book is part business book and part memoir. I’ll be telling more about it in coming months, so please subscribe to my blog. Personally, I finally had the back surgery I put off for four years, I started my daily meditation practice, and I focused my reading on spirituality and metaphysics. All of my new habits feel congruent with my True Self, and I feel myself opening up more and more. I started this year marching in the Women’s March in Houston on March 21, and I spoke up often this year about what I saw as a “chipping away” at human rights in our country. Gloria Steinem said, “Women grow radical with age. One day an army of gray-haired women may quietly take over the earth.” I feel myself getting more radical with age. I understand what she’s talking about. We become more brave. We get tired of censoring ourselves, apologizing, and acquiescing. The butterfly must emerge from the cocoon. I look forward to my new adventures, challenges and growth in 2018. And I look forward to my local and online friends sharing with me how they are learning and growing too. We are all in this life together, after all. To 2017, thank you… and buh-bye. Big hugs, everybody!
Snarky fun. Enjoy! Oh, and Buh-Bye...2017.
0 Comments
I had back surgery two weeks ago. It was out-patient surgery…micro discectomy and disc decompression surgery. It’s a relatively minor surgery, and yet, I’ve always thought of that term, “minor surgery,” as an oxymoron. I don’t think there is any such thing. This procedure has risks of nerve damage, paralysis, infection, and more.
Two weeks after surgery I feel great. I put this surgery off for four years. I did physical therapy and got cortisone injections. I took lots of Celebrex for the pain. I limited my activities because of pain. Nothing helped. I finally had the surgery, and now I feel great. And I feel a huge sense of relief and pride. This has made me think about why we put things off. Why do I put things off? I see it with my clients. It’s not just me. We put off looking for the job, divorcing the spouse, ending the useless “friendship,” and leaving the town we hate. We procrastinate and hope that things will get better. Or, and this might be even worse, we think we can live with the pain, discomfort, or inconvenience. I often share the story of the frog being put in a pot of water. The story says that when we slowly warm the water, the frog will swim around. When we gradually heat the water to boiling, the frog will boil and die. Whereas, if I dropped a living frog into a pot of boiling water, the frog would jump out immediately and live. That’s how the story goes, anyway. I had gotten so accustomed to my back pain that, to some degree, I was willing to live with it. I accommodated it with changes and adjustments I’d made in my life. I felt I was managing it. I talked to an older woman at my gym one day about 6 months ago. I never talked with her before, and have not seen her since. This was what I call a “God Moment” or a “Divine Intervention”. We talked for about 15 minutes, and got on the topic of my back pain and my two herniated discs. She said, “You’re too young to live with that pain. You need to have that taken care of. You don’t need to have that.” I thought, “She’s right.” I realized I was the frog in the pot of water, and the temperature was rising. I’ve been in that pot of water before. I was raised by a mean and abusive mother who I escaped. I was in a bad marriage for 10 years until I filed for a divorce. I’ve left bad jobs and bad bosses. Sometimes you know it’s time to “do the damn thing” – whatever that damn thing is. Don’t let the water get too warm. When it’s time to “do the damn thing,” take action and move your life forward. You’ll be glad you did. Big hugs, Lisa This season can be rushed, busy, stressful, and it can sometimes feel empty. The holidays and the weather can wreak havoc with balance and wellness habits. Plus, this this is the time with the most environmental darkness and the least amount of light provided by the sun. Handled correctly the short days might be a blessing.
Find the quiet. Enjoy the peace of solitude. Listen to the heartbeat of life slow down in the silence. Let your song tune into the melody of the Universe. Find that quiet place where you can feel the soft rhythm of winter and connect with the light within. Make time for inner reflection while the world feels still and the blanket of darkness covers our world like a soft pillow. Breathe and release what does not serve you anymore so that you can be filled by light from within. Starting today we will receive more light with each day, and our energy will grow. With the cold and the dark, rest yourself and let go of what does not serve you. Let it dissolve into the darkness, making space for light to grow within. There is nothing for you to do. There is not a checklist. Let go and receive. Heal, breathe, and surrender. That is all. Hugs, Lisa
Before we wrap up 2017, take time to celebrate your accomplishments. Often, we move forward without celebrating what we've done, the risks we've taken, how we've grown, and what we've learned. Watch my YouTube video for more information. Big hugs, everybody!!
When was the last time that you laughed so hard that you almost peed yourself? If it has been a while, you have a problem. We need to get you laughing. Laughing is part of the human experience and feels glorious. Laughing is an intense, joyful reaction to something we find funny. It is a relief and a physical expression of strong emotion. Laughter relieves anxiety and tension. There are a lot of studies about how laughter reduces blood pressure and helps to release endorphins that help diminish pain. I don't know about you, but I'm in! Laughter is FREE, and available to everybody. Think of a funny memory, read a funny book or watch a funny show or movie. Some therapists and doctors prescribe "laugh therapy" to relieve stress and relax the whole body. Laughter can also increase blood flow and improve blood vessel function. Laughter has benefits in social situations. Laughter can diffuse tense situations and conflicts. It can also create or intensify bonds between people. Sometimes we think that laughing really hard and having a lot of fun is reserved for children. Everyone needs to laugh. And we need to laugh hard and regularly. I have a lot of respect for how much everyone is dealing with today. My clients have so many responsibilities at work and at home. Friends and family members of mine sometimes get overwhelmed with current life demands as well as everything going on in the news and media today. It can be easy to get overwhelmed. This is all the more reason why we need to take time for the things that are good for us, like exercise, hobbies that we enjoy, healthy food, good relationships, rest, and laughter.
How do you get your “laugh quotient” up? When feeling depressed or tense, take a minute to watch a funny YouTube video or take a walk and reflect on a funny movie or memory. Spend time with funny people. Think about what makes you laugh, and spend more time in that situation or with those cues. Find the humor in situations, and talk about it. And watch shows that make you laugh. Opt for these instead of watching violence or drama. Read articles, blogs, or watch videos of people who make you laugh. Whatever works for you, give your funny bone a regular dose of what it’s looking for. Keep laughing. It's good for your spirit and your body.
I laugh hard every day. You can too. Open yourself up to this amazing gift from the Universe. You will be glad you did. For more information on laughing regularly and loving your life, email me at lisa@lovingmylife.us. |
AuthorLisa Liszcz has over 20 years of experience developing leaders and teams in four different global organizations in a variety of industries. In 2014 she became an entrepreneur and is rocking her inner superhero and loving her life like mad. Archives
May 2018
Categories
All
|